Political un-rest and rally

[Super Joe]

Thought it highly ironic, but probably missed by the cheering red shirt protesters, as they helped one of their leaders escape from his comfortable hotel room (c/w room service, satelitte TV, mini-bar, en-suite bathroom with hot and cold running water, in-room massage facility etc), to the streets below where they sleep, eat and relieve themselves.

SJ

[cozza]

I thought this was a good article:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... -your-bets

Will not paste here, bit long.

[Roel]

Excellent article, although I doubt that the conversation with the taxi driver really took place. Many expats may have witnessed the power and influence of the pooyai baan whilst visiting their partner's rural home villages. Standing up against the pooyai baan is not a smart thing to do and can even be seriously dangerous. Shut up and follow the leader; that is the limit of your democratic rights.

And of course the poor spend the hand outs on cell phones and TV's (through which the money went straight back to T. by the way). This is only natural: finally a little luxury and fun comes within reach. Obviously you are not going to spoil your own party by spending the money on necessary home improvement and dull school supplies, are you?

[sargeant]

Yes a good article but doesnt explain the following
the (probably mythical) lady is a BKK taxi driver from ISSAAN
In the last 10/15 years the movement and demographics of this country have changed dramatically. A lot of the tension in the country is a result of that as the youth comes south to find work and then stay but cannot vote for local govt or even their local constituancy MP without a Tabien Bahn
They are then left with only one choice. to vote in their own villages in the north

It is that reason why i advocate a new voter registration system and constituancy boundarys to reflect more closely the reality on the ground.

the one thing mr t did was mobilise absentee ballots which is lost in the buying votes propaganda (ALL parties were buying votes they always have)

[cozza]

Sarg,

The whole vote buying thing to me is an excuse for looking down the nose at anothers so called stupidity and low class. Wether or not they pay for votes/demonstrations is irelevant.

"Excellent article, although I doubt that the conversation with the taxi driver really took place. Many expats may have witnessed the power and influence of the pooyai baan whilst visiting their partner's rural home villages. Standing up against the pooyai baan is not a smart thing to do and can even be seriously dangerous. Shut up and follow the leader; that is the limit of your democratic rights."

Exactly, my father in laws brother is the local headman (wifes uncle). My mother in laws bro told me "nobody will mess with you around here, because of your wifes last name"

Money is NOT what brings these people to Bangkok to protest, that is for sure.

I dont think its about class (some may think it is), thought I am sure some may have a fairly good idea of what its all about.

Democracy is not the answer and should not even be being talked about.

[miked]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8628169.stm

have a very bad feeling about this. hope i'm wrong.
miked

[Big Boy]

Hmmm..... I wonder how many protesters will have to go home first to pick up a bribe, and to change their shirt

[sargeant]

have a very bad feeling about this. hope i'm wrong.
miked

me too so i will leave this to the Thais and go back to watching the sky for rain i think its easier to work that out than whats going to happen next in Thailand

[Takiap]

have a very bad feeling about this. hope i'm wrong.
miked

me too so i will leave this to the Thais and go back to watching the sky for rain i think its easier to work that out than whats going to happen next in Thailand

You should try watching my tap for mains supply water. Day 19 and still nothing

[charlesh]

Takki's family in it up to their necks ??

The Department of Special Investigation is tracing more than 5 billion baht in transactions allegedly made by firms linked to the children of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.


Under cover operation A large net is put up yesterday over the red shirt rally site at Ratchaprasong intersection. The net is designed to provide shade for the protesters and catch any objects falling from nearby buildings. APICHART JINAKUL

The DSI probe comes after financial institutions reported unusual transactions by five or six firms that are subsidiaries of companies run by Thaksin's son Panthongtae and daughter Pinthongta, a DSI source said yesterday.

The firms are said to have withdrawn over 5 billion baht from 20 branches of five banks.

Close associates of Thaksin's former wife Khunying Potjaman na Pombejra allegedly made the transactions.

DSI investigators would find out how the money had been used after being withdrawn, the source said.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office recently joined a DSI-led committee handling political turmoil-related cases.

Amlo was asked to trace the money trails of people suspected of supporting acts of "terrorism" during the April 10 clashes in Bangkok.

[caller]

Amlo was asked to trace the money trails of people suspected of supporting acts of "terrorism" during the April 10 clashes in Bangkok.

They'd better not look too hard for where the money came from that funded PAD / the yellow shirts, had they?

[PeteC]

This is now taking a whole new turn for the worse. This could have been a major disaster with massive loss of life and property. If not familiar with the area, it is a bit north of Bangkok past Rangsit/Don Muang. Pete


RPG fired at petrol depots in Pathum Thani (The Nation)

Culprits fired an rocket propelled grenade to PTT's petrol depots in Pathum Thani's Lumlukka district on Wednesday morning.

Police believed the attack was an attempt to stage a sabotage in the country.

Police found the RPG's components at the depots.

The attack caused a hole at the T410D depot which contained 22 million liters of oil. Luckily, officials could extinguish a small fire and sealed the hole in time before the fire extended.

At first, police believed that the culprits used an M-79 grenade.

[PeteC]

A bit more detail on the above incident from the Bangkok Post. Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... hit-by-rpg

[Takiap]

Here's something else you may be interested in Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... age-a-coup

[PeteC]

Here's something else you may be interested in Pete

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... age-a-coup

Yes, I saw that. However, I can neither confirm nor deny. General P.