Red-shirts: No plan to kill PM Abhisit

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• Outside looking in

  Discussion 12 : 22/11/2009 at 03:49 PM12

  As someone who has lived in Thailand for a number of years, then temporarily moved on to other locations, I'd like to put forth the following observation on why the red shirt movement is finding it difficult to attract support from anyone other than a relatively small group of followers outside of their core strongholds of Issan and around the Thaksin's home town of Chiang Mai. And why, by-and-large most/most western foreigners tend to view the yellow shirt movement with favor, or at least neutrally, where the red shirt movement is so often viewed negatively.
  
  The issue of perception is not based on their rhetoric or ideology. The yellow shirt movement speakers can often have rhetoric that most Thai's and westerners don't agree with. But what is significant is that the yellow shirt movement is largely seen as a peaceful social protest movement. Even during their most visible protest action, the taking over of the airport, they were pictured helping tourists, sweeping the airport, socializing etc. Even their takeover of government house was by-and-large a peaceful event as viewed by the world press. Now, before the Thaksin clique goes running to their keyboards, I know that a PAD supporter did blow himself up. But the perception is that with both actions, the taking over of government house and the airport, the PAD movement was more of a peaceful social movement than a radical entity. Now contrast that with the perceptions of the red shirt movement. When foreigners and most neutral Thai's think of the red shirt movement images such as these come to mind: The ramming of burning buses into police posts; mobs dragging officials from cars and beating them; red shirt protesters running amok at the APEC venue, the head of state vehicle being attacked; the head of state being pelted with rotten fish; and finally today, threats to kill the head of state for having the audacity to want to travel to the second largest city and financial center in Thailand to address a Chamber of Commerce meeting. It's actions such as these, and the childish statements that accompany them, that serve to stifle any legitimate grievances the red shirt movement may want to air.
  
  I would suggest that should the red shirt movement want to gain any sort of legitimacy outside their core following they first get some adult supervision. It's obvious that persons such as Ms. Kanyaphak and other members of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group present a seriously negative image of the red shirt movement that only serves to distance everyone except the most serious radicals whose only goal is violence for violence sake.
  
  Second, I would advise the red shirt movement to enlist the aid of a professional public relations firm to coordinate its message. Currently the only message that is being heard and seen is the most radical. This does nothing to advance their cause and only strengthens the governments hand.
  
  To have any chance at social change, the red shirt movement needs to distance itself from radicalism and be seen as a legitimate opposition, not a anarchist mob.

• Paul 1

  Discussion 11 : 22/11/2009 at 11:03 AM11

  Not only should that DJ be fired, he should be arrested and charged with treason. I have no love for Abhisit, but I certainly would not like to see him assassinated, or even threatened!

• Ozman_Bkk

  Discussion 10 : 22/11/2009 at 08:42 AM10

  Just when you thought it couldn't possibly get any sillier we have people making jokes about killing the PM. There are tens of millions of Thais who are plain, ordinary, sensible people who get on with their lives. Unfortunately all the outside world seems to see is a rabble of red and yellow acting like demented fools. I hope the tourists can see beyond the yobbos and not cancel their plans to visit.

• Nick

  Discussion 9 : 22/11/2009 at 01:52 AM9

  Red shirts and Tax-sin doing what they do best - shooting themselves in the foot.

• wow

  Discussion 8 : 21/11/2009 at 10:52 PM8

  Just another example of why Thaksin and his cronies must never again be allowed back into power. Violent, unprofessional, thugs with no scruples.
  
  And while they complain about the "undemocratically" democratically elected government headed by Abhisit, they themselves demonstrate a breath taking display of contempt for rule of law and just plain decency.

• Tony

  Discussion 7 : 21/11/2009 at 09:59 PM7

  "Just joking..."
  
  Despite having minds of 5 year olds, the UDD are actually grown adults and must be held accountable for their behavior.
  
  Abhisit is Prime Minister of Thailand, chosen by elected MP's and last time I checked Chaing Mai was located in Thailand.

• Tourist

  Discussion 6 : 21/11/2009 at 08:28 PM6

  The Love Chiangmai 51 group has no right to tell who is not allowed to travel to Chiangmai. Everyone has the right to travel to any part of Thailand without any discrimination. This is constitution right. People belong to colors have gone over the limit to create chaos and anxiety which indirectly telling the tourists that you may not be safe if you are not the apple in the Love Chiangmai 51 group eyes. This is scaring. People living in Chiangmai, north, and the northeastern need to correct this concept and stop these hooligans from harrassing people.

• Foreigner

  Discussion 5 : 21/11/2009 at 07:55 PM5

  In any civilized country,maybe excepted Cambodia,media professionals(TV,Radio,newspaper etc...)who would call for violence actions or threateniong(Joke or not) any people of death would be seriously charged.This behavior would have consequence abroad.And will cost the country millions of Baht as thousands of security force will be deployed.Money from red shirts people and from all thais people as well.
  Have you seen Obama in any muslim country be threaten?
  
  I am foreigner living for a decade in Phathet Thai,and very sad to see the poor"Spectacle" between Thai people.
  
  Going to temple and thaam boun is very good but Boudha would not save the Kingdom,if your guys shoot each others just because others have different opinion.

• eddthened

  Discussion 4 : 21/11/2009 at 07:25 PM4

  Of course it's a joke! Rak Chiang Mai 51 are way to busy with their core activity - gay-bashing - to bother with something as trivial as national politics.

• stima

  Discussion 3 : 21/11/2009 at 07:05 PM3

  Nothing to be a big surprise about Thailand, A DJ joke of killing A PM with a bomb attack.
  
  The government foreign minister want to use other nation PM's blood to clean his leg.
  
  The Opposition party accuse their own government of spying other nation.
  
  The Police catch the victim of violence just because she forget to stand-up in the Cinema.
  
  There are more joke to count.
  
  What a screwed up country!

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