Protests Against Coup Continue in Bangkok

[arjunadawn]

these students are not helping at all, why don't they butt out and see were this goes - the path has been taken and not really much choice now - it has to run it's course

I haven't seen too much to criticise up to now, they are mopping up all the rally sites and now need to mop up the mess PTP have left the country in - which isn't pretty I'd imagine - so just let them get on with it

I'm keenly interested in the governments finances

I don't think you need it spelled out to you, but just in case: The goal of the military is to further erode voter rights with their "Reforms" by making either the Senate fully appointed or Parliament partially appointed. This is unacceptable and represents a form of fascism where the power of governance is removed from the people of Thailand and given to a small group of well connected elites. These kids are brave and know exactly what they're doing, and you should show them the proper respect. They're fighting for your rights, not that you deserve it with how flippantly you're willing to throw it away.

I don't think you intended to be factually wrong and sarcastic; so lets assume sarcasm was your goal and you succeeded at least with this. An appointed senate does not imply Fascism; this is silly talk. It is prudent to grasp context: Direct democracy has always been considered by most brilliant minds as destructive of liberty and private property because with this form of direct, simple majority rule, the rights of the minority can be easily trampled upon, subject to whim, emotive movement in the populace, or impulsive decisions- cries for war, raise their taxes, etc. The only minds that have consistently embraced this form of "democracy" rather than representative democracy have been allied socialist/Maoist/communist movements (and American Progressives and European Socialists). Why? Its self evident. Make a fist and declare it in the air!

Indeed direct democracy is purported to have been the downfall of Athens, the first democracy. Knowing this, the current oldest democracy in the world, the USA, loathed the concept of a popularly elected senate (in fact, ratifying the constitution would never have happened unless Senators represented a more solid, unchanging, non-emotive component of society). Clearly, with no adults in the room, the unbridled wave of the populace could even vote to destroy self- and this was fine while contained in the lower house, subject to distillation in senate conference! Thus Senators reflected the States and the Governors. It was a major "coup" for progressives in the USA to get a constitutional amendment making US Senators directly elected. It also forever setup one of the mechanisms that has America an emotional electoral bloodbath (it has certainly allowed unrestrained Federalism). There is simply nothing wrong with local, unique parties peculiar to a culture being a part of a political dynamic- assuming there are checks and balances, and hopefully transparency. (One example is a constitutional monarchy, such as United Kingdom). And thus Senators representing provinces, states, etc., is hardly the deadly scourge of fascism you suggest. Indeed, suggesting is all you do above. Fascism? Wild hyperbole and ad hominen assignments to others hardly makes your point seem useful. The inference that the USA was a Fascist state for over a hundred years has you uniquely writing in a singular genre= alone!

The "goal" of the military is the national defense of a nation against foreign and domestic threats, and to further assist and follow orders as per law. The "goal" is hardly what you impugn on them. This is your "goal" though, isn't it? To thread enough conjecture and supposition and negative fears into a valid point of view? Yet you failed.

[Prbkk]

It's more likely those kids are the same ones who lit candles and changed red shirts with white shirts. They're fighting for no one's rights. All they do is stir unnecessary trouble on behalf of one very bitter and selfish man.

"I will defend the democracy with my life."

Thaksin Shinawatra

We all know what happened. He took the money and ran. My message to students or anyone else is a very simple one. It's really not worth losing your life because of that greedy bastard. Be patient, life will get back to normal soon.

What a hoot...this from the most pious of defenders of the right to protest just a few short days ago. Cringeworthy.

[chrisrazz]

What Senate?

[Prbkk]

these students are not helping at all, why don't they butt out and see were this goes - the path has been taken and not really much choice now - it has to run it's course

I haven't seen too much to criticise up to now, they are mopping up all the rally sites and now need to mop up the mess PTP have left the country in - which isn't pretty I'd imagine - so just let them get on with it

I'm keenly interested in the governments finances

I don't think you need it spelled out to you, but just in case: The goal of the military is to further erode voter rights with their "Reforms" by making either the Senate fully appointed or Parliament partially appointed. This is unacceptable and represents a form of fascism where the power of governance is removed from the people of Thailand and given to a small group of well connected elites. These kids are brave and know exactly what they're doing, and you should show them the proper respect. They're fighting for your rights, not that you deserve it with how flippantly you're willing to throw it away.

I don't think you intended to be factually wrong and sarcastic; so lets assume sarcasm was your goal and you succeeded at least with this. An appointed senate does not imply Fascism; this is silly talk. It is prudent to grasp context: Direct democracy has always been considered by most brilliant minds as destructive of liberty and private property because with this form of direct, simple majority rule, the rights of the minority can be easily trampled upon, subject to whim, emotive movement in the populace, or impulsive decisions- cries for war, raise their taxes, etc. The only minds that have consistently embraced this form of "democracy" rather than representative democracy have been allied socialist/Maoist/communist movements (and American Progressives and European Socialists). Why? Its self evident. Make a fist and declare it in the air!

Indeed direct democracy is purported to have been the downfall of Athens, the first democracy. Knowing this, the current oldest democracy in the world, the USA, loathed the concept of a popularly elected senate (in fact, ratifying the constitution would never have happened unless Senators represented a more solid, unchanging, non-emotive component of society). Clearly, with no adults in the room, the unbridled wave of the populace could even vote to destroy self- and this was fine while contained in the lower house, subject to distillation in senate conference! Thus Senators reflected the States and the Governors. It was a major "coup" for progressives in the USA to get a constitutional amendment making US Senators directly elected. It also forever setup one of the mechanisms that has America an emotional electoral bloodbath (it has certainly allowed unrestrained Federalism). There is simply nothing wrong with local, unique parties peculiar to a culture being a part of a political dynamic- assuming there are checks and balances, and hopefully transparency. (One example is a constitutional monarchy, such as United Kingdom). And thus Senators representing provinces, states, etc., is hardly the deadly scourge of fascism you suggest. Indeed, suggesting is all you do above. Fascism? Wild hyperbole and ad hominen assignments to others hardly makes your point seem useful. The inference that the USA was a Fascist state for over a hundred years has you uniquely writing in a singular genre= alone!

The "goal" of the military is the national defense of a nation against foreign and domestic threats, and to further assist and follow orders as per law. The "goal" is hardly what you impugn on them. This is your "goal" though, isn't it? To thread enough conjecture and supposition and negative fears into a valid point of view? Yet you failed.

Put more simply, you are just an apologist for the subjugation of the majority while posing a a protector of minority rights.

[Jip99]

Back to Sky News protest has appeared to disperse.

Is it just me that thinks journalists are inflammatory ?

No issue with events being reported - per se - but journalists appear to want to put a slant on things and dramatise these events.

i guess they need to sensationalise things to satisfy their own egos or the requirements of their masters

Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow

6:32pm - RT @bedlamfury: Another officer tried to chase a protester but was blocked by a crowd, and journalists.

What .. .... are journalists doing blocking soldiers.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Jip99

[harrry]

Back to Sky News protest has appeared to disperse.

Is it just me that thinks journalists are inflammatory ?

No issue with events being reported - per se - but journalists appear to want to put a slant on things and dramatise these events.

i guess they need to sensationalise things to satisfy their own egos or the requirements of their masters

Richard Barrow ‏@RichardBarrow

6:32pm - RT @bedlamfury: Another officer tried to chase a protester but was blocked by a crowd, and journalists.

What .. .... are journalists doing blocking soldiers.

The journalist quoted here lauded a "journalist"who taped her mouth and provoked soldiers while wearing a journalists armband.

It is so called journalists like that use journalisnm as a front for their activism that lead to real journalist getting shot or hassled.

[ThailandNoob]

They are summoning university lecturers, Thai people need to get on the streets and protest against this today

I am not sure a Falang should be encouraging illegal activity.

i would now bring out the water canons.

I thought a military coup was an illegal activity. The soldiers should go back to the barracks where they belong.

[cacruden]

They are summoning university lecturers, Thai people need to get on the streets and protest against this today

I am not sure a Falang should be encouraging illegal activity.

i would now bring out the water canons.

Oh that would be very hypocritical would it not? The army making it impossible to disperse the PDRC through non-lethal force then immediately using it to disperse the other side.....

Sort of like the constitutional court saying you could not modify the constitution (written under the military behest) to have a fully elected senate since that would destroy the checks and balances -- and now those same unelected senators (that were kept in place by the constitutional court) are saying they would have no problem creating an appointed lower house. Sort of destroys the argument of checks and balances unless it is only checks and balances against the voice of majority of the people....

Edited May 24, 2014 by cacruden

[chickenslegs]

I'm guessing that these students have now been added to the list of people to be "invited" to a meeting at Army HQ.

[emilymat]

Just watched SKY News at 8pm. There were quite a lot of people on a march in Bangkok.

[garrya]

• Students protest.
• They protest against one of the best changes ever.
• They all passed their exams, by the way without a single 'F'.
• They are all so educated, they know what they are talking about.
• They don't ride motor-cycles with neither helmets nor licences
• They are not trouble makers, and understand eveything about Thailand putting a finger up to the world (and ASEAN)

Oh my Buddha!

Someone missed his medications today????? <deleted>

[garrya]

I'm guessing that these students have now been added to the list of people to be "invited" to a meeting at Army HQ.

Wonder how many of them are gonna be detained.

[michaeljordan]

The people who ordered the coup and financed it should be put on trial at the Haag and convicted and jailed.

[rayfork]

Thais should keep checking the definition of 'politics' and 'democracy' before claiming to understand them.

[ThailandNoob]

The people who ordered the coup and financed it should be put on trial at the Haag and convicted and jailed.

It would be even nicer if it happened here, since Thai law provides for the death penalty for treason. And if a military coup is not an act of treason then I don't know what is.

[Mackie]

It's more likely those kids are the same ones who lit candles and changed red shirts with white shirts. They're fighting for no one's rights. All they do is stir unnecessary trouble on behalf of one very bitter and selfish man.

"I will defend the democracy with my life."

Thaksin Shinawatra

We all know what happened. He took the money and ran. My message to students or anyone else is a very simple one. It's really not worth losing your life because of that greedy bastard. Be patient, life will get back to normal soon.

What a hoot...this from the most pious of defenders of the right to protest just a few short days ago. Cringeworthy.

For goodness sake, if you didn't notice the army announced the coup and took over. The rules of the game have changed. I don't want to see anyone losing their life over politics. Perhaps you are one of those pathetic individuals who actually wants to see Thai blood flowing through the streets of Bangkok. I don't. Lead by example, instead of hiding behind the keyboard. It's all to0 easy to encourage others to risk their lives. You sir are nothing but a coward.

Edited May 24, 2014 by Mackie

[philw]

I am happy the Army showed sense here,this could easily have gone the other way and a massacre ensued,generally once the first shot is fired everyone else starts shooting,let's just hope that that does not happen,credit to the Officers in charge for showing initiative and not letting their men unload.

It was just a cheap shot trying to create another Tammasart University Massacre. They were massacred then because they were communists and Thailand was involved in the war with communist Vietnam. Thaksin is still out there pulling strings. The head needs to be removed before the beast will die.

Wow you guys are obsessed....

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

No, just ignorant of Thai history.

Not even that, just ignorant, pig ignorant.

[mariner16]

Is it true that previous coups have set Thailand back, stunted the due process of the march of democracy?

Thailand moved from absolute monarchy to something that is supposed to be electoral democracy thanks to a military coup.

As did just about all modern countries that have representational democracy now, however in England for instance that happened in the 17th century and involved at least two civil wars, going by that measure Thailand has another 250 plus years to go

[Piichai]

Interesting the protesters today have limited their use of English signs?

And why are they so afraid of wearing their red shirts?

[StevieH]

Interesting the protesters today have limited their use of English signs?

And why are they so afraid of wearing their red shirts?

because they're not all 'red shirts'.

[Lannig]

I've just watched a live report of the protests on BBC and I was amazed to notice that the crowd of protesters seems to be almost completely female. Well, at least the ones who accept being filmed (I almost wrote "shot" but that was inappropriate) and accept to talk to the reporter.

Tells a lot about the Thai society, I think.

Edited May 25, 2014 by Lannig

[Piichai]

Interesting the protesters today have limited their use of English signs?

And why are they so afraid of wearing their red shirts?

because they're not all 'red shirts'.

RT@pakhead: There are people identifying themselves as red shirt leaders organising Amarin protest.

[StevieH]

Interesting the protesters today have limited their use of English signs?

And why are they so afraid of wearing their red shirts?

because they're not all 'red shirts'.

RT@pakhead: There are people identifying themselves as red shirt leaders organising Amarin protest.

yeah, so some of them are 'red shirts'. some are yellow voters. all are anti-coup protesters.

[beautifulthailand99]

SKY news UK keeps going live to the protests - crowd looks quite big 500 + and are pushing aggressively at army line - reporter says mood much more tense than yesterday with bigger numbers.

[Prbkk]

It's more likely those kids are the same ones who lit candles and changed red shirts with white shirts. They're fighting for no one's rights. All they do is stir unnecessary trouble on behalf of one very bitter and selfish man.

"I will defend the democracy with my life."

Thaksin Shinawatra

We all know what happened. He took the money and ran. My message to students or anyone else is a very simple one. It's really not worth losing your life because of that greedy bastard. Be patient, life will get back to normal soon.

What a hoot...this from the most pious of defenders of the right to protest just a few short days ago. Cringeworthy.

For goodness sake, if you didn't notice the army announced the coup and took over. The rules of the game have changed. I don't want to see anyone losing their life over politics. Perhaps you are one of those pathetic individuals who actually wants to see Thai blood flowing through the streets of Bangkok. I don't. Lead by example, instead of hiding behind the keyboard. It's all to0 easy to encourage others to risk their lives. You sir are nothing but a coward.

I'm not encouraging anyone to do anything, let alone risk their lives. I am however pointing out the fact of your evident hypocrisy and double standards: a week ago a staunch defender of the right to protest ( notwithstanding the fact they they were at risk), today it's "get the rabble off the streets". Either you believe in the right to protest or you do not. You can't pick and choose.

[AGareth2]

2 speeches come to mind

those by MLK jr and HS-I

[Piichai]

BANGKOK: -- About 200 people staged a protest against the military takeover at Ratchaprasong shopping district this morning.

The protesters, who called themselves Red Sunday group, gathered in front of McDonald outlet and shouted abuses at a group of army troops dispatched to contain the protest.

Meanwhile Mr Sombat Booonngarm-anong, editor of Lai Chud magazine and a supporter of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, posted a message in his Facebook page threatening to launch a protest campaign, Eat Mc to Protest against Coup, every Sunday at McDonald outlet against the coup.

He urges supporters of his campaign to wear red and to gather in front of designated McDonald outlets to conduct any conceivable activities such as eating or exercising.

Source: http://englishnews.t...p-ratchaprasong

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-24

[Piichai]

BANGKOK: -- About 200 people staged a protest against the military takeover at Ratchaprasong shopping district this morning.

The protesters, who called themselves Red Sunday group, gathered in front of McDonald outlet and shouted abuses at a group of army troops dispatched to contain the protest.

Meanwhile Mr Sombat Booonngarm-anong, editor of Lai Chud magazine and a supporter of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, posted a message in his Facebook page threatening to launch a protest campaign, Eat Mc to Protest against Coup, every Sunday at McDonald outlet against the coup.

He urges supporters of his campaign to wear red and to gather in front of designated McDonald outlets to conduct any conceivable activities such as eating or exercising.

More thuggish behavior by the Reds.

[haroldc]

Anti-coup = the kleptocracy back in power as quickly as possible

Today's demonstration is obviously not spontaneous. It was organized to attract the attention of the international press and foment negative publicity. The coup is Thailand's last remaining hope for meaningful reforms.

[beautifulthailand99]

Eating McDonald's as a form of protest has got to be the most out there protest idea ever - add it to the archived list of Thai 'inventions'.