Pro- and anti-govt groups rally in New York, out of sight of PM Prayut

[webfact]

Pro- and anti-govt groups rally in NY, out of sight of PM
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
New York

NEW YORK: -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha did not see them, but was undoubtedly aware that more than a hundred Thai residents in the United States had gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York - one group to demonstrate against him and another group to support him.

The pro-government group led by People's Alliance for Democracy and People's Democratic Reform Committee in the US occupied a corner of 47th Street and First Avenue - while the opposition, calling themselves Thai democracy-lovers, occupied another corner some 10 metres away at the same location.

They were all Thais - some holding US citizenship - and mostly know each other, but political divisions over the past few years has kept them on different sides. The pro-government group, which is indeed the yellow shirts, called for the junta to stay on while the anti-government group - which is red shirts - wants the military government to step down and call an early election.

Their demonstrations in New York were mixed up with other protesters on other issues - such as the Falun Gong and Sudan. They held posters, shouted slogans and distributed leaflets to passers-by, mostly delegates to UN meetings.

Willie Thong, a coordinator of the anti-government group, said his group had called for the junta to return power to the people, restoration of the 1997 constitution and early elections.

"I have lived in the US for more than 40 years. I don't know former premier Thaksin Shinawatra personally and I don't hate General Prayut Chan-o-cha, either," he said, "There is nothing personal. We are here to call for democracy, as the coup and junta have damaged our home country."

The Thai economy has slowed down since the coup last year. Thailand's human rights status was downgraded and it will possibly be sanctioned due to such poor practices, he said.

Meanwhile, the pro-government group said it supported Prayut as he was fair and honest. He was cleaning up the country from corruption caused by former premiers from the Shinawatra clans.

The anti-government group ended its one-day protest with participation by outspoken academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport and allegations of lese majeste for his refusal to report himself to the junta.

The pro-government group ended its gathering two hours earlier than the opponents, but will be back again on Sunday and Monday (US time) with more people, according to coordinator Pailin Kumsiri.

Initially the government's supporters planned to be present a day after the opposition due to fears of a clash. They changed their plans later to rally on the same day and will have a large group to outnumber the opponents on other days.

Pailin said her group had received a message of thanks from government Deputy Spokesman Werachon Sukhondhapatipak for their support. The opponents were not contacted by government officials.

Prime Minister Prayut did not see the protest as he spent his day mostly visiting the 9/11 memorial and holding meetings at UN functions. He had a bilateral meeting with UN Office on Drug and Crime executive director Yury Fedotov, before receiving an International Telecommunication Union Global Sustainable Digital Development Award at the UN headquarters building.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Pro-and-anti-govt-groups-rally-in-NY-out-of-sight--30269686.html

-- The Nation 2015-09-28

[Somtamnication]

"Willie Thong, a coordinator of the anti-government group, said his group had called for the junta to return power to the people, restoration of the 1997 constitution and early elections"

Thai name if I have ever seen one. Come back and fight for change, don't do it from 10 metres away from a world famous philly cheese steak joint!

[waza]

"more than a hundred Thai residents in the United States had gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters." Wow that's more than those that gathered to welcome Thaksin on his last visit.

[rubl]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

[JAG]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

Oh I should imagine appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between the US and Japan. Neither of these countries will have been troubled by his passport being revoked by the junta for failing to toe their ( the junta's ) political line. Nor I suspect would the concomitant Lese Majeste charges impress them either.

[wcoast]

Prayut asserts that UN protests will not hurt Thailands image or him, if that's the case then protests within Thailand should have the same "non effect" and political protests/gatherings should be allowed once again.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[arrowsdawdle]

Prayut asserts that UN protests will not hurt Thailands image or him, if that's the case then protests within Thailand should have the same "non effect" and political protests/gatherings should be allowed once again.

Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk

[arrowsdawdle]

It is a safe bet that the Thai embassy and consular offices along the east coast were closed or staffed by a single person in order to muster enough bodies to make an appearance. Either that, or the pro coup minions were flown over as Ocho's entourage. Perhaps, both.

[NeilSA1]

"Willie Thong, a coordinator of the anti-government group, said his group had called for the junta to return power to the people, restoration of the 1997 constitution and early elections"

Thai name if I have ever seen one. Come back and fight for change, don't do it from 10 metres away from a world famous philly cheese steak joint!

And if Willie Thong ever returns to Thailand, people will wonder if his name will change to 'Willie Thing' before his attitude adjustment.

[cmsally]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

[mrrizzla]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

[rubl]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

Oh I should imagine appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between the US and Japan. Neither of these countries will have been troubled by his passport being revoked by the junta for failing to toe their ( the junta's ) political line. Nor I suspect would the concomitant Lese Majeste charges impress them either.

Absolutely!

Japan is known for handing out Japanese passports to about anyone asking for them or needing them. At least you seem to allege that. No proof whatsoever I guess? Somehow I think asking the Japanese government the response will be 'no comment'.

[rubl]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

You base your remark on the statement of cmsally who will have a hard time to prove his statement.

BTW why do you think you need to start with "junta fan boys'? Do you think such statement increases the value of the unfounded following part of the sentence?

[mrrizzla]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

You base your remark on the statement of cmsally who will have a hard time to prove his statement.

BTW why do you think you need to start with "junta fan boys'? Do you think such statement increases the value of the unfounded following part of the sentence?

How did he get from Japan to the States then? Magic carpet?

[rubl]

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

You base your remark on the statement of cmsally who will have a hard time to prove his statement.

BTW why do you think you need to start with "junta fan boys'? Do you think such statement increases the value of the unfounded following part of the sentence?

How did he get from Japan to the States then? Magic carpet?

Probably by plane.

BTW did you see his 'passport'?

[baboon]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

After his Thai passport was revoked, the Japanese government then gave him a Japanese passport.

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

You base your remark on the statement of cmsally who will have a hard time to prove his statement.

BTW why do you think you need to start with "junta fan boys'? Do you think such statement increases the value of the unfounded following part of the sentence?

How about '(un)official junta representatives seeking to promote the junta's viewpoint no matter what the story'? Would that be more acceptable to you than 'junta fanboys'?

[JAG]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

Oh I should imagine appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between the US and Japan. Neither of these countries will have been troubled by his passport being revoked by the junta for failing to toe their ( the junta's ) political line. Nor I suspect would the concomitant Lese Majeste charges impress them either.

Absolutely!

Japan is known for handing out Japanese passports to about anyone asking for them or needing them. At least you seem to allege that. No proof whatsoever I guess? Somehow I think asking the Japanese government the response will be 'no comment'.

Rubl you are mischief making. I never said that the Japanese handed out a passport, I made no allegation, no need for any evidence. I said " I should imagine that appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between Japan and the US." Nothing about him being handed a passport.

If you wish to derail this topic you will have to try with someone else.

[rubl]

And lots of junta fan boys say democracy doesn't work in Asia. The Japanese seem to be doing alright at it.

You base your remark on the statement of cmsally who will have a hard time to prove his statement.

BTW why do you think you need to start with "junta fan boys'? Do you think such statement increases the value of the unfounded following part of the sentence?

How about '(un)official junta representatives seeking to promote the junta's viewpoint no matter what the story'? Would that be more acceptable to you than 'junta fanboys'?

How about refraining from personal attacks?

BTW any news on what type of travelling papers academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University may have used?

[rubl]

"academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport"

I wonder on what papers he was able to visit the US of A. Does this gentleman have passports of other countries as well?

Oh I should imagine appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between the US and Japan. Neither of these countries will have been troubled by his passport being revoked by the junta for failing to toe their ( the junta's ) political line. Nor I suspect would the concomitant Lese Majeste charges impress them either.

Absolutely!

Japan is known for handing out Japanese passports to about anyone asking for them or needing them. At least you seem to allege that. No proof whatsoever I guess? Somehow I think asking the Japanese government the response will be 'no comment'.

Rubl you are mischief making. I never said that the Japanese handed out a passport, I made no allegation, no need for any evidence. I said " I should imagine that appropriate travel papers will have been agreed between Japan and the US." Nothing about him being handed a passport.

If you wish to derail this topic you will have to try with someone else.

So, this academic was travelling on some special Japanese papers to allow him to protest in New York? Is that what you are suggesting?

As for derailing, was it this or a related topic someone wondered how much sending 400 supporters to NewYork had cost the Thai State. At least I wonder about the topic with

""academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun from Kyoto University. He said he had joined the group to call for justice for himself after revocation of his passport""

[JAG]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

[Enoon]

"Willie Thong, a coordinator of the anti-government group, said his group had called for the junta to return power to the people, restoration of the 1997 constitution and early elections"

Thai name if I have ever seen one. Come back and fight for change, don't do it from 10 metres away from a world famous philly cheese steak joint!

How hard would (could) you "fight for change" under the current rule in Thailand?

Would you be prepared to risk creating a state of "unpeace"?

Are you inciting insurrection?

Careful now, Big Brother (not that one) is watching.

[rubl]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

Sorry for late reply, you hid this too well.

So, you think and therefore suggest what you think.

I think it likely that Pavin with proper invitations of some fine American Universities could get permission (aka limited visa) to travel to the States for lectures and maybe the odd congress on items he's a recognised authority in. I doubt the visa included the permission to join a protest however peaceful that protest may have been.

[sjaak327]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

Sorry for late reply, you hid this too well.

So, you think and therefore suggest what you think.

I think it likely that Pavin with proper invitations of some fine American Universities could get permission (aka limited visa) to travel to the States for lectures and maybe the odd congress on items he's a recognised authority in. I doubt the visa included the permission to join a protest however peaceful that protest may have been.

Typical, so you apparently seem to worry about the man 'violating' his visa to the US. I would be much more worried and appalled about the reason why he couldn't travel on his own passport. And I am wildly guessing that the Americans are too.

[JAG]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

Sorry for late reply, you hid this too well.

So, you think and therefore suggest what you think.

I think it likely that Pavin with proper invitations of some fine American Universities could get permission (aka limited visa) to travel to the States for lectures and maybe the odd congress on items he's a recognised authority in. I doubt the visa included the permission to join a protest however peaceful that protest may have been.

Yes Rubl I think and post a suggestion based on my thoughts. Much as you do in fact. As i have observed elsewhere Thai Visa is not a court of law, and there is no burden of proof required of those posting an opinion or suggestion.

Now if Pavin had broken whatever limitations may or may not have been imposed on his permission to travel to the United States one presumes that woukd have resulted in some sanctions? That has not happened, if it had I think we can conclude that the Junta would have trumpeted it form on high, don't you?

[rubl]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

Sorry for late reply, you hid this too well.

So, you think and therefore suggest what you think.

I think it likely that Pavin with proper invitations of some fine American Universities could get permission (aka limited visa) to travel to the States for lectures and maybe the odd congress on items he's a recognised authority in. I doubt the visa included the permission to join a protest however peaceful that protest may have been.

Typical, so you apparently seem to worry about the man 'violating' his visa to the US. I would be much more worried and appalled about the reason why he couldn't travel on his own passport. And I am wildly guessing that the Americans are too.

Well, some countries like to have people like Pavin talk, in some countries he might have been murdered (like Pim Fortuyn in the Netherlands) and in Thailand his illegal activities led to his passport being revoked after he fled the country.

Of course I may or may not agree with the laws in Thailand which led to Pavin's passport being revoked on his verbal abuse and breaking laws, but that doesn't change a thing on what he did. At the moment I might be more worried about the humanitarian disaster we have in the Middle East and the 400,000 refugees Western Europe got flooded with over two years or so. Not even barely recovered from years of Economical downturn, a life has to be build up for those displaced persons urgently while some religious madmen lure young into their lair with promises of submissive non-believing females. Personally I thing that a bigger threat to stability and peace than Thailands LM law.

[rubl]

No Rubl, I'm suggesting that Japan and the USA agreed he could travel. On what documents I really don't know.

Sorry for late reply, you hid this too well.

So, you think and therefore suggest what you think.

I think it likely that Pavin with proper invitations of some fine American Universities could get permission (aka limited visa) to travel to the States for lectures and maybe the odd congress on items he's a recognised authority in. I doubt the visa included the permission to join a protest however peaceful that protest may have been.

Yes Rubl I think and post a suggestion based on my thoughts. Much as you do in fact. As i have observed elsewhere Thai Visa is not a court of law, and there is no burden of proof required of those posting an opinion or suggestion.

Now if Pavin had broken whatever limitations may or may not have been imposed on his permission to travel to the United States one presumes that woukd have resulted in some sanctions? That has not happened, if it had I think we can conclude that the Junta would have trumpeted it form on high, don't you?

I doubt PM Prayut starts his morning briefing with the question "what's about Pavin".

The protest against and the rally in favour were formally requested and granted. Limited affairs certainly in New York. As long as there's nothing illegal, violently disturbing, no one really cares. Not even if all people involved have proper papers or not.

I only started to wonder about Pavin's travel papers as he quoted the revocation as one reason why he was there.