The 2013 Thai Protest discussion thread

[barbaro]

We have a few threads going at the same time regarding the recent protests.

Is it OK to have one, single thread that combines these protests (which seem unlikely to abate)?

We can put everything from today, December 2, 2013 and onward here.

And of course, there will be predictions.

Here is a starter:

10 questions: What's behind the protests in Thailand? - CNN.com

[barbaro]

Suthep's statement in bold is a bit....strong.

7. What do the demonstrators want?
Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister under the previous Democrat-led government, has said the demonstrations "will not stop until Thaksin's regime is wiped out." Such an aim seems ambitious. Yingluck's government was democratically elected and her Pheu Thai party retains support in its core areas. The current protests have echoes of 2008 when demonstrators opposed to a pro-Thaksin government occupied Bangkok's main airport and government offices.=

Link in OP

Suthep wiki: Suthep Thaugsuban - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[harrybarracuda]

I sincerely hope the Army have made it clear that the airport is a no-go area....

[good2bhappy]

at home we have pantomimes over the Christmas period

[harrybarracuda]

at home we have pantomimes over the Christmas period

Do people get killed in those?

[Dream Over]

Police chief to punish police who side with protesters | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

"Pol Gen Adul told senior officers in a video conference that any officer passing information on police plans to the demonstrators would be a traitor in his eyes and should be executed, a police source said."

A bit extreme. I'm sure the guy is under a lot of pressure.

[Bettyboo]

"Pol Gen Adul told senior officers in a video conference that any officer passing information on police plans to the demonstrators would be a traitor in his eyes and should be executed, a police source said."

How about the army generals, if they bahave in a treasonous manner?

[sabang]

Well this is unusually candid for the BPost-

After a "victory day" failure, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he met face-to-face with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Sunday evening at the demand of the armed forces - but instead of negotiating, he gave her 48 hours to leave office

Maybe to avoid more people getting killed, it is time to apprehend some of the protest leaders and provocateurs. There is absolutely no reason for Yingluck to step down, and little point in calling an election that we well know the outcome of.

[Dream Over]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingn...olice-tear-gas


"Anti-government protesters say they plan to spray faeces at police who use tear-gas to prevent them from occupying government offices."


These people are warped. If Yingluck shouldn't be in office, maybe they are not wrong to get her out by any means, but if she hasn't violated laws, she should get the police to start arresting protestors and using force against at least their leaders.

[Dream Over]

You'd think the Thais would have some of the crowd control tech that has been developed in recent years like those canons that fire annoying sound and heat guns.

Some sort of solution is needed after all is done but right now BKK is just filled with people who've lost their minds. The longer they stay out there the more they live in Sutep's imaginary world of victimization.

[barbaro]

Tankers with faecal matter to counter police tear gas | Bangkok Post: breakingnews


"Anti-government protesters say they plan to spray faeces at police who use tear-gas to prevent them from occupying government offices."


These people are warped. If Yingluck shouldn't be in office, maybe they are not wrong to get her out by any means, but if she hasn't violated laws, she should get the police to start arresting protestors and using force against at least their leaders.

Yinluck was democratically elected in election deemed fair, correct?

She has not violated any laws, correct?

Not a fan of her brother (but I didn't loathe him either).

It's not a case of whether the process was fair, but whether the opposition wants to remove someone / party they loathe.

With this mentality and strategy, no pragmatic outcome will happen.

[harrybarracuda]

Same as the Teabaggers in the US; they don't see why having the opposition elected freely and fairly should step them holding the reins.

[barbaro]

Same as the Teabaggers in the US; they don't see why having the opposition elected freely and fairly should step them holding the reins.

It's not the same as the teabaggers in the US.

[Thormaturge]

Frankly if Yingluck announces a curfew and in the morning the streets are empty I, for one, would not complain.

[larvidchr]

The protesters are not exactly winning hearts and minds outside Thailand either, in this video from today a BBC reporter label them thugs and violent.

BBC News - Thailand protests: PM rejects resignation demand

[Yasojack]

Seems Gen prem is not happy with all the teargas around

Privy Council chairman and statesman Prem Tinsulanonda has been closely monitoring the ongoing protests by anti-government groups from his Si Sao Thewes residence, his close aide Lt Gen Pissanu Putthawong said on Monday.

Lt Gen Pissanu, chief of the office of the Statesman's Foundation, said Gen Prem is concerned about the situation.

Tear gas hurled at protesters nearby meant Gen Prem had to stay in his residence without going anywhere else.

Gen Prem will tomorrow preside over a meeting of the Privy Council at the Office of the Privy Councillors as usual he said.

[Yasojack]

Here's Yingluck telling AJ that the Amnesty bill will not comeback

[Mr Lick]

Suthep is certainly on a mission to destroy Thaksin but making a great deal of noise intermixed with violent behaviour isn't really going to cut the mustard.

If a general strike is well supported then that's a different ball game.

[Necron99]

I just wish they would hurry up.
The TV has been on for 24x7 days now and the whistles are driving me batshit crazy.

[harrybarracuda]

Same as the Teabaggers in the US; they don't see why having the opposition elected freely and fairly should step them holding the reins.

It's not the same as the teabaggers in the US.

In the context that I outlined, it's *exactly* the same.

[harrybarracuda]

Suthep is certainly on a mission to destroy Thaksin but making a great deal of noise intermixed with violent behaviour isn't really going to cut the mustard.

If a general strike is well supported then that's a different ball game.

A general strike that brings Bangkok to its knees is a different ball game?

If I were Yingluck I'd start moving the government to the heartlands, along with the airport.

[Yasojack]

These guys sure look like middle class

[khmen]

You'd think the Thais would have some of the crowd control tech that has been developed in recent years like those canons that fire annoying sound

These have reprtedly been used today to repel demonstrators, along with purple dyed water/pepper spray cannons, tear gas etc - so it does appear they have a varied array of crowd control devices.

[Bettyboo]

Water cannon are a good option; not leathal by effective.

The problem is, if you're an elected government, how much violence and public disorder do you accept?

I don't like violence against the masses, but you cannot heve every elected government brought down by well funded and connected minority groups. I think they should be getting at the leaders; Suthep and others have done more than enough crimes to be arrested; of course this is a problem in a patronage culture...

[robuzo]

Well this is unusually candid for the BPost-

After a "victory day" failure, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he met face-to-face with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Sunday evening at the demand of the armed forces - but instead of negotiating, he gave her 48 hours to leave office

Maybe to avoid more people getting killed, it is time to apprehend some of the protest leaders and provocateurs.

Considering that more death and injury is obviously key to Suthep's little plan, I would have to agree.

Was at the wat in Tampa, Florida yesterday (Sunday, early Father's Day), no Thais in yellow there, some in pink and others conspicuously wearing red, but no obvious signs that there is anything amiss back home.

Naive question of the day- the red scarves on the cops below, some sort of divisional regalia? I realize it's the wrong shade of red. . .