Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Protesters vow to annul Thai vote, step up rallies
AP ^ | Feb 2 , 2014 | THANYARAT DOKSONE

Posted on 02/03/2014 1:28:20 AM PST by LeoWindhorse

Thai protesters vowed Monday to stage larger rallies in central Bangkok and push ahead their efforts to nullify the results of elections that were expected to prolong a national political crisis. Despite fears of violence, voting proceeded peacefully in 90 percent of polling stations Sunday. The protesters forced polling booths to close in Bangkok and southern Thailand, disenfranchising millions of registered voters. As a result, not all Parliament seats will be filled and a series of by-elections are required to complete voting, extending political paralysis for months.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: protest; thailand; vote

1 posted on 02/03/2014 1:28:20 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

Secretary-general of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee
In office
29 November 2013[1] – today
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra
Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand (Security affairs)
In office
20 December 2008 – 9 August 2011
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva
Personal details
Born 7 July 1949 (age 64)
Phunphin, Surat Thani, Thailand
Nationality Thai
Political party Democrat Party
Domestic partner Srisakul Promphan[2]
Alma mater Chiang Mai University,
Middle Tennessee State University
Profession Politician
Religion Buddhism


2 posted on 02/03/2014 1:31:29 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

We’re on the protestors side, yes ?


3 posted on 02/03/2014 1:35:55 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fieldmarshaldj

not me , I feel they are a bunch of idiots ; possible Pol Pot wannabes . Thais need to sit down , take a deep breathe and see how well they have it and stop being so agro . They are flirting with civil war , which in their little country would be a disaster . Taksin is not coming back and sis is not his shill . She’s been pretty good so far , better than a lot of previous PMs . Give it a break people .


4 posted on 02/03/2014 1:41:11 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/gunfire-erupts-on-eve-of-thai-elections-1391284534-slideshow/


5 posted on 02/03/2014 1:49:12 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

from someone who knows : “ I have felt Suthep has used his ability to organize to high jack the protests. He is not Chamlong...he is not Santi, but they are older and burnt out.
His ability to make speeches is in the same order as the Red leaders.
I believe his popularity will wane as other forces for reform become stronger....
Hwever Thaksin will not retreat.....his clique owns Thailand and if they can get hold of the Crown Property Bureau the game is over....there is no need to mention the real crisis which is yet to come
once that happens the negotiations will be behind closed doors....if they have not removed Thaksin from the equation....he will be the President of the Republic”


6 posted on 02/03/2014 9:47:24 AM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: LeoWindhorse

and more :

The most interesting develpoment I see is the farmers of Thailand including many in the North and North East have finally realized how the Rice Pledging Scheme is ensuring their continued suffering economically while enriching the rice millers. The rice millers are Thai Chinese and they have had a strangle hold on the rice based economy and the farmers. Thaksin has been catering to the millers for years now. Yingluk is the chairperson of the committee responsible for this farce and she has never been to a meeting.

My view is oversimplified, but the bottom line remains the same i.e. Thaksin first and Thailand and her people and their future is a non issue. If he is such a great patriot why does he not act in the country’s best interests. Yingluk could step down...Suthep could step back, but the face factor is the whole issue.

I witnessed first hand Thaksin’s use of western style politics esp. advertising, he created an image of himself as the saviour of the people- his so called populist programs like the 20 baht health care program which bankrupted government hospitals, inspired hundreds of doctors to quit working at government hospitals, created a boom in private hospitals (which no average Thai will ever be able to afford) and drove up the costs of medicines for the poor. Poor people can present their card at the hospital, but most can’t afford to get to the hospital due to the transport costs. Government hospitals are under staffed, there are huge backlogs and delays, relatives sleep under the beds and in the parking lots because they can’t afford to commute from their homes to the towns with government clinics or worse to the cities with hospitals.

I know average Thais who incur huge debts because they know gov’t hospitals are bad so they go to private hospitals where they have to pay cash for decent treatment...loan sharking right in the hospital by the hospitals.

Thaksin has been using infrastructure programs like the famous Klong Dan water project to repay his backers. The Sky Link? The blatant insider land trading along the BTS lines before the BTS extensions were announced. Bidding practices?

Thaksin must control the gov’t....the people who paid for their positions from Governors of every province, the ministers, customs officials, police, members of parliament, judges, senators must collect their initial investments(paid to Peu Thai) plus their profits....they demand their four years...they don’t give a shit who suffers what....

Do you really believe the 1,700 drug war victims were not targeted many for political reasons from the Moo Bahn level and up?

I could create an almost endless list of his self enriching schemes. I witnessed Thaksin and Chavolit rip off Japanese investors for millions in bribes during the Kra Isthmus canal scam. I attended and translated at meeting in Thaksin’s personal secretary’s mansions where they promised the contracts in exchange for millions in bribes. They even had tv and press coverage at the contract signing ceremony.....they kept the money and never honoured the contracts....the Japanese gov’t never said a word....that was 15 years ago when the Thaksin machine was just warming up.

The current government has taken on huge debt for more infrastructure projects....who benefits from these projects?

ARE YOU AWARE THAT YINGLUK PAID SUTHEP 300 MILLION DOLLARS US before the King’s B Day to slow down the protests until after Constitution Day when she could announce her possible election plans and buy time?

My source is in the gov’t....in a Ministerial position....Thaksin has no intention of standing down....he is waiting for the most respected Thai to die....he has the police and he is making deals with virtually everyone.....do you think he cares if there is a coup? Before there is a coup there must be a deal.....slice up the pie...What do I get? The foremost question in every Poo Yai’s mind....last time the Reds invaded the G-20 conference....they flew foreign leaders off the roof of the convention center in Pattaya...the police and the Army(based in Chonburi) didn’t lift a finger....

The protests in Bangkok can go on and on and on and on.....the rich will continue to do as they please...the poor and middle class will be manipulated....the whole country can go into mourning...stop everything, but the money machine won’t miss a beat

Civil war?.....the war ended when Thaksin formed his first gov’t.....Prem knew it, Maha Bua saw the truth so long ago I can’t remember...Thaksin will be on the bank notes....that is the future which is virtually inevitable....

If the nation does not unite behind HM........and there is no time for waiting


7 posted on 02/03/2014 3:55:43 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson