Student protests in Thailand

[handdrummer]

Unfortunately, the leaders of the movement, mainly the chubby woman who fronts the group, is shooting themselves in both feet, by cursing at the authorities and making impossible demands that will never be met. You can't rewrite, for the umpteenth time, the constitution over night. The PM will never quit. The cabinet will not resign. It would make more sense to call for new elections, reduce the number of parties to 3 or 4 and consolidate the votes. With 15+ parties, the incumbent will always win.

When asked what is democracy?, not one student could answer the question but, by God and King, we want it.

They protesters will never get what they want using their current methods. They majority of people are turned off by them. Even those who would like to see change don't want it via protests that can become violent.

At some point the Government will get fed up with whole thing, start arresting people and cracking heads.

If you want democracy, you have to go about it democratically. As long as the Army is in charge, there won't be another coup.

Where do I get my Thai Lives Matter t-shirt?

[dtaai-maai]

If you want democracy, you have to go about it democratically.

If you haven't got democracy, how do you get it democratically?

[handdrummer]

If you want democracy, you have to go about it democratically.

If you haven't got democracy, how do you get it democratically?

By finding out what democracy is and seeing if it fits your aims.

The protesters claim that they want democracy restored but there never was democracy in Thailand so, how do you restore something you've never had?

Lots of slogans, little meaning and less knowledge of what they want.

There's no question, in my mind, that the system needs overhauling, my question is, what will the new system be and how will it be obtained and maintained?

[Dannie Boy]

Well they’ve had systems that look a lot closer to democracy than they currently “enjoy”!!

[handdrummer]

Close but no somtom.

[caller]

As long as the Army is in charge, there won't be another coup.

So there is no elected Government then?

I actually believe we could be in the early stages of preparing for further military intervention.

Despite Prayets plastic words of claiming he supports change to the constitution, the coalition Govt. he heads, in effect shat in the faces of Thai people, who beyond doubt want change, when they deferred their vote n the constitution by setting up yet another 'panel'. That was a pretty provocative act, possibly leading to a series of events where the military could eventually be dragged 'screaming and kicking' to intervene 'to restore order'.

But I have confidence that all the opposition leaders and protest groups will be aware of that particular trap, as it's hardly a new ploy is it? Anyone know of Sutheps whereabouts right now?

[handdrummer]

So there is no elected Government then?
depends on whether or not you consider this govt. to be elected.

I actually believe we could be in the early stages of preparing for further military intervention.
They could intervene with the protesters but they wouldn't overthrow themselves.

I agree that if the military, IE, the govt. thinks the protesters have gone to far and are a threat to their rule, they could & most likely would, intervene. Start leaning Ukrainian.

[oakdale160]

Singapore is interesting. No way can it be called truly democratic, the elections are no more than a gesture. On the other hand they have had rulers who have guided the country to prosperity,a prosperity that is shared by most of the people. Excellent, education, medical care and social services that are available to all. A trusted, benign, honest leadership is what the Thai people would welcome.

[handdrummer]

Singapore is interesting. No way can it be called truly democratic, the elections are no more than a gesture. On the other hand they have had rulers who have guided the country to prosperity,a prosperity that is shared by most of the people. Excellent, education, medical care and social services that are available to all. A trusted, benign, honest leadership is what the Thai people would welcome.

i think every country would welcome that.

Hard to wrench power from despots, megalomaniacs, control freaks and those who must be obeyed.

You need leadership who know that prosperity for all is the best outcome. As long as it's only for the few nothing changes.

[hhinner]

So there is no elected Government then?
depends on whether or not you consider this govt. to be elected.

I actually believe we could be in the early stages of preparing for further military intervention.
They could intervene with the protesters but they wouldn't overthrow themselves.

I agree that if the military, IE, the govt. thinks the protesters have gone to far and are a threat to their rule, they could & most likely would, intervene. Start leaning Ukrainian.

Would army violence in the name of "the institution" result in a foreign resident in Germany having to move house?

[Big Boy]

Thank you for your comment hhinner, but everybody needs to understand this can not be discussed here.

[hhinner]

Indeed!

[HHTel]

Certainly not up for discussion on this forum. The link gives an insight to the student activist Panusaya.
Worth a read without comment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54182002

[brianks]

Yes, you have to check the foreign press to see what is really going on. Lots of goos articles popping up now in L.A. Times, Washington Post and N.Y Times plus other world newspapers.

[buksida]

Indeed, Thai language media especially is running scared and the two main English rags here are not far behind ...

Anti-govt protests set to escalate
Academics, politicians from opposition parties and student leaders believe anti-government demonstrations, particularly next month, will escalate with more supporters expected to take part in the wake of the delay in the charter rewrite vote.

However, some academics said the protesters have committed a misstep by calling for reforms of the monarchy, which has turned neutral people away from them, so weakening their campaign for charter amendments.

On Thursday, MPs and senators approved a proposal to set up a committee to study six charter amendment bills by a vote of 432 to 255, with 28 abstentions.

Effectively, the vote on whether to accept the six bills in the first reading will be postponed by one month.

Originally, the joint sitting of MPs and senators was due to vote on whether to accept the bills on Thursday.

The 31-member committee will comprise MPs from the coalition parties and senators, while opposition politicians refused to join.

Student activists and demonstrators who gathered outside parliament to monitor the vote expressed dissatisfaction with the resolution, pledging to step up their protests.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... o-escalate