Reconciliation or Oppression?

[Absara]

In recent days, one sees and hears the same buzz word: “national reconciliation” over and over, which is good - if there is a real intention behind it, not just empty words. Unfortunately, all indications appear to point out to the latter.

Frankly speaking, there is hardly anything left to reconcile. When one side doesn’t play by the rules, when one side claims the other side too ignorant to make its own decision, when one side considers the other side as trouble makers, not to say terrorists, please tell me how can any dignified human being reconcile under these conditions? To me, it sounds more like one side is trying to oppress the other.

So is it a “reconciliation or oppression” ? As usual, I would expect the answer lies on which side of the table you sit. However, it would be worthwhile to point out that the truth and justice will ALWAYS prevail at the end. That is a promise that has never been broken!

[tony1601]

How well put. The use of the term "Terrorism" is no more than government propaganda to slander people with different views than the government. This is turning into a witch hunt. The government has shown their true hand and that is they want a military state not a democracy nor any form of freedom of speech. There are positive things out of this riot and that is the government is not under any pressure to investigate the scanners or the air blimp or the EC investigation into the democrat party, bus lease scheme (these issues have been forgotten). The key people that have benefited are the current Government and the Military, and they are beating the poor to get back at one man: Thaksin. I do wish for Thaksin to come back to serve his sentence so the current Government and Military regime will release the people upcountry from being a hostage.

[Hard_done_by]

Yes,

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

do you guys really think that all the bank burning was done because the poor were oppressed?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

the government should be criticized for not acting sooner, and for not acting with more force.

[Absara]

Yes,

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

do you guys really think that all the bank burning was done because the poor were oppressed?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

the government should be criticized for not acting sooner, and for not acting with more force.

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

Wow, the protesters were asking to hold a general election and the government responded with 30,000+ soldiers firing live ammo, and you call that kid gloves. You don’t sound like a nonviolent man, HDB, I hope I am wrong!

[Hard_done_by]

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

Wow, the protesters were asking to hold a general election and the government responded with 30,000+ soldiers firing live ammo, and you call that kid gloves. You don’t sound like a nonviolent man, HDB, I hope I am wrong!

Hi Absara,

If this UDD nonsense would have happened in the west, the police would have been down there and starting to disperse them asap. I think Mr. A. was haunted by the ghosts of coups past, and the UDD took advantage of that. I couldn't get over all the childish outbursts of "they're got guns - there're coming to kill us".

Yes, I would preferred they dispersed them all on the very first day. I would have preferred to police to act as police. I would have preferred the government to act with a steel hand. The government didn't act with a steel hand - the police didn't act as police - the army let the government down - and the government was very slow to act.

Yes, I'm a non-violent person, but I believe in the right to preservation of self and property before considering the political rights of others to protest. Mr. A. should have got stuck into them, boots and all, right from the start.

I keep recalling the incidents with the UDD last year - who was punished for that? ok, so the PAD was treated lightly, but then so was the UDD last year - and now, drawing a line in the sand before this last exercise in anarchy, I think all the UDD leadership, and every man and woman at the rally on the day the troops went in should be sued both civilally and criminally. All the criminal offences were carried out in company, each person drawing on the other for the impetus to go to the next extreme.

Take a look at the english guy wandering down the road, yelling about burning and looting - if he did that in the us, he would have been shot or arrested immediately - no sane person would wait for him to carry out his threats - he was feeding off the crowd, and they were feeding off him.

I keep referring to the fact that banks were targeted - what the hell have banks got to do with grumbles by the poor? It just looks to me that the banks are being targetting by someone with a grudge against them, and it's not the poor.

You guys should face the reality that what happened was way beyond political protest, it was wanton destruction, theft, and arson - all criminal matters. Burning down shopping centres and looting them of their contents is not politicial - gold diamonds, even bags of sunglasses - just criminal theft and arson: There was no excuse for any of it.

The government was slow to act in quelling the rally, but let's hope it's not slow to start applying the punishments, both civil and criminal.

[trtrz]

Yes,

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

do you guys really think that all the bank burning was done because the poor were oppressed?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

the government should be criticized for not acting sooner, and for not acting with more force.

it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD.

Wow, the protesters were asking to hold a general election and the government responded with 30,000+ soldiers firing live ammo, and you call that kid gloves. You don’t sound like a nonviolent man, HDB, I hope I am wrong!

I believe Abhisit gave the protesters and election in November, but factions of UDD rejected.

[Hard_done_by]

"... it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD. ..."

I believe Abhisit gave the protesters and election in November, but factions of UDD rejected.

Exactly Trtrz, Mr. A. had agreed to all of the UDD's demands - the UDD were winners, but what they do? well, they shifted the goal posts around on the playing field (so to speak) - the government had to act, the senators came along too late. The UDD had it's chance and it blew it (in the end, literally).

[trtrz]

"... it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD. ..."

I believe Abhisit gave the protesters and election in November, but factions of UDD rejected.

Exactly Trtrz, Mr. A. had agreed to all of the UDD's demands - the UDD were winners, but what they do? well, they shifted the goal posts around on the playing field (so to speak) - the government had to act, the senators came along too late. The UDD had it's chance and it blew it (in the end, literally).

One thing is, why ain't the UDD confident with the November 14 election?

Was it because Thaksin's side still fail to woo back Newin's faction, and would therefore fail to have the majority?

After May 19th also, the smartest move that Abhisit can do is to hold an election within this year, to take advantage of the sufferings caused by the red shirts among local citizens, when the fire that lid Bangkok is yet to be put off. With an increasing economic growth before(12% first quarter) the rally and along with this, his party would certainly have an improved performance from the previous election.

[Absara]

"... it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD. ..."

I believe Abhisit gave the protesters and election in November, but factions of UDD rejected.

Exactly Trtrz, Mr. A. had agreed to all of the UDD's demands - the UDD were winners, but what they do? well, they shifted the goal posts around on the playing field (so to speak) - the government had to act, the senators came along too late. The UDD had it's chance and it blew it (in the end, literally).

I can’t comment on these specific agreements because I don’t know what the government officially agreed to, but if you have an official list of the agreements, please share with us. One thing I do know though, as reported by several Western media outlets, the main point of contention was the government wanted to hang on to power till around end of October, which would allow them to appoint the replacement for Gen. Anupong Paochinda and other key allies within the armed forces. In brief, it was obvious for the reds that the government refused to call election earlier than November 14 because it wanted all its “generals” appointed in position and ready, just in case the reds win the election. Another coup in preparation? What a democracy!

[taurus]

"... it's a real shame the UDD snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

Is it a defeat or a precursor to a more violent upraising?

come on guys, the government handled the case with kid gloves - and was more than kind to the UDD. ..."

I believe Abhisit gave the protesters and election in November, but factions of UDD rejected.

Exactly Trtrz, Mr. A. had agreed to all of the UDD's demands - the UDD were winners, but what they do? well, they shifted the goal posts around on the playing field (so to speak) - the government had to act, the senators came along too late. The UDD had it's chance and it blew it (in the end, literally).

Hi HDB, sorry to correct you , don't you mean that Thaksin shifted the goal posts!!!