Red Shirts Banned From Redshirt Leader's Memorial Service

By Khaosod Eng

BANGKOK — Mourners wearing red shirts were prohibited by police from attending yesterday’s memorial service for Apiwan Wiriyachai, a popular Redshirt leader who passed away in exile 100 days ago.

Officers manned the entrance of Wat Bang Phai temple in Nonthaburi province yesterday to enforce the ban and offer free white T-shirts to anyone who arrived in red, the color that has come to symbolize allegiance to Thailand’s Redshirt movement.

According to police, the measure was an effort to ensure that no "political symbols" would appear at the service.

Apiwan, a former Pheu Thai MP and Deputy House Speaker, died of lung cancer while he was living in political exile in the Philippines on 7 October. The politician is believed to have fled Thailand shortly after the military staged a coup against the Redshirt-allied government on 22 May, 2014.

Read More: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1421060759

-- Khaosod English 2015-01-12

That are the signs of a real democracy I suppose?

paranoid much?

They could have just gone in traditional mourning black and there would have been no problems. But these people decided to go in red so it's obvious they weren't there just to attend the memorial service, they wanted to make a statement. They deserved to get banned.

Pass the fags!!

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

they wanted to make a statement. They deserved to get banned.

Would you not rather live in a country where political statements can be made than one that represses anything different than the ruling elite? I think it`s safe to assume you were brought up in the former rather than the later, why the change of heart?

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to sayit." - Voltaire

Not showing very much respect for their dead comrade by wearing red at his memorial-service!!

Tradition says black and/or white!!

Another stupid and meaningless statement by airheads!!

in political exile like his paymaster, sorry but as far as I am concerned its one less terrorist to worry about. Doesnt matter which shirt colour it is, they are both bad news and the sooner they are all gone the better for the country as they are the ones that screw it all up. Its time for the ordinary people of Thailand to have a country free of turmoil caused by these two groups and their leaders.

they wanted to make a statement. They deserved to get banned.

Would you not rather live in a country where political statements can be made than one that represses anything different than the ruling elite? I think it`s safe to assume you were brought up in the former rather than the later, why the change of heart?

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to sayit." - Voltaire

Agree with you, but there is a (right) time for everything!

On the other hand I must admit, if the police just had ignored it, the story would never had ended up in the headlines.................

they wanted to make a statement. They deserved to get banned.

Would you not rather live in a country where political statements can be made than one that represses anything different than the ruling elite? I think it`s safe to assume you were brought up in the former rather than the later, why the change of heart?

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to sayit." - Voltaire

Please don't give us pretentious quotes about free speech because this country has never been the bastion of free speech and like it or not, it's still under martial law and the red shirts are a semi outlawed organisation.

On the more practical side, red to Asians is a color for celebration. It's auspicious to wear it during Chinese New Year or weddings or most other joyous occasions. A memorial service isn't a joyous occasion.

That are the signs of a real democracy I suppose?

If you have noticed we aren't in a democracy at the moment. If we would be the red shirts would shoot people like they did before.

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Why would they? You seem to forget in Thailand yellow is the dedicated colour of His Majesty the King (flags, banners, shirts, etc.)!

Not showing very much respect for their dead comrade by wearing red at his memorial-service!!

Tradition says black and/or white!!

Another stupid and meaningless statement by airheads!!

Correct. And they were given white shirts instead at the door. I read in another paper.

Please don't give us pretentious quotes about free speech because this country has never been the bastion of free speech

O right so because it has never had true free speech it makes sense to support increased repression. What a superb argument

I fully understand everyones points about how appropriate it is but I am deeply uncomfortable with a regime which dictates what clothes you can wear or what books you can read etc. It shows just how paranoid they are and just how tenuous their grip on power is.

Ps Just because something is beyond your limited intellect doesn`t make it pretentious

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Today was a Monday, I also wore yellow. Probably pink tomorrow, orange Wednesday (my personal favorite colour), Thursday green and Friday blue.

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Today was a Monday, I also wore yellow. Probably pink tomorrow, orange Wednesday (my personal favorite colour), Thursday green and Friday blue.

Didn't know they had those color traditions in Holland as well.

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Today was a Monday, I also wore yellow. Probably pink tomorrow, orange Wednesday (my personal favorite colour), Thursday green and Friday blue.

Didn't know they had those color traditions in Holland as well.

Living and working in Bangkok since 1994

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Today was a Monday, I also wore yellow. Probably pink tomorrow, orange Wednesday (my personal favorite colour), Thursday green and Friday blue.

Didn't know they had those color traditions in Holland as well.

In Holland every day is Wednesday..........................

This is a sign that Thailand is still not safe and peaceful. They are creating waves at beneath the ocean instead of aiming for reconciliation. I am sure some are waiting for vengeance.

Please don't give us pretentious quotes about free speech because this country has never been the bastion of free speech

O right so because it has never had true free speech it makes sense to support increased repression. What a superb argument

I fully understand everyones points about how appropriate it is but I am deeply uncomfortable with a regime which dictates what clothes you can wear or what books you can read etc. It shows just how paranoid they are and just how tenuous their grip on power is.

Ps Just because something is beyond your limited intellect doesn`t make it pretentious

You call it repression, more intelligent people call it peace. It was only a year ago we had bombs and nightly gun fights going off. If the military wants to curb some expression so people can walk around near the city and not get blown up then go ahead.

That quote is used ad nauseum everytime some pretentious person like you brings up 'free speech'. Come up with something more original. It's easy to cut and paste a quote but that doesn't actually count as defending the right to speech 'to the death'. Haha

Not showing very much respect for their dead comrade by wearing red at his memorial-service!!

Tradition says black and/or white!!

Another stupid and meaningless statement by airheads!!

since it's no longer the month of december, then wearing black is OK again.

Please don't give us pretentious quotes about free speech because this country has never been the bastion of free speech

O right so because it has never had true free speech it makes sense to support increased repression. What a superb argument

I fully understand everyones points about how appropriate it is but I am deeply uncomfortable with a regime which dictates what clothes you can wear or what books you can read etc. It shows just how paranoid they are and just how tenuous their grip on power is.

Ps Just because something is beyond your limited intellect doesn`t make it pretentious

You call it repression, more intelligent people call it peace. It was only a year ago we had bombs and nightly gun fights going off. If the military wants to curb some expression so people can walk around near the city and not get blown up then go ahead.

That quote is used ad nauseum everytime some pretentious person like you brings up 'free speech'. Come up with something more original. It's easy to cut and paste a quote but that doesn't actually count as defending the right to speech 'to the death'. Haha

You call it repression, more intelligent people call it peace.

nah, it's really just repression.

What about all the people who wear yellow....guess they wont get banned.

Today was a Monday, I also wore yellow. Probably pink tomorrow, orange Wednesday (my personal favorite colour), Thursday green and Friday blue.

and on Sunday?

in political exile like his paymaster, sorry but as far as I am concerned its one less terrorist to worry about. Doesnt matter which shirt colour it is, they are both bad news and the sooner they are all gone the better for the country as they are the ones that screw it all up. Its time for the ordinary people of Thailand to have a country free of turmoil caused by these two groups and their leaders.

The ordinary people of Thailand are the ones wearing the coloured shirts and voting in elections, what Thailand needs to be free of is evident to all and sundry with at least an ounce of grey matter between their ears

they wanted to make a statement. They deserved to get banned.

Would you not rather live in a country where political statements can be made than one that represses anything different than the ruling elite? I think it`s safe to assume you were brought up in the former rather than the later, why the change of heart?

"I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to sayit." - Voltaire

Agree with you, but there is a (right) time for everything!

On the other hand I must admit, if the police just had ignored it, the story would never had ended up in the headlines.................

It only ended up in the headline of Khao Sod News AKA Red Shirt News.

Who is the junta to say what people can or cannot wear to a funeral to show respect to a friend. When one of my close friends died we all wore blue. This was his request and if the police tried to stop us then they would have probably had a riot on thier hands. A total dictatorship telling people how to mourn and grieve and extremely offensive and sickening.

I betcha people wearing yellow to funeral wont get banned

Reconciliation, junta style.

I'm really thinking seriously about changing my style a la Mark Zuckerberg, to wear a grey T-shirt and blue jeans everyday.

Why waste time with "silly" decisions about what color shirt to wear?

I want to spend more time on the important things in life, like how to change my age to 30 and my net worth to a Billion, 555