Founder of Thai anti-Thaksin movement wounded in attack

[sandman67]

if they upped the bounty on his head to a million dollars he would be back here faster than you could spit. You could even make him pay for his own repatriation by taking the bounty money off his seized assets.

He is about as hard to track as a f ing oil tanker.....he insists on traveling first class, staying in 5 star hotels and eating at the best restaurants....not too hard to follow unless you are the stupid lazy indolent and myopic Thai authorities that is.

That or charge him with insurrection, then issue a sodding Interpol Red Warrant (like the ones used on Carlos The Jackal and Alberto Pinochet)...that is a 4 page form to fill in and two signatures. Takes a day....well anywhere else it takes a day.....here it will take em six months.

Then bring him back and give him his fair, open and very very public trial. Do a Fujimori on the swine.

Then lock him and his cronies up in a nice SHU style prison. Solitary confinement and minimal full monitored and survielled public interaction with family once a month for one hour. The rest of the time let them rot in solitary with a knitting magazine for company and piped elevator music for entertainment.

THAT...or sit on your arses, offer amnesties, let Twatsin carry on preaching hate and division, and let the embers smoulder till the couch sets on fire and burns the house down for good.

Guess which option the Thais will take.

[E-Dork]

Sandman, as has been stated already is spot on.

Unfortunately after my 20 + years living in this country...I will be leaving it.

The sheer arrogance of (most) the thai people is beyond me. I lived in a world where we learnt about evolution, we used to be monkeys etc etc. Unfortunately the Thais still have the mental capacity of the cave men/monkeys we evolved from and getting worse.

I read a world IQ survey about a year ago and the ONLY country in the world where the average IQ has dropped (and if you see the average IQ it really can't go down much further until you're considered mentally disabled) is the wonderful land of false smiles.

Fortunately, I have sufficient funds to cut my losses and head to Malaysia where I will be treated with respect and given my OWN land, my OWN house and a 5 year visa to boot!

Taksin is the single most crooked man I have come across, the difference here is the fact the uneducated in the northern parts all accepted his 100 baht so gratefully they think he is a divine God!

It really beggars belief that these cronies don't have access to any true reports about this bloke and the way he has cleverly manipulated the very populated poor area of Thailand. I mean....can they not read or what.

I simply cannot see any solution to the political mess as either side, regardless of the prime ministers offerings, are willing to back down. Abhisit is the best thing that has happened to this country in a long time. A guy with his head screwed on that's not looking for financial gain ,only National unity. His words unfortunately will go on deaf ears as HE IS NOT THAKSIN AND THAKSIN IS GREAT. Most of the sheep in the protests don't even realise what they are fighting for.

In England when you had a schoolyard fight everyone would form a circle and wait to see who the winner was. Friends would not jump in. The winner was congratulated and the fued was over. Here they have a pack mentality like wolves where they will try to overpower the other with numbers rather than a fair fight.

I will miss my time here but 10-20 years ago it was not like it is now.

[Spitfire]

When you think about it, it really isn't that surprising that this situation has ended up being how it is now. When you leave a city, almost any city you choose, and travel 10 minutes beyond it's limits you might as well be on another planet.

Yes, obviously, there is a massive divide between the "haves" and the "have nots" and the consequences of this divide are vicious and stark. You go to these rural villages where the so-called red shirts are from and it's not a pretty picture. There are so many problems in these places and life is very hard, the Thais even write/publish poetry about it but the main thing is that there's little, if any, education and many of the government workers etc in these areas are so hopelessly corrupt because none will ever be brought to book, it even surprises me sometimes and I can be pretty cynical about this stuff.

Yes, they understand little of the ins and outs of politics or of how they may or may not be being manipulated, I don't think they care, what they care about is a better life/situation and see the corrupt snooty city dwellers living in the lap of luxury and treating everyone in the countryside like dogs. Sure they are going to be pissed off about it.

Unfortunately, no government has made any attempt to really help the rural communitees and they often feel that they are left to fend for themselves. Even in my wife's village there is no sign of government/establishment services, everything has been pooled locally to sort out problems such as water supply, electricity, local bank(not SCB etc), village store that is owned and ran by the village collective, there is a village council, no police get out there(too far from the nearest town) etc etc etc.

In there eyes, however incorrectly, Thaksin's government was the only one that did anything and many still believe that they would be better off under him because, actually, they were, city dwellers maybe not. They don't care about his(Thaksin's) short-comings and how completely flawed he is, just care about their situation.

Thaksin's influence has waned a bit and will slowly continue to do so but what the government needs to do is to convincingly help the forgotten rural poor and they are a lot of them. This would be a way to end the trouble by reaching out and showing that the present government is not merely a instrument of the elite and is interested in helping all sections of society.

That's the main problem as I see it, the failure to govern for the whole population, not just the elite and people in the cities. Realising that Thailand is bigger than Bangkok and you don't fall into a black void once you get to Saraburi/Hua Hin etc would be a step forward also.

Hmmmm. They should be able to do better and their failure to do so or realise the problems often makes me think "Is it a case of can't, don't want to know or simply won't?"

That's enough on this one from me but there is much more that could be said here.

[STEVE G]

Resentment lingers among the poor over 2006 coup:
http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/04/17/ ... 100672.php

[sandman67]

E-Dork

whilst I agree entirely with your assessment I wouldn't move to Malaysia if the reds were in power here and I was homeless.

Malaysia is a virtual police state run by fundamentalist muslims. You may own land and a house, but if things keep on drifting to the right there you will find yourself living in an islamic state.....as much fun as a dose of clap.

You already will have a lot less freedoms than you have here, and your online activity will be constantly monitored. Dont even think of possessing any porn on your computer..... someone got 10 years for that last month. If you like a tipple then be aware that is also on their list of things to opress. Corruption is rampant, and incompetence as bad as here if not worse.

Basically its a shithole with a few farang ghettos that is edging towards being a sharia law shithole.

Id rather stay here, watch the three sided shit kicking contest pan out, and like a good farang vulture pick at the bones of what is left.

I'll also be royally rodgered with a rotating pineapple before I let a stinking pig ignorant red clad peasant tell me where I can live. If the PIRA, who were good at what they did, couldnt scare Brits what the hell makes you think this pack of amateur hour tossers can?

one thing I do know....you NEVER negotiate with terrorists. The only negotiation should be "Put down the gun or die". The only amnesty you offer terrorists is the chance for them to surrender.

and now over to Sandy on FM666:

...heeey and that was whining Bob Dylan with "The Times They Are A Changing'" which we played with a sense of irony.

Now heres today's Theme Tune For Your Life......and we'd like to dedicate this to Mr Thaksin, whichever slimy stone he is currently hiding under. All the way from the 80s here's AC/DC....."If You Want Blood"......hurt em lads....

[E-Dork]

Yes, they understand little of the ins and outs of politics or of how they may or may not be being manipulated, I don't think they care, what they care about is a better life/situation

One of the first things Abhisit did was go to the North and try to patch up the political divide. If you read into it he offered very similiar prospects to the Northern people that Wanksin did. The only difference.......

HE DID NOT OFFER AN INITIAL HANDOUT TO THE PEOPLE!!!

Don't give me that crap that they wan't a better life.. the offerings were there, some even better than Wanksin offered but........

THEY DID NOT GET AN INITIAL HANDOUT!!!

The problem is education, because as a lot of you long termers know, uneducated Thais would rather have 100 baht in the hand today than 20 baht per day for the next fortnight.

I am bewildered that now even expats are defending the actions of the poor. READ INTO IT. ABHISIT OFFERED THE SAME TERMS AS THEY HAD.

The difference...... (wait for it)........

THEY DID NOT GET AN INITIAL HANDOUT!!!

Understand yet!!

[E-Dork]

whilst I agree entirely with your assessment I wouldn't move to Malaysia if the reds were in power here and I was homeless.

It's

Understood, let me clarify that it's not just the mess at the moment as to why this old man is packing his bags, it 's a number of things. Whilst you mention about the downfalls of Malaysia.. though I will miss the porn I generally don't step foot out of the house. I was horrified with the prices of a beer when we were eating but I'm quite happy having a tipple in the comfort of my own home. I have been to Malaysia for 2 months a year for the last 3 years and I enjoy it there.

Once I make the move next month, It's only a small plane ride to come back to the place I love for a holiday.

[Spitfire]

Don't give me that crap that they wan't a better life.. the offerings were there, some even better than Wanksin offered but........

THEY DID NOT GET AN INITIAL HANDOUT!!!

The problem is education, because as a lot of you long termers know, uneducated Thais would rather have 100 baht in the hand today than 20 baht per day for the next fortnight.

Actually, they do want a better life and they need debt cancellation/relief amongst other things etc(nobody has the deeds to their land etc).

Also if you read my post properly then I did point out the education problem quite clearly and the consequenses of it. Just stating how it is often seen in such places, and yes, without trying to sound conceited, I understand perfectly what's going. No need to get emotional dude! Do you live in Bangkok by any chance?

[E-Dork]

Very fortunately I don't live in Bangkok.

Been a Hua Hinian ( What is it with this Bankokian, Hua Hinian, Chumpornian ) for quarter of a century young man. Though not a real doctor I do have a P.H.D in Physcology and behavioural problems. Probably not worth the stone it's chipped into now, but I have studied the human mind since Henry VIII was in power.The Thai mind is evolving into something inferior to what it was. I have been to over 50 countries in the world of which all seem to be developing and progressing in some sense. Yes, I'm an old fogey but I have seen this country (shopping malls and housing developments aside ) taking very much a backwards step compared to it's Asian neighbors.

[E-Dork]

excuse spellings, it's late and going to bed.

Sorry for rant everyone.

[Spitfire]

No worries man, some of what you said I also agree with as Sandman did also but maybe you were having problems, as we all do sometimes(certainly me), with the cynicism issue. Sometimes when I post I try to give some "balance" as to what is being said, if appropiate, doesn't always work but at least all is eventually considered.

[nanyang]

E-Dork
one thing I do know....you NEVER negotiate with terrorists. The only negotiation should be "Put down the gun or die". The only amnesty you offer terrorists is the chance for them to surrender.

Clearly political history is something you are not familiar with.

Every governing / occupying power has had to negotiate, ultimately, with 'terrorists' (sic)

Mau Mau, Eoka, IRA etc. etc. (to quote examples of recent 'terrorists') all ceased hostilities after negotiations.

You can also rest assured that the Taleban will, most probably, be in 'contact' with Western governments now.

[Spitfire]

Interesting nanyang, that may be the case in "modern" situations as the "old" solutions are no longer acceptable, even though they worked effectively to achieve the desired ends. The colonial solution was somewhat "final", I suppose, but got results. The west, now, has to operate under "rules" which the "terrorists" don't and they couldn't give a toss about anything or anyone, you have to look no further than the present piracy problems of Africa to see it, the US/Europe and others are struggling to find a "21st century" response to the problem to quote Hillary Clinton recently, it's not the gunboat diplomacy of years past when it was quite acceptable to just turn all the firepower available on them no matter what.

What you said is only relevent now because the west has a consience and cannot simple blow everyone to hell as they used to, sometimes a good thing and sometimes a fustrating thing. Terrorists and their supporters should be treated in the same way as they treat civilians etc to attain their nefarius ends. Just my opinion BTW.

However, we are straying, might be a good idea.

[hhfarang]

Yeah, like the Navy Seals negotiated with those three pirate terrorists. Three simultaneous shots from a bobbing ship at night to a bobbing life boat and three bulls eyes! Now that's my kind of terrorist negotiation!

[buksida]

E-dork makes some excellent points, but lets not let the discussion descend into an argument about living in Thailand vs Malaysia or pirates of Somali waters. By all means start new topics on those topics in the relevant section.

One thing that many casual observers forget when monitoring and commenting on Thailand's political situation is that there has never been a 'majority' and there has never been a 'democracy'. A brief read-up on Thai history will confirm this.

Recent reports in Western media are also very skewed as they constantly try to apply their views of 'democracy' onto an Asian situation. Any political party that needs to 'purchase' two others to gain enough seats to get into power cannot claim a 'democratic' victory. There is also this constant reference to 'poor' versus 'elite'.

This misinterpretation is that all north easterners are poor and the rest of the country are 'rich' or 'elite'. Anyone that has spent time in the south of Thailand (the other half of the country) will know different.

Looking at Thai history over the past 100 or so years leads one to a conclusion that recent events come as a bit of a shock. Yes there have been more violent times, yes more people have been killed in the past, but this is the first time that Thais have fought Thais in the streets. Before there was always a common enemy, be it the Burmese, Khmer, Military, Police or Government ...

When a country becomes so divided that the people are willing to kill each other over issues that they have little comprehension of and no control over then you have a problem. A few so called politicians hellbent on total domination have stirred up a wasps nest of misguided anger that is not going to go away.

There are no winners in all of this, only more losers, more deaths, more economic damage and more blackening of the name of this beautiful country that we have all chosen to live in or visit.

A bloody shame I'd call it.