Demonstrators end protest

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• Amazing Thailand

  Discussion 33 : 15/04/2009 at 10:51 AM33

  Jay >> As always, you offer very insightful perspective.
  
  I do not envy Abhisit. While he has his detractors, none of the accusation was ever about his integrity.
  
  The big question is now is how can a moral man handle himself among the wolves. As seen in the Pattaya incident, there are those in the army and certainly the police that worked to undermine Abhisit.
  
  These are the same cadre of old guards close to both Thaksin and Sonthi. They are also one of the many that contribute to oppression of the poor and Thailand's lofty ranking as second most corrupt country in Asia.
  
  Ideally and like you, I would also like to see:
  
  1. Reshuffle of those responsible for security detail in Pattaya even if it means police chief and head of arm forces. Replace them with the team
  that handle the last day of protest.
  
  2. Apply the exact same justice and rule-of-law (Abhisit's favorite word the past 4 weeks) to the PAD leadership as that of UDD leadership.
  
  3. Create channel for direct dialog with representative of the Red Shirt movement, take their grievance into account, and put together program/solution with tangible KPI. Put together audit committee composed of actual stakeholders and organization like Transparency Thailand with PM as president . Avoid the temptation of putting in government beaurecrats, politician, military, the police, and even 'research' organizations created by professors with intent to leach off government's projects because these are the very corrupted elements that pray on the poor and ordinary citizens alike.
  
  4. Same program for the South as in #3.
  
  Are all these fanciful thinking on my part? Perhaps. However, if Abhisit can do all this and more, he will boost his personal standing in international community and the world's confidence in Thailand in general.
  
  These actions take courage and require for Abhisit to step out of his "nice guy" comfort zone. He'll rankle a lot of 'power-that-be.' However, Abhisit is arguably at the height of his power right now with his exceptional handle on the red shirt situation.
  
  The people who tried to undermine him inadvertently gave him the perfect excuse to remove them. If there were ever a time for him to show that he's the ideal leader for Thailand, the time is NOW.

• red is dead

  Discussion 32 : 15/04/2009 at 02:17 AM32

  Sorry to disappoint you Soonita (27) but the UDD are the ones who are the cowards. they were defeated and sent home with their tails between their legs. The PAD succeeded in their protest agenda, ousting the corrupt stooge criminal Government of Toxin. Can't wait to see what he has planned for an encore.

• sgman

  Discussion 31 : 15/04/2009 at 12:55 AM31

  mr thaksin is so coward! he know the red clan agenda..to caused destructions to thailand ..he made sure his family fled to safety and let the reds shirt risk their lives for his selfish cause

• neutral

  Discussion 30 : 15/04/2009 at 12:44 AM30

  To soonita, post your real name and address and everyone will know who is the coward.
  
  To Jay, "1. He should appoint a special prosecutor to be in charge of the criminal cases against both the UDD leaders and the PAD leaders. The person he selects should be someone that both sides agree is fair and unaffiliated with either side. The prosecutions should be approached in the same way. "Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done.""
  
  I agree with you on this. I believe the if the PAD leaders really love the country they wouldn't mind going to jail just to bring peace to the country.
  
  But your second point seems unrealistic since the "Red Shirts" didn't even give Abhisit enough time to even prove his capability. Afterall this riots, do you still it's safe for him to go out and meet them?
  
  In my opinion, the best solution is to promise a general election in, maybe 10 - 12, provided the nation's economy and political stability return to norm. Maybe after witnessing his ability to bring the country out of this crisis, they will startr to realize Abhisit isn't bad afterall.

• Naka

  Discussion 29 : 15/04/2009 at 12:38 AM29

  Amazing Thailand >> I completely concur on your last several posts. The actions of the UDD have been irresponsible and the government acted with as much restraint as possible to maintain civil order.... actually it is quite amazing considering how things could have turned out.
  
  As you said however, the concerns of the red-shirts are real and largely legitimate. We should not dismiss them because the arch criminal Thaksin has appointed himself as their leader nor assume that all these people risked their lives for a few baht from some mysterious source.
  
  The coup and subsequent changes of prime ministers have robbed them of the democracy they thought they had obtained by playing by the rules and they are sick of it. Their needs can not go unaddressed. Abhisit must engage them and be seen to be addressing their needs and concerns. He is part of that BKK inteligencia elite from which PAD emerged, but without as much baggage as some of the older generation. If he can achieve some progress for the poor, then maybe the poor won't be so inclined to support someone like Thaksin as their sole champion.
  
  My fear is that it is not the red-shirts that will be unwilling to compromise, but the people and institutions that represent the power structure as it stands. They may see any attempt to reign in the disparities in society as a power loss for themselves rather than a gain for the country as a whole and something from which all may benefit.

• enuff

  Discussion 28 : 14/04/2009 at 11:46 PM28

  enough red or yellow clans...let's move forward..support the current government...give them time to solve problems and improve the country's economic situation.
  
  the yellow shouldn't have started this chaotic situation...the country was better off when taXsin was pm..even he was greedy and corupt he still did alot of good ie improve healthcare system, transport, airport, stable economy and hunting down drug dealers.
  
  Look at the current situation...thailand is slipping downward.
  
  If protest from the red or yellow were to occur again more people will suffer. I think taXsin, samak, somchai or abhisit are all competent leaders, they can improve the country...but it's the yellows and the reds that are destroying the once beautiful nation.

• soonita

  Discussion 27 : 14/04/2009 at 10:25 PM27

  The genie is out of the bottle. Stop bleating all you PAD cowards.

• Jay

  Discussion 26 : 14/04/2009 at 10:12 PM26

  I have friends - serious people - on both sides of the red/yellow divide. When I talk to yellows, their position has merit. They don't want to oppress the poor, but they don't want to be ruled by a manipulative and self-interested demagogue either. When they suggest that voting should be unequal, it is not to oppress, but in a misguided attempt to increase the value of the vote for everyone's benefit. This is not democracy. They are wrong. But their motives are good.
  
  When I talk to reds, their position also has merit. They don't want to leave their homes to roam around downtown BKK. But they have seen years of oppression, and their attempts to overcome that history (including repeatedly electing populist governments) have failed. They think that they have no alternative but insurrection. This is also not democracy. They are also wrong. But their motives are good too.
  
  Thailand needs a leader who will listen to both sides, and meet the concerns of both sides. Every democracy goes through this period, and in every case a leader emerges who understands what needs to be done. Is Abhisit that person? Who knows? Some of his allies are not exactly the best choices, but in politics sometimes you can't have perfection. He is presented with the opportunity to achieve something incredible. He will either take it up, or he won't.

• Amazing Thailand

  Discussion 25 : 14/04/2009 at 08:46 PM25

  Plod >> Please keep in mind that Thai Police's job description is not to risk their lives for ordinary citizens.
  
  It's legal extortion and hired thug (deputized) for highest bidder.
  
  I mean, you have to be really really silly to think that they would risk themselves to protect the airport or the ASEAN Summit.
  
  This post with sincere excuse to the few good men/women Thai police officers out there.

• Plod

  Discussion 24 : 14/04/2009 at 08:41 PM24

  The Thai police who could not restrain and/or arrest a mere 200 people in Pattaya, and 60 people attacking the Interior Ministry in BK, should be immediately sacked, or sent to London to learn what basic, effective policing is all about.
  
  The Met Police had to deal with tens of thousands of protesters during the recent G20 Summit in London and they did a rather good job. Few arrests. Little violence. No use of firearms required. And the people that wanted to were able to protest and make their point.
  
  As things stand after the weekend in Bangkok, I don't know what Thais are paying these people who go about in fancy dress for? The Bangkok and Pattaya Police appear unable to perform the basic duties associated with being a police officer.
  
  Why should the Thai army be required to clean up the mess left by a police force that apparently does not know how to arrest people hired to blatantly commit serious offences in public? It's inexcusable.

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