The article is good in drawing attention to problems that are faced by the monarchy and that it may need to address in refocusing its role in the future. However, it seems to gloss over the many problems that Thaksin created for himself and for the country that made the coup possible. You make it sound as if everything was running smoothly and there was no discontent with Thaksin but it was simply a case of him being too successful and making himself too popular with the masses – ergo the privy council decided he had to go to prevent him from overshadowing the monarchy.
while the redshirts were at the Interior Ministry searching for Abhisit and Suthep
2 redshirt people died, one shot by Abhisit’s security guard
and 3 redshirts were injured, one in hospital after being run over by the car with Abhisits secretary as passenger”
Now it is clear that what actually happened was that the red shirts dragged from their cars and beat up Abhisit’s secretary general, driver and body guard after taking the latter’s pistol. Despite being armed the body guard, an army major, chose not to resist and the red shirts took his pistol and fired all its shots into the air.
David Brown, you are truly amazing. My father told me back in the 50s in Oz, “you can always pick a communist, because they never answer a question”. Quite simplistic I know, but often it was correct.
You appear to have that same way, when it comes to Thaksinism.
Stop being so blind and bitter.
Sidh is correct.
Ngananadeleeg is correct.
But both are prepared to move on; working with what we have.
I am more than happy to have seen the “dark side” of Thaksin exposed to the world this past few days.
Underneath your comments, I feel you are still willing to support him, when this might just be a time when there are better alternatives appearing.
I think we all agree, things must change. All Thais must be incuded.
Let us hope this whole sorry episode is not a waste.
If it helps kills off the “puuyai culture” (and Thaksin was definately part of that – but he wanted to refashion it, in his own image), Thailand will be a place with a future. If the puuyais (right from the top, down to the village headmen) fail to change, then all this will have been to no avail.
Let’s support change in the system – not support a person who developed a movement, to burn buses,threaten lives and destroy the system, for his own selfish ends, rather than help Thai people, who sorely need it.
I am optimistic enough, to believe we could be at such a time to start this change. But, those who have the chance to steer it forward, must act fast and with honesty.
Who are they?
You asked that in your post.
I am game enough to say, Abhisit is currrently holding that wheel.
Can he do it ?
Who knows (it’s a daunting task for anyone), but the next few days will be an indication.
Now your turn – who do you do you think might replace your “dear leader” ?
I am Thai, but not supporter of any sides, so please don’t start attacking me out of your own assumptions. I am merely suggesting that since this article is also about politics, it should mentioned more about what Thaksin had done that made cause his popularity to decline, not only royal puppet show. I thought that would be fairer that way, rather than merely mentioning him as victim of the show. I am not speaking for the Thai masses nor am I declarating anything. The example I gave were of what many Thais around me had know, and they were also mentioned by Thai media.
Like HXTML said, I have the right to expect a much better deal. Sorry if the point in my earlier comment was not clear to you.
David: I too am disappointed that it is taking so long to move beyond Thaksin – he has served his purpose, and IMO going back to him is a dead end.
I agree there are other players that deserve scrutiny, however as I’m not an expert on all things Thai, I will leave it to those better qualified than me to engage you further.
I try to limit my involvement to providing alternative viewpoints, especially where I see due consideration not being given to those alternative views.
I cannot speak for Sidh, but if the reds were not so closly aligned with Thaksin, I would have no hesitation in supporting their democratic cause.
As you seem to be close to the red shirts, I am interested in the extent (if any) of any debate within the group about whether they really should still be carrying Thaksin photo’s whilst fighting for true democracy?
Taro #14 I knew what Thaksin meant by that 500 bahts he mentioned. However, the way he said and paused it right at 500 bahts, just made him look rather stupid. I think it’s quite funny.
Anyone (like you) who raises this non-issue in the first place is not ‘rather stupid’ but definitely stupid.
(P.S. Readers can see for themselve at #5 what Taro originally meant. I suspect that most of the Yellow Shirts who spread this issue on the internet initially didn’t recognize the 500Bht for the elderly. They, like a lot of people (for example, Khun Kramdem) knew only the 2000 Bht scheme, and thus made a big deal out of the 500Bht Thaksin said. When they realized later how stupid and wrong they themselve were, they shifted the issue to the alledged ‘funny mannerism’ (pausing and so on) of Thaksin.
Michael J. Montesano, Giles Ji Ungpakorn, and here M.L.Nattakorn Devakula, in my opinion, their writings on Thai politics are worth reading. I found Nattakorn’s article from Thaienews. I would like to share with others.
Majority of Thai people fight for liberty and freedom, I hope Australia cares.
________________
Here’s Nattakorn article.
By M.L. Nattakorn Devakula
15 April 2009
A lot of my friends and colleaques are in agreement that in order to realize the country’s true democratic potential, Thailand needs a formal transition towards a truer more ‘popular’ form of democracy based on the needs and desires of the majority.
A double standard judiciary appointed and acting in the name of a supreme leader and tacitly, yet not infrequently, intervened by particular members privy council as shown in a string of events over the past 3 years have to become a thing of the past. An armed forces bent on discriminating against its own population based of differing political ideology and out of the fear of ‘connected’ individuals having influence over them cannot in anyway be accepted in a modern day democracy. The tasks of revolutionarily altering Thailand will involve a lot work over the next several years to foment the seeds of final change. An oligarchic style of managed governance where compassionate and kindness are given only to those wearing the royalists’ color is a slap to the face to the majority of the Thai nation who are for the most part already living subordinated lives. This movement for democratic change must begin to sow its preliminary sinews today, while the culmination of its goals will be seen several years down the road. Victory was theirs this time but make no mistake the definitive battlelines of the future have been drawn and the real war is yet to have experienced its days. The reds’ defeat on April 14, 2009 from now on serves as a point of origination for what will ultimately become a transitional period out of the Thai oligarchic existence.
nganadeelek: Why do you think creating a new semi-divine figure to rival the one that it took 60 years to create, is the best, or only way, to win the war?
I must pretend not to know what ‘semi-divine figure’ you refer to here, but instead must ask: Should you not try to write critique of that ‘semi divine figure’ for a change?
Along this line, and just as direct, when you write, for example: when in most truly democratic countries that dark side would exclude him from being acceptable PM material.
To have so much problem with ‘figure’ like Thaksin who’s in power for 4-5 years but stay silent on ‘figure’ who’s in power for some 50-60 years is truly hypocritical.
I forgot to say, but I did read the article…. once immediately after readinf Sidgs comment, again after he called me on it
I am not sp ;azy, maybe unable to see what you see, but not lazy….
I am disappointed that you have not broadened the discussion away from Thaksinj, you guys have told us many times your views on him, there are many other players and I am trying to discover Sidh and your views on some of them
Do you think anyone other than Thaksin plays any role in the political health of Thailand?
Are you willing to discuss their role and performance?
David Brown: I posted my lazy response because it was obvious that your response to Sidh was lazy.
Sidh referred you to an article by Streckfuss, you read the headline and bounced back a response that bore no relationship to the article being referred to (remember in Sidh’s post #59 the only reference to ‘national heroes’ is the link to Streckfuss article).
I accept I am lazy, and in this case you were too – are you man enough to accept being called out on it?
As for your question: …..I think Prem’s record is mixed, but over recent years he has been more hindrance than help.
Can I advise you (and other reds, like anti-PADist etc) to rise above your seige mentality, and consider why Thaksin is unacceptable to so many of us?
Like Sidh has said, you guys only focus on the shiny side and gloss over the dark side, when in most truly democratic countries that dark side would exclude him from being acceptable PM material.
Why do you think creating a new semi-divine figure to rival the one that it took 60 years to create, is the best, or only way, to win the war?
(btw, a war that I am on your side on, but not Thaksin’s side)
Frank said: the idea that the airport was not shut down by the PAD is unacceptable to most readers here, I think. Yet, people go on saying they are not prosecuted because they are the PAD, and don’t say anything about not being prosecuted because they may not have done anything wrong.
And the PAD guards who blocked the expressway, attacked police and stole their equipment and actually detained one of the police? Did they do anything wrong? Were they prosecuted?
Please don’t come back with that tired “show me proof.” It’s arounf, much of it in links on this blog.
If I come back four months from now and ask you to show me proof that “UDD-caused two civilian deaths and government zero,” what are you going to come up with? Can you meet your own standards? Will you say that is a reasonable question? (I’m not suggesting you are misled, by the way.)
Most of the points at issue have been documented, perhaps not to your satisfaction, here and on Bangkok Pundit by references to material most readily available usually in the Thai press, which hardly gave the PAD a rough time.
P.S. I have not yet found that tape of the September 2008 clashes, but meanwhile bothered to go back and look for what appears to be the best on the ground account, from the Straits Times. The link can be found on this blog but here is the URL address directly:
I don’t think you actually have less free time than I do, but regardless, you will be doing us all a favor if you can be bothered to find us an account you believe provides a more accurate version of that night’s events, Thai or English.
Then let’s stop this silly tit-for-tat thing we have gotten ourselves into (I’ll take the blame for starting it) and move on to more substantive matters, for which I believe you make valuable and well-informed contributions.
All this stuff just covers old ground, and since no one has stepped up to say, hey, I’ll sort through all the materials and present the best available evidence, we are just talking past each other.
This is spot on. Recent events have definitely dented the image of the Red campaign although it is no surprise to see them hitting the lows of the PAD protests given the reward the Yellows reaped..
I’m still confused as to why the Reds decided to blockade Victory Monument. They gained very little from it yet the reputation of the movement took a massive hit. Suddenly the government had a genuine reason to label them dangerous and arrest key members, look into shutting down their media and, crucially, convince the public that the movement is a threat to the nation.
The tragedy is that Thailand needs an election, as the Reds have been saying. It remains to be seen if, by demonizing the Reds, the government will be able to prolong/go without election simply because it is a Red objective.
What chilled me was the total desperation/ resignation/hopelessness on their faces.
BUT they hate the present Govt -They were ready to die.
As a visitor, I was totally nonplussed to see this.
What injustice could engender such deep hatred that they were ready to die ? These are not fanatic Muslims but Buddhists.
You are nonplussed to see patriotism? Not the pledge of allegiance, flag waving fourth of July platitude kind practiced in most of the west, rather the kind that means something. No wonder it scared you.
Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be seeing that kind of patriotism in your country too.
One UDD organizer, who requested anonymity, suggested that Thaksin’s calls for a national uprising were no idle threat and that the protest group could in the weeks ahead stir more trouble at the provincial level.
He claimed that Thaksin operatives had for the past two years clandestinely funneled small arms through Cambodia to his supporters in various northeastern provinces, where Thaksin’s grassroots support runs deep. The well-placed source also said the arms had been moved and distributed with the help of former Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) contacts, an ideologically driven insurgent group active in the 1960s and 1970s that frequently criticized the royal family during its years of armed resistance.
This is the second news, I have seen in couple days. If you are good in googling and internet searching, you might find it more over internet somewhere.
500 bahts daily (as long as you attend his lecture) VS one time 2000 bahts , which site would u line up for? To be honest, I would line up for Kevin Rudd’s stimulus $900 package. Damn it, I’m still waiting. lol
And to somsak, I knew what Thaksin meant by that 500 bahts he mentioned. However, the way he said and paused it right at 500 bahts, just made him look rather stupid. I think it’s quite funny.
So the big question – why did the Redshirts make the huge tactical error of trying to take over Bangkok?
Thailand has a long history of massacring protesters. So, when Abhisit declared his state of emergency and sent the troops out were the Redshirts right to adopt a defensive posture and be ready to fight back? Should they just have taken their beating lying down?
Question is – would the Yellowshirts have done the same?
Clearly not – but we will never know because the Yellowshirts never had to face the army.
And let’s be clear – many of the Thais posting here just simply hate the idea of poor Isaan people having any say in anything.
As for the riot – well, I’ve been in riots in the UK where the rioters really attacked the police and really attacked property, burning dozens of buildings, 100s of cars and buses.
Sure the Redshirts did fight back but I am still not convinced that their actions were as bad as portrayed – they seemed to withdraw at every step.
But as everyone knows this is far from over – if Bangkok’s middle classes and the elite don’t get wise and stop behaving like villains then the Redshirts will be back – with or without Thaksin
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Thailand’s royal sub-plot
The article is good in drawing attention to problems that are faced by the monarchy and that it may need to address in refocusing its role in the future. However, it seems to gloss over the many problems that Thaksin created for himself and for the country that made the coup possible. You make it sound as if everything was running smoothly and there was no discontent with Thaksin but it was simply a case of him being too successful and making himself too popular with the masses – ergo the privy council decided he had to go to prevent him from overshadowing the monarchy.
Crackdown on the reds?
David Brown #18
“the redshirts have announced that:
while the redshirts were at the Interior Ministry searching for Abhisit and Suthep
2 redshirt people died, one shot by Abhisit’s security guard
and 3 redshirts were injured, one in hospital after being run over by the car with Abhisits secretary as passenger”
Now it is clear that what actually happened was that the red shirts dragged from their cars and beat up Abhisit’s secretary general, driver and body guard after taking the latter’s pistol. Despite being armed the body guard, an army major, chose not to resist and the red shirts took his pistol and fired all its shots into the air.
Crackdown on the reds?
David Brown, you are truly amazing. My father told me back in the 50s in Oz, “you can always pick a communist, because they never answer a question”. Quite simplistic I know, but often it was correct.
You appear to have that same way, when it comes to Thaksinism.
Stop being so blind and bitter.
Sidh is correct.
Ngananadeleeg is correct.
But both are prepared to move on; working with what we have.
I am more than happy to have seen the “dark side” of Thaksin exposed to the world this past few days.
Underneath your comments, I feel you are still willing to support him, when this might just be a time when there are better alternatives appearing.
I think we all agree, things must change. All Thais must be incuded.
Let us hope this whole sorry episode is not a waste.
If it helps kills off the “puuyai culture” (and Thaksin was definately part of that – but he wanted to refashion it, in his own image), Thailand will be a place with a future. If the puuyais (right from the top, down to the village headmen) fail to change, then all this will have been to no avail.
Let’s support change in the system – not support a person who developed a movement, to burn buses,threaten lives and destroy the system, for his own selfish ends, rather than help Thai people, who sorely need it.
I am optimistic enough, to believe we could be at such a time to start this change. But, those who have the chance to steer it forward, must act fast and with honesty.
Who are they?
You asked that in your post.
I am game enough to say, Abhisit is currrently holding that wheel.
Can he do it ?
Who knows (it’s a daunting task for anyone), but the next few days will be an indication.
Now your turn – who do you do you think might replace your “dear leader” ?
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
To hclau,
I am Thai, but not supporter of any sides, so please don’t start attacking me out of your own assumptions. I am merely suggesting that since this article is also about politics, it should mentioned more about what Thaksin had done that made cause his popularity to decline, not only royal puppet show. I thought that would be fairer that way, rather than merely mentioning him as victim of the show. I am not speaking for the Thai masses nor am I declarating anything. The example I gave were of what many Thais around me had know, and they were also mentioned by Thai media.
Like HXTML said, I have the right to expect a much better deal. Sorry if the point in my earlier comment was not clear to you.
Crackdown on the reds?
David: I too am disappointed that it is taking so long to move beyond Thaksin – he has served his purpose, and IMO going back to him is a dead end.
I agree there are other players that deserve scrutiny, however as I’m not an expert on all things Thai, I will leave it to those better qualified than me to engage you further.
I try to limit my involvement to providing alternative viewpoints, especially where I see due consideration not being given to those alternative views.
I cannot speak for Sidh, but if the reds were not so closly aligned with Thaksin, I would have no hesitation in supporting their democratic cause.
As you seem to be close to the red shirts, I am interested in the extent (if any) of any debate within the group about whether they really should still be carrying Thaksin photo’s whilst fighting for true democracy?
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
Taro #14
I knew what Thaksin meant by that 500 bahts he mentioned. However, the way he said and paused it right at 500 bahts, just made him look rather stupid. I think it’s quite funny.
Anyone (like you) who raises this non-issue in the first place is not ‘rather stupid’ but definitely stupid.
(P.S. Readers can see for themselve at #5 what Taro originally meant. I suspect that most of the Yellow Shirts who spread this issue on the internet initially didn’t recognize the 500Bht for the elderly. They, like a lot of people (for example, Khun Kramdem) knew only the 2000 Bht scheme, and thus made a big deal out of the 500Bht Thaksin said. When they realized later how stupid and wrong they themselve were, they shifted the issue to the alledged ‘funny mannerism’ (pausing and so on) of Thaksin.
“…the perfect time for your business to grow in Thailand”
Michael J. Montesano, Giles Ji Ungpakorn, and here M.L.Nattakorn Devakula, in my opinion, their writings on Thai politics are worth reading. I found Nattakorn’s article from Thaienews. I would like to share with others.
Majority of Thai people fight for liberty and freedom, I hope Australia cares.
________________
Here’s Nattakorn article.
By M.L. Nattakorn Devakula
15 April 2009
A lot of my friends and colleaques are in agreement that in order to realize the country’s true democratic potential, Thailand needs a formal transition towards a truer more ‘popular’ form of democracy based on the needs and desires of the majority.
A double standard judiciary appointed and acting in the name of a supreme leader and tacitly, yet not infrequently, intervened by particular members privy council as shown in a string of events over the past 3 years have to become a thing of the past. An armed forces bent on discriminating against its own population based of differing political ideology and out of the fear of ‘connected’ individuals having influence over them cannot in anyway be accepted in a modern day democracy. The tasks of revolutionarily altering Thailand will involve a lot work over the next several years to foment the seeds of final change. An oligarchic style of managed governance where compassionate and kindness are given only to those wearing the royalists’ color is a slap to the face to the majority of the Thai nation who are for the most part already living subordinated lives. This movement for democratic change must begin to sow its preliminary sinews today, while the culmination of its goals will be seen several years down the road. Victory was theirs this time but make no mistake the definitive battlelines of the future have been drawn and the real war is yet to have experienced its days. The reds’ defeat on April 14, 2009 from now on serves as a point of origination for what will ultimately become a transitional period out of the Thai oligarchic existence.
Crackdown on the reds?
nganadeelek:
Why do you think creating a new semi-divine figure to rival the one that it took 60 years to create, is the best, or only way, to win the war?
I must pretend not to know what ‘semi-divine figure’ you refer to here, but instead must ask: Should you not try to write critique of that ‘semi divine figure’ for a change?
Along this line, and just as direct, when you write, for example:
when in most truly democratic countries that dark side would exclude him from being acceptable PM material.
To have so much problem with ‘figure’ like Thaksin who’s in power for 4-5 years but stay silent on ‘figure’ who’s in power for some 50-60 years is truly hypocritical.
Crackdown on the reds?
#65
I forgot to say, but I did read the article…. once immediately after readinf Sidgs comment, again after he called me on it
I am not sp ;azy, maybe unable to see what you see, but not lazy….
I am disappointed that you have not broadened the discussion away from Thaksinj, you guys have told us many times your views on him, there are many other players and I am trying to discover Sidh and your views on some of them
Do you think anyone other than Thaksin plays any role in the political health of Thailand?
Are you willing to discuss their role and performance?
Crackdown on the reds?
David Brown: I posted my lazy response because it was obvious that your response to Sidh was lazy.
Sidh referred you to an article by Streckfuss, you read the headline and bounced back a response that bore no relationship to the article being referred to (remember in Sidh’s post #59 the only reference to ‘national heroes’ is the link to Streckfuss article).
I accept I am lazy, and in this case you were too – are you man enough to accept being called out on it?
As for your question: …..I think Prem’s record is mixed, but over recent years he has been more hindrance than help.
Can I advise you (and other reds, like anti-PADist etc) to rise above your seige mentality, and consider why Thaksin is unacceptable to so many of us?
Like Sidh has said, you guys only focus on the shiny side and gloss over the dark side, when in most truly democratic countries that dark side would exclude him from being acceptable PM material.
Why do you think creating a new semi-divine figure to rival the one that it took 60 years to create, is the best, or only way, to win the war?
(btw, a war that I am on your side on, but not Thaksin’s side)
The yellow lesson
Frank said: the idea that the airport was not shut down by the PAD is unacceptable to most readers here, I think. Yet, people go on saying they are not prosecuted because they are the PAD, and don’t say anything about not being prosecuted because they may not have done anything wrong.
And the PAD guards who blocked the expressway, attacked police and stole their equipment and actually detained one of the police? Did they do anything wrong? Were they prosecuted?
Please don’t come back with that tired “show me proof.” It’s arounf, much of it in links on this blog.
If I come back four months from now and ask you to show me proof that “UDD-caused two civilian deaths and government zero,” what are you going to come up with? Can you meet your own standards? Will you say that is a reasonable question? (I’m not suggesting you are misled, by the way.)
Most of the points at issue have been documented, perhaps not to your satisfaction, here and on Bangkok Pundit by references to material most readily available usually in the Thai press, which hardly gave the PAD a rough time.
P.S. I have not yet found that tape of the September 2008 clashes, but meanwhile bothered to go back and look for what appears to be the best on the ground account, from the Straits Times. The link can be found on this blog but here is the URL address directly:
http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2008/9/2/clash-of-the-thai-tans
I don’t think you actually have less free time than I do, but regardless, you will be doing us all a favor if you can be bothered to find us an account you believe provides a more accurate version of that night’s events, Thai or English.
Then let’s stop this silly tit-for-tat thing we have gotten ourselves into (I’ll take the blame for starting it) and move on to more substantive matters, for which I believe you make valuable and well-informed contributions.
All this stuff just covers old ground, and since no one has stepped up to say, hey, I’ll sort through all the materials and present the best available evidence, we are just talking past each other.
The yellow lesson
This is spot on. Recent events have definitely dented the image of the Red campaign although it is no surprise to see them hitting the lows of the PAD protests given the reward the Yellows reaped..
I’m still confused as to why the Reds decided to blockade Victory Monument. They gained very little from it yet the reputation of the movement took a massive hit. Suddenly the government had a genuine reason to label them dangerous and arrest key members, look into shutting down their media and, crucially, convince the public that the movement is a threat to the nation.
The tragedy is that Thailand needs an election, as the Reds have been saying. It remains to be seen if, by demonizing the Reds, the government will be able to prolong/go without election simply because it is a Red objective.
The yellow lesson
…the issue of the airport, for example: the idea that the airport was not shut down by the PAD is unacceptable to most readers here, I think…
Are you suggesting it was not the PAD who shut down Dom Mueang and Suvarnabhumi Airports for a solid week from 26 November until 4 December last year?
Battle at Dindaeng, Bangkok, 13 April 2009
Quick!!
Photos of Thai soilders shooting People
http://www.pantip.com/cafe/rajdumnern/topic/P7748956/P7748956.html
Captured on film…Got you!! Thai’s government…
Crackdown on the reds?
What chilled me was the total desperation/ resignation/hopelessness on their faces.
BUT they hate the present Govt -They were ready to die.
As a visitor, I was totally nonplussed to see this.
What injustice could engender such deep hatred that they were ready to die ? These are not fanatic Muslims but Buddhists.
You are nonplussed to see patriotism? Not the pledge of allegiance, flag waving fourth of July platitude kind practiced in most of the west, rather the kind that means something. No wonder it scared you.
Don’t worry. Soon you’ll be seeing that kind of patriotism in your country too.
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
It seems there are many more than just the one subplot
From Crispin in Asia Times online. The whole article is well worth reading.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/KD15Ae03.html
One UDD organizer, who requested anonymity, suggested that Thaksin’s calls for a national uprising were no idle threat and that the protest group could in the weeks ahead stir more trouble at the provincial level.
He claimed that Thaksin operatives had for the past two years clandestinely funneled small arms through Cambodia to his supporters in various northeastern provinces, where Thaksin’s grassroots support runs deep. The well-placed source also said the arms had been moved and distributed with the help of former Communist Party of Thailand (CPT) contacts, an ideologically driven insurgent group active in the 1960s and 1970s that frequently criticized the royal family during its years of armed resistance.
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
To Somsak,
Actually, Thaksin might actually give out 500 bahts/person/day to his red team.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTxFDr2JXsk
This is the second news, I have seen in couple days. If you are good in googling and internet searching, you might find it more over internet somewhere.
Cheers,
People of KVR900
Thailand’s royal sub-plot
Well, Ralph,
500 bahts daily (as long as you attend his lecture) VS one time 2000 bahts , which site would u line up for? To be honest, I would line up for Kevin Rudd’s stimulus $900 package. Damn it, I’m still waiting. lol
And to somsak, I knew what Thaksin meant by that 500 bahts he mentioned. However, the way he said and paused it right at 500 bahts, just made him look rather stupid. I think it’s quite funny.
Are you one of those PO500 too, by the way? 🙂
Cheers,
From an official member of KVR900
On the Songkran crisis of 2009
So the big question – why did the Redshirts make the huge tactical error of trying to take over Bangkok?
Thailand has a long history of massacring protesters. So, when Abhisit declared his state of emergency and sent the troops out were the Redshirts right to adopt a defensive posture and be ready to fight back? Should they just have taken their beating lying down?
Question is – would the Yellowshirts have done the same?
Clearly not – but we will never know because the Yellowshirts never had to face the army.
And let’s be clear – many of the Thais posting here just simply hate the idea of poor Isaan people having any say in anything.
As for the riot – well, I’ve been in riots in the UK where the rioters really attacked the police and really attacked property, burning dozens of buildings, 100s of cars and buses.
Sure the Redshirts did fight back but I am still not convinced that their actions were as bad as portrayed – they seemed to withdraw at every step.
But as everyone knows this is far from over – if Bangkok’s middle classes and the elite don’t get wise and stop behaving like villains then the Redshirts will be back – with or without Thaksin
Red shirts on the march
Pracha Thipatai said: For the moment I would like to keep my identity secured. Please read what I write and not read into WHO I am.
Excuse me, but I don’t really think anyone here actually cares WHO you are.
It doesn’t make your opinion – which is what you are offering – any more or less valuable.
Just thought you should know.