Ex-Thai PM Yingluck reports to coup makers

[wealth]

Credit must be given where credit is due. She showed up, which is something her brother could learn a thing or two about.

Good for her.

Others had to be detained at the "arranged" meeting. Puts her in a very high profile position with the world watching. Be interesting to see how this unfolds.

the first ever attandance in her life? Seems like authoritarian voice works for her.

[White Tiger]

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Richard Barrow simply re-tweeted a tweet and photograph put out on Twitter by this Thai organisation http://www.prbangkok.com/ I have no idea who they are or what they do I have not translated their website. The number 5,000 was not invented by anyone posting here. This link will show you the tweet https://twitter.com/pr_bangkok and the photo that was originally put out.

Now I understand why people listening to their GPSs, drive off bridges. It's okay to use your common sense, people!

If there were 5,000 people cleaning Rajadamnerm, it would have been almost as crowded as one of Suthep's rallies.

I dont get it I try to be helpful by giving the links posters here asked for and you give a facetious reply.

If youre saying you cant believe the numbers then dont have a go at me, take it up with the military Junta and the Bangkok Metropolitan Council theyre the ones who issued or authorised the information.

Oh, I'm sure you faithfully reported the information you found. But I've lived here long enough to have learned not to believe everything I hear without thinking about it first.

How did 5,000 people get there? By bus? Over one hundred bus loads? And enough people to fill up a Suthep rally site! Simply incredible. Did each person have only a square meter or three to clean? And what about cleaning supplies for 5,000 people? How many truckloads would that be?

Although I didn't have a go at you in my post, the truth is that you to are allowed to think about things before you post them. And if they smell off, let it go. What good does it do to spread dubious information...

I’m sorry for misinterpreting your post as ‘having a go at me’. Thanks for confirming that you were not.

You suggested a sense test should be applied to the 5,000 number given out by the authorities. I didn’t do that before I posted because I was simply passing on the links that others were either too lazy to find, or incapable of finding. I had no particular view on whether or not the number quoted was accurate. I was happy to leave it for others to decide that for themselves after they viewed the links.

But to my mind, in the great scheme of things 5,000 is not a lot of people – you could get more than that standing behind the goal on a terrace at an English football match. I don’t know BKK at all well as I live up in the north east. So I had to search the net to find out what Ratchadamnoen Avenue looks like. In the photos in this Wikipedia link it looks like a long broad avenue – a bit like The Mall or Wembley Way in London - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajadamnern_Avenue There’s no doubt in my mind that 5,000 people could easily fit into in a street like that. If I remember right when the rallies/demonstrations were being held there the numbers reported for attending were in the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. So compared to that 5,000 seems a relatively small number of people to be there.

So although I had nothing to go on when I posted the links that others here had asked for, I have now, and the number 5,000 passes my sense test.

That said, whether it is a truthful number or not I don’t know. As I said before it’s the number that has been given out by the Junta. I suppose it’s up to individuals to decide whether they want to believe what the Junta says or not – about numbers or anything else.

[White Tiger]

Good Grief. Now people are "arguing" about the number of street cleaners there might have been? Who really gives a crap if it was 5,000 or 5? Come on people, get a life!

Good point. But it's the curfew here and there's nothing on telly. So .....

[cms22]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[cms22]

Oh. I forgot. Classic fascism. Raid the book shops and close down all media!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[JesseFrank]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Congratulations, you finally realised what this government has been doing for the past 3 years.

[BIGTOE3]

Accurate summing up...

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/22/thailand-waiting-for-democracy

What a load of old tosh.

[deepcell]

Must be a difficult decision what clothes fit for it.

I would say best is the white uniform.

the best would be an orange uniform!

[15Peter20]

Fascinating account of what went on at the army club with all the factions up to and including the moment when Prayuth declared a coup:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_306485/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3mAbmJMO

I think the best we can hope for now is some kind of coalition comprising the main players who were detained, with Prayuth as CEO. This way perhaps the followers of each faction would be appeased for a while.

Edited May 23, 2014 by 15Peter20

[Mr Yim]

BBC have reported on a demonstration in BKK this afternoon, by what looks like ordinary citizens. Apparently th army tried to intervene but were pushed back by greater numbers. I suspect we will see this happening in greater numbers across the country and the army will be powerless to stop it. It is one thing having a shoot out with violent reds shirts but removing genuine peaceful demonstrators in full view of the world press is another thing, especially by young, inexperienced soldiers.

[cdnvic]

Be careful posting outside links without checking them. You will be held responsible for their content.

[bristolgeoff]

they will not be letting these fish flee from their nets.close down the borders and other places so they don,t.big brother I,am stuck

[Sheryl]

A tedious 2 party flamefest has been removed, if resumes the participants may find their posting rights also removed. You are not convincing each other and you are annoying everyone else. Cease and desist.

[valvenus]

Good night, Yingluck.

Sleep well. (sorry about your sleeping accommodations).

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Fascinating account of what went on at the army club with all the factions up to and including the moment when Prayuth declared a coup:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_306485/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3mAbmJMO

I think the best we can hope for now is some kind of coalition comprising the main players who were detained, with Prayuth as CEO. This way perhaps the followers of each faction would be appeased for a while.

From the AP report:

And then, Prayuth stood up and addressed the room. "Sorry. I'm taking power" from this moment on, he said calmly, according to Sirichoke.

Another lawmaker who recounted the same narrative of Thursday's meeting, and also spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear if Prayuth was joking.

What is it with people who repeatedly seem to think Prayuth is joking?

The other day, when the generally apparently verbally slapped down the DSI's Tarit, the original news reports portrayed his comments as "joking." But then I noted, in the subsequent reports on the same exchange done a day or two later, suddenly the references to joking had vanished.

Now, we have a lawmaker saying he thought Prayuth was joking when he said he was going to take control of the government.

I don't know the good general. But I'm beginning to get the feeling that when he's talking on matters of national import, we ought to take him at his word, and not think he's trying to be a comedian.

[sumtingwong]

Sounds a lot like:

Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague!

See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,

That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!

And I, for winking at your discords too,

Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punish'd.

Prince, scene iii Romeo and Juliet

[sumtingwong]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Congratulations, you finally realised what this government has been doing for the past 3 years.

Exactly, it sounds like the Thaksin remote controlled government and his commie red-shirt thugs.

[philw]

Accurate summing up...

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/22/thailand-waiting-for-democracy

What a load of old tosh.

Why ??

[Mr Yim]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Congratulations, you finally realised what this government has been doing for the past 3 years.

Exactly, it sounds like the Thaksin remote controlled government and his commie red-shirt thugs.

court

The only thing this military coup will do is kick the can down the road. The question is how far can those who are attempting to sieze power, kick it. At some point in the future there will be elections, and those commie red shirt thugs ( ) will win. It is encouraging to see demonstrations on the streets. Hopefully the BBC's footage will be seen across Thailand and the people will say no to the coup and with the will of the people and condemnation from the United States, UN, Japan etc, force the General into holding early elections.

[15Peter20]

Fascinating account of what went on at the army club with all the factions up to and including the moment when Prayuth declared a coup:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_306485/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3mAbmJMO

I think the best we can hope for now is some kind of coalition comprising the main players who were detained, with Prayuth as CEO. This way perhaps the followers of each faction would be appeased for a while.

From the AP report:

And then, Prayuth stood up and addressed the room. "Sorry. I'm taking power" from this moment on, he said calmly, according to Sirichoke.

Another lawmaker who recounted the same narrative of Thursday's meeting, and also spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said it was not immediately clear if Prayuth was joking.

What is it with people who repeatedly seem to think Prayuth is joking?

The other day, when the generally apparently verbally slapped down the DSI's Tarit, the original news reports portrayed his comments as "joking." But then I noted, in the subsequent reports on the same exchange done a day or two later, suddenly the references to joking had vanished.

Now, we have a lawmaker saying he thought Prayuth was joking when he said he was going to take control of the government.

I don't know the good general. But I'm beginning to get the feeling that when he's talking on matters of national import, we ought to take him at his word, and not think he's trying to be a comedian.

I found this part the most telling:

"

Prayuth then told a representative from the Election Commission not to bother planning a vote anytime soon because it would be a "long time" before a ballot could take place. He told representatives of the Senate not to bother with trying to invoke a constitutional clause they had been pressing for to appoint an interim prime minister.

"

At least it shows a modicum of even handedness although the notion of democracy continues to take a back seat.

[wealth]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Congratulations, you finally realised what this government has been doing for the past 3 years.

Exactly, it sounds like the Thaksin remote controlled government and his commie red-shirt thugs.

there's a saying - "some seasoned communists become the strongest capitalists" (and only for themselves)

[djjamie]

North Korea. It's not too dissimilar. Don't let the people speak the truth. Feed them propaganda. Bend all the laws to suit a select few. Put all your opponents in jail or severely intimidate them. How's that for starters!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Congratulations, you finally realised what this government has been doing for the past 3 years.

Exactly, it sounds like the Thaksin remote controlled government and his commie red-shirt thugs.

court

The only thing this military coup will do is kick the can down the road. The question is how far can those who are attempting to sieze power, kick it. At some point in the future there will be elections, and those commie red shirt thugs ( ) will win. It is encouraging to see demonstrations on the streets. Hopefully the BBC's footage will be seen across Thailand and the people will say no to the coup and with the will of the people and condemnation from the United States, UN, Japan etc, force the General into holding early elections.

You don't know much about the teachings that Dr Weng received in Vietnam after the communists took over then.

Maoism sees the agrarian peasantry, rather than the working class, as the key revolutionary force which can fundamentally transform capitalist society towards socialism.

The laugh after your comment though is to be expected. It is a laugh of ignorance which is exactly how the UDD want their supporters to be.

"Old communists know that when it comes to revolution, ignorance is much more powerful than knowledge," This was said by Therdpoum Chaidee.

Your laugh warms my heart. Not in a good way, but in a way that highlights that the UDD leadership are playing their Thai supporters like puppets and is it any wonder. They voted for one.

[citizen33]

What puzzles me about the press account of the meeting is that it suggests an almost off-the-cuff decision to take power, based on the PTP's statement that the acting PM would not step down 'at this moment'. And yet TV coverage shows that several lorry loads of soldiers arrived at almost the same time and seems to indicate that that had been organised some time before. I suppose we may know more one day. Still no royal endorsement, which is different from the last coup.

[northernjohn]

Fascinating account of what went on at the army club with all the factions up to and including the moment when Prayuth declared a coup:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_306485/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3mAbmJMO

I think the best we can hope for now is some kind of coalition comprising the main players who were detained, with Prayuth as CEO. This way perhaps the followers of each faction would be appeased for a while.

It was plain from the start that none of them had any intention of negotiating.

Here is an excerpt from the article.

"Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban then held a private meeting with rival pro-Thaksin leader Jatuporn Prompan. They spoke, accompanied by aides, for 45 minutes. Afterward, both leaders whispered with Prayuth in a corner for a brief minute.

When the meeting resumed, Prayuth asked Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri if the government was still insisting it would not step down.

We will not," Chaikasem replied, according to the lawmaker.

Prayuth then told a representative from the Election Commission not to bother planning a vote anytime soon because it would be a "long time" before a ballot could take place. He told representatives of the Senate not to bother with trying to invoke a constitutional clause they had been pressing for to appoint an interim prime minister.

And then, Prayuth stood up and addressed the room. "Sorry. I'm taking power" from this moment on, he said calmly, according to Sirichoke."

They thought he was playing games like they were. Surprise he meant it when he told them he wanted answers.

Edited May 23, 2014 by northernjohn

[15Peter20]

Fascinating account of what went on at the army club with all the factions up to and including the moment when Prayuth declared a coup:

http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_306485/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=3mAbmJMO

I think the best we can hope for now is some kind of coalition comprising the main players who were detained, with Prayuth as CEO. This way perhaps the followers of each faction would be appeased for a while.

It was plain from the start that none of them had any intention of negotiating.

Here is an excerpt from the article.

"Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban then held a private meeting with rival pro-Thaksin leader Jatuporn Prompan. They spoke, accompanied by aides, for 45 minutes. Afterward, both leaders whispered with Prayuth in a corner for a brief minute.

When the meeting resumed, Prayuth asked Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri if the government was still insisting it would not step down.

We will not," Chaikasem replied, according to the lawmaker.

Prayuth then told a representative from the Election Commission not to bother planning a vote anytime soon because it would be a "long time" before a ballot could take place. He told representatives of the Senate not to bother with trying to invoke a constitutional clause they had been pressing for to appoint an interim prime minister.

And then, Prayuth stood up and addressed the room. "Sorry. I'm taking power" from this moment on, he said calmly, according to Sirichoke."

They thought he was playing games like they were. Surprise he meant it when he told them he wanted answers.

Rather than 'none of them had any intention of negotiating' I think a more accurate description would be 'none of them had any intention of compromising'. This should be understandable to most TV posters since they have no intention of compromising either.

[sumtingwong]

What puzzles me about the press account of the meeting is that it suggests an almost off-the-cuff decision to take power, based on the PTP's statement that the acting PM would not step down 'at this moment'. And yet TV coverage shows that several lorry loads of soldiers arrived at almost the same time and seems to indicate that that had been organised some time before. I suppose we may know more one day. Still no royal endorsement, which is different from the last coup.

More than likely, it was hope for the best, but plan for worst, which of course was the most likely outcome in los.

[farangbanok]

Exactly, it sounds like the Thaksin remote controlled government and his commie red-shirt thugs.

"Commie red-shirt thugs"?

Commie? Commie? Typical red neck comment!

Before making pitiful statements and calling red shirts "commies" take a look at recent Thai history. GOOGLE is quite useful if you can use it.

You only make yourself look somewhat foolish and fascist supporter.

In 1968-1982 communist insurgents fought a geurilla war against the Thai Army in the mountains above Phetchabun.

The communists attempted to get the Esan people and the Northern people (now the red shirts) to join them. They refused because they did not support, or wish to support communism.

To the best of my knowledge their attitude to communism has not changed in the past 3 decades.

[peterquixote]

well she has more balls than thaksin, did not expect here to show but maybe she is starting to realize she wants to live in Thailand without all the crap her brother has caused

A tiny part of me does have some sympathy for her. It's a situation she probably never wanted to be in and had her arm twisted to make her stay. She must really be cursing Thaksin in her private thoughts, knowing he did all this to her and he meanwhile sits in luxury, probably guzzling champagne and caviar. But sympathy or no, she did sign on to things and her actions have come near to bankrupting the country, destroying its rice exporting market, and driven many to desperation or worse. I have much more sympathy for her victims, in the final run.

Our tears for Thailand , she should be in jail, Shinawatra is finished with disgrace,

his life now disgusting meaningless.

Soon we come back to Thailand, bring our little money and help you recover Thailand .

Lets hope the General realises that he needs to retain control for a long time.

If I were a Thai man I would send my boy into the Army

Edited May 23, 2014 by peterquixote

[surangw]

Put the Shins in a chaingang and make them clean up the mess on Utthayan Road they caused. In fact, do that for both groups. Let them clean up their literal messes personally.

babies never clean their own nappies

[chooka]

Geez the lady is copping it from all angles for turning up, imagine the flak she would get if she didn't turn up. Damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. At least she has bigger balls than the mad monk and the slime suthep, the military had to go and get them.