Thai Spring anti-govt movement gaining momentum

[buksida]

Almost 10,000 people have joined the Thai Spring campaign against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's speech in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The group alleges that the PM's speech aimed to block her opponents' attempts to prevent the government from amending the charter.

The Thai Spring group, led by Kaewsan Atibodhi a former member of the Assets Examination Committee, former senator Kwansruang Atibodhi and former chief of the Royal Court Security Police Vasit Dejkunjorn, held a press conference on its activities.

Exclusive interview: Group fights 'dictatorship' linked to Thaksin
Q: How did it begin and how do you think it will develop?

A: We want to cajole people to be aware and create a Thai version of the "Arab Spring" and educate people who do not know about the mask as to the meaning of the mask and why it is being used to oppose parliamentary dictatorship and corruption. It's a universal symbol known all over the world.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 07375.html

With a dark lantern, Guy Fawkes lights an online frenzy
Remember, remember, the 27th of May, the internet, Guy Fawkes and Thaksin Shinawatra. OK, you might not remember that so let me refresh your memory. This week, an anti-Thaksin Facebook campaign that has users posting images of Guy Fawkes on the social network, has got the Pheu Thai-led government crying foul. The campaign has been organised in order to counter what they call the "Thaksin regime". The group has even gone so far as to post messages on the ruling party's profile page such as "The people's army has risen and it will root out the Thaksin regime from the country."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ine-frenzy

Govt threatens action against masked FB users
Pheu Thai Party threatened yesterday to trace and take legal action against Facebook users with profile photos of the Guy Fawkes white mask for attacking the government and former prime minister and de-facto party leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 06963.html


Thai Spring Website: http://www.change.org/users/thaispring

Thought: Before all you Thaksin fans jump on my back this has nothing to do with Sondhi/Yellow Shirts/The "Elite", it is an independent group, and they appear to be growing in numbers.

[Dr Mike]

I think I understand what they are against--but what are they FOR?

[sargeant]

Before all you Thaksin fans jump on my back this has nothing to do with Sondhi/Yellow Shirts/The "Elite", it is an independent group, and they appear to be growing in numbers.

Think you meant Sarge it would have been easier to type than

all you Thaksin fans

it is an independent group,

How do you know that then. They are all wearing masks ( and i do not believe for one nano second it is not the old yellow shirts/ the "elite" )

As i have posted before it is a very real disappointment to me that Padipat have not even vaguely been an effective opposition and only offer the old status quo
It is that lack of a credible alternative that leads to this DANGEROUS rubbish being perpetuated

and before you ask i dont like the red shirts playing silly buggers as they are now either

[Takiap]

So anyone with a picture of a white mask is going to be prosecuted. Well, it's about time someone does something credible to block freedom of expression. In fact, why doesn't the government simply block access to Facebook altogether. That way they'll also be able to take credit for reducing traffic accidents as well.


Anyway, since we're only guests, I guess we should just mind our own business, and let the kids get on with their squabbling.

[caller]

I think I understand what they are against--but what are they FOR?

Themselves.

[STEVE G]

.....this has nothing to do with.....The "Elite",....

One of the founders spent 12 years as head of the Royal court security police which sounds pretty "elite" to me.

[buksida]

Rival masked rallies planned in city today
Anti- and pro-government groups plan separate demonstrations today in Bangkok's business district, as the Guy Falkes white mask campaign gains more support from people opposed to the so-called Thaksin regime.
The white mask group planned its gathering at the Central World shopping complex this afternoon against the Yingluck Shinawatra government, which opponents say is a "puppet" regime controlled by Yingluck's brother, fugitive former premier Thaksin.

The anti-government group, which started its campaign in the social media, said it would begin its protest at 1pm. Participants were asked to bring Guy Falkes white masks and placards containing messages "describing the evils of the Thaksin regime", according to organisers.

Supporters of the government, meanwhile, called a gathering at the BTS Siam station, which is not far from Central World.

Groups that call themselves Ultra Red and Daeng Sayiew planned their demonstration at 5pm. Participants have been asked to wear red masks or any other style other than the white Guy Fawkes mask of their rivals.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 07401.html

Looks like its boiling up again, and while the founder maybe a high ranking cop I doubt very much that Bangkok's "elite" will be prancing around in the streets wearing masks and posting on Facebook, this appears to be a younger movement. As said above there is no real alternative to the current Shinawatra family dictatorship so it maybe a case of "better the devil you know" ... that is until they ban free speech and the internet altogether because they cant take criticism.

Next week's headlines? "Facebook blocked in Thailand" ....

[dtaai-maai]

Interesting that the Guy Fawkes mask has become such a popular international symbol of anti-establishment demonstrations.
I wonder if anyone at all has any idea who he was and what he stood for?
Most likely it was simply the coolest looking mask they could find.

[Dr Mike]

Well the original Guy Fawkes was trying to kill K. James 2nd
Better keep away from that one.

[buksida]

As you say, its an international anti-establishment symbol ...

Very similar anti-govt protests using the same mask are occurring in Malaysia:
http://news.yahoo.com/malaysian-rally-p ... 01694.html

And in Turkey:
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?fi ... shes-flare

The government in Saudi Arabia has taken a step further and banned it altogether:
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/201 ... f_violence

And of course in Thailand the government are threatening action against Facebook users who use it as their avatar:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... k-campaign

There is more on the mask here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_mask
http://anoninsiders.net/the-mask-46/

[STEVE G]

If you read some of the international Thai political websites, there is some implications that there is someone else behind and funding this Thai Spring movement which seems to lead to the conclusion that this is nothing more than a continuation of the power struggle that has been going on for the last few years.

[Takiap]

And of course in Thailand the government are threatening action against Facebook users who use it as their avatar:

That sounds about right...........so while people can't express their feelings with white masks, it'll be acceptable for others to express their feelings wearing red masks. And of course, we'll soon have pink;green, yellow, blue, and who knows how many other colors, designs and styles.


Maybe it's time to get the extended family to open a stall at the markets, selling masks of course.


I'm not sure where this is going, but I would be willing to bet my money that the white masks won't start torching building or trying to turn Bangkok into Southeast Asia's biggest squatter camp.

Anyway, let's hope it all blows over before it reaches that stage again.

[Frank Hovis]

I think the mask is more to do with the V for Vendetta tagline than Guy Fawkes' efforts, it's also quite a cheery face which I think would help when facing the riot police.

The V for Vendetta tagline is "People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." which seems to be a paraphrasing of Thomas Jeffersons "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty."

[johnnyk]

Interesting that the Guy Fawkes mask has become such a popular international symbol of anti-establishment demonstrations.
I wonder if anyone at all has any idea who he was and what he stood for?
Most likely it was simply the coolest looking mask they could find.

I guess the shops were sold out of Hitler masks and Nazi regalia.

[STEVE G]

I wonder how enthusiastic the ex-head of the Royal Palace police would be for a genuine grassroots popularist uprising.