Political un-rest and rally

[Nereus]

Thanks for that Nereus... as our man in Bangkok, please keep us informed of anything that comes across your radar!

Just to show how unpredictable, and how quickly the situation can change, the section of Sukhumvit Rd that I can see is now completely blocked, (inbound) and traffic at a standstill. One of the red shirts "muster points" was the Bangna Intersection just a couple of kms further East, so maybe a mob of them has just passed by and I did not see them. The Rama 4 / Sukhumvit intersection is just past my area of view, so I cannot see which road is causing the tailback.

[PeteC]

The Red Shirt leader just announced that the government has 24 hours to dissolve itself before they take step #2. That means (as Nereus predicts) this is not going to end anytime soon. Pete

[PeteC]

The government has opened this web site in both Thai and English. Don't know how much it's going to tell you, or how honest it will be, but at least you know about it now. Pete

http://www.capothai.org/

[Spitfire]

There will be no social peace here until the army stop putting its long, fat, unproductive nose into politics and starts doing what it's supposed to be doing, which is serving an elected government and protecting Thailand's borders. Not going to happen anytime soon folks, it's all a complete farce.

[Spitfire]

Forgot to mention that even if the 'reds' succeed, which is very uncertain indeed, or they fail, sooner or later there has to be an election and we'll probably see a pro Thaksin party win again, back to square one. We'll just have to see if, or how long it takes for, the army to throw the rattle out of the pram again.

[Big Boy]

It will depend on whether Thaksin has the right Generals on the payroll.

[sandman67]

first the fun:

Take 100,000 ill informed and under educated proles. Add 500bht per prole.

Stir in deliberate disinformation, lies, deciet, hypocrisy and black propoganda.

Add fiery rhetoric and a few unachievable aims. Spice with unrealistic demands.

Simmer for three or four days at 40 celcius

and hey presto.... you have a riotous stinky rent a mob ready to go!

Now for the science:

1) Protestors collapsing parliament is NOT democratic. It is the exact opposite. Fact. End of argument.

2) Protestors protest whether or not they get paid. Rent a Mobs turn up for the dosh..... so when you start a protest by paying the protestors they are a Rent a Mob. End of argument.

3) Changing the constitution doesnt work. Hasnt worked the previous 18 times it has been done, and wont work either this time. Try working with the one you have already got eh?

4) If the coalition government was OK when it was PT in power, and that was a democratically elected government, then the same is true when its the Democrats in charge. The MPs in parliament were voted for (apart from the list MPs and well they are part of the Thai system so by default democratically elected), no matter which way the coalition works. Its a democratically elected government. End of argument.

5) Abba isnt a democratically elected PM? Where exactly do you vote for the PM? Certainly not in the UK, or most other western democracies. You vote for your local MP, and the majority party or coalition then selects the PM. That is democracy. So he IS democratically elected. End of.

6) Snap elections in Thailand DONT work, and more often than not just cause more chaos. Fact - supported by the online writings of several Thai political analysts. They conclude snap elections usually result in massive vote abuse and bad parliaments. Ill take their word on it. Shame their idiot fellow Thais dont.

7) Even if, and that is a now visibly unachievable aim, the Reds mobilise 1 million people that is still less than 1/60th of the population. Therefore they do NOT represent the masses. Fact.

anyway, facts are always less fun than rumor and conspiracy plots.

I admire the current governments gently gently approach. Thats it lads, stay patient, you know these idiots will hang themsleves within a week and start riots.

[PeteC]

Numbers, numbers, who has the numbers? Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... -udd-rally

Dispute begins over rally numbers

* Published: 14/03/2010 at 06:52 PM
* Online news: Local News Bangkok Post

A total of 46,377 people took part in the mass rally organised by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Bangkok, the Ministry of Interior reported on Sunday evening.

Foreign media estimated the crowds early on Sunday at over 100,000. The Associated Press quoted Pol Gen Wichai Sangprapai, commander in the main protest area, as saying he expected the number to reach 150,000 or more by Sunday evening.

Interior officials claimed their figure was compiled by actually counting people at the protest venues in Sanam Luang, Phan Fa bridge and King Rama V Equestrian Monument at 1pm.

Out of the total, 23,569 red-shirts were from the Northeast, 11,127 from the North, 4,190 from the central region, 3,667 from the East, 2,990 from the West and 834 from the South.

The demonstrators entered the capital via 13,385 pick-ups, 3,385 cars, 36 trucks, 60 buses, 17 e-tan farm trucks, 137 motorcycles, 115 vans and three train journeys.

The number of protesters at the red-shirt rally was expected to peak on Sunday.

[Big Boy]

Pete, please tell me if I'm talking rubbish, but on the drive home from Carmarthen this afternoon, BBC Radio news reported that the leader of the Red Shirts has said that if Abhisit (sp?) does not dissolve Parliament by midday tomorrow, the Red Shirts will march on the Thai Army.

I guess that will let everybody know whose side the Army are on. To me, it's beginning to sound as if the Red Shirts leaders might be expecting a lot for their 2,000 Baht.

[Edit] I should have said that I heard it only once (as did Mrs BB), and have not been able to find any links to it since arriving home.

[PeteC]

Here we go: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... fantry-rgt

The government is using it as their ops centre. The Red Shirts plan to surround it and chant at them today, but who knows what will happen in the heat of the day. Pete

[Big Boy]

So we weren't hearing things.

Thanks Pete, I honestly thought (hoped) you were going to rubbish what I had heard.

[PeteC]

So we weren't hearing things.

Thanks Pete, I honestly thought (hoped) you were going to rubbish what I had heard.

No, unfortunately it's true. Check your mailbox. Pete

[PeteC]

This is getting stupid now, more stupid than before. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... govt-house

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... heir-words

[PeteC]

SMS news alert but haven't found it on-line yet:

"Four M-79 rounds were fired into the 1st Infantry Rgt camp on Vibhavadi Rangsit road wounding two soldiers. The incident took place at about 1330 hours"

What I haven't been posting is that police have found boxes and boxes of M-79 launchers being made at a variety of factories in Samut Prakan over the past few days. Many arrested. Pete

[sandman67]

and yet again Mr Cynical Sandman has been proven right

seems the stinking terrorist scum, for that is what they are, have started firing those pesky M79 thumpers at the army base

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/20 ... 24702.html

Of course that shabby coward Tinpot scumbag Sae Deang is denying all knowledge with a fat cheshire cat grin on his pasty mug, despite the fact it fits the same MO as all the other attacks (from the back of a pick up).

Scum one and all