Posted on 04/12/2009 6:37:50 AM PDT by nuconvert
BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister narrowly escaped a savage attack and rioting erupted in Bangkok as protesters commandeered public buses and swarmed triumphantly over military vehicles in unchecked defiance after the government declared a state of emergency.
Bands of red-shirted anti-government protesters roamed areas of the Thai capital, with some smashing a car carrying Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and others beating up motorists who hurled insults at them.
At least 10 intersections were occupied by the protesters, who used buses to barricade several major roads, spawning massive traffic jams.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Oh my.
What exactly are these “protestors” demanding?
Are these “redshirts” the same as the “yellowshirts” that were raising hell a few months ago? This will get played down in the MSM-nothing to see here move on-since they have coups all the time in Thialand.
commies?
That the current Government step down and new elections to take place. Kind of a coup for a coup for a counter coup! The only Thai PM to serve not one but almost two full terms was the reason behind the first Coup and the Redshirts are supporters of him.
Things are going from bad to worse over there....
Depends on what block you are standing at in Bangkok. Amazing that Political strife exists on one street and you can walk a block to Party central for Songkran Holiday!
Rule of Thumb: Whenever protesters are tearing-up-the-place with large, vague demands,i.e., "End the War Now!", "Power to the People!", "Down with Capitalists!" you can bet the farm these are professional, leftist , and rent-a-mob protesters.
Genuine, local protests who are up in arms protest real, specific things, i.e., "Bring Back the Eight Hour Work Days!", "Down with Greenies! More Coal!", "Fix the Roads!!"
No.
I guess our FR correspondents in Thailand have gone to bed for the evening :)
>>>> I guess our FR correspondents in Thailand have gone to bed for the evening :) <<<<<
Correcting myself, looks like they are awake!
To hot to stay in a room with a computer running tonight for too long. And it is getting late and time to go to sleep. Interesting day today here with the Protests and Songkran happening all within blocks of each other. TiT
yankeedame; two points: Thailand is not a European nation, and it’s sometimes a good idea to learn something about a situation before you start making judgement calls.
What the Red Shirts are protesting is power abuse by the government that was put in place after a military coup.....
JimSEA; from what I’ve seen, most of the Thai progress made in the past 30 years was made by Thaksin.....all of the court cases against him have been absurd. Is justice served when the supreme court decides a case in two hours and refuses to hear any evidence from the defense?
red; Thailand is a monarchy, a constitutional monarchy.
Todays violence by the red shirts seems to be all about a new gang, the blue shirts, who appear to be government people out of uniform, possibly army or junior beauracrats, who violently attacked peaceful demonstrators yesterday.
Yep.
Second, Thaksin attacks Prem as an approach to getting rid of the Monarchy. The King really pissed him off as did Prem as the King's agent. The King's daughter Sirenthorn (sp?) would make a good King in the Rama IX mold. The crown Prince -- Not too good.
Second, Thaksin was a populist that pushed a 30 Bht medical plan which has brought all the evils of socialized medicine. The government hospitals have declined since the 30 bht scheme.
Third, The 1 mil bht per village scheme was largely a payoff to the local supporters and a big factor in the Northern and Northeastern Thaksin support.
Fourth, Red shirts have told me they are being paid 500 bht a day to protest. In addition, the business interests behind Thaksin are in it for the money just like the Abhist supporters are behind the Democrats. Lose - lose for the small businessman.
Fifth, the TRT had become a one party dictatorship which would return with Thaksin.
Sixth, all lawsuits in Thailand are a joke and excuse for more meaningless polemics.
The main argument against Thaksin is his ego and thirst for power.
Red shirts make them easier to shoot.
I know some people who plan to retire in Thailand, claiming, among other things, that the dollar goes five times further, especially for food, belongings. I don’t know if the government allows gun possession, but I’d hate to live in a country that could be overthrown by communists any time.
Useful idiot rabble, psyched up for use by the true believers.
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