Lieber Nick,
Lange nichts von Dir gehoehrt mein Lieber und nun das… Toller Artikel, ausdrucksvolle Bilder – nichts anderes war von Dir zu erwarten. Aber um Himmel willen – pasz’ auf Dich auf!
Grusz, Dein Eugen, Wasana, Maximilian und Hanna
Hi Nick, thanks. It seems that the Thai Government dont care any more about the Thai people symphaty or the symphaty of the rest of the world. It is havily working on downgrading the worth of every single Thai. They can’t no longer be proud to be Thai citicents after the government treads them like this. This is so very sad because it want stick for a long time.
Please take care we need you!
Evi (you rembember?)
Does anyone here still think this situation is about preserving/ restoring democracy?
I don’t, and never have. It’s just about preserving/ restoring the particular status quo of all the ‘interested’ parties, who, by the way, have a lot to lose should they be ‘defeated’.
And to be clear, when I say interested parties, I do not mean those innocents who have been hoodwinked into believing that they are fighting for some higher ideal.
I mean those guys with a fancy apartment, big car, overseas bank accounts – you get the picture, I’m sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuEMHeGxbuI
^^ Military sniper… not shooting to kill… 1:11 Standing solider “Already Toppled”.. They aimed at legs.. as same as above clip.
Something that doesn’t seem to have been discussed or commented on much during this crisis is the question of who makes up the army.
In previous conflicts I’d given little thought to who the soldiers were but the fact that one of my closest friends has just been called up for military service has rather focused my attention on this issue.
I would imagine he is quite typical of the type of Thai who ends up stuck doing military service. From a poor family in Nakhon Sawan and having absolutely no desire to be in the army. He was chosen randomly by the coloured ball selection process, physically and personality wise he’s not exactly an obvious candidate for a military career.
I’d be very interested to know what proportion of the Thai army is made up of these conscripted recruits and what proportion consists of career soldiers.
Do people who’ve been out on the streets this week have any information on what kind of soldiers have been sent into action? Has anyone been talking to the soldiers at all?
Fortunately for my friend, he has to complete three months of training before he can be sent to any front lines, but if these conscripted soldiers are being used in the current crisis there are a number of obvious consequences.
Firstly soldiers who never wanted to be soldiers in the first place are presumedly likely to be rather ineffective soldiers. Equally soldiers who are on a two year national service program are going to be especially reluctant to put themselves in harms way. Surely any indecision or hesitation from soldiers in this kind of crisis is dangerous.
Secondly, if national service soldiers are being used in this crisis what will the pyschological knock on effects be. Might be hard to return to your village or hometown with the knowledge of what you’d be coerced into doing.
While there seems a lot of sympathy here for the cause of the red shirts, if not always their actions, people seem to spare little thought for the soldiers, who may have ended up in this situation though anything but their own choice.
“I’m a little disappointed at the way people on this site are using the comment ratings system. Comments should be rated highly if they are thoughtful, insightful, well written and informative, regardless of the writer’s political stance. Worthy comments are being given the thumbs down for sympathising with the government or being critical of the reds, while idiotic pro-red comments are getting the thumbs up. Can we try to be a bit more objective? I thought the aim of this site was to host intelligent debate, not propagandise in favour of a particular cause.”
It was always going to be thus Daniel, rating systems have never worked that I have seen, because people are unable or unwilling to separate the quality of a comment from its content. Rating systems are inevitably used to score points off people of opposing view, and to support one’s own view. Sadly.
I have read several comments elsewhere suggesting that the PM has no power to set an election date and that this is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission. If this is the case, then Abhisit’s pledge to hold an election on 14 November and his refusal to give a firm date for dissolution seems highly disingenuous.
The only part of the 2007 Constitution appearing to relate to the matter is Section 235, which says:
“The Election Commission shall control and hold, or cause to be held, an election of members of the House of Representatives, senators, members of a local assembly and local administrators, as the case may be, including the voting in a referendum for the purpose of rendering it to proceed in an honest and fair manner.”
I am still puzzling over exactly what this means in terms of setting election dates.
Nick…… Keep on keepin on our brother…. It is Men like yourself, getting in the middle… seeing, first hand what the Truth really is… that make this the New Reality of Journalism…. People do not have any use for ‘half truths’ these days ….. you see and report the real story from the people, to the people and that is what is necessary for our Civilization to progress in the most rational fashion, and the best way to confront and to resolve this current situation. Be safe friend, and keep doing what you are doing. It is indeed good for the world to see and read the Truths you report. Your courage in journalism is to be admired….. —Charles
“My comments: Abhisit is out of his mind and no longer cares about civilian casualties. He still refuses to believe that many people inside and outside Bkk do not like him and want him to quit. This is the time when the int’l community must know his barbaric stand. He indeed wants to remain in power no matter how many more civilians will die.”
This puts it exactly right. What this man and the woman who backs him are doing is appalling. When this is done, the reds must clean the stables. A lot of people need to do some serious jail time, including the owner of a stolen diamond. Jail and permanent exile.
Thais have no use for this kind of person in their midst.
Clean the stables, this is madness and folly – beyond any reason.
There is clear evidence from CNN, other media, photo’s and other sources that Army snipers are shooting to kill unarmed protesters.
This is a pure “scare tactic” to keep them in hiding and the numbers down, however this is illegal under all rules of engagement.
Abhisit and his cronies are now on par with Saddam and his actions against the people of Iraq.
This must go to International courts and the government leaders and army commanders must be put on trial in International courts for this.
Thailand needs to be an example now that governments cannot simply kill the people, or Thailand will fall further into becoming the “next Burma” where the elite/military have absolute power.
There must be legal retribution against Abhisit and his cronies now but the world community.
dear K.Nok
only one clip that you have showing up.
compared with another some hundreds clips from thai’s army.
can’t you really see the truth by your self?
pls keep your eyes wider. or either we will be in the war.
Thank you very much for your good report. Wish you’re fine & safe, please be careful since today government still order Thai army to make protest over.
I’m Thai and living in Nonthaburi, nearby province of Bangkok. I couldn’t catch up the real information from the killing zone due to government screen all reports or cut / select only some part of video clip that support them on TV / radio in order to push forward to kill innocent people who just ask for fresh election.
I ever believed that Thailand is democracy but it’s not, we become closer to Mynmar.
Dear Nok,
Please try to check information from the other source out off what Thai government keep trying to annonce. Killing people is unacceptable, especially innocent people who just try to fight back with what they can find e.g. stone,stling shot, strick. If I were there, I’ll also do the same thing to protect myself.
Dear Peter,
Thank you very much for your kind heart. I couldn’t do much here, I ‘ve sent out e-mail to UN in New York & Thailand branch to help my country.
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Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Lieber Nick,
Lange nichts von Dir gehoehrt mein Lieber und nun das… Toller Artikel, ausdrucksvolle Bilder – nichts anderes war von Dir zu erwarten. Aber um Himmel willen – pasz’ auf Dich auf!
Grusz, Dein Eugen, Wasana, Maximilian und Hanna
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Nick, you must be running on pure adrenalin by now. Maybe a rest with a few beers will help.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
This government deserves to fall, and fall hard.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Stay safe Nick, don’t overdo it! It’s family that matters most, will ya?
Thanks for this excellent report. And again, keep your head down.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Hi Nick, thanks. It seems that the Thai Government dont care any more about the Thai people symphaty or the symphaty of the rest of the world. It is havily working on downgrading the worth of every single Thai. They can’t no longer be proud to be Thai citicents after the government treads them like this. This is so very sad because it want stick for a long time.
Please take care we need you!
Evi (you rembember?)
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Read this and cry:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178053/pm-sends-e-mail-to-un-chief
The chutzpah of this government has reached gigantic proportions:
“Mr Panitan said the situation on Saturday night to Sunday morning was improving and that the tension has been eased.
He admitted that men in military uniform had infiltrated and killed red-shirt protesters to incite violence.”
Bangkok at war
Does anyone here still think this situation is about preserving/ restoring democracy?
I don’t, and never have. It’s just about preserving/ restoring the particular status quo of all the ‘interested’ parties, who, by the way, have a lot to lose should they be ‘defeated’.
And to be clear, when I say interested parties, I do not mean those innocents who have been hoodwinked into believing that they are fighting for some higher ideal.
I mean those guys with a fancy apartment, big car, overseas bank accounts – you get the picture, I’m sure.
A fight for democracy? A smoke screen, morelike.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Dear Nick,
It is good that you are safe now. Could you please allow my comment to be posted with some links to video on Youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_xg0l6-oHY
^^ black shirt with military gun appears around 0.50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hmSPbugDAA
^^ M79 shooter from artificial Red shirts?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21MjSONuht8
^^ Sniper protects the truck’s fuel tank by aiming at leg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuEMHeGxbuI
^^ Military sniper… not shooting to kill… 1:11 Standing solider “Already Toppled”.. They aimed at legs.. as same as above clip.
Bangkok at war
Something that doesn’t seem to have been discussed or commented on much during this crisis is the question of who makes up the army.
In previous conflicts I’d given little thought to who the soldiers were but the fact that one of my closest friends has just been called up for military service has rather focused my attention on this issue.
I would imagine he is quite typical of the type of Thai who ends up stuck doing military service. From a poor family in Nakhon Sawan and having absolutely no desire to be in the army. He was chosen randomly by the coloured ball selection process, physically and personality wise he’s not exactly an obvious candidate for a military career.
I’d be very interested to know what proportion of the Thai army is made up of these conscripted recruits and what proportion consists of career soldiers.
Do people who’ve been out on the streets this week have any information on what kind of soldiers have been sent into action? Has anyone been talking to the soldiers at all?
Fortunately for my friend, he has to complete three months of training before he can be sent to any front lines, but if these conscripted soldiers are being used in the current crisis there are a number of obvious consequences.
Firstly soldiers who never wanted to be soldiers in the first place are presumedly likely to be rather ineffective soldiers. Equally soldiers who are on a two year national service program are going to be especially reluctant to put themselves in harms way. Surely any indecision or hesitation from soldiers in this kind of crisis is dangerous.
Secondly, if national service soldiers are being used in this crisis what will the pyschological knock on effects be. Might be hard to return to your village or hometown with the knowledge of what you’d be coerced into doing.
While there seems a lot of sympathy here for the cause of the red shirts, if not always their actions, people seem to spare little thought for the soldiers, who may have ended up in this situation though anything but their own choice.
Bangkok at war
“I’m a little disappointed at the way people on this site are using the comment ratings system. Comments should be rated highly if they are thoughtful, insightful, well written and informative, regardless of the writer’s political stance. Worthy comments are being given the thumbs down for sympathising with the government or being critical of the reds, while idiotic pro-red comments are getting the thumbs up. Can we try to be a bit more objective? I thought the aim of this site was to host intelligent debate, not propagandise in favour of a particular cause.”
It was always going to be thus Daniel, rating systems have never worked that I have seen, because people are unable or unwilling to separate the quality of a comment from its content. Rating systems are inevitably used to score points off people of opposing view, and to support one’s own view. Sadly.
Reds’ fatal flaw: Thailand’s fatal flaw
GrassHopper #22
I have read several comments elsewhere suggesting that the PM has no power to set an election date and that this is the sole responsibility of the Election Commission. If this is the case, then Abhisit’s pledge to hold an election on 14 November and his refusal to give a firm date for dissolution seems highly disingenuous.
The only part of the 2007 Constitution appearing to relate to the matter is Section 235, which says:
“The Election Commission shall control and hold, or cause to be held, an election of members of the House of Representatives, senators, members of a local assembly and local administrators, as the case may be, including the voting in a referendum for the purpose of rendering it to proceed in an honest and fair manner.”
I am still puzzling over exactly what this means in terms of setting election dates.
Bangkok at war
“idiotic pro red comments” sounds like Waites has already shown his political objectivity?
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Nick…… Keep on keepin on our brother…. It is Men like yourself, getting in the middle… seeing, first hand what the Truth really is… that make this the New Reality of Journalism…. People do not have any use for ‘half truths’ these days ….. you see and report the real story from the people, to the people and that is what is necessary for our Civilization to progress in the most rational fashion, and the best way to confront and to resolve this current situation. Be safe friend, and keep doing what you are doing. It is indeed good for the world to see and read the Truths you report. Your courage in journalism is to be admired….. —Charles
Bangkok at war
“My comments: Abhisit is out of his mind and no longer cares about civilian casualties. He still refuses to believe that many people inside and outside Bkk do not like him and want him to quit. This is the time when the int’l community must know his barbaric stand. He indeed wants to remain in power no matter how many more civilians will die.”
This puts it exactly right. What this man and the woman who backs him are doing is appalling. When this is done, the reds must clean the stables. A lot of people need to do some serious jail time, including the owner of a stolen diamond. Jail and permanent exile.
Thais have no use for this kind of person in their midst.
Clean the stables, this is madness and folly – beyond any reason.
Bangkok at war
http://siampolitics.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/faking-dead-reds/
Nope. The video clip and photos clearly showed ‘faking dead reds’.
And there are lots of utube clips w/ Reds armed w/ M79 and assault rifles.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
There is clear evidence from CNN, other media, photo’s and other sources that Army snipers are shooting to kill unarmed protesters.
This is a pure “scare tactic” to keep them in hiding and the numbers down, however this is illegal under all rules of engagement.
Abhisit and his cronies are now on par with Saddam and his actions against the people of Iraq.
This must go to International courts and the government leaders and army commanders must be put on trial in International courts for this.
Thailand needs to be an example now that governments cannot simply kill the people, or Thailand will fall further into becoming the “next Burma” where the elite/military have absolute power.
There must be legal retribution against Abhisit and his cronies now but the world community.
Bangkok at war
Thousands rally in Ubon last night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjZmNOWpOeQ
.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
God speed Nick.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
dear K.Nok
only one clip that you have showing up.
compared with another some hundreds clips from thai’s army.
can’t you really see the truth by your self?
pls keep your eyes wider. or either we will be in the war.
Nick Nostitz in the killing zone
Dear Nick,
Thank you very much for your good report. Wish you’re fine & safe, please be careful since today government still order Thai army to make protest over.
I’m Thai and living in Nonthaburi, nearby province of Bangkok. I couldn’t catch up the real information from the killing zone due to government screen all reports or cut / select only some part of video clip that support them on TV / radio in order to push forward to kill innocent people who just ask for fresh election.
I ever believed that Thailand is democracy but it’s not, we become closer to Mynmar.
Dear Nok,
Please try to check information from the other source out off what Thai government keep trying to annonce. Killing people is unacceptable, especially innocent people who just try to fight back with what they can find e.g. stone,stling shot, strick. If I were there, I’ll also do the same thing to protect myself.
Dear Peter,
Thank you very much for your kind heart. I couldn’t do much here, I ‘ve sent out e-mail to UN in New York & Thailand branch to help my country.
Thanks & best regards,
Ten