2006 coup suicide: Govt agents force cancellation of event to honour late taxi driver

[webfact]

2006 COUP SUICIDE
Junta agents force cancellation of event to honour late taxi driver
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- A SYMPOSIUM and the ceremonial opening of a conference room in honour of a taxi driver who killed himself in protest against the 2006 coup was banned by the authorities after they visited the organisers on Tuesday.

More than 10 soldiers, police officers and local officials visited the pro-red-shirt Heroes of Democracy Foundation in Nonthaburi province on Tuesday and ordered the event scheduled for Sunday to be cancelled.

Yesterday, the foundation's manager, Vipa Daomanee, received an "invitation" to attend a "reconciliation seminar" today hosted by the junta. She was in Pattaya when she received a phone call from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday. It appears that a number of other pro-democracy activists have also been summoned for today's "seminar", including law lecturer Ekachai Chainuvati and mother of slain medic volunteer Phayaw Akkahad.

The invitation letter stated that those invited are people with knowledge that could help with national reconciliation.

"The military has continued calling me, but I don't answer the phone any more. What should I do?" an obviously frightened Vipa said yesterday afternoon. "They want to see me because I am the manager of the foundation and signed the invitation letter [for the event]. I don't feel safe, even though I work for a foundation fighting for democracy."

She said the foundation tried and failed to negotiate with the military officers, who showed up to cancel the event.
The event was slated to include a symposium entitled "Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Nuamthong sustained injuries after ramming his cab into an Army tank after the September 19, 2006 coup, and then he hanged himself on October 31 after a military officer challenged him, saying nobody was ideological enough to sacrifice their life for a cause.

Vipa said the authorities told foundation staff that using Nuamthong's name was in itself a "political symbol" and warned that if something went wrong, they would be arrested.

Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara said those affected by the cancellation should lodge a complaint.

Niran, however, acknowledged that given the current situation, there was little that could be expected from the rights commission. "We can summon and tell [the NCPO] that this is something that should not have been done, but they are unlikely to act on our advice," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Junta-agents-force-cancellation-of-event-to-honour-30258552.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-23

[chooka]

These agent are totally disgusting, the deceased was a human being who had family and friends who loved him. What these Junta agents are doing is truly revolting and sickening and bordering on pure evil. If government agents burst into my home and say I can't remember a loved family member and dragged me off for doing so I wouldn't be happy. All the attitude adjustment in the world wouldn't make me love and adore them, it would never make me love my lost love one any less. A group of us get together every year to remember a long lost friend for a few laughs and drinks, he was a good army mate and we will continue to so.

[rametindallas]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

[SoilSpoil]

Do you guys really think that the family of this man (R.I.P.) would organize a symposium and conference to honour his suicide?

Of course this is political, duh!. A certain group of people named 'the Pro-Red-Shirt Heroes of Democracy Foundation' is using this man's mischief for PR purposes. This 'hero of democracy' tried to attack a tank with his taxi! When you think about it, he's actually lucky he managed to hang himself. Where in the world can you attack a military vehicle, in a city in a state of emergency and live to tell the tale?

[trogers]

Any event to honour those rice farmers who committed suicide due to failure in getting paid for their pledged rice?

[emilymat]

Must add 'reconciliation seminar' to my list of phrases, headed by 'attitude adjustment'.

[wabothai]

Junta agents ? Stasi ? Scary development of intimidation. (1936).

[NanLaew]

....

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Of course, when their Dear Leader or his proxy wins yet another popular mandate to govern (which they surely will), they should all stand aside when the perpetually losing opposition kicks off again.

I know, I know.... all hypothetical. As we know, the current 'Dear Leader' and his benefactors have absolutely no plans for any democratic elections for quite a long while (due to the bit in parenthesis above).

Edited April 23, 2015 by NanLaew

[smedly]

smedly quiz

Spot the odd one out of these three words

Democracy - Reconciliation - Redshirts

makes me want to vomit when I see these words all linked in one article

here is a better assimilation

Redshirt - M79 - Murder - terrorism - Corruption - Thaksin

Edited April 23, 2015 by smedly

[Cuchulainn]

Good.

[mca]

Must add 'reconciliation seminar' to my list of phrases, headed by 'attitude adjustment'.

Do you think they provide morning and afternoon session coffee breaks with nibbles?

[Eric Loh]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Get a grip. That was in 2006 and the mob up was by the PAD who wanted a coup. They got one and this lone brave man was a true soldier of democracy unlike the fake one now.

[Baerboxer]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Get a grip. That was in 2006 and the mob up was by the PAD who wanted a coup. They got one and this lone brave man was a true soldier of democracy unlike the fake one now.

True soldier of democracy ...............

New him personally did you Eric.

Now why would someone react against the removal of a non elected person illegally occupying the position of caretaker PM be considered a "true soldier of democracy"?

[tbthailand]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Maybe the lesson to be learned is ... just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

you've said some really thoughtless things in the past, but this might just beat all your other stupid comments combined.

Good job....

But of course it does blatantly display your total lack of understanding of this simple taxi driver and his own courage.

[tbthailand]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

[ratcatcher]

This man Nuamthong Paiwan, was 60 years old.

He died for what he thought was a good thing. I see no need for anything more than understanding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuamthong_Praiwan

[SoilSpoil]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

Edited April 23, 2015 by SoilSpoil

[SoilSpoil]

This man Nuamthong Paiwan, 180px-Nuamthong_Phaiwan.jpg was 60 years old.

He died for what he thought was a good thing. I see no need for anything more than understanding.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuamthong_Praiwan

So do terrorist suicide bombers. They died for what they think is a good thing. What's there to understand? Pure nonsense you're posting. Absolute <deleted>.

[rametindallas]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Maybe the lesson to be learned is ... just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

you've said some really thoughtless things in the past, but this might just beat all your other stupid comments combined.

Good job....

But of course it does blatantly display your total lack of understanding of this simple taxi driver and his own courage.

simple taxi driver

Yes, the taxi driver was simple. Killing yourself for the billionaire, Thaksin, is not an example of courage, it is an example of what brain-washing can do. Thaksin's cult of personality believe he is the ONLY possible Savior of Thailand.

[tbthailand]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

It's farang or falang, or fascist foreigner or any other way that I care to transliterate the Thai ... how do you dare to even assume what he knew or didn't know about democracy much less the way (and the reasons for taking his life)... You may actually have an inkling about what it means in Thai culture to do what he did, but you certainly don't show it with your posts.

Democracy was raped and pillaged by Thaksin... That is a "mantra", to use your term, which is rolled out by posters here who clearly know little to nothing of Thai history and Thai current events.

The only thing you got right in your post, and that was just by accident, was stating that coups "happen here for a reason".

[tbthailand]

"Democratic Path and What we can Learn from Nuamthong Praiwan".

Maybe the lesson to be learned is not to mob up and barricade themselves in the main commercial district of Bangkok and fire M-70 grenades at BTS stations, invade hospitals, burn shopping centers, etc., but instead, just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

Of course, the best way to follow the 'Democratic Path' is to just wait for the next scheduled election and vote in their Dear Leader peacefully

Maybe the lesson to be learned is ... just go home and hang themselves in protest. It would send a lot clearer message and wouldn't negatively impact a lot of folks just trying to earn a living.

you've said some really thoughtless things in the past, but this might just beat all your other stupid comments combined.

Good job....

But of course it does blatantly display your total lack of understanding of this simple taxi driver and his own courage.

simple taxi driver

Yes, the taxi driver was simple. Killing yourself for the billionaire, Thaksin, is not an example of courage, it is an example of what brain-washing can do. Thaksin's cult of personality believe he is the ONLY possible Savior of Thailand.

another post without a clue... good job

[SoilSpoil]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

It's farang or falang, or fascist foreigner or any other way that I care to transliterate the Thai ... how do you dare to even assume what he knew or didn't know about democracy much less the way (and the reasons for taking his life)... You may actually have an inkling about what it means in Thai culture to do what he did, but you certainly don't show it with your posts.

Democracy was raped and pillaged by Thaksin... That is a "mantra", to use your term, which is rolled out by posters here who clearly know little to nothing of Thai history and Thai current events.

The only thing you got right in your post, and that was just by accident, was stating that coups "happen here for a reason".

Maybe I can challenge you in explaining how the Shinawatras did not destroy the Western form of democracy and its system of check and balances. You claim I have no understanding of Thai history or even the current events, so I am all ears.

Do you know about Thaksin's business practices before he became PM? Are you aware of his assets assealments cases in his first term and how he managed to get off the hook. Are you aware of his human rights track records? How about his family members? Have you ever listened to his famous speeches, all in Hitler style? The (13?) missing human right activists? The silencing of media and billion baht court cases against crticical journalists? Ample Rich? You call that democracy? And this cabbie's suicide should be seen as a heroes act?

This clan has raped and pillaged democracy, whether you like it or not. Almost every Thai, also the upper echelons of society, had confidence in him and his CEO leadership style. They believed he would push the country forward.

well, look at the mess we are in today, 2 coups later. All because of this little tyrant and his ill gained fortune.

But again, tell me what I don't understand? Spin, spin, spin your wheel.

[Baerboxer]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

It's farang or falang, or fascist foreigner or any other way that I care to transliterate the Thai ... how do you dare to even assume what he knew or didn't know about democracy much less the way (and the reasons for taking his life)... You may actually have an inkling about what it means in Thai culture to do what he did, but you certainly don't show it with your posts.

Democracy was raped and pillaged by Thaksin... That is a "mantra", to use your term, which is rolled out by posters here who clearly know little to nothing of Thai history and Thai current events.

The only thing you got right in your post, and that was just by accident, was stating that coups "happen here for a reason".

Fascist foreigner - yeah whatever, or maybe Shin loving gangster foreigner. Whatever rocks you.

You dare to assume you know exactly what was in his mind when he took his own life - but decry someone else who suggests something different. Were you there, speak with him, no him. Or just spouting hot air in support of a convicted criminal fugitive and the crime family he presides over?

Thaksin was, is and always will be only interested in what's best for him, his wealth, his family's wealth and their power and ability to control. Maybe you should read the real history and not the Thaksin/Amsterdam fiction.

But all your posts are like that. Insisting the Shins were more than an opportunistic, immoral, greedy, clan prepared to break any laws for their own advantage.

[mikemac]

Must add 'reconciliation seminar' to my list of phrases, headed by 'attitude adjustment'.

To save time, just get yourself a copy of "The Little Red Book of Propaganda and BS", all the phrases you will ever need are in there - democratically elected, Amart, Hi-So, yellow murderers, blah blah blah...........................

[Bluespunk]

""The military has continued calling me, but I don't answer the phone any more. What should I do?" an obviously frightened Vipa said yesterday afternoon. "They want to see me because I am the manager of the foundation and signed the invitation letter [for the event]. I don't feel safe, even though I work for a foundation fighting for democracy."

No you don't. You work for a red shirt propaganda machine. You don't give a toss about democracy, all you want is power for your sponsors.

That this man killed himself and how it affected his family is a tragedy for them

For you and the other vultures who are exploiting this event (and i do not include his family in this) it is nothing but a propaganda opportunity

[mikemac]

""The military has continued calling me, but I don't answer the phone any more. What should I do?" an obviously frightened Vipa said yesterday afternoon. "They want to see me because I am the manager of the foundation and signed the invitation letter [for the event]. I don't feel safe, even though I work for a foundation fighting for democracy."

No you don't. You work for a red shirt propaganda machine. You don't give a toss about democracy, all you want is power for your sponsors.

That this man killed himself and how it affected his family is a tragedy for them

For you and the other vultures who are exploiting this event (and i do not include his family in this) it is nothing but a propaganda opportunity

If the man who killed himself been a rice farmer who committed suicide because of mounting debts would the redshirts PR machine be interested in him ?

After all, those farmers who took their own lives thanks to being screwed by the PTP and their smelly rice scam, were all from the red heartland.

What is the difference ? (Warning ! Huge dose of sarcasm.)

[tbthailand]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

It's farang or falang, or fascist foreigner or any other way that I care to transliterate the Thai ... how do you dare to even assume what he knew or didn't know about democracy much less the way (and the reasons for taking his life)... You may actually have an inkling about what it means in Thai culture to do what he did, but you certainly don't show it with your posts.

Democracy was raped and pillaged by Thaksin... That is a "mantra", to use your term, which is rolled out by posters here who clearly know little to nothing of Thai history and Thai current events.

The only thing you got right in your post, and that was just by accident, was stating that coups "happen here for a reason".

Maybe I can challenge you in explaining how the Shinawatras did not destroy the Western form of democracy and its system of check and balances. You claim I have no understanding of Thai history or even the current events, so I am all ears.

Do you know about Thaksin's business practices before he became PM? Are you aware of his assets assealments cases in his first term and how he managed to get off the hook. Are you aware of his human rights track records? How about his family members? Have you ever listened to his famous speeches, all in Hitler style? The (13?) missing human right activists? The silencing of media and billion baht court cases against crticical journalists? Ample Rich? You call that democracy? And this cabbie's suicide should be seen as a heroes act?

This clan has raped and pillaged democracy, whether you like it or not. Almost every Thai, also the upper echelons of society, had confidence in him and his CEO leadership style. They believed he would push the country forward.

well, look at the mess we are in today, 2 coups later. All because of this little tyrant and his ill gained fortune.

But again, tell me what I don't understand? Spin, spin, spin your wheel.

You are focused on Thaksin. that is the problem. He is a newcomer to the scene. I understand perfectly well that Thaksin was corrupt. I recognize that while he supports elections on one hand, he was never a true democrat. I recognize that he also understood where the power in Thailand lies historically, which is with the army, and this is why he tried like he!! to make sure the army was not his downfall - he failed miserably in that endeavour.

Thaksin was a (typically corrupt) powerful businessman and successful politician who won elections and basically blew to doors off his feeble political rivals. I don't support his corruption or abuses of his power. I support some of the policies that he implemented. I support a more equal distribution of Thailand's resources. But it is not a defense of Thaksin.

Likewise, the taxi driver was protesting the coup, not glorifying Thaksin. There is a huge difference. At least one poster on this thread claimed it was done for Thaksin, that is nonsense.

It's not all about Thaksin. Did he abuse his power, most certainly (albeit, and bizarrely enough, probably not in the one instance for which he was convicted). But how can anyone claim with a straight face that Thaksin destroyed democracy in Thailand when the elephant is the room is the current, self-appointed 'PM'? And the boys in green didn't start with their little antics in the last 15 years since Thaksin started winning elections. Their's is a long history.

Thaksin is the new boy on the block. The ones who consistently undermine democracy in Thailand have been around for a much much longer time.

[tbthailand]

""The military has continued calling me, but I don't answer the phone any more. What should I do?" an obviously frightened Vipa said yesterday afternoon. "They want to see me because I am the manager of the foundation and signed the invitation letter [for the event]. I don't feel safe, even though I work for a foundation fighting for democracy."

No you don't. You work for a red shirt propaganda machine. You don't give a toss about democracy, all you want is power for your sponsors.

That this man killed himself and how it affected his family is a tragedy for them

For you and the other vultures who are exploiting this event (and i do not include his family in this) it is nothing but a propaganda opportunity

If the man who killed himself been a rice farmer who committed suicide because of mounting debts would the redshirts PR machine be interested in him ?

After all, those farmers who took their own lives thanks to being screwed by the PTP and their smelly rice scam, were all from the red heartland.

What is the difference ? (Warning ! Huge dose of sarcasm.)

not to go too far from the topic, but I recall the reasons for which the rice farmers weren't getting paid.

[tbthailand]

it's rather remarkable the number of falang fascists on this board who praise military strongmen but abuse simple people who want democracy including a taxi driver who gave up his own life to oppose a coup.

He committed suicide after he drove his taxi into a tank hoping to hurt/kill military personnel. What a nice guy he was. Maybe a course of anger management would have served him right. Glad CSI LA wasn't around then, as he would have surely made his Facebook posts for a nice dosis of name and shame!

He could and should have protested in a less aggressive manner, like thousands of others. You say he wanted a democracy, but he didn't even know what it meant, just as you probably, you keep just repeating a mantra embedded in your long term memory about what democracy is and should be.

Democracy was raped and pillaged the moment a megalomaniac billionaire's and his family tried to copy the Marcos family from the Philippines. Do you have any knowledge of the events that led to the coup? I doubt it. Try to use some of your human intellect and try to think in both sequence of events and in terms of cause and effect.

No one likes coups, soldiers don't and even those falang (it's farang btw) fascists you call them, but they seem to happen here for a reason. Comparable with the system reboot on your laptop when you get another virus while visiting those dodgy Russian websites..

It's farang or falang, or fascist foreigner or any other way that I care to transliterate the Thai ... how do you dare to even assume what he knew or didn't know about democracy much less the way (and the reasons for taking his life)... You may actually have an inkling about what it means in Thai culture to do what he did, but you certainly don't show it with your posts.

Democracy was raped and pillaged by Thaksin... That is a "mantra", to use your term, which is rolled out by posters here who clearly know little to nothing of Thai history and Thai current events.

The only thing you got right in your post, and that was just by accident, was stating that coups "happen here for a reason".

Fascist foreigner - yeah whatever, or maybe Shin loving gangster foreigner. Whatever rocks you.

You dare to assume you know exactly what was in his mind when he took his own life - but decry someone else who suggests something different. Were you there, speak with him, no him. Or just spouting hot air in support of a convicted criminal fugitive and the crime family he presides over?

Thaksin was, is and always will be only interested in what's best for him, his wealth, his family's wealth and their power and ability to control. Maybe you should read the real history and not the Thaksin/Amsterdam fiction.

But all your posts are like that. Insisting the Shins were more than an opportunistic, immoral, greedy, clan prepared to break any laws for their own advantage.

but decry someone else who suggests something different

yeah, maybe that is because I have actually read about the Taxi driver and his story. He not only tried to kill himself twice in protest of the coup, he also left a note before his suicide ...

But like so many around this forum, you turn it directly to "Thaksin" with nonsensical comments like:

spouting hot air in support of a convicted criminal fugitive and the crime family he presides over?

which is no where to be found in my post.

[Baerboxer]

""The military has continued calling me, but I don't answer the phone any more. What should I do?" an obviously frightened Vipa said yesterday afternoon. "They want to see me because I am the manager of the foundation and signed the invitation letter [for the event]. I don't feel safe, even though I work for a foundation fighting for democracy."

No you don't. You work for a red shirt propaganda machine. You don't give a toss about democracy, all you want is power for your sponsors.

That this man killed himself and how it affected his family is a tragedy for them

For you and the other vultures who are exploiting this event (and i do not include his family in this) it is nothing but a propaganda opportunity

If the man who killed himself been a rice farmer who committed suicide because of mounting debts would the redshirts PR machine be interested in him ?

After all, those farmers who took their own lives thanks to being screwed by the PTP and their smelly rice scam, were all from the red heartland.

What is the difference ? (Warning ! Huge dose of sarcasm.)

not to go too far from the topic, but I recall the reasons for which the rice farmers weren't getting paid.

Do you recall the reasons why they weren't getting paid in the several months before the Amnesty whitewash bill fiasco kicked off the protests and before Yingluck dissolved parliament?

Do you recall Yingluck vowing to pay the farmers - and then not bothering to, or apologize, or offer and explanation and new date.

Do you recall PTP and Yingluck saying they had enough money to pay the farmers and wouldn't need to borrow more?

Or are you swallowing the PTP PR fairy stories?