Bangkok Olympic Relay-THAI GOV. KISSES CHINA'S ASS (Again)

[Bruce551]

BANGKOK: -- Protesters disrupting tomorrow's Olympic-torch relay will be arrested immediately and prosecuted for public disturbance, police say.

Foreigners will be expelled and banned from returning. Those with residency will have it revoked permanently, spokesman Lt-General Watcharaphol Prasarnratchakij says.

(Hard to believe this attitude toward foreigners, looks to me like The Gov. KISSES CHINA'S ASS)

"If they come here and engage in unlawful acts, they must be prosecuted ... if they engage in illegal activity, we will proceed according to the law by revoking their visa," he says.

"We have prepared everything to ensure the smoothness of the ceremony."

A Government House source says there are groups in this country motivated to disrupt the relay, including human-rights groups and the local Falun Gong.

Additional police have been deployed to the Plaza Athenee Hotel, where the torch and Olympic flame are housed ahead of tomorrow's 3pm run.

There will be as many as 2,000 policemen on duty along the route, according to the Olympic Committee of Thailand.

Four police vehicles and six officers will accompany the relay at all times. A bomb squad and a canine crew are on standby as is a special weapons and tactics outfit.

The heavy security highlights concerns here and the government's desire to avoid similar chaos to that which occurred overseas.

Free Tibet Network member Pokpong Lawansiri disagrees with the stance against pro-Tibet protests.

"Under the Constitution, an individual - local or foreigner - has the right to rally for a cause," he says. "Peaceful rally should be allowed".

He expects about 100 members to protests.

Prime ministerial aide Akhaphol Sorrasuchart says protests can continue as long as there's no run disruption and they do not break other laws, including traffic, or damage property.

A number of locations have been prepared for protests, although he will not say where.

The relay route through normally crowded Bangkok has been cordoned off with barricades to deter protests.

Rallying point

Networks and organisations planning pro-Tibet activities tomorrow include:

- Free Tibet Network, Thai Labour Campaign Group, Chulalongkorn University social critics, Activists for Social Change, Young People for Democracy Movement and Workers Democracy.

[GoodKarma]

Hey the next Olympics should be in Thailand... it would really be special.

[zeusbheld]

well now's the time to see if any of those people thumping their chest about the heroics of those protesting the torch relay actually get out of their armchairs and risk something.

here's your chance, heroes. go for it.

incidentally, still looking for a thai SIM card that can do international SMS to send to the people working on behalf of freeing activist Hu Jia. i can't do it as i don't have a job; you need to be Thai or have a work permit.

it would be paid for by the people who want to use it, but i can't promise there would be no risk. especially in light of the Thai gov's attitude toward protestors.

[bangkoknights]

"A number of locations have been prepared for protests, although he will not say where. " lol

[beej]

Tonights going to be fun then!

[beej]

[dojib854]

Hey the next Olympics should be in Thailand... it would really be special.

A bit late for that Karma, haven't you heard the 2012 Olympics are in London? I believe Bangkok were planning to bid for the 2016 Olympics but it fell through. I do feel though that the IOC should have looked at China's human rights record when Beijing bid for these Games. Whatever happens, the issue of human rights in China won't go away

Luckily Thailand has an impeccable human rights record...............

[zeusbheld]

Hey the next Olympics should be in Thailand... it would really be special.

A bit late for that Karma, haven't you heard the 2012 Olympics are in London? I believe Bangkok were planning to bid for the 2016 Olympics but it fell through. I do feel though that the IOC should have looked at China's human rights record when Beijing bid for these Games. Whatever happens, the issue of human rights in China won't go away

Luckily Thailand has an impeccable human rights record...............

and the current PM is a champion of human rights (not to mention his impeccable arithmetic when it comes to body counts).

[dojib854]

Hey the next Olympics should be in Thailand... it would really be special.

A bit late for that Karma, haven't you heard the 2012 Olympics are in London? I believe Bangkok were planning to bid for the 2016 Olympics but it fell through. I do feel though that the IOC should have looked at China's human rights record when Beijing bid for these Games. Whatever happens, the issue of human rights in China won't go away

Luckily Thailand has an impeccable human rights record...............

and the current PM is a champion of human rights (not to mention his impeccable arithmetic when it comes to body counts).

Hey Zeus, I dont believe Samak would clear a doping control. His HR records are just too good......................... Must be something fishy.................

[beej]

Protesters in several Chinese cities have gathered to demand a boycott of French products and denounce campaigns for Tibetan independence.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in cities including Beijing, Wuhan, Hefei, Kunming, and Qingdao - often outside stores of the French chain Carrefour.

Passions ran high, but the protests were closely patrolled by police.

Protesters say they are angry at the scale of protests that accompanied the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

Some protesters try to steal a cripples torch and China is up in arms on the other hand a boat full of guns, bombs and bullets from China gets sent to an African country that just about to slip into a blood bath and they want the worlds press to stay quiet and sing their praises. What a load of dicks.

[dojib854]

Protesters in several Chinese cities have gathered to demand a boycott of French products and denounce campaigns for Tibetan independence.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in cities including Beijing, Wuhan, Hefei, Kunming, and Qingdao - often outside stores of the French chain Carrefour.

Passions ran high, but the protests were closely patrolled by police.

Protesters say they are angry at the scale of protests that accompanied the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

Some protesters try to steal a cripples torch and China is up in arms on the other hand a boat full of guns, bombs and bullets from China gets sent to an African country that just about to slip into a blood bath and they want the worlds press to stay quiet and sing their praises. What a load of dicks.

Well the french managed to piss off the chinese and now they will pay the price. I fully support the chinese boycot of french goods. Not that they were any good anyway. For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

[bigKus]

I know its zero chance to stop Olympic-torch, but i should have gone to UN today joining Pro-Tibet group.. there were not so many compare to another side, red-flag crowds ( and blue cops )

[zeusbheld]

Protesters in several Chinese cities have gathered to demand a boycott of French products and denounce campaigns for Tibetan independence.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in cities including Beijing, Wuhan, Hefei, Kunming, and Qingdao - often outside stores of the French chain Carrefour.

Passions ran high, but the protests were closely patrolled by police.

Protesters say they are angry at the scale of protests that accompanied the Olympic torch relay in Paris.

Some protesters try to steal a cripples torch and China is up in arms on the other hand a boat full of guns, bombs and bullets from China gets sent to an African country that just about to slip into a blood bath and they want the worlds press to stay quiet and sing their praises. What a load of dicks.

gee that was predictable.

looks like Whitey saved the world again.

[poolshark]

Everone blame China (good)

But dont forget other places in the world with "no olimpics" for a long time!!

B I R M A :!: :!:

Not so importand (but the same??!!)

[Loburt]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

[Loburt]

looks like Whitey saved the world again.

Right....except for the fact that most of the protesters were Asian. As were just about all of the organizing groups.

Free Tibet Network

Thai Labour Campaign

Student Federation of Thailand

People?s Reforms Group

Chulalongkorn University Social Critics Group

Thammasat University Democratic Socialist Tendency Group

Thammasat University Young Human Rights Defenders Group

Workers Democracy Group

Campaign Committee for Human Rights

Working Group on Justice for Peace

Youth Network for Peace in Southern Thailand

Young People for Democracy ? Thailand

People Coalition Party

Students for a Free Tibet

International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)

NGO Coordinating Committee in Development (NGO-COD)

[beej]

Everone blame China (good)

But dont forget other places in the world with "no olimpics" for a long time!!

B I R M A :!: :!:

Not so importand (but the same??!!)

What you mean, Burma/Darfur/Zimbabwe ahhhhh those place that China sell weapons, bigger picture mate, bigger picture!

[zeusbheld]

looks like Whitey saved the world again.

Right....except for the fact that most of the protesters were Asian.

Chulalongkorn University Social Critics Group was in Paris? REALLY???

do you read, or just respond randomly, like some chatbot?

[zeusbheld]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

like how the main effect of the protests so far has been to stir up Chinese nationalistic sentiment, and to get the Chinese equivalents of rednecks out on every street corner waving their flags and rallying behind the government, and most likely convince the CCP that they're right and there's no reason to compromise?

apparently nobody sees this as the least bit preditctable?

[Loburt]

looks like Whitey saved the world again.

Right....except for the fact that most of the protesters were Asian.

Chulalongkorn University Social Critics Group was in Paris? REALLY???

do you read, or just respond randomly, like some chatbot?

Oh, I definitely do. Obviously you don't.

[Loburt]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

like how the main effect of the protests so far has been to stir up Chinese nationalistic sentiment, and to get the Chinese equivalents of rednecks out on every street corner waving their flags and rallying behind the government, and most likely convince the CCP that they're right and there's no reason to compromise?

apparently nobody sees this as the least bit preditctable?

Just as predictable as civil rights marchers in the south stirred up the KKK and all the rednecks there.

That shouldn't stop people from speaking out in the face of injustice.

[dojib854]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

Haha how funny. You found that on google?

[dojib854]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

like how the main effect of the protests so far has been to stir up Chinese nationalistic sentiment, and to get the Chinese equivalents of rednecks out on every street corner waving their flags and rallying behind the government, and most likely convince the CCP that they're right and there's no reason to compromise?

apparently nobody sees this as the least bit preditctable?

Just as predictable as civil rights marchers in the south stirred up the KKK and all the rednecks there.

That shouldn't stop people from speaking out in the face of injustice.

Clearly you have never been to China or the Tibet region of China. I guess FOX must give you a hard on when the Nepalese police is beating up peaceful protestors under the headline of "Chinese police brutality".

Looks like you listed more protest organizations than actual demonstrators in Bangkok. Maybe they were busy searching Google. Btw do you know how many governments in the world that recognize Tibet as an independant state? Fill in the blank ______________ or better leave it. You are more correct then.

[PeeMarc]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

Haha how funny. You found that on google?

dodribble854, with your obvious superior knowledge on both China and the Pro Tibetan movement why not tell us what we?re obviously lacking? With our freedom of press, of association, of expression and the procedural legislation to make those rights happen I?m sure we?re not getting the full story. So, go to China you say? Learn from their open and objective media outlets you reckon? Speak to the many Han Chinese who all know so much about their minorities because their schooling is also objective apparent? Give me a break.

I love TF sometimes

[zeusbheld]

For the Pro Tibet activists, I wish you learned something about China.

Like how to kowtow?

like how the main effect of the protests so far has been to stir up Chinese nationalistic sentiment, and to get the Chinese equivalents of rednecks out on every street corner waving their flags and rallying behind the government, and most likely convince the CCP that they're right and there's no reason to compromise?

apparently nobody sees this as the least bit preditctable?

Just as predictable as civil rights marchers in the south stirred up the KKK and all the rednecks there.

That shouldn't stop people from speaking out in the face of injustice.

that is a seriously lame analogy. for one thing, the civil rights marchers were protesting THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. Notice that? apparently not. but hey it makes for a righteous-sounding howl. nothing wrong with "speaking out against" injustice, i know how you like to paint everything in strict black and white. but maybe, just maybe it isn't a question of "if" so much as "how."

unless i missed something, last thing i saw by the Dalai Lama on the subject was that he was NOT endorsing the position of the demonstrators, but on the other hand saying no one should shut them up. granted English isn't his first language but i got the impression that tehy were a bit of a headache for him, as China tends to pin *everything* on him, as they are this. it makes perfect sense for Tibetans to be protesting--whether it helps or not--but do you really believe the french, americans, brits, etc are helping?

maybe the Dalai Lama has repeatedly been able to budge China in their dialogues, but at least he's been able to open talks with them. You really think the protestors are making more progress? i mean, in anything besides making Chinese resent Carrefour.

who is making more progress, Tibet or Taiwan? ever wonder about that?

it's a question of what results you want. whether you are willing to compromise, or whether it's better to be right and lose everything. maybe direct confrontation will work, i dont' know. BUT the CCP has a history of reacting poorly when publicly embarrassed. might be worth taking into account when trying to get a result, especially for do-gooders with no direct stake in the outcome.