PM urges a rethink over red shirt ban

News > Politics

PM urges a rethink over red shirt ban

REPRIEVE FOR PROTESTERS' SOUVENIRS

Published: 21/11/2010 at 06:40 AM
Newspaper section: News

Red shirt souvenirs criticised by state agencies as offensive to the monarchy and pandering to national disunity may get a reprieve.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva wants the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) to consider revising its order to ban the items, which include T-shirts and sandals bearing images of prominent people.

The ban itself could lead to disunity, Mr Abhisit said yesterday, just one day after the measure was announced.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Keep this article in your social bookmark:

Latest stories in this category:

Forum

Your comments

mrexpat
Post : 61
Send message

Discussion 13 : 22/11/2010 at 01:10 AM13
Post this to my Facebook
You will have to ban t-shirts such as no money no honey, love you long time as prostitution is illegal in thailand!! I think the world authorities should crack down on the amount of fakes in thailand its a joke. Maybe if thais didnt just copy everything they might actually invent something but this is all about Education which is probably the cause of most problems in thailand
peterd
Post : 453
Send message

Discussion 12 : 22/11/2010 at 12:04 AM12
Post this to my Facebook
To compare Thaksin to Hitler... . I knew the bile was yellow but i thought it was in the liver, not in the brain. My God! Are you really sure that Yellow people represent the "elite" in Thailand.
falangsur
Post : 145
Send message

Discussion 11 : 21/11/2010 at 06:05 PM11
Post this to my Facebook
Finally some sense is shown - although interesting that he must ask why it was done. By allowing the emergency decree to continue - these situations will occur. Silly rules and completely arbitrary enforcement of laws. In this case, lese majeste laws exist already to prevent insults to the monarchy. The new rule was strictly to prevent people from using souvenirs to express their displeasure with some officials. Why is it a crime to do this? This goal of "unity" is getting crazy - under the current regime, any expression of disagreement will be considered to encourage disunity? I think the elites are really struggling to deal with the fact that in today's world of technology, when the whole world sees what is going on so quickly, they cannot just behave as they did 20 years ago.
somtam
Post : 176
Send message

Discussion 10 : 21/11/2010 at 05:43 PM10
Post this to my Facebook
They should ban all these t-shirts with Thaksin creepy face. It's as bad taste as having Hitler on t-shirts in Germany.
dao
Post : 1820
Send message

Discussion 9 : 21/11/2010 at 05:33 PM9
Post this to my Facebook
Intersting the way people only seem to wear that red junkj when there is a rally .Ive seem people come with a change of clothes .Could it be because they know they are hated ?
bangmodken
Post : 781
Send message

Discussion 8 : 21/11/2010 at 03:58 PM8
Post this to my Facebook
It seems very difficult for some people to understand that khun Abhisit really is this non-corrupt,caring and benevolent leader he appears to be.
I wonder if any of you can imagine just how difficult his position is as he struggles to eradicate corruption and reconcile the people of this country?
He faces opposition from the old guard politicians of all parties,military top brass and even within his own party/coalition.
But I believe he is doing the right thing and maybe one day most people realise that he is probably the best leader Thailand could wish for.
I just hope they dont realise this too late.
Keep up the good work PM.
thong
Post : 127
Send message

Discussion 7 : 21/11/2010 at 03:41 PM7
Post this to my Facebook
This latest PR stunt and AV latest stance on PV temple is saying that election is round the corner.

On the issue of T-shirts and sandals bearing images of prominent people. It is for the persons concerned to decide whether to sue the wearers and users or not. They can settle their grivances among themselves. They are laws on this matter already. AV can simply tell CRES that they already have exist law on this matter.

On PV temple - it is just cheap nationalism. AV should continue negotiating with Cambodian on such matter through various negotiating channels instead of appeasing small group of people like PAD. The public announcement of his stance has instead encouraged Cambodia to further their claim of territorial ownership not just area near PV temple but many areas of dispute.
abbub
Post : 1212
Send message

Discussion 6 : 21/11/2010 at 02:40 PM6
Post this to my Facebook
This is just the"good cop; bad cop" routine on a political level.

DAVID #4: It is not the Abhisit government that could dump the generals.

It is the generals that could dump Abhisit.

That is why this is clearly a ploy to try to convince people the dems are on the side of freedom of expression.
peterl
Post : 210
Send message

Discussion 5 : 21/11/2010 at 12:16 PM5
Post this to my Facebook
PM Abhisit is right to point out that this decree is unecessary, provocative, unworkable and very likely to be counter-productive by stirring up further resentment and ridiculing the authorities. I hope he gets his way and the CRES revise the order.

The new army chief has far too much power, if he can bring into a force a decree compromising basic democratic rights of freedom of expression on a whim that some Red Shirt posters and other artifacts made him upset.
davidb98
Post : 106
Send message

Discussion 4 : 21/11/2010 at 08:55 AM4
Post this to my Facebook
seems Abhisit (and Suthep) are distancing from CRES and Prayuth.... getting ready to dump them?

I thought Gen Defence Minister is heading CRES, why is Prayuth announcing?

where is Prem, has he nodded in Abhisit's direction, jealous of macho Prayuth or still busy with the judges?