Political un-rest and rally

[STEVE G]

Former coup leader General Sonthi Boonyaratglin has voiced readiness to help advance democracy by contesting the next general election in his present capacity as the leader of Matubhum Party.
(A bit ironic!)
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/20 ... 31417.html

[STEVE G]

BANGKOK - Thailand is sliding towards de-facto military rule and it is not clear that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has the will or power to turn back the authoritarian tide. A sustained state of emergency has given security forces extraordinary powers to detain suspects without trial, censor the media and ban public gatherings, powers the top brass have flexed after last month's dramatic crackdown on anti-government protesters encamped in the heart of Bangkok.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_ ... 2Ae01.html

[margaretcarnes]

I won't quote Charlesh' post of June 8th - it's long - and although there are some interesting figures, and relevant comparisons with the progress of other SE Asian countries - there are two things in particular which I find disturbing in terms of Thailands' future.
First is the overdevelopment in places such as Phuket, leading to alleged destruction of the environment.
This is nothing new. We have seen it in Pattaya, and we have seen it in HuaHin, where new buildings were underway well before the 97 crash - many remaining abandoned and partly finished for years. So although the environmental effect may be detremental to these resorts, it can't be entirely blamed on the Abhisit government. And in fact could be seen as simply overdoing things in a (maybe) misguided effort to improve tourism.
But - the development still continues. Certainly in HH. While Thai people still seem to loiter, waiting to buy. Is there something the Thais know which farangs don't?
Which is where Sargeants comments on a 'totally new power group' start to make sense. And where my second main concern for the future of the LOS kicks in - the apparent lack of intervention from the very place we would normally expect - and which we can't mention.
Putting 2 and 2 together often doesn't make 4, but something is going on which - if Sarges' sources are correct - involve someone pretty high up - if not almost at the top. Time will tell of course, and I hope I'm wrong in guessing who that person may be.

[Super Joe]

BANGKOK - Thailand is sliding towards de-facto military rule and it is not clear that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has the will or power to turn back the authoritarian tide. A sustained state of emergency has given security forces extraordinary powers to detain suspects without trial, censor the media and ban public gatherings, powers the top brass have flexed after last month's dramatic crackdown on anti-government protesters encamped in the heart of Bangkok.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_ ... 2Ae01.html

Yeah you would have thought it would have been lifted by now, there's been some minor unrest, 3 arson attacks recently, although one by a disturbed school kid, some peaceful gatherings, but a couple of red shirt leader assassinations. But I think its generally calmed down enough. Government/sources have been quoted in press recently as saying ...
The decree is still needed because an underground of Red Shirt supporters remains active. The military is concerned that lifting the decree too early could result in a failure to control the situation. The PM said the government would continue to receive assessments from provincial governors, local police and military officers in charge of the respective areas, who would give recommendations on when to lift the state of emergency.



But I don't think they're using it to detain or hassle Joe Public, they seem to be on more of a hearts and minds exercise with them, talking about involving them in his reconciliation plan, that their voice counts and tackling social inequalities etc (votes). Also there was an article in the Nation last week saying ...
The CRES is considering a plan to give amnesty to redshirt demonstrators charged with minor offences, an informed source said yesterday. The source said the demonstrators might be exempted from punishment if they were not facing terrorism charges. The DSI has already been instructed to look into the legal context, the CRES wants to pass special laws in a bid to grant amnesty to demonstrators facing just minor offences, the source said.


Expect to see a load of government spending projects that benefit the rural North, being rushed through!!

SJ

[cozza]

margaretcarnes,

Not meaning to sound like a know it all, I think its common knowledge actually, among Thai's at least, what sarge and yourself are saying, if I am guessing your meaning correctly.

Thaksin has been "rubbing" this power for a while, back when he was in power...there was talk of "influence sharing". There is a lot I cannot say on this forum, but there was talk of that power being overlooked, so there could be fighting in-house also.

Also, the Council of Foreign Relations are watching Thailand's power vacuum and I am guessing they will have picked their side and maybe be involved.

Either way, there is some interesting stuff happening.

[sargeant]

I wrote this 3 or 4 times

(and he named said person who is no one you would readily think of)

I think its common knowledge actually, among Thai's at least, what sarge and yourself are saying, if I am guessing your meaning correctly.

i would place a small wager you dont have this persons name unless you know who was in charge of the Ninjas on the 10th and let me guarantee it is definitely NOT common knowledge

i think mags is refering to someone else as well who we all know who is not the name we have which is why i am asking are we seeing the emergence of a NEW power group not aligned to any of the status quo or Mr T
Like if the name was common knowledge it would hardly be a NEW power group now would it

a small tip dont start posts like this

Not meaning to sound like a know it all,

[sargeant]

Just to clarify why we wont publish the name

1...we have no desire to meet anyone dressed in the male eqivalent of the Burkha
2...Niether of us speak Cambodian
3...Conversations with kalashnikovs tend to be very short

[cozza]

Sarge, what about ending a sentence like this...

if I am guessing your meaning correctly.

[sargeant]

nothing wrong with the ending cozza me old chum IF you are guessing correctly

i have pmd you about the middle

its just that the start because nobody ever believes you and the word NOT is always overlooked

and if you are incorrect hhhhuuuuummmmmm

[STEVE G]

I must admit that the more you look into this, the more confused the situation gets.
There seems to be one Prime-minister who is nominally running the country, at least three ex-Prime-ministers who are trying to in one way or another, several groups in the military who're vying for position, several 'influential people' and sundry other groups, both political and business.
It's hard to see how a simple solution is going to come out of that mix.

[sargeant]

Steve seems we are on the same page maybe a paragraph apart.

the biggest problem i am having is who are playing the long game and who are playing the short

and of course the vultures sitting on the fence ready to pounce on any injured prey. Which seems to be the strategy of the name we have so far

[buksida]

I would guess most would go for the short game, they have a good example to follow considering the billions that Thaksin squirreled away in less than six years. Steve, good observation, another one would be that whoever does get their grubby mitts on the helm probably won't be able to hold on to it for very long.

[cozza]

nothing wrong with the ending cozza me old chum IF you are guessing correctly

i have pmd you about the middle

its just that the start because nobody ever believes you and the word NOT is always overlooked

and if you are incorrect hhhhuuuuummmmmm

I was not meaning to soundy cocky either...sorry if I have upset you.

[sargeant]

Please Cozza ignore my quirky wierd sense of humour it made me larf
i have dropped that one myself and it was a genuine tip.
i assure you i dont get upset anymore it uses far to much of my limited energy.
i only get upset if i have to move my butt and make my own cuppa tea or do my b******s because we have run out of milk. Thats as exciting as my life gets
i live in a twilight zone and i am missing my geeky internet guru who gives me all the internet links he calms me down keeps me busy
idle fingers and al that

[cozza]

Sarge,

I am a bit confused, if you cannot mention the name and its not part of that which cannot be spoken of, am I missing something here or is there another faction that is not to be spoken of?