Power to the people; will Thais take to the street?

[buksida]

The countdown is on to the clash of the titans. Come December 9 the series of ongoing rows between two former best friends – Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul – is expected to reach boiling point.

With both sides having so much at stake, many believe that the climax may reshape Thai politics. The question is, if the head-on collision is really inevitable, to what extent it will it be reshaped.

Sondhi, in his last “Thailand Weeklyâ€

[lomuamart]

Been following this with interest over the past few weeks.
Toxin's got a special task force together to try and ensure that Sondhi dosn't break the gagging order imposed on him recently by a court prior to the huge defamation suit being brought by Mr T.
Still didn't stop a huge crowd from watching Sondhi's weekly address in Lumphini Park last Friday, even if it was done by television etc. Sondhi stayed away, apparantly under the protection of a revered Abbott and taped the message.
About time the meglomaniac Toxin was down a peg or two. I hope it all succeeds again this Friday.
Power, or at least free speach, to the people.

[buksida]

An appeal to the Thai masses
This is the day of destiny when the Buddhist kingdom of Thailand will see which way the wind blows in the ongoing, no holds barred, very un-Buddhist political confrontation between former allies and best friends, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his now fierce critic, Sondhi Limthongkul, founder of Manager Media Group.

It all started with a talk show, or rather a case of the (talk) show must go on. Ever since Thailand This Week, Sondhi's unique political talk show went mobile after being canceled by state-owned Channel 9 in mid-September, it has been relentlessly snowballing into a political protest movement.

From terrestrial to satellite, from studio to growing live audiences, first at Thammasat University and then in Lumpini park in downtown Bangkok, the mobile talk show is virtually the only outlet in Thailand for the urban masses to express political dissent. And they have adopted it with unlimited relish. Thai media have dubbed the saga "Sondhi fever", or "the Sondhi phenomenon".

Full Story: Asia Times Online

[Jaime]

We can only hope that this doesnt turn into another 1970's scenario or worse.

Hmm..... that was the first thing that sprang to my mind when I read the subject line of the original post.

By the way, these apparently important developments are not being reported at all in the UK.

[PeteB]

Jaime - not quite correct

Financial Times

Disgruntled media baron is bad news for Thaksin
By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok
Published: November 28 2005 02:00 | Last updated: November 28 2005 02:00

Suvit Saethang, a 34-year-old Thai office worker, and his extended family joined tens of thousands of others in Bangkok's Lumpini park on Friday evening to listen to an angry man, whose crusade against prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is sending political tremors through the capital.

Media baron Sondhi Limthongkul, formerly a staunch Thaksin supporter, is an unlikely rallying point for simmering public discontent with a premier who won a landslide re-election less than a year ago. But since September, Mr Sondhi's weekly public tirades - lambasting the premier for abuse of power, conflicts of interest and cronyism - have drawn vast crowds, eager to register their opposition to Mr Thaksin and his authoritarian style.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5916f786-5fb3- ... e2340.html

This (and the Egat farce below) is also having an effect on the financial markets:

Yahoo Finance

http://sg.biz.yahoo.com/051128/15/3wvff.html

and

Bangkok Post


http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/28Nov2005_news15.php

Egat could be Thaksin's undoing

The prime minister's political fortunes have declined with the listing suspension, demonstrating he overestimated his mandate and underestimated growing public dissent

I watch with interest!

Peter

[Knocker]

Thanks Peter. I had not seen any particular coverage in the UK press. I suspect that there has been somehing hidden away ion the foreign affiars pages. I will now follow developments with interest

[Jaime]

Pete B,

Sorry I stand corrected - but I think you probably quoted the exception that proves the rule. Perhaps I should have been more specific - none of the populist conduits for news items - mainstream TV news channels and newspapers - have been covering the issue. As a result most people here are unaware - unless you happen to read the FT!

[PeteB]

Jaime,

Yes - quite surprising isn't it.

If it is only 'people' or 'free speech' that are impacted - no coverage...

But when money is involved............................


Peter

[Heebio]

I've not been following this much, but does Sondhi have the clout to bring in the numbers the press are talking about? And if he does, do you really think Toxin will allow such a full scale mobilisation? Students and middle class intelligensia might get off their proverbials, but from what I've experienced talking to normal working Thai people, Toxin can do no wrong. With so much of the Thai media at his beck and call, and the impartial minority watching their backs, who can blame them.

Still, that was a year ago. I get into BKK a week on Sunday and I'm staying just off Lumpini. Might be interesting to try and catch the Sondhi show, if he's still able to broadcast. I'd like to see the make up of the crowds he attracts and sample the mood.

I was caught in the middle of near full scale riot here in Edinburgh when the G8 was on. Never seen so many riot police in my life, got a bit hairy at times. I really hope I never witness anything similar in Thailand, but I got my doubts.

[Norseman]

I'm most certainly not an expert in thai politics, but I think that a lot of people are fed up with Mr. T and the TRT party.
Yes, he was re-elected in a massive landslide victory, but this is final period and he knows that.
Most people think he did well in his first period.
Economy and improved training programs has been better in general, but he failed to reduce the scale of corruption among public servants and the government employee.
Toxin was elected first time on the assumption that he would get rid of that.

His second, and last period, has turned him into a nasty monster and tyrant, putting down everyone in opposition to his plans, opposing (gag) the liberty of the press, refuses to answer unpleasant questions from pressmen etc. etc.
More and more people know this and are fighting for an alteration of course or assumption of power.
As usual it's the brainpower in Bagers who lead the way.
Let's all hope that all goes as peaceful as possible and that Mr. T trow in the towel and open up the ban of the press and allow the people the right of freedom in this beautiful country.

[dr dave soul monsta]

HAS chairman toxin met his match finaly ,
Full on respect to Mr Sondhi for showing the Pm for what he realy is about
chairman toxin has done nothing but use his position to benefit his own empire and line his own and close collegues pockets with gold .no landslide victorys have been earned by TRT and chairman toxin's TRT party but purchased from uneducated and very poor farmers in the north of Thailand for a few hundred baht a vote (this i have witnesed personaly in the out skirts of Korat unfortunatly no pictures)

"MR Sondhi Bring the dictator and his goons down to their knees and hard for the people of Thailand "

[JW]

We all hope that Mr Sondhi can bring some sense to politics here in Thailand. I still cannot beleive Toxcin refusing to answer qyusetions because of the alignment of the planets. That is totally unforgivable from the leader of a country, how can anyone take this muppet seriously after a comment like that. I just hope Toxcin doesnt resort to something crazy when this public meeting happens.

[Norseman]

no landslide victorys have been earned by TRT and chairman toxin's TRT party but purchased from uneducated and very poor farmers in the north of Thailand for a few hundred baht a vote (this i have witnesed personaly in the out skirts of Korat unfortunatly no pictures)

Yes I'm fully aware of that dirty conduct from fishy canvassers of the TRT, but I also know for a fact that although the money was received the vote did not go to TRT.
I have first-hand info. that this happened a lot of places.

But you are, as usual I may add, absolutly spot on in your post!!!

[dr dave soul monsta]

Norseman i getting very worried regards all your complements towards me

[dr dave soul monsta]

JW mr chairmans toxins brain is on holiday thats why he cant answer any questions his brain has been on holiday peiriod nothing to do with any planets

he is backed into a corner with no forward gears