Thai Spring anti-govt movement gaining momentum

[buksida]

Rival masked rallies face off
About 700 Guy Fawkes-masked demonstrators gathered in downtown Bangkok Sunday to launch a fresh campaign against what they called the regime of Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group, calling itself V for Thailand, or the white mask movement, converged in front of the CentralWorld shopping mall around 1pm with placards and posters with messages attacking Thaksin and the government of his younger sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

The group later marched to Siam Square shopping centre and ended their rally at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre at Pathumwan intersection at 3pm.

Shortly after the white mask group dispersed, another group of red-masked pro-government demonstrators showed up at the Siam BTS station to counter the white-masked protesters. The white mask protest grew from an anti-Thaksin Facebook campaign last week.

People online used the image of Guy Fawkes to symbolise their campaign against ousted prime minister Thaksin, who they believe is pulling the strings who they believe is pulling the strings of the Yingluck government. Thousands of Facebook users swapped their Facebook profile pictures with images of Guy Fawkes, and flooded the Facebook pages of the Pheu Thai Party, Ms Yingluck, Thaksin and his son Panthongtae with critical messages.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... etta-masks


It matters not who is behind the protests, when you have one family ruling a country (whether it be R or S) there will always be social unrest. It is only a matter of time before this turns violent again which is a shame because much of Thailand (apart from the deep south) has benefited from relative peace and prosperity over the last year.

[sargeant]

It is only a matter of time before this turns violent again which is a shame because much of Thailand (apart from the deep south) has benefited from relative peace and prosperity over the last year.

I totally and though we may be from different points of view on the political divide we both want the same for Thailand peace and prosperity for ALL Thais.
As i have posted it is the lack of INCLUSIVE policies from the old guard who have just banged on about Thaksin wasting time and not moving forward with policies that would make them electable again.
I fear that if they do not wake up soon and GENUINELY change tack it will be PHUA Thai winning election after election and we have seen our own govts become stale and entrenched which is NOT GOOD for the country
Yes i welcomed Thaksin because i wanted change and the people to realize their vote should count but I also wanted change to see policies deciding elections and a strong opposition making sure the policies were good for all not just wealthy minorities

[GLCQuantum]

peace and prosperity for ALL Thais.

Never, EVER going to happen with the crooks that make up the Thaksin's at the helm. The Thaksin's will keep the North uneducated (that's the only way they can continue to get their votes - as soon as they smarten up to things... bye bye Thaksin) and poor and let the rich get richer.

I do agree that it's nice to see some stability. I shouldn't really care that the Thaksin's continue to spew their bile and the uneducated continue to lap it up.

[STEVE G]

It is only a matter of time before this turns violent again which is a shame because much of Thailand (apart from the deep south) has benefited from relative peace and prosperity over the last year.

Yes, I quite agree and actually by most standards, the present Government isn't doing such a bad job of running the country.

[sargeant]

Quote Steve G

Yes, I quite agree and actually by most standards, the present Government isn't doing such a bad job of running the country.

I agree it is the constant policies of hate Thaksin (that come from the dictator and the old guard) that hold Padipat back from forming sensible electable policies

They just do not seem to get it that they have already had their answer on this failed HATE policy because His younger sister IS the Prime Minister with a goodly majority

But i still WANT desperately for another party and i dont care what they call themselves to become a strong alternative govt other than PT. Without a strong credible opposition even without coups and legal BS the country WILL slide into the same old mess of the same snouts in the trough.
THE TROUGH should never be taken for granted as it has always been in the past. MPs should always be looking over their shoulders and should never feel confident it will always go their way

[buksida]

But i still WANT desperately for another party and i dont care what they call themselves to become a strong alternative govt other than PT. Without a strong credible opposition even without coups and legal BS the country WILL slide into the same old mess of the same snouts in the trough.
THE TROUGH should never be taken for granted as it has always been in the past. MPs should always be looking over their shoulders and should never feel confident it will always go their way

Absolutely, those that keep on harping on about the elite should take a look at the current holders of political power and their cohorts. Stocks in any Shinawatra owned company (and there are quite a few) have skyrocketed in the last year, if that is not abusing power (as the other side also did), I don't know what is. Being critical of either side while supporting the other reeks of hypocrisy - they're all as bad as each other and have snouts buried so deep in the trough that they'll soon be needing scuba gear.

A fresh new political party that puts the country before its family's and cronies' pockets is what is needed - sadly for Thailand, there is nothing on the horizon.

[sargeant]

A fresh new political party that puts the country before its family's and cronies' pockets is what is needed - sadly for Thailand, there is nothing on the horizon.

The very point i have been making all the time. I do not think PT take care of all and i also think some (or even a lot) of their policies like the 300Bt minimum wage are misguided and will in time fail. I understand why they are doing it but cannot understand why there has been almost nil opposition to it.
I put the onus and responsibility for that situation firmly at Padipats door they just do not seem to even put forward any sort of credible alternatives.
And back we go to the almost identical (Masks instead of yellow shirts) BS that started all this in the first place.

thought what chance street aggro followed by a coup again

[STEVE G]

....but cannot understand why there has been almost nil opposition to it.

Because they managed to get the boys with the tanks on their side?
Incidentally, one of the leaders of this Thai spring movement has described an elected government as a dictatorship of the majority!

[sargeant]

Being critical of either side while supporting the other reeks of hypocrisy

I dont agree one can criticize both sides Policies but in the end only one side can rule
I dont like it being made into a personal vendetta by either side and the red shirts have Suthep and the dictator as their bogeymen and hating individuals just does NOT help the country one iota
I will support PT right up until a new party or even padipat comes up with better policies than PT that are good for all of the people of Thailand
I will add to that unless PT go to far to the left then i will change

In other words i am open to be changed the question is are others on the other side

Steve i have reason to believe the coup solution is not on the table (at the moment)