Martial law in Thailand: Troops in full control of Bangkok

[casualbiker]

Why were some of the troops wearing yellow ribbons on an Australian news report?

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Where were the ribbons? Around their neck or arm?

Many Thai military units use neckerchiefs to identify them. They tend to coincide with the parade dress uniforms (which can be VERY bright)

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[media]

Baring in mind the King is still alive I am shocked that there is NO control of the country. Police dont do their jobs, Governments cant govern, Demonstrators are allowed to wreck civilisation in the City and are not stopped.

The Army should round up the perps of these bad demonstrations and violent gatherings and a court should deal with them about the laws they have broken, and round up the police chiefs that are not doing their jobs.

[Guitar God]

I'm surprised that the King doesn't seem to have made any statements or comments about this. Maybe he has and I haven't seen it. I asked Mrs. G but if it's not on during a soap opera, she probably wouldn't know either. Others heads of constitutional monarchies often make statements when there's something going on in their countries. Isn't that something that's done here?

[callaway]

Hasnt Jatuporn changed his rhetoric. What happened to the hard talking, civil unrest and all the rest of his utter bullsh#t. He is like a poorly behaved child until the headmaster walks in. Now he is being civilized they way he should have been all the time.

[MJP]

I am gobsmacked. I travelled into Silom today for a hospital appointment in Convent Road. Drove to the airport, parked there, train into Phaya Thai, changed there for Siam and then to Sala Daeng. Returned same way.

Never saw a single soldier!!!

It's that Thai Army urban camo gear.. wonderful stuff!

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It must be unimaginably hot in all that gear.

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[slipperylobster]

YOU SEE red shirts dont want democracy - they just want their criminal back!!

Yes, yes, yes. The red shirts want their criminal back and the yellow shirts want their mafia back in control. The leadership of both sides wants the same thing and they are using the media to convince the sheep to back their preferred Sino-Thai gang over the other gang of thieves. The similarities to the dysfunctional two-party US political political system are striking: two sides of entrenched thieves battling it out for temporary supremacy of the moment.

Thailand has modernized, it has joined the "Century of the Self" and the populace is just as easily manipulated as are the Yanks and Brits. Chaiyo!

I am still rubbing my sore eyes from reading the above. How in the hay do you figure the yellow/red shirt people have anything to do with the system we have in the USA? Are you daft?

Perhaps trolling for more USA bashing where it just doesn't belong. Bullllllllshhhhhhhhht

[Chris Lawrence]

This coup which the Thais are not having at the moment because they are told they are not, does not do any good for democratic process.

The Government has never had true power. Power has always been at an elite level within Thai society. Just look at the major companies and strategic services; who sits on the boards? Look at the courts and the higher official's in Government positions. These are the areas of control in Thailand and the current coup is one that I see as being a mechanisim to protect these positions.

Constitutional reform has been spoken, but the last time this was reviewed was done by the military.

Who is aligned with who? Suthep alignment will be with the Commander-in-Chief of the Army. Reds are just begining to learn political process.

So does the current situation see more court action against the reds and the proposed court action against the yellows swept under the carpet?

Mr T and Suthep may have a similar agenda using the current laws to checkmate each other. But this will not bring a resolve. So Gen Prayuth steps in to protect the elite clan's interest, both business and political.

The only reason Mr T has the support of the reds is that his policies actually improved their well-being; something that Suthep finds hard to distinguish.

I find it politically niave to believe that one of these guys is better than the other. Both are stalling for time at the expence of Thailand and its people.

Will the current process deliver a fair go? The words being used sound sweet but this appears to be a process in Thai society; talk sweet but deliver what you want. Rhetoric most right wing Governments around the world are also using at the moment.

Will things change? If you follow Suthep's path of setting up a collective to decide on new laws and how to elect a government, I don't think so. What happens if the collective is stacked, which you would normally do to achieve the outcome you want, you offend the reds and others.

The reds appear to becoming a stronger force? For this to happen it would affect the ability of the elite and rich/cashed up middle class to control Thai society/government.

Mr T's people get back in? Well the yellows will be unhappy as Mr T will continue to dismantle the control of the Thai elite.

Will the majority view be respected at the polls and deliver a fair result? With Suthep on the scene orchestrating a need to change the ground rules to Governing; majority outcome would reinstate a party aligned to Mr T.. The yellows need to loose the contempt they have for the democratic process and that all Thais' vote counts when they go to the poll. Nepotism needs to be outlawed. The armed forces should do what they are trained for, and not sit on boards of strategic Thai companies.

So what can come of the current situation? A lot of tears, few more bullets and a few more grenades. Japan and American business interests would be hoping all calms soon. The Thai economy may dip into recession. Interst rates rise. Farmers don't get paid all their money. Reds become more political savy. Rich get richer, with the working class having to eat cake.

Just my thoughts on the situation.

[tomyummer]

With all the crap I've spewed out about all of Thailand's inefficiencies, at least the military has got their act together and gets things done fast.

Edited May 20, 2014 by tomyummer

[leggo]

Hanging off their rifles

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[raybal5]

How about government house? Or did you forget that place General? Also, when will elections be held so the people can have a government and Suthep can have a jail cell.

It's more like the reporter forgot to mention it. But hey, they could list everything and you'd still comment about some place on the list.