Opposition leader defiant after Jatuporn sentenced

By THE NATION

 

Nattawut (L) / Jatuporn (R)

 

BANGKOK: -- A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy even though the chairman of his political movement has been jailed for a year.

“Our hearts sink but when we choose to walk this route in the rain, we know we will get wet and cold. We believe we will be acknowledged by society as we fight for democracy and equality, and we do not intend to take revenge,” Nattawut Saikua, secretary-general of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told Peace TV yesterday after UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan was sentenced to a year in jail for defaming former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in 2009. 

 

Nattawut said the UDD was born with a shared political ideology, which meant that individuals were important, but principles were more so.

 

“The freedom of the UDD leaders is not more important than that of others who have the same ideology. Jatuporn’s freedom has been taken today as has that of our brothers and sisters who also have no freedom,” he said. 

 

Nattawut added that red-shirt supporters’ “hearts were hurt” but they had to persevere and use the pain they felt to continue fighting to the end.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30321334

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-21

The usual rhetoric doesn't add much to the old story. The Dubai bad guy seems to be enjoying his billions more than to enjoy stirring up things. Perhaps silence before the storm? Or just giving in to his age and accepting things?

Maybe you'll organise another "Million Man March" to protest? 

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

8 hours ago, EricBerg said:

The usual rhetoric doesn't add much to the old story. The Dubai bad guy seems to be enjoying his billions more than to enjoy stirring up things. Perhaps silence before the storm? Or just giving in to his age and accepting things?

Don't think accepting things is in Thaksin's nature.He has no choice at the moment : His conciliatory talk is just a ploy-probably wants to keep his sister out of jail as well.The tiger doesn't change its stripes, a Hitler doesn't suddenly turn into a Mahatma Ghandi, and as Chuan Leekpai once said Thaksin is worse than Hitler as Hitler at least had some ideology other than maximizing his own wealth and power.Look closely, and you can find enormous similarity between Thaksin and Trump.

"A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy"

 

When will they stop to pretend they are fighting for democracy?

Why has the press titled this "Opposition Leader?"  There is no elected Government therefore there are no Opposition Parties.  They may oppose the present arrangement, but to refer them as an Opposition Party is barking!

9 hours ago, EricBerg said:

The usual rhetoric doesn't add much to the old story. The Dubai bad guy seems to be enjoying his billions more than to enjoy stirring up things. Perhaps silence before the storm? Or just giving in to his age and accepting things?

 

No doubt he has plans.

 

But just another appointed lackey gets some jail time. Not gonna bother the boss one little bit.

15 minutes ago, robertson468 said:

Why has the press titled this "Opposition Leader?"  There is no elected Government therefore there are no Opposition Parties.  They may oppose the present arrangement, but to refer them as an Opposition Party is barking!

 

True.

 

And in what capacity too. As a non elected leader of a non political party organization that claims to defend democracy, the irony is enormous. Self appointed opposition perhaps?

1 hour ago, greenchair said:

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

I don't see anyone here ,currently, or on the horizon that ,if I could vote, I would vote for

Regarding Thai leadership

1 hour ago, greenchair said:

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

 

Thaksin, in his day,  and his little sister Yingluck, both used the defamation laws to stop critics and persecute people.

 

So lucky you can't vote - you'd be struggling for candidates!

4 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

True.

 

And in what capacity too. As a non elected leader of a non political party organization that claims to defend democracy, the irony is enormous. Self appointed opposition perhaps?

Good points: classic

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Thaksin, in his day,  and his little sister Yingluck, both used the defamation laws to stop critics and persecute people.

 

So lucky you can't vote - you'd be struggling for candidates!

Old thais tell me this persecution happens with every change of government

2 hours ago, greenchair said:

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

 

Perhaps he was influenced by the way PTP (of whom the UDD were supporting in government) set the DSI on him, and tried hard to prosecute him for murder, when they were in-power themselves ?  Talking of being nasty or relentless or seeking vengeance ?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/dec/13/former-thailand-pm-charged-murder

 

 

2 hours ago, sweatalot said:

"A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy"

 

When will they stop to pretend they are fighting for democracy?

No one else is.

Haters gotta hate.

The UDD knows nothing or cares anything about democracy. 

 

They are nothing but a bunch of street thug stormtroopers. 

12 hours ago, webfact said:

We believe we will be acknowledged by society as we fight for democracy and equality, and we do not intend to take revenge,

Ah, comedy at its finest. 

3 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

The UDD knows nothing or cares anything about democracy. 

 

They are nothing but a bunch of street thug stormtroopers. 

They could be worse if the junta renege on election promise and continue to use the courts to go after them. 

Just now, Eric Loh said:

They could be worse if the junta renege on election promise and continue to use the courts to go after them. 

I fail to see how they could be any worse, they are a gang of intolerant thugs, whose preferred mode of action is violence. 

 

Though to be fair they only resort to violence when their threats of violence are ignored. 

 

They have no tolerance for any point of view but theirs. 

 

They and their puppet master/s are no better than the current regime. 

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

True.

 

And in what capacity too. As a non elected leader of a non political party organization that claims to defend democracy, the irony is enormous. Self appointed opposition perhaps?

In what capacity? Well what about that of being one of the UDD firebrands inciting arson and murder, on stage next to Jatuporn, Weng and Thida, in 2010, during the 'remote-controled' red-shirts' bloody insurrection and violent occupation of Bkk! Stuff like that gives real 'cred' to criminals like him, you know, well, among other thugs that is. And the possibility the Courtcase with charges of terrorism against that evil bunch he is part of, could get started some day soon, certainly 'energises' him...

5 hours ago, greenchair said:

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

'This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance.' So right about that 'greenchair', but IMO so wrong about the persons you consider responsible.

Who are the people who were always imposing their views/ideas as the obligatory starting point for conversations, who were never open to any kind of compromise, the 'our way or the highway' people? Possibly the people whose undisputed leader said 'democracy is not my goal', and lives accordingly?

'Reconciliation' is hard to achieve, for couples and families, for communities and tribes, for political parties and countries.

There are so many divergent, opposing elements, beteen all the groups and parties which should achieve it.

BUT one thing I am sure of: there will not be any 'reconciliation' worth the name in Thailand as long as Thaksin and his Shins' clan have any kind of involvement in the political and public life of this country!

I don't say other sides possibly involved in the process are in any way 'un-problematic', I say that side makes it simply impossible to achieve successfully. 

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

I fail to see how they could be any worse, they are a gang of intolerant thugs, whose preferred mode of action is violence. 

 

Though to be fair they only resort to violence when their threats of violence are ignored. 

 

They have no tolerance for any point of view but theirs. 

 

They and their puppet master/s are no better than the current regime. 

Don't you see it then 'Bluespunk'? Eric Loh expresses, though in a veiled way, a treath of violence, like it always goes with the UDD when things don't go exactly their way...

Democracy only belongs to the west, (whatever democracy means). 

3 hours ago, Father Fintan Stack said:

The obsessives all over this one like a rash.

...And because you are stuck into your biased 'tunnelview', what this suspected terrorist and criminal declares does not even make you a bit 'hitchy', was it only because of the overwhelming hypocrisy of what he dares to say?

After that you will be writing about 'democracy' and evoluated stuff which probably did never pass through the mind of that Nattawut goon, and you'll go on fighting for the persons which chose to use such despicable characters in their selfish power strategy.

Yes, I admit, I have a rash, caused by an allergy to fake guys like you, 'Father'!

Edited July 21, 20178 yr by bangrak

10 hours ago, greenchair said:

Aphisit shows a cowardice and nasty side. He pursued this case relentlessly, till the end for years. 

What kind of a human being would want another fellow countrymen in prison for saying words he didn't like. This is why reconciliation will never occur. One side is full of vengeance. 

I would certainly not vote for such a bitter man. 

Wrong. .......maybe Wikipedia helps you by definition of defamation.

...And because you are stuck into your biased 'tunnelview', what this suspected terrorist and criminal declares does not even make you a bit 'hitchy', was it only because of the overwhelming hypocrisy of what he dares to say?
After that you will be writing about 'democracy' and evoluated stuff which probably did never pass through the mind of that Nattawut goon, and you'll go on fighting for the persons which chose to use such despicable characters in their selfish power strategy.
Yes, I admit, I have a rash, caused by an allergy to fake guys like you, 'Father'!

You scored a definite hit there didn't you Fr. F. S.!

21 hours ago, sweatalot said:

"A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy"

 

When will they stop to pretend they are fighting for democracy?

How can you be so wrong. The only thing red shirt fight for is democracy. Now you may not have opinion democracy is good for Thailand that is ok. But why you want lie about red shirt. Just give opinion and be honest. Why it's hard to do?

22 hours ago, sweatalot said:

"A RED-SHIRT leader has pledged to continue to fight for democracy"

 

When will they stop to pretend they are fighting for democracy?

 

Quote

Nattawut said the UDD was born with a shared political ideology, which meant that individuals were important, but principles were more so.

 

The only shared political ideology and principles they have are to do whatever Thaksin tells them to do. And the only individual that's important to the UDD leadership is Thaksin and what's good for him and his family empire (and those who are his lackeys).

 

There may well be local activists in the UDD who genuinely believe in democracy for Thailand, but the organization itself has always been devoted to serving the needs and whims of its master, and not any benevolent visions about democracy for Thailand.

 

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 

The only shared political ideology and principles they have are to do whatever Thaksin tells them to do. And the only individual that's important to the UDD leadership is Thaksin and what's good for him and his family empire (and those who are his lackeys).

 

There may well be local activists in the UDD who genuinely believe in democracy for Thailand, but the organization itself has always been devoted to serving the needs and whims of its master, and not any benevolent visions about democracy for Thailand.

 

So why did the udd oppose the amnesty bill? 

23 hours ago, robertson468 said:

Why has the press titled this "Opposition Leader?"  There is no elected Government therefore there are no Opposition Parties.  They may oppose the present arrangement, but to refer them as an Opposition Party is barking!

 

The UDD is not even a political party.

 

There are no democratic leadership elections for any position, just selected by the previous leader, Tida, who was not elected either.