Stop, Question, Search?

[Hard_done_by]

Well, the police aren't doing it, but the UDD is - stop, question, search.

What the hell is going on when individuals are approached or stopped by gangs of UDD members and asked whether they are members of another group, PAD or Multi-color, just because of the color of the shirt they chose to wear that day?

Is the UDD starting to become the defacto law enforcement entity?

[lostagain]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/thaksin ... l-building
UDD guards search hospital building
... the guards reportedly yelled loudly when they searched the building and looked for troops. Some of them held sharpened bamboo poles in their hands.

They came out with two suspects about half an hour later. The two men were then taken behind UDD's stage for interrogation. ....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/17 ... nal-affair
Kasit: Anti-govt protests 'internal affair'
....Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya told reporters after meeting his Indonesian counterpart, Marty Natalegawa, that the Thai government was "in control" of the situation and did not need foreign assistance.

"There is no need for international intervention at this point in time," ....

I agreed with Minister Kasit Piromya that this needs to be solved internally in Thailand. However there are some obvious questions regards ""in control". Perhaps the Minister needs to get out on to the streets a bit more.

[thairunner]

I wonder how long it will be before the Thai people will finally rise up against the Red Shirts. The business sector, tourist trade the import and export business are all down. It is hurting the real people of Thailand. We have many innocent victims from this situation and the great possibility of many more before this is over. I cannot understand that if the people protesting are really looking for the best for this great country. If they are truly Buddhist in belief then they would not resort to violence, because it is against a Buddhist belief. I live with my wife and family in the northeast of this country and most of the people we know do not understand the real purpose of this. I just pray to Buddha that there will be a peaceful end.

[Hard_done_by]

:? I wonder how long it will be before the Thai people will finally rise up against the Red Shirts. The business sector, tourist trade the import and export business are all down. It is hurting the real people of Thailand. We have many innocent victims from this situation and the great possibility of many more before this is over. I cannot understand that if the people protesting are really looking for the best for this great country. If they are truly Buddhist in belief then they would not resort to violence, because it is against a Buddhist belief. I live with my wife and family in the northeast of this country and most of the people we know do not understand the real purpose of this. I just pray to Buddha that there will be a peaceful end.

http://bangkokpost.com/news/local/176348/chulalongkorn-hospital-evacuates-patients

When will the thuggery end? The UDD stops cars, questions drivers and passengers, and attempts to search cars, questions individuals going about their private business, pushes into hospitals, then what next? What will happen if they start to enter private homes? What if they come to your house, or attack you because you're 'multi-colored', or 'yellow'? How will neighbours get along? Just say nothing - keep quite and hope no one bothers them?

What limits may individuals take in such circumstances? There is a defence in law (when in most jurisdictions anyway), and that is the defence of 'necessity', another defence is 'self-defence'. What level of force would you apply to protect yourself, your family, your friends, or your property?

There is no law and order on the streets of Bangkok, except for the UDD: The government seems powerless.

UPDATE: Is this a joke?

'Sorry?"?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/04/30/national/Were-sorry-we-raided-a-hospital-Dr-Weng-30128324.html

[Hard_done_by]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/05/01/politics/Losing-patience-30128386.html

"... "It's not necessary for me to condemn [the hospital break-in] since Thai society and the world community have already done that," Abhisit said, adding that the government would "not allow any movements that posed threats to the public". ..." (emphasis added)

I gotta you Mr. A., BUT IT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU TO CONDEMN THE HOSPITAL BREAK-IN.

"... It was supposed to be a day for the red shirts to fix the damage, but as it turned out, the consequences of Thursday's invasion of Chulalongkorn Hospital meant the political movement was staring at a wrecked reputation that is nearly irreparable. ..." (emphasis added)

The UDD has been synonymous with fear - ask anyone who has been stopped by a gang of them.

The government says that it's doing this and that down at the rally site - but how about ordinary citizens who are accosted by these thugs, in hospitals, public places, and even in little sois elsewhere?

Where do these thugs get the right to stop cars, approach individuals because of the color the shirt that person wears, or to enter public and restricted places to cause mayhem and strife(if not worse)? Where do these thugs get the right to ask questions which people are fearful to answer (like, "Are you a member of mulitcolor/yellow shirt"), when it is clear that a positive answer may give rise to an assault by a group of thugs. Where do these thugs get the right to search private property without legal authority? These thugs are breaking the law at every step and their confidence is rising to the point where the surreal has surplanted the reality.

The government might be exerting some control at the rally site, but elsewhere, the law is failing: fear is mounting.

I don't care what damage the UDD does to it's reputation, I care about those individuals and institutions that are left to feel helpless by a government which has simply lost the power to protect the property and the person of many citizens of Thailand who are doing no more than going about their daily lives.

[thairunner]

Hard_done_by has written a very good point. That is the Thai people need to be protected from the likes of the UDD and the ruthless way they are treating the everyday normal people trying to get on with their life. It is hard to imagine the fear put into families and individuals by these so called Democratic people. I myself would not put up with someone bothering my wife or daughter. If they really the UDD come up against people willing to stand up I think that the bullies would really run. I know that the people of Thailand deserve more than a bunch of GOONS who think they speak for all Thai people.

[Hard_done_by]

I think the issues of the protection of property and protection of the person are the single most important issues arising from the UDD's actions. Clearly the government has lost the ability to guarantee those protections.

Generally constitutions provide that in order that citizens give up their rights to self-protection, then government promises to provide that protection.

Clearly, as the government is no longer able to provide protection, then citizens may protect themselves by the application of lethal force without answering to the government under any law, since the goverment is clearly in breach of it's obligations to provide that protection pursuant to any law.

A Constitution is merely a contract between the people and the state. If people break the contract (the laws) then they are punished, but when the government breaks the contract (by not applying the laws), then the contract is very much at an end - and that is total anarchy, the breakdown of law and order.

To me, the quid-pro-quo between the people and the Government as enshrined in the Constitution is laying in pieces on the soil of Thailand.

(of course, this is all very much just my humble opinion).

[Hard_done_by]

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/05/03/politics/Medical-staff-tell-of-panic-30128440.html

"... "At that time, nobody could guarantee we would be safe or not," a nurse at Chulalongkorn Hospital, Supaporn Srithangsirikul said in trembling tones. ..."

"... About 10 minutes later, she heard what sounded like a gunshot and she and her colleagues fled to another room. ..."

"... "We were informed there were 5-6 deceased donors who'd donated their organs and this could help 4-5 patients - but we could not give this new life opportunity to the patients."

"Some had waited for the organ transplantation for their whole lives - but had now missed the chance," she said. ..."

"... "I want to beg anyone not to storm the hospital again. ..." (Dr Somkiet Sangwattanaroj, a cardiologist)

(all emphasis added)

[Hard_done_by]

As the photo cams have identified many of these whom stormed the hospital are now labial for 4-5 deaths but yet one murder arrest as the reds move on to their next victim as abhisht camp does nothing to even protect the dying
36 hours is well enough time to have murder warrants circulating

Yes, one has to ponder about why that hasn't happened, but I'll bet that any negotiated outcome will include indemnities for all wrongdoers - but, would such a negotiated outcome be legal if the government capitulated under duress? I guess it would, otherwise the duress would simply be applied again.

The lesson: don't just apply force, apply force in large numbers.