Civil War in Thailand?
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... and look at how brilliant the Thai people are. The pro-government supporters tried to do a PAD but failed miserably... because they cannot get the support of the thinking Thais. Everyone knows that the REDS are Thaksin's paid agitators.
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andrew you're a pathological anti government maniac
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And it never occurred to you where the PAD protestors got the money to sustain a protest that long ?
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Originally posted by newcomer:
andrew you're a pathological anti government maniac
Not really, I am against despots. I was very supportive of the Chuan Leekpai (Thai: ชวน หลีà¸�ภัย, Chinese: 呂基文; pinyin: LÇš JÄ«wén; born July 28, 1938 in Trang the Prime Minister of Thailand) administration.
In fact I used to be a supporter of Thaksin and one of my employees in Thailand (computer programmer) reminded me of that when I was criticizing Thaksin.
Once he started to go after the mass media, and tried to put his relatives and cronies in the military, police and judiciary, it was with urgent imperative that he must go and no puppet of his comes into power.
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Opposition in Thailand willing to work with Government coalition partners to form new government.
This is what I call consensus building, non-despotic, behavior.
LEAD: Thai opposition party says ready to form new coalition gov't
Yahoo, Thailand - 7 hours ago
Thailand's opposition Democrat Party announced Saturday it will form a new coalition government tasked with bringing the country out of political crisis and ...
Opposition Democrats claim support to form new government Thai News Agency MCOT
Thai's new gov't to be formed by Democrat Party China Daily
all 13 news articles » -
i still support Thaksin.... those yr under him... thailand actually doing better...his only mistake is trying to follow someone style of getting his wife, father, mum, sis, bro and relative to be in power......not everyone as stupid as someone one....this wont work everytime..
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Thailand Slides Toward Civil War
The public siege of its airports may be over, but the country's political crisis is just heating up.
NEWSWEEKFrom the magazine issue dated Dec 15, 2008Last week, after Thailand's high court disbanded the country's ruling party and antigovernment demonstrators finally ended their weeklong occupation of Bangkok's two airports and their three-month siege of Government House, weary stranded travelers could have been forgiven for thinking that the political crisis was over. The estimated 350,000 foreigners who'd been trapped by the blockage have begun their journeys home. Yet for Thailand's citizens, its politicians, its business community and its foreign investors, nothing concrete has been resolved. Thailand remains a nation divided. Its beloved 81-year-old king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, is in decline and had to unexpectedly cancel his annual birthday speech last Thursday due to illness. King Bhumibol had never previously missed his birthday address, and his absence dashed hopes that he would use the occasion to help resolve the crisis. Instead, political extremism is now mounting, and a frightening new phrase has slipped into the political lexicon: civil war.
Most analysts acknowledge that a civil conflict in the strict military sense—with rival armies fighting over territory and national control—is unlikely. Yet a uniquely Thai version, featuring extreme political violence and dividing the nation into rich vs. poor, urban vs. rural, north vs. south and pro- vs. antiglobalization, has already begun to play out. Its salient aspects include a winner-take-all political culture, a rising authoritarian bent among the country's traditional elite and the erosion of democratic institutions. "Who will fight? All of the above," warns Sunai Phasuk, Thailand representative for Human Rights Watch. "It will be both a horizontal and vertical conflict, like a football game that goes very nasty and eventually the crowd jumps in."
That football match reached fever pitch last week when, for the second time in three months, Thailand's constitutional court toppled a democratically elected government. A nine-judge panel removed Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from office, dissolved three political parties central to his coalition and banned a handful of top officials for allegedly permitting fraud during the December 2007 election. The ruling came just three months after the same court ousted then Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej for briefly hosting a televised cooking show while in office (which violated a no-moonlighting rule he was unaware of). The latest decision was an attempt to strike out at "dishonest political parties [that] undermine Thailand's democratic system," said Court President Chat Chalavorn. Critics called the decision a "judicial coup."
The new verdict was widely anticipated, partly because Thailand's judiciary is increasingly seen as a tool of an old ruling troika comprised of the military, the monarchy and the Bangkok-based national bureaucracy. Since democracy was restored last year, the judiciary has flagged the government for even the tiniest infractions while refusing to rein in an antigovernment pressure group calling itself the People's Alliance for Democracy as it sought to impose mob rule. In August, the PAD's yellow-clad supporters occupied the prime minister's office, and late last month they shut down both of Bangkok's civilian airports. Yet the judiciary did nothing. It is also legally proscribed from bringing criminal charges against any participant in the 2006 coup that ousted populist firebrand Thaksin Shinawatra from power. Michael Montesano, a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, says Thai politics have polarized to such an extreme that even the king—who intervened to stop political violence in 1992—might be unable to broker a lasting truce this time. "That's not how Thailand works anymore," he argues. "Each side sees so little reason to compromise that any deal wouldn't last very long."
The roots of today's strife stretch back to 2000, when tycoon turned politico Thaksin engineered a sweeping election triumph by pledging to elevate the country's rural majority out of poverty. Once in office, he funded village-level development projects, offered nearly free health care and made Thailand's economy the envy of the region by delivering high growth and reducing the income gap. His economic model played well in the largely rural country and made Thailand an emerging-market star, yet Thaksin's populism, charisma and superior political skills also made him powerful enemies among Thailand's traditional power brokers: the military, Bangkok's political clans, the business elite and the monarchy. Those groups supported Thaksin's 2006 ouster "because the logical conclusion of his programs would be a transformation of Thailand's sociopolitical hierarchy [that] would threaten many, many people close to the top," says Prof. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute for Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
More than two years later, the old elite is still struggling to exorcise Thaksin's ghost. The man himself now lives in exile in Dubai to avoid jail following his conviction this year on corruption charges. But he speaks frequently to supporters by video link and claims fealty from the coalition elected in a landslide in late 2007 led by remnants of his Thai Rak Thai Party. Now officially banned twice, it has again begun to reconstitute itself, this time as Puea Thai, and likely will maintain its sway over Parliament's powerful lower house. This resilience has broken a historical pattern whereby democratic movements crushed by Thailand's military stayed down. "The rural grassroots have been awakened," says Thitinan, "and they are not going back to sleep."
Unable to reassert authority over the hinterland, the old guard seems bent on retaking command through a platform it calls "new politics," which would roll back one-person, one-vote democracy. The PAD, which counts among its supporters retired military officers, opposition political parties and Bangkok's business community, and also enjoys cozy ties with elements of the monarchy, advocates the transformation of Parliament to one dominated by appointed lawmakers because, as PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul told NEWSWEEK a few months ago, the rural masses "lack intelligence and wisdom" to vote responsibly. The group's guards carry guns, knives and explosives and have fought pitched battles with riot police. During the airport siege Sondhi incited his supporters to "shed your blood if that is necessary," telling them: "If you have to die, so be it."
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a foreign-policy specialist at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, says the PAD vision for Thailand is "scarily analogous" to the political system Burma's generals are constructing to perpetuate their own monopoly on power. Rural Thais resent it so viscerally that they're rallying around Thaksin's allies as a point of pride. Upcountry constituencies have steadfastly stuck to their guns by replacing banned lawmakers with loyal pro-Thaksin surrogates. As Banharn Silpa-Archa, leader of the newly dissolved Chart Thai Party, put it last week: "If a husband is banned, his wife or offspring will replace him."
If that pattern holds, Thailand's Parliament will reconvene next week and, under a coalition led by Puea Thai, select the next prime minister from within its ranks. If that happens and "Thaksin's puppet government returns," PAD leader Sondhi has threatened to go back onto the streets and reoccupy airports. The court could still block this by appointing a "national unity" government in defiance of the Constitution, which makes no provision for such a move. This would turn back the clock to when the military imposed martial law back in 2006. But this time around, the pro-Thaksin camp has readied a pressure group of its own, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, which has vowed to take up arms to defend the ruling coalition. Popularly known as the "red shirts," the UDD's rank and file is every bit as thuggish as the PAD's yellow-clad toughs.
The nightmare scenario has color-coded hooligans fighting in the streets even as the monarchy enters its own transition. As Thitinan writes in the Journal of Democracy's current issue: "The setting sun of the King's long reign is the background against which the battle of attrition for Thailand's soul is taking place." That contest, he argues, pits "opposing webs of partisans and vested interests both for and against what Thaksin has done to Thailand." His fear: "What happens after the current king leaves the scene could be the most wrenching crisis yet." Observers are following events closely. "This is not civil war in the way we talk about civil war," says a foreign diplomat in Bangkok. "They're talking about mass unrest, but whether it will happen or not is yet to be determined." The only certainty, it seems, is uncertainty.
If the unrest continues unabated, airlines must certainly re-assess their decisions to use Bangkok as their air-hub. Changi Airport Terminal 3 would not be under-used for long. Maybe, airlines will consider KL Airport as well or even a Chinese airport.
Both groups of Thais remain divided. The event seems to be a certainty.
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Originally posted by johntoil:
If the unrest continues unabated, airlines must certainly re-assess their decisions to use Bangkok as their air-hub. Changi Airport Terminal 3 would not be under-used for long. Maybe, airlines will consider KL Airport as well or even a Chinese airport.
Both groups of Thais remain divided. The event seems to be a certainty.
I started the "Civil War in Thailand?" topic long before the Newsweek article. If there are no new developments to warrant a change of opinion, I would say that the chances of a civil war has lessen with the ouster of Thaksin's brother in law.
These "ang mos" and ivory tower "analysts" do not understand Thai culture. They have a missing ingredient when they try to cook up their opinions.
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As for whether Changi or Suvarvabhum becomes the preeminent hub, and if it hinges on "continued unrest" of the kind that closes the Thai airport; that would be most unlikely because having learnt the lesson, it would be difficult for Thaksin's supporters to do a PAD and close down the airports again.
Already, the Singapore despots have more or less conceeded that Changi's third terminal was a huge mistake. They have sold Singapore Food Industries (SFI) to SATS.
This will enable them to channel public money through the profiteering by Singapore Food Industries (SFI) to cover the mistake that is Changi terminal three.
I am tired of starting so many topics and so maybe someone can start one questioning the morality of using underhand methods of taking public money to cover the asses of the despots, cover their mistakes.
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Next Prime Minister of Thailand? If he is appointed, he will be the youngest ever.
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Suthep files motion seeking extra House session to elect PM
Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban Monday submitted a motion to House Speaker and Parliament President Chai Chidchob, asking him to convene a special session of Parliament.
Suthep met Chai at 10 am. Other leading members of the Democrat and representatives of other political parties were also present.
He told Chai that the Democrat now has a coalition of 260 MPs so a special House meeting should be convened to elect the new prime minister.
The Nationhttp://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30090433
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SNAKE!!!!
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Pheu Thai now calling for a national govt
Pheu Thai Party has changed its stance and decided to push for a national government, claiming no other....
If Thanksin had called for a national unity government when the airports were closed, for the sake of the country, that might have a little credibility.
Now when
...is about to set up a coalition government with his ex partners sick of his despotism, he calls for a national unity government.
SNAKE!!!!
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Vote for new premier scheduled for Monday
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bad guy wins in business.
dirty politician is "good" politician
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SNAKE!!!!
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The most important question is....
Will we still have Royal Umbrella Thailand Superior AAAAAAA Jasmine Rice to eat in the future?
Will it affect the quality or the supply of the Royal Umbrella Thailand Superior AAAAAAA Jasmine Rice?
If no, then I don't care whatever happens to Thailand.
If yes, then...... I better go buy more to keep in my storeroom.
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how about rice from china?
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Originally posted by ArtBoon:
how about rice from china?
China rice probably have melamine.You can't tell if you're eating real rice or melamine mini-capsule.
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Good point.
How about Vietnam rice (2nd largest exporter in the world?) or Pakistan (3rd or 4th largest?)
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200604/25/eng20060425_260937.html
http://www.flex-news-food.com/pages/20463/Pakistan/rice/pakistan-poised-become-worlds-third-largest-rice-exporter.html
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Originally posted by ArtBoon:
Good point.
How about Vietnam rice (2nd largest exporter in the world?) or Pakistan (3rd or 4th largest?)
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200604/25/eng20060425_260937.html
http://www.flex-news-food.com/pages/20463/Pakistan/rice/pakistan-poised-become-worlds-third-largest-rice-exporter.html
Vietnam and Pakistan rice are both good, but they are just different breed of rice.I prefer my Royal Umbrella Thailand Superior AAAAAAAAAAAAA JASMINE Rice.
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That spells the end of Thai democracy and effectively, any chance for the poorer North to ever get out of the poverty.
The PAD is not just against Thaksin, they are against any government as long as it is not their choice of government. They succeed because of military and royal elements supporting their cause of society segmentation.
Yes. Segmentation. Meaning that the poor know where they belong and not cross the line. The PAD wants the constitution to change so that not everyone is entitled to a vote. Using excuse that the poor’s vote may be bought, they want the voting rights to be concentrated on the middle upper class of society.
The Thai king advocates sustained economy; meaning, make just enough and not make too much. There goes the Thai economy... it will always remain as a holiday resort area for other richer ASEAN nations. Vietnam will overtake Thailand in 5-10 years time.
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Thailand should return back to Monarchy.
It is not suitable for democracy or communism.
Return back the power to the King, so I can be my Thai Princess again.
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Originally posted by parn:
Thailand should return back to Monarchy.
It is not suitable for democracy or communism.
Return back the power to the King, so I can be my Thai Princess again.
LOL. As if!!!!It is a monarchy but not a feudal one that is all.
Although the Thai king has no political authority, he still has the people's backing.
If he calls for a revolt, the people will join him.
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Originally posted by Herzog_Zwei:
LOL. As if!!!!It is a monarchy but not a feudal one that is all.
Although the Thai king has no political authority, he still has the people's backing.
If he calls for a revolt, the people will join him.
So you concur or you don't concur?I concur.
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Maybe you all don't know this.
All Thais treated their King like a God.
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Different people have different taste.
Everybody's happy as long as there is a choice, or get used to new rice :)
Vietnam and Pakistan rice are both good, but they are just different breed of rice.
I prefer my Royal Umbrella Thailand Superior AAAAAAAAAAAAA JASMINE Rice.
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