Rally had little chance of success

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Rally had little chance of success

PITAK SIAM WAS SIMPLY OUT-GUNNED BY CHALERM

Published: 25 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Pitak Siam's much-publicised rally to oust the Yingluck administration was a battle of political wills that ended with the government's offensive coming out on top.

The principal characters in what looked to be a new round of politically charged street protests were Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung.

To try to gain the ascendancy in the build up to the rally, Gen Boonlert looked to other retired military officers, academics and business leaders for support.

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bkk1
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Discussion 12 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.4912
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It's a sham the Police never did this to the red shirt mob rally's in 2010 may be Thsiland would be better of today if they did
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nitnoi
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Discussion 11 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.3311
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A dog that barks won't bite.
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robingrant
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Discussion 10 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.2710
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Despite the attempts to put a positive spin on this rally, the fact is that it was a complete flop, marred by violence by many participants. It would be nice to think that it was the last hurrah of a backward looking bunch of people whose time has passed, but no doubt they will be back.

Even so, the government, and the majority of people in Thailand who believe in the democratic process, can take heart from the outcome.
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ringmaster
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Discussion 9 : 25 Nov 2012 at 08.119
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If General Boonlert learned tactics and organization from his military training in the Thai army then he has just disgraced that organization entirely.
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christhai
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Discussion 8 : 25 Nov 2012 at 07.338
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very very good Mr.Chalerm !!!
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doode
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Discussion 7 : 25 Nov 2012 at 07.277
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Wonder if the response of the police would be the same from now on when the reds block major parts of BKK and bui;d up barricades. The actions in 2010 from the AV regime was too soft and had to be enforced in the beginnings of the protest, just like yesterday.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 6 : 25 Nov 2012 at 06.566
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Peua Thai : 1 Pitak Siam: 0 but the resentment just ratcheted up a few notches, there wasn't much that was democratic about the incident, from both sides.
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wakeup
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Discussion 5 : 25 Nov 2012 at 05.025
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While Chalerm gloats over snuffing out legitimate dissent today, he's done so only temporarily. The troubles for PTP are just beginning - and this overreaction was a sign of weakness, not strength.
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facts_only
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Discussion 4 : 25 Nov 2012 at 04.544
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"An afternoon of tear gas and confrontation ended up saying more about the Thai opposition than it did about Yinglucks government." - BBC, Nov 24, 2012
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bkposter
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Discussion 3 : 25 Nov 2012 at 04.473
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"More importantly, the government-controlled police force used checkpoints to prevent many demonstrators from across the city and the provinces from reaching the Royal Plaza."
I believe this statement to be misleading and factually incorrect. They used check points to check for weapons and to monitor who was coming in, but they did no detain any one from passing. It might be intimidating to some but it was not physically preventing any one from attending.
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