Posted on 04/11/2009 1:01:33 AM PDT by LeoWindhorse
The summit of Asean leaders with dialogue partners has been cancelled and state of emergency declared in Pattaya after a clash of red-shirted and blue-shirted people outside the meeting venue and a subsequent invasion of the hotel. -snip- Hundreds of protesters broke through a glass and poured into a Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel building where reporters stayed. The section is about 100 metres apart from a hotel section where summit leaders are supposed to meet.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationmultimedia.com ...
Thailand needs to revert back to a military dictatorship. Thailand is proof that not all countries are mature enough to handle the responsibilities that go along with democracy.
“Democratic Alliance Against Democracy (DAAD)”
Is this what they mean by ‘oxyMORON’ ?
Forgive me for being totally ignorant on this situation, but can someone explain really quickly “Who are the good guys?”, and “What is the bad guys’ real problems?”.
Lately, I’m loathe to read a news article without trying to read between the lines, and I don’t know enough about this conflict to understand it! Someone has to be upset about something here to want the bloodbath you speak of...
Are the “Blue Shirts” who sound like the aggressors in the article like Communists, or Muslims, or Anarchists, what kind of “protest” was this? And the Red Shirts — they were just “regular citizens” who were protecting the building? “protesting” against the Blue shirts???
It sounds like the reporter was giving us a play by play of a sporting event. This doesn’t sound like a “protest” either, it sounds more like a “rumble”...
Thanks if you can help me figure this out! :)
Killjoy would be the best placed to answer this one .
Me...I think they are all nuts , and they are destroying the
reputation of Thailand in the process of acting up in these riotous ways . And have been for a long time . Enough already.
It is usual reporting by the Nation. It should be "Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship". God forbid the Nation ever report the facts correctly.
The quick and dirty answers to your questions:
Yellow shirts: Those against the former PM Thaksin. They are the ones that shut down the airport last year.
Red shirts: Those in favor of the former PM Thaksin.
Blue shirts: A bunch of thugs put together by the government to attack the red shirts because the Army and Police were not willing to do it.
As for who the good guys and bad guys are, it depends on how you view things. The Thai government refused to crack down when the protesters took over the airport last year and now they are getting a taste of their own medicine. They are screwed no matter what they do since it is exposing a huge double standard in the way the two groups are being handled.
The current PM supported the yellow shirts and that is how he came to power. Prior to him becoming PM, he was calling for the parliament to be dissolved and new elections to be held. Of course, after he got power, those demands went away. IMHO, his only way out of this is new elections which are highly unlikely since he will lose.
Pop some popcorn, fasten your seatbelt, and enjoy the show.
Thailand has been a constitutional monarchy for quite a long while now, and the king is revered. Unfortunately, the present government is eroding that reverence by calling any criticism of the government criticism of the king.
Any way, from what I have gathered, with the additional insight from a source in-country, the present troubles began with the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. I’ll summarize the basis for his political problems by excerpting the article about him in Wikipedia:
He entered politics in 1994 and founded the populist Thai Rak Thai (TRT) party in 1998. After a landslide election victory in 2001, he became prime minister, the country’s first to serve a full term. Thaksin introduced a range of partly effective and highly popular policies to alleviate rural poverty. He launched the country’s first universal healthcare program, the 30-baht scheme, as well as drastic social order and drug suppression campaigns.
His re-election in 2005 had the highest voter turnout in Thai history, with his main support base in the rural north and northeast.
“Democratic Alliance Against Democracy (DAAD)”
They’re from the
Department of Redundancy Department (DORD)
Boy The red shirts supported Thaksin and the UDD party, The Yellow shirts, mostly Urban dwellers support the current administration, The blue shirts from what I could figure out are the people in between the to factions bickering and are fed up with the BS. Kind of what it boils down to is a Urban (Bangkok) against Rural(most of the country) conflict. PM me and I can explain it a bit furture if interested.
Killjoy, I had meant to address this backgrounder to libertyrocks.
From what little I understand, Thaksin was overthrown because the old political elite had become afraid of his success, and they were hurt by his political and economic reforms. He had long campaigned against the corruption that is a way of life in Thai government, with only limited success.
Also, his support is largely based with the common people in the north of the country, and thus little direct influence with the mob in Bangkok.
Well, there was a reason no action was taken by the government when the PAD took over the airport but lese majesty laws prevent me from saying more.
Any way, from what I have gathered, with the additional insight from a source in-country, the present troubles began with the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
The King was traditionally seen as the champion of the poor in Thailand and the PM/Government as the servants of the rich. Thaksin, right or wrong, paid a lot of attention to the poor working class and it is what brought him votes. It also brought down on him the hatred of the elite. Again, lese majesty laws prevent me from saying more.
If you believe the news yes. But why do the common nice folks of Chonburi all have matching silk-screened t-shirts on? Who ordered and paid for them? Why are they intermingling with the Army soldiers? I would believe what you said if they showed up in normal street clothes, but they are way too organized to just be a group of locals like the news is reporting.
Once again, I screwed up post addressing. I had meant to send the previous background post to LibertRocks, and explain that error in my second post. After this third attempt, I think I’ll leave well-enough alone.
Thanks for the clarification.
I wonder who’s bright idea it was. Some sites online are suggesting Newin. Incredibly dumb move since all it did was embolden the reds. PM Abhisit is showing himself to be totally useless for anything except being a pretty boy.
WOW... That was awesome. Thank you so much. This should be interesting, that’s for sure...
Prayers for all the innocents... And the “good guys” whoever they are, God probably knows best anyway who that is! :)
Thank you so much! I really do appreciate it... I wasn’t aware of Thailand’s history. I’ve looked into Thailand from a “Tourist” point of view (places, culture, etc...) — it’s a beautiful place, I think... But, I appreciate knowing a little about the history now too. :)
LOL, I have heard that said before.
Blue shirts maybe a new faction coming online? From what bit I have been reading it sounded like they are aggitaing the Red shirts to create violence. Trying to wade throught the Non News is difficult at best.
You’ve probably got it about right... Sounds like they’re all fed up with something or someone! That’s really unfortunate...
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