Yingluck barred from attending Fireball Festival

[Boxclever]

What I think is you should continue on your whiskey diet and lose another 3 days, then another, and another...

[tullynagardy]

Ah ha. The little red puppets' heads are starting to (predictably) appear over the parapets.

As opposed to coup mongerers like yourself, trying to add a sense of accomplishment to your own pointless lives, by supporting a coup that benefits neither you or your family, and was instigated by people who view you like a dog sh1t.

[PREM-R]

Smed "you are making a lot of statements in your post when all the actual evidence would indicate the opposite"

What evidence is there that PTP/YS et al are NOT still loved and supported by 'the people'? They were elected by the people, would the current "incumbents' fancy a go a doing that? I think not.

Edited October 9, 2014 by PREM-R

[monkeycountry]

At least now we know what the rice subsidies are spent at. Just in case someone thought it would be spend on farming or general living expenses.

[Robespiere]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

If she were truly a washed up has been residing in oblivion and obscurity there would be no invitations extended to her and therefore no need to ban her from anything.

The truth is Shinawatras, particularly this one, remain immensely popular in vast swathes of this country, only a fool could argue otherwise.

[Suriya4]

Like the fireballs, they are both fake.

Yingluck and fireballs.

[Equalizer]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

All it takes is a handful of people putting up posters sponsored by the Redshirt/Thaksin mafia leaders to spark distain and trouble

The reality of the matter is that Thailand needs to forget the abomination of the Yingluc PTP Thaksin government debacle and move on - they were on a path to destroy this country and anyone with a brain knows exactly that undisputed fact, having this woman at any high profile public event is just counter productive, the shins redshirt mafia propaganda machine is still smoldering in the background and needs to be exposed and extinguished once and for all, there's not much more to say

Yes well in the end a general election will be the true voice whether you like it or not.

[MZurf]

In the words of the late, great Jerry Lewis :

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!

Edited October 9, 2014 by MZurf

[JAG]

Ah ha. The little red puppets' heads are starting to (predictably) appear over the parapets.

You got the first blow in though, "Kato, my little yellow friend!"

[Robespiere]

The Junta know all too well that the great mass of the people, the silent majority, still love and support Yingluck and her political party. The military dictators are fully aware of this fact and are terrified the people will rally behind her. What a bunch of YELLOW cowards! They can't hold back the tide forever

you are making a lot of statements in your post when all the actual evidence would indicate the opposite

it would appear you are as clever a box filled with air - would you like me to explain or can you work it out for yourself

What actual evidence??

How about you explain why martial law has yet to be rescinded and why political gatherings are still banned, why the media is so heavily censored, why elections have been canned and why the constitution was scrapped?

From where I'm sitting, there all evidences in support of Boxclevers post.

[See the bears]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

If she were truly a washed up has been residing in oblivion and obscurity there would be no invitations extended to her and therefore no need to ban her from anything.

The truth is Shinawatras, particularly this one, remain immensely popular in vast swathes of this country, only a fool could argue otherwise.

You've hit the nail on the head Robes...there are a lot of fools on this forum!!!!

[brucec64]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

All it takes is a handful of people putting up posters sponsored by the Redshirt/Thaksin mafia leaders to spark distain and trouble

The reality of the matter is that Thailand needs to forget the abomination of the Yingluc PTP Thaksin government debacle and move on - they were on a path to destroy this country and anyone with a brain knows exactly that undisputed fact, having this woman at any high profile public event is just counter productive, the shins redshirt mafia propaganda machine is still smoldering in the background and needs to be exposed and extinguished once and for all, there's not much more to say

Yes well in the end a general election will be the true voice whether you like it or not.

That is what should happen, but by the time the military has completed dictating the "reforms", the electoral process will be completely skewed to ensure only the "right" people can be elected.

[Artist]

Without going into boring politics.

How these fireballs are produced?

In 2002, a TV program for iTV did some investigative journalism and caught people on Laos side faking the phenomenon using tracing rounds and fireworks.

The TV channel got immediately threatened and boycotted for being disrespectful of sacred beliefs.

Its a multi-million dollars business with several hundred thousands of people now attending the event every year. Unsurprisingly, the variety and intensity of the phenomenon has increased over the past few years as it started to attract international visitors rather than only locals.

A good analysis of the phenomenon can be found here: http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4183

We certainly had huge crowds here in Phon Phisai for the Naga Festival, between our guest house and the town a distance of a couple of kms you couldn't move for people. We are on the bank of the Mekong with a fantastic view but we only saw 3 fireballs (I only saw one). It can't possibly be a natural phenomenon as the fireballs go 30+ metres into the air. However, I have never seen any sign of a boat launching them and they appear to come out of the river. Whoever stages it does a brilliant job as thousands of people sit and wait to see one or two fireballs, with great gasps of ooh and ahh when they appear. What Western theatrical organisation could hold huge crowds for 6 hours and only perform a couple of times and each one for less than a minute?

[phantomfiddler]

"Her Excellency" ? That,s more than a bit pretentious !

[Cuchulainn]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

If she were truly a washed up has been residing in oblivion and obscurity there would be no invitations extended to her and therefore no need to ban her from anything.

The truth is Shinawatras, particularly this one, remain immensely popular in vast swathes of this country, only a fool could argue otherwise.

You've hit the nail on the head Robes...there are a lot of fools on this forum!!!!

They think that they have pacified Thailand. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! - they have left us our dead, and while Thailand puts the Shinawatra clan in high regard, Thailand shall never be at peace.

Credit (and apologies) to Padraig Pearse

[noahvail]

In the words of the late, great Jerry Lewis :

Goodness, gracious, great balls of fire!

He's still alive and performing on a regular basis. Doubt that he's setting pianos on fire, though.

[SOTIRIOS]

....on trial for several crimes.....is that celebrity status suddenly.....???

[klauskunkel]

"If Ms. Yingluck traveled there to open the festival, many people would attend, and it would risk making the general populace to view [her appearance] in an inappropriate way," Col. Winthai said.

Inappropriate? Why, she gonna appear in a bikini?

[JAG]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

All it takes is a handful of people putting up posters sponsored by the Redshirt/Thaksin mafia leaders to spark distain and trouble

The reality of the matter is that Thailand needs to forget the abomination of the Yingluc PTP Thaksin government debacle and move on - they were on a path to destroy this country and anyone with a brain knows exactly that undisputed fact, having this woman at any high profile public event is just counter productive, the shins redshirt mafia propaganda machine is still smoldering in the background and needs to be exposed and extinguished once and for all, there's not much more to say

Yes well in the end a general election will be the true voice whether you like it or not.

That is what should happen, but by the time the military has completed dictating the "reforms", the electoral process will be completely skewed to ensure only the "right" people can be elected.

Very likely, but if that is the case it will be widely recognised both inside and outside the country.

Maybe there will be a protest movement demanding reforms? I wander how that will be dealt with?

[Alwyn]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

Fair enough if that's your view.But the significance of the story is rather different.In other words why should ordinary Thais be so fond of the former democratically elected PM and why would they want her to be guest of honour at this important festival?

And equally to the point why should those who grabbed power be so terrified and threatened by her presence at an entirely non political occasion?

There's a wind blowing.

All it takes is a handful of people putting up posters sponsored by the Redshirt/Thaksin mafia leaders to spark distain and trouble

The reality of the matter is that Thailand needs to forget the abomination of the Yingluc PTP Thaksin government debacle and move on - they were on a path to destroy this country and anyone with a brain knows exactly that undisputed fact, having this woman at any high profile public event is just counter productive, the shins redshirt mafia propaganda machine is still smoldering in the background and needs to be exposed and extinguished once and for all, there's not much more to say

We can all fie off our opinions but whether or not PTP will be extinguished forever will be down to the Thais. (without getting into - they did this and they did that conversation as I truly don't care for Thai politics - period) It's easy to see why they are still popular as the current PM hasn't really done much except meaningless rhetoric and made a fool out of himself with his statements over the two Brits and the farce on Koh Tao. It would be truly awesome to get a strong leader at the helm who is not corrupt and delivers on his promises. But I learned that Santa isn't real a long time ago...

[Fat Haggis]

I see there's still the cheerleading Farang group who actually think Thais give a frak about what their opinions are but feel the need to denounce everything and play the fools game thinking their in with the In crowd and Junta!!

There's not a chance there will be elections next October and the suppression of peoples speach isn't going to last forever either but keep the heads buried in the sand at your own peril!!

[monk213]

Opened the Thai news section, scroll down, see this headline and literally chuckle to myself quite substantially. I don't know why, I guess I had this mental picture of Yingluck with a sad, depressed look across her face outside the gates looking into a fireball show ...

[Alwyn]

A couple of things spring to mind. 1) The popularity of YL remains unabated, at least in certain parts of the country. 2) The military are very aware and cautious of this 3) Martial law is still in place and the Junta are probably right to stop her as it will most likely aggravate emotions among her followers.

[NongKhaiKid]

""If Ms. Yingluck traveled there to open the festival, many people would attend, and it would risk making the general populace to view [her appearance] in an inappropriate way," Col. Winthai said."

Well, PT leaders and fire....never a great combination really.

Now if Jatuporn had been invited ... !

[Equalizer]

Well this will be the interesting thing because they are trying to convince the democratic world that the reason this happened was because of the complete incompetence of the people holding office. This does not mean to say competent people could be appointed within this party. Changing the democratic process would simply clarify that the reasons given to the developed world for this action was a complete lie. Countries like the USA have a history of funding democracy and the people who fight for its values. If the world decides between them that enough is enough and this dictatorship is now deemed undemocratic you will see rivers of blood and civil war. The worlds democracies will begin with embargo's and tough talk, this will fuel a revolution as the people will believe the rest of the world are on their side. Then the silent majority will become activists. This military junta can never win this war because it has to suppress democracy to do so. This is why Taksin has ordered no resistance, he knows these people are in a no win situation. He knows the world will not trade with this country if the democratic process is changed, no trade leads to financial ruin. Unfortunately for the junta the only option they have is to sit down and make a deal with this party, they know this party will win a democratic election so if they want to have any kind of future for themselves and the establishment, agreements need to be made. The problem is they do not have this course of action in their armory. The country will find itself in civil war and if it gets to deep not even the king himself will have the power to stop it. Huge swathes of the army will also turn on each other. The future is very bleak indeed.

[See the bears]

Good. Let this old, washed-up has-been stay in oblivion and obscurity. Old hat. Yesterday's news.

If she were truly a washed up has been residing in oblivion and obscurity there would be no invitations extended to her and therefore no need to ban her from anything.

The truth is Shinawatras, particularly this one, remain immensely popular in vast swathes of this country, only a fool could argue otherwise.

You've hit the nail on the head Robes...there are a lot of fools on this forum!!!!

They think that they have pacified Thailand. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! - they have left us our dead, and while Thailand puts the Shinawatra clan in high regard, Thailand shall never be at peace.

Credit (and apologies) to Padraig Pearse

They think that they have pacified Thailand. They think that they have purchased half of us and intimidated the other half. They think that they have foreseen everything, think that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! - they have left us our dead, and while Thailand puts the Shinawatra clan in high regard, the military keep raping democracy to preserve the establishment Thailand shall never be at peace

[Guest]

We certainly had huge crowds here in Phon Phisai for the Naga Festival, between our guest house and the town a distance of a couple of kms you couldn't move for people. We are on the bank of the Mekong with a fantastic view but we only saw 3 fireballs (I only saw one). It can't possibly be a natural phenomenon as the fireballs go 30+ metres into the air. However, I have never seen any sign of a boat launching them and they appear to come out of the river. Whoever stages it does a brilliant job as thousands of people sit and wait to see one or two fireballs, with great gasps of ooh and ahh when they appear. What Western theatrical organisation could hold huge crowds for 6 hours and only perform a couple of times and each one for less than a minute?

It would be nice to see those fireballs in action.

When you ask "What Western theatrical organisation could hold huge crowds for 6 hours and only perform a couple of times and each one for less than a minute?" then the answer is: Cricket and baseball games

[wwest5829]

Ah ha. The little red puppets' heads are starting to (predictably) appear over the parapets.

Yes and I predict they will remain until the poor of Thailand get a better distribution of the national income. Damn those poor, worldwide, they just will not accept their position in society and listen to their betters!

[rickirs]

"unspecified "concerns,"

Welcome to the Rule of Law under the Junta environment.

[Songlaw]

The preemptive histrionics of the Exalted One would be entertaining if they weren't so Orwellian. May the good people of Nong Khai, and elsewhere, not soon forget this effrontery. Not that they could. As for the origins of the fireballs? I attended a few years back. Impossible to determine from either of the banks. But if they are originating from the Naga, they come across as being pretty anemic. These things are barely discernible in the night sky and easily get lost in the fireworks that for some reason the locals insist on shooting off at the same time, further confusing the issue. Great time to be in Nong Khai though. But then again, almost anytime is.