Bangkok Mar 12-14

[palmyfan]

Anyone else hear that Thaksins Ex Wife will be venturing into politics for the next erection?

If she is waiting one from Thaksin,i think we can say that we are pretty much safe.

[LakeGeneve]

Barrow Tweet: Dr.Pornthip said 5 car bombs found at Phloenchit, Chitlom, Mater Dei School, Chalerm Lok (INN)

Wonder what exact scale of car bombs we are talking about? Explosives stored in vehicles of actual vehicles designed for a large explosion? Worrying if the later, and reminds me of the query I wrote a week or so ago.

[Loburt]

Anyone else hear that Thaksins Ex Wife will be venturing into politics for the next erection?

Can't see it happening. She's too private a person. In the six years he was in power, I can't remember ever seeing a quote from her in the press.

[beej]

Anyone else hear that Thaksins Ex Wife will be venturing into politics for the next erection?

Can't see it happening. She's too private a person. In the six years he was in power, I can't remember ever seeing a quote from her in the press.

We discussed this as well this morning, she also used his addiction to politics as a reason for their ''divorce''. Though the kind of loss we've seen this week for the Thaksin family could force people to do some strange things, and I doubt she'd have to do much more than be a figure head.

There are quite solid mutterings about it happing though.

[beej]

A menopausal ex wife of a billionaire power hungry control freak in power.

Does it not sound plausible to you?

[beej]

Wonder if any of the weapons found at Rajaprasong will get finger printed and matched against the ID card prints of those who boarded busses?

Were they even finger printed? or is the ID card print enough?

[robbie36]

In my opinion, there is far too much attention on Thaksin in the underlying problem. Thaksin, when he was PM, only helped the North and North East because it was a very economic way of securing power. It was not a cause it was politics. If you are earning Bt3,000 a month and you give them Bt4,000 a month, they will believe in you and vote for you. It was a very smart political move. Beforehand Isaan voters were simply paid to vote or told to vote, Thaksin moved spending so that he got people to believe in him.

You only need to look at the figures. Thaksin did create a significant improvement in those peoples lives. That is why it really is naive to believe that the protests were all about Thaksin paying them to be there - obviously he was funding them but what has happened is that Thaksin has bought himself a 'cause'. The movement of spending to the North was just a very smart political decision to obtain power - there really is no indication when he was in power that he believed in an underlying 'cause'. He, rather accidentally created a movement that now has its own momentum.

The problem is rather than being an issue of the Red Shirts only being interested in money, Thaksin is now actually beginning to commit himself to being the hero of the masses. Rather than those Isaan people being only interested in cash they have created a billionaire interested in their 'cause'.

Thaksin is never coming back to Thailand but while he used to make purely business decisions he now is making decisions based on a moral agenda. He has a 'cause' and he wishes to seek revenge on those that got rid of him. Socialism backed by cash is a very powerful political force.

Thaksin was massively underestimated when he was in power, which is why he became so powerful. He was underestimated when he was kicked out of power but I suspect that Abhisit can beat him at his own game.

[Teddy]

Bump

[Stramash]

A menopausal ex wife of a billionaire power hungry control freak in power.

Does it not sound plausible to you?

I'm getting weird Imelda Marcos vibes here...

:shock:

[robbie36]

One of the things that slightly bugs me about this whole situation is that many people seem to be under the illusion that Red Shirts are stupid and ignorant. The worst assumption that anyone can make is that the person they are playing against is stupid. Because if you lose, you are an utter moron.

[SweetieBabie]

Another things that bugs me is that people aren't that stupid.

[beej]

Thai government accuses foreigners in Bangkok arson

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's government said Saturday that two foreigners were involved in arson attacks on major buildings, unleashed after a crackdown on "Red Shirts" protests in Bangkok.

Thailand's biggest shopping mall, Central World, was left gutted and partly collapsed in Wednesday's mayhem that saw 36 buildings torched, including the stock exchange and bank branches.

"A white Westerner was involved in the arson attack on Central World, convincing them to set fire to it. And an Asian was also involved in the arson attacks on the banks," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

Panitan did not give any names but a video of a British man urging the burning and looting of the shopping mall, taken several days before it was set on fire, has been circulating on the YouTube video sharing website.

The man was identified by the British media as Jeff Savage, a resident of the seaside resort of Pattaya, east of Bangkok. In interviews he reportedly defended his conduct but said he did not take part in the arson attack.

The Red Shirts, who are campaigning for elections to replace a government they say is illegitimate, mounted two months of rolling demonstrations that saw clashes and blasts that left 86 dead and 1,900 injured.

In the face of an overwhelming military crackdown, Reds leaders surrendered and asked their thousands of supporters to disperse from Bangkok's top shopping district which they had occupied for six weeks.

[Andy_bkk]

Suddenly it all makes sense to me, WE are the cause of it all!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Government-Accuses-Foreigners-t368158.html

[PeeMarc]

Looks like the government is mounting a massive case against the Reds and their leaders, and in doing so justify to the world why such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries. But, also, this looks like it could bring more serious charges against Thaksin, which may, now that the international community is still glued to the situation, mean getting the long sought after extradition needed to get Thaksin into Thai prison.

Interesting developments,

[lizardo]

Looks like the government is mounting a massive case against the Reds and their leaders, and in doing so justify to the world why such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries. But, also, this looks like it could bring more serious charges against Thaksin, which may, now that the international community is still glued to the situation, mean getting the long sought after extradition needed to get Thaksin into Thai prison.

Interesting developments,

i still don't think it was "such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries" I think minimal considering the situation and the duration of the problem

[PeeMarc]

Looks like the government is mounting a massive case against the Reds and their leaders, and in doing so justify to the world why such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries. But, also, this looks like it could bring more serious charges against Thaksin, which may, now that the international community is still glued to the situation, mean getting the long sought after extradition needed to get Thaksin into Thai prison.

Interesting developments,

i still don't think it was "such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries" I think minimal considering the situation and the duration of the problem

My personal view is that it wasnt a heavy one also. In fact, I think it could have come harder and earlier. But there was a lot of noise for many quarters, domestically and internationally, before and during about it being too heavy and thats what I was referring to.

[robbie36]

Looks like the government is mounting a massive case against the Reds and their leaders, and in doing so justify to the world why such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries. But, also, this looks like it could bring more serious charges against Thaksin, which may, now that the international community is still glued to the situation, mean getting the long sought after extradition needed to get Thaksin into Thai prison.

Interesting developments,

Well basically it is very difficult for any Government/military to win an argument that armed forces are deployed against their own people. Unfortunately the Government could neither rely on the loyalty or capability of the police and had no choice.

While CNN and BBC have been heavily criticised over their coverage of the protests, I believe that Thai TV has exacerbated the problems. The lesson of the May 1992 problems was that Thailand needed an independent and free press which Anand did his best to introduce it. Rather ironically his actions were dismantled by Thaksin (by buying ITV for instance).

Thai news channels did the Government no favors through public announcements from anonymous spokesmen. The most clear, coherent intelligent and sympathetic justification for the Governments actions when the troops moved in were made by Korn Chatikavanij and the Governor of Bangkok when they were interviewed by the international media on the likes of CNN.

The way the Thai TV presented things through 'announcements' rather than 'interviews' gave the impression that they were not prepared to be subject to the scrutiny of a truly free press. It was pretty clear from the international coverage that the Government were prepared to justify, answer and explain their actions that a truly free press would entail. So the bland military coverage did them no favors. Really Abhisit doesnt need to make 'announcements' when he can fully handle any question or accusation thrown at him.

Meanwhile through the domestic media coverage the Red Shirts believe they were being both misrepresented and unrepresented rather like they do in the Democratic process. Rather than close down their channel, let them get up and state through their channel of communication that they wish to burn down Bangkok - obviously that is inciting violence - but it is also totally destructive to any cause they wish to express. It would actually have been the Red Shirts that would have had trouble with the scrutiny that a genuinely free press would entail.

But control and censorship is inherently destructive to both parties.

[Sinenat]

Looks like the government is mounting a massive case against the Reds and their leaders, and in doing so justify to the world why such a heavy crack-down and so many deaths and injuries. But, also, this looks like it could bring more serious charges against Thaksin, which may, now that the international community is still glued to the situation, mean getting the long sought after extradition needed to get Thaksin into Thai prison.

Interesting developments,

Well basically it is very difficult for any Government/military to win an argument that armed forces are deployed against their own people. Unfortunately the Government could neither rely on the loyalty or capability of the police and had no choice.

While CNN and BBC have been heavily criticised over their coverage of the protests, I believe that Thai TV has exacerbated the problems. The lesson of the May 1992 problems was that Thailand needed an independent and free press which Anand did his best to introduce it. Rather ironically his actions were dismantled by Thaksin (by buying ITV for instance).

Thai news channels did the Government no favors through public announcements from anonymous spokesmen. The most clear, coherent intelligent and sympathetic justification for the Governments actions when the troops moved in were made by Korn Chatikavanij and the Governor of Bangkok when they were interviewed by the international media on the likes of CNN.

The way the Thai TV presented things through 'announcements' rather than 'interviews' gave the impression that they were not prepared to be subject to the scrutiny of a truly free press. It was pretty clear from the international coverage that the Government were prepared to justify, answer and explain their actions that a truly free press would entail. So the bland military coverage did them no favors. Really Abhisit doesnt need to make 'announcements' when he can fully handle any question or accusation thrown at him.

Meanwhile through the domestic media coverage the Red Shirts believe they were being both misrepresented and unrepresented rather like they do in the Democratic process. Rather than close down their channel, let them get up and state through their channel of communication that they wish to burn down Bangkok - obviously that is inciting violence - but it is also totally destructive to any cause they wish to express. It would actually have been the Red Shirts that would have had trouble with the scrutiny that a genuinely free press would entail.

But control and censorship is inherently destructive to both parties.

+1

[SweetieBabie]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgl_cgEmzxA

...No violence, not terrorists...

I really do NOT want to see if they REALLY get violence and terrorizing....

[beej]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgl_cgEmzxA

...No violence, not terrorists...

I really do NOT want to see if they REALLY get violence and terrorizing....

I don't mind my photos being used for shitty montages, but why did they have to put them to that song!

[SweetieBabie]

http://www.geenstijl.nl/mt/archieven/2010/05/rellende_nederlander_opgepakt.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+geenstijl%2FJxBx+%28GeenStijl&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

need translation ...

[beej]

And we're back neatly on the card abroad. Dutchman Ton Gijsbert (photo) has something to explain to the Thai authorities. Mr stuck on suspicion of the demolition of state property during the riots of recent days. Gijsbert would figure in this video where a similar figure to him (from 0:18. Left in the picture: black pants, white shirt and long sleeved) throws a stone into a billboard in Chiang Mai. Nice up with more paid boeroepers in a red shirt. And that is not so in the land of eternal smile. Even if farang. According to our man in Thailand has Gijsbert a red shirt as a friend and he worked as a teacher in Thailand. Good luck with calling the Dutch embassy Gijsbert. And enjoy the coming period in Bangkok Hilton.

[beej]

bump

[beej]

And we're back neatly on the card abroad. Dutchman Ton Gijsbert (photo) has something to explain to the Thai authorities. Mr stuck on suspicion of the demolition of state property during the riots of recent days. Gijsbert would figure in this video where a similar figure to him (from 0:18. Left in the picture: black pants, white shirt and long sleeved) throws a stone into a billboard in Chiang Mai. Nice up with more paid boeroepers in a red shirt. And that is not so in the land of eternal smile. Even if farang. According to our man in Thailand has Gijsbert a red shirt as a friend and he WORKED AS A TEACHER IN THAILAND Good luck with calling the Dutch embassy Gijsbert. And enjoy the coming period in Bangkok Hilton

[zeusbheld]

And we're back neatly on the card abroad. Dutchman Ton Gijsbert (photo) has something to explain to the Thai authorities. Mr stuck on suspicion of the demolition of state property during the riots of recent days. Gijsbert would figure in this video where a similar figure to him (from 0:18. Left in the picture: black pants, white shirt and long sleeved) throws a stone into a billboard in Chiang Mai. Nice up with more paid boeroepers in a red shirt. And that is not so in the land of eternal smile. Even if farang. According to our man in Thailand has Gijsbert a red shirt as a friend and he WORKED AS A TEACHER IN THAILAND Good luck with calling the Dutch embassy Gijsbert. And enjoy the coming period in Bangkok Hilton

well, they're all either English teachers, or English, aren't they.