Thai 'Red Shirts' warn of civil war if government falls -

by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, May 10, 2014 (AFP) - Thousands of pro-government "Red Shirts" massed in Thailand's capital Saturday to challenge attempts by opposition protesters to hand power to an unelected regime, warning that the kingdom was lurching towards "civil war".

The dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and nine ministers by the Constitutional Court this week for the improper transfer of a top security official has plunged the restive kingdom deeper into crisis.

Officials said about 3,000 police officers were on standby for the pro-government rally on the western outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday, with turnout expected to peak in the evening.

Holding aloft portraits of Yingluck, the red-clad movement said it would keep up the protest for as long as it deemed necessary to defend the wounded administration.

"The Red Shirts cannot accept the undemocratic and unconstitutional appointment of a prime minister," said chairman Jatuporn Prompan, denouncing a call by the opposition for judges, the Senate president and other prominent figures to choose a new premier.

"It would be the beginning of a disaster for the country that will lead to civil war," he said.

Opposition demonstrators are gearing up to try to deliver a knock-out blow to the remnants of the government, to enable an unelected leadership to take the reins of the Southeast Asian nation and oversee vague reforms they say would tackle corruption.

Such a move would infuriate supporters of Yingluck and her elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier who was deposed by royalist generals in a coup in 2006, an event that ushered in years of political turmoil.

A military crackdown on Red Shirt protests against the previous government left dozens dead in central Bangkok in 2010.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-10

Not could but will....

Let's hope not.

But at the moment things are moving quicker than before.

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If thermy dont get involved with either side, there is going to be only 1 winner

So Jatuporn is now officially threatening the security of the state by promising a civil war. Isn't it time for the army to step in and protect the state, as they are sworn to do?

If it takes a civil war for the majority of the population to retain their civil rights then so be it.

I think it will infuriate more then the supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin. There are plenty of "normal" everyday citizens in Thailand that want to vote for their leader. AKA a democracy.

It's not a "wounded administration". It's dead, Jim.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If thermy dont get involved with either side, there is going to be only 1 winner

The promotion of Buddhism throughout the country?

I think it will infuriate more then the supporters of Yingluck and Thaksin. There are plenty of "normal" everyday citizens in Thailand that want to vote for their leader. AKA a democracy.

Someone with common sense, well done sir

So Jatuporn is now officially threatening the security of the state by promising a civil war. Isn't it time for the army to step in and protect the state, as they are sworn to do?

Yes they should have removed the treasonous Suthep & his hired violent mob long ago.

So Jatuporn is now officially threatening the security of the state by promising a civil war. Isn't it time for the army to step in and protect the state, as they are sworn to do?

Yup.

Stepping in and aiding in the arrest of Suthep, while cleaning their thugs off the street would be most welcome by everyone.

Elections take place and let the people democratically vote in their leaders.

If it takes a civil war for the majority of the population to retain their civil rights then so be it.

The majority of the population do not want a civil war. Just a few nuts who are mostly on Thaksin's payroll.

a lot of wishful thinking on a few newbies on here - use you brain, if suthep was ever gonna be arrested, it would have happened months ago.

If it takes a civil war for the majority of the population to retain their civil rights then so be it.

The majority of the population do not want a civil war. Just a few nuts who are mostly on Thaksin's payroll.

The majority of the population want their democratic vote, after having it stripped from them.... again... Because they just won't vote in the 'correct' people, d@mn them.

a lot of wishful thinking on a few newbies on here - use you brain, if suthep was ever gonna be arrested, it would have happened months ago.

Of course it's never going to happen.

Got your sarcasm detector switched off this evening?

a lot of wishful thinking on a few newbies on here - use you brain, if suthep was ever gonna be arrested, it would have happened months ago.

Most unlikely that they are really newbies....more likely to be old hacks who failed to reach enlightenment (or 10,000 posts, whichever comes first) and were reincarnated.

That karma is a real bitch!

What a joke...

So who's keeping the head count?

If thermy dont get involved with either side, there is going to be only 1 winner

The promotion of Buddhism throughout the country?

Same as catholic in n ireland

same as catholic in Italy

same as islam in muslim countries

grow up, not all thais preactise buddhism

Finally those 2 words. Not a great show for this country in the short or long term. With ASEAN kicking off next year the last thing Thailand needs is to be stuck in the midst of a civil war. As ASEAN start to promote themselves around the world everybody will look at the other countries first, industry will move and Thailand might just discover that the world outside its borders has a far greater effect on it than it sometimes cares to believe.

These repeated warnings of dire consequences from the red shirts have a whiff of desperation about them. They are in a corner and seem to know this. They have lost the battle of numbers because their core support is not motivated and seems divided. The momentum and the passion is with the other side. If the army took over tomorrow i doubt there would be much more than a few squeals. Time will tell i suppose.

If it takes a civil war for the majority of the population to retain their civil rights then so be it.

Having been in a country where there was a military takeover (where I lost relatives) and having lost civilian relatives in a civil war in another SE Asian country I must admit that I am not keen to lose anymore relatives. In both of these SE Asian countries civil rights have not been restored to the level that currently exist in Thailand. So please excuse me for not sharing your enthusiasm.

So Jatuporn is now officially threatening the security of the state by promising a civil war. Isn't it time for the army to step in and protect the state, as they are sworn to do?

I'm pretty sure he's violated his bail... Again!

So far, I'm very impressed with the army. By playing a waiting game and bluff, Thailand has largely avoided a huge conflict, thus far. Jatuporn is all rhetoric imo, but he'd be spanked if he made good on his promise.

Jutaporn might die of lead poisoning, or some such other unfortunate ailment in the forseeable future-

So Jatuporn is now officially threatening the security of the state by promising a civil war. Isn't it time for the army to step in and protect the state, as they are sworn to do?

I'm pretty sure he's violated his bail... Again!

Pity they don't haul his ass off to jail, along with the other red AND yellow hotheads, so that more sensible folk might step up to the plate. Threats....counter-threats. Demos, counte-demos. Always whingeing that it is the other side who has broken the law, when in reality they are all guilty. The schoolyard mentality rules.

If it takes a civil war for the majority of the population to retain their civil rights then so be it.

What civil rights

The people where thrown out by a legal court

and please tell me when you did a count and how, to make your statement "the majority of the population " true

are you for or against the 3 main principles of reform

No 1) we need freedom of speech by all parties in all areas

No 2) Section 102 Enforced

A person under any of the following prohibitions shall have no right to be a candidate in an election of members of the House of Representatives:

(6) having been expelled, dismissed or removed from the official service, a State agency or a State enterprise on the ground of dishonest performance of duties or corruption;

3) All parties yellow and red to abide by the rule of law

seems to me this reform applies to both sides

These repeated warnings of dire consequences from the red shirts have a whiff of desperation about them. They are in a corner and seem to know this. They have lost the battle of numbers because their core support is not motivated and seems divided. The momentum and the passion is with the other side. If the army took over tomorrow i doubt there would be much more than a few squeals. Time will tell i suppose.

Desperation or determination..................... to hang to their right to vote?