Thai protest leader vows to 'keep fighting'

[Lite Beer]

Thai protest leader vows to 'keep fighting'

BANGKOK, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's opposition demonstrators vowed Tuesday to keep up their campaign to topple the government, despite the imposition of martial law by the military to quell political violence.

"We will still keep fighting -- we have not won at all," protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said in a speech to supporters.

"The announcement of martial law has no effect and is in no way an obstacle to our fight," added the firebrand former opposition MP, who is wanted by police on a charge of insurrection.

Nearly seven months of opposition rallies have failed to unseat the government, although the cabinet has been weakened by the recent dismissal of Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister in a controversial court ruling.

The demonstrators want to rid Thailand of the influence of Yingluck's brother Thaksin Shinawatra, a tycoon-turned-politician who was ousted as premier in a 2006 coup and is both loved and loathed in the kingdom.

They are calling on the upper house of parliament, the Senate, to invoke a vaguely worded clause in the constitution to remove caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan and appoint a new leader.

"We will achieve victory when we completely demolish the Thaksin regime," Suthep said.

The army declared martial law on Tuesday in an unexpected dawn announcement, following months of political violence that has left 28 people dead and hundreds wounded.

The legislation allows the army to ban public gatherings, restrict people's movements, conduct searches, impose curfews and detain suspects for up to seven days.

The army has not ordered an end to the opposition protests although it says the demonstrations must be peaceful and confined to the main rally sites.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-20

[moonao]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

[ginjag]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Thanks Dr. Moonao.

[Chang_paarp]

He might discover there is a difference in outlook from the police to the army with regard to protesting after you have been told to stop.

[moonao]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Thanks Dr. Moonao.

perhaps you can visit him in hospital sometime. he will be the one sitting in the corner in the white gown blowing his whistle, with the vacant look in his eyes.

[DLock]

He probably should have remained silent.

The Reds are their own worst enemy. They self destructed. Let them completely implode.

Ssssshhhhhhh.

[jennywren]

What would be interesting would be to see them fight anybody without the Army standing squarly behind them.

They would last 2 minutes without big brother behind them.

[Just1Voice]

He probably should have remained silent.

The Reds are their own worst enemy. They self destructed. Let them completely implode.

Ssssshhhhhhh.

I think you need to read the article again. This was NOT about the reds. It was about Suthep vowing to keep up his personal vendetta.

[FangFerang]

Suthep has changed his goals, declared twelve 'final fights', and become a laughingstock.

Even people who not like the Shinawatras have a big problem liking this dolt.

Some say 'anyone is better than the -- here it comes -- puppet poo shins corrupt slime despotic nepotist dummies...'

Freaking YAWN. They even quote each other, worse than the reddies. Suthep is the poster child for anachronism.

[h90]

What would be interesting would be to see them fight anybody without the Army standing squarly behind them.

They would last 2 minutes without big brother behind them.

yes the red terrorists would beat the elderly women dead. But may need 30 min

[Thaiisnotrequired]

Well even I have to say Suthep is now going beyond anything thought possible.

I don't know if he wants to be as rich as Thaksin, or be remembered for becoming a completely narcissistic idiot, after achieving what is currently a good-willed change to events.

Let us pray they are all taken down, before Prayuth becomes a self-serving knob-head, and something positive is instilled into this country, once and for all.

Melancholy can mark them all for their own, as far as I am concerned now.

[bubblegum]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Not him you.

[FangFerang]

What a moron. Like he is a "sovereign power" and is allowed to 'force' cabinet members to resign, and take up residence in government house, and demand television stations broadcast his version of the news.

Even people that hate the Shinawatras despise this guy. He is pathetic, minimal and mediocre.

He has bats in his belfry...toys in the attic...surely gone fishing...barking at the moon...capering about rabidly gone freaking bonkers.

He started with a good idea and fell in love with being adored. Vows to what? Keep his promise and go away next week -- oh NO, not that....we should staple him to Chalerm, toss them in a klong, and then throw dice to see which one is funnier.

Twit.

[See the bears]

Yeah right Suthep. Play along with the show as if you don't know what has been pre-arranged.

[djjamie]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Friends of Nelson Mandela thought he was on the verge of a mental breakdown when he had to attend court to hear his 200 terrorist charges including bombing a shopping mall that killed women and children. And look at how history judged him.

I know what your thinking Moonoa and NO. That judge can't be sacked or impeached. It is history judging him.

Unless you're a time traveller you cannot say with certainty where he will be in 40 years.

I suspect a large 40 ft bronze statue in Chaing Mai looking down on the populus with that cheesy cute grin and a plaque under it reading "With reform came all the principles of democracy and allowed us to have a sustainable rice industry where we didn't need to rely on the government. We relied on our knowledge of advanced rice farming to improve production. This statue is paid for by the profits of rice farmers in the North"

Until then they only know what is now and that is a desperate reliance on a government who without their support cannot compete in a global market.

Good luck Suthep. Reform is needed lest democracy ceases post ballot box again.

Edited May 20, 2014 by djjamie

[Just1Voice]

Vowing to keep up the fight. Hey, keep it up all you want in your militarily restricted zone, but you sure as hell ain't taking your b.s. to the streets now. Oh, an some of your "guards" had to leave to report for duty in the military, if you hadn't noticed. lol. And I guess now you won't be "hunting down" MP's and forcing them to sign pre-written "resignations", either. But, hey, look on the bright side. Now you have a face saving "out" that with the imposition of martial law, your millions of supporters won't be able to join you this week. Ok, so another "final push" sometime in the future perhaps? Or maybe the military will arrest your ass and toss you in jail, along with all the other leaders, yellow and red, and some Thai "Bubba" will show you what a real "final push" is like.

[trainman34014]

Erm...I thought he said he was going home on the 27th ? Must be the wrong month or year i'm thinking of !

[culicine]

He probably should have remained silent.

The Reds are their own worst enemy. They self destructed. Let them completely implode.

Ssssshhhhhhh.

I think you need to read the article again. This was NOT about the reds. It was about Suthep vowing to keep up his personal vendetta.

And Jatuporn said he was gonna pack up and go home? I think not...

[culicine]

Vowing to keep up the fight. Hey, keep it up all you want in your militarily restricted zone, but you sure as hell ain't taking your b.s. to the streets now. Oh, an some of your "guards" had to leave to report for duty in the military, if you hadn't noticed. lol. And I guess now you won't be "hunting down" MP's and forcing them to sign pre-written "resignations", either. But, hey, look on the bright side. Now you have a face saving "out" that with the imposition of martial law, your millions of supporters won't be able to join you this week. Ok, so another "final push" sometime in the future perhaps? Or maybe the military will arrest your ass and toss you in jail, along with all the other leaders, yellow and red, and some Thai "Bubba" will show you what a real "final push" is like.

I don't think Suthep is much interested in Thaivisa. Maybe you want to send him a posting on his facebook.

[Dr Bruce]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Friends of Nelson Mandela thought he was on the verge of a mental breakdown when he had to attend court to hear his 200 terrorist charges including bombing a shopping mall that killed women and children. And look at how history judged him.

I know what your thinking Moonoa and NO. That judge can't be sacked or impeached. It is history judging him.

Unless you're a time traveller you cannot say with certainty where he will be in 40 years.

I suspect a large 40 ft bronze statue in Chaing Mai looking down on the populus with that cheesy cute grin and a plaque under it reading "With reform came all the principles of democracy and allowed us to have a sustainable rice industry where we didn't need to rely on the government. We relied on our knowledge of advanced rice farming to improve production. This statue is paid for by the profits of rice farmers in the North"

Until then they only know what is now and that is a desperate reliance on a government who without their support cannot compete in a global market.

Good luck Suthep. Reform is needed lest democracy ceases post ballot box again.

Has anybody seen Jamie's copy of The Plot?

[djjamie]

poor guy. he sounds like he is on the verge of a mental breakdown

Friends of Nelson Mandela thought he was on the verge of a mental breakdown when he had to attend court to hear his 200 terrorist charges including bombing a shopping mall that killed women and children. And look at how history judged him.

I know what your thinking Moonoa and NO. That judge can't be sacked or impeached. It is history judging him.

Unless you're a time traveller you cannot say with certainty where he will be in 40 years.

I suspect a large 40 ft bronze statue in Chaing Mai looking down on the populus with that cheesy cute grin and a plaque under it reading "With reform came all the principles of democracy and allowed us to have a sustainable rice industry where we didn't need to rely on the government. We relied on our knowledge of advanced rice farming to improve production. This statue is paid for by the profits of rice farmers in the North"

Until then they only know what is now and that is a desperate reliance on a government who without their support cannot compete in a global market.

Good luck Suthep. Reform is needed lest democracy ceases post ballot box again.

Has anybody seen Jamie's copy of The Plot?

Can't rebut my post heay! It's too close to the truth maybe.

BTW - "The Plot" is an excellent book. I have it on my bookcase actually.

Yes I can read…I support the DEM's.

Edited May 20, 2014 by djjamie

[Scamper]

This might be an ideal time for Suthep to take a step back. What has happened in the last 24 hours has been dramatic by any measure and a major step forward. It's understandable that Suthep still feels unsure of how this will all pan out. After all, he has spent much of the last dozen or so years wondering if Thaksin's influence would ever come to an end. In a way, he likely still finds it hard to believe that it's actually happening. And yet it is. Suthep sounded today more as in a pep talk than anything else. There was not one peep in his speech about a strike, and there was not one peep in his speech about a march. From that it seems clear that he intends to abide by Prayuth's restrictions, and that is good. The UDD has already defied Prayuth by continuing to broadcast their rally - which incidentally is attended by less than 1,000 people during the day. Prayuth has shut down no less than eleven UDD transmissions, so this is a deliberately provocative act by the UDD and likely they are testing Prayuth. Doubtless Prayuth will rise to the task, however, because controlling the situation is uppermost in his mind. He wants the violence to stop, and so far it has. The stage shifts now to the Senate, an institution that is now free to deliberate without provocation. And that's a good thing.

[JAG]

What a moron. Like he is a "sovereign power" and is allowed to 'force' cabinet members to resign, and take up residence in government house, and demand television stations broadcast his version of the news.

Even people that hate the Shinawatras despise this guy. He is pathetic, minimal and mediocre.

He has bats in his belfry...toys in the attic...surely gone fishing...barking at the moon...capering about rabidly gone freaking bonkers.

He started with a good idea and fell in love with being adored. Vows to what? Keep his promise and go away next week -- oh NO, not that....we should staple him to Chalerm, toss them in a klong, and then throw dice to see which one is funnier.

Twit.

Not a wholehearted supporter then?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[englishoak]

Think maybe Suthep should go and see the ear doctor as well.

[noitom]

Suthep wants to be carried out kicking and screaming and attempt to capture empathy.

[kurtgruen]

Now that things are turning out as Suthep had hoped, all there is left for the reds, is Suthep bashing now. Watch for the Senate appointing a Prime Minister next or otherwise being the voice of the Government for now. Another loss of Thaskin and his cronies

[MacWalen]

They are well paid.

[Tokay]

That pansy will be the first to run into hiding when the military comes to break up his party.

[thesetat2013]

I wonder if this martial law will change anything about the general strike Suthep was calling for? With the Army surrounding the protest sites both protest leaders are cut off from doing more than blabbing to their people.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Thailand]

I assume the gatherings of the reds , Suthep and his mercenaries, The mad monk are now all illegal and will be broken up and those persons with arrest warrants out on them will be arrested to face the due process of law?