Disgruntled red shirts fight for themselves

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Disgruntled red shirts fight for themselves

SPECIAL REPORT: Frustrated upcountry supporters are taking matters into their own hands

Published: 8 May 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

With red shirt leaders in the Northeast competing against one another in local elections, supporters yet to see socio-economic benefits from the government they helped install have been left demoralised.

Agroup of red shirt leaders hold a meeting at a house in Si That district of Udon Thani tomap out their local election strategy. PIYABUTPHOKLANG

Many red shirts are declaring the Pheu Thai-led government's honeymoon period is over, giving them one more year to deliver on their promises.

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johninbkk
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Discussion 39 : 09 May 2012 at 12.3739
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spiceman 37 - The official inflation rate excludes raw food costs and fuel, so the best we can do is guess the real inflation rate. It's a horrible way to measure inflation, but it's been that way at least since the Dem administration.The issue is that fuel prices are seasonal, so people are comparing prices between now (the highest point) to a few months ago (the lowest point). But when you compare to the same time last year, the actual inflation rate hasn't changed much for about 2-3 years.
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dickemery
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Discussion 38 : 09 May 2012 at 10.1338
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the red shirt leader who want a job in the cabinet the man who escaped by climbing down a hotel window the very same man who alleged to have order the burning of bangkok now demands a slice of the cake l thought he wants united against ditatorship and allow demorcocy so why does he want to join this regime form your own movement dont trust the fugutive but do this peacefully and with dialoge
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spiceman
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Discussion 37 : 09 May 2012 at 08.2337
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Khun JohninBKK #36, so, do you agree with PM YS that the current inflation the people are experiencing is largely imaginary? If not, what is the real rate of inflation? In my humble opinion, anything at 4% or less is normal and hardly detectable. What we have right now is an explosion of inflation, as it occurred within relatively short period of time. I'm sure the numbers are being calculated and revised as we speak, and the real figure will soon emerge. The consensus right now is between 8% to 10% , and will keep skyrocketing depending largely on the price of oil.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 36 : 09 May 2012 at 01.5136
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spiceman 35 - "Most economists expect inflation in Thailand is now about 10% and can reach as high as 30% by next year."
Please don't make up facts. The actual official inflation rate data can be found here:
http://www.indexpr.moc.go.th/price_present/cpi/data/index_47_e.asp?list_month=04&list_year=2555&list_region=country

pjt 33 - "My belief has long been that TS will end up using the Thai police and army to restore 'order' over the red villages and districts"
For example, like what happened in April and May of 2010?
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spiceman
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Discussion 35 : 08 May 2012 at 19.0235
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Khun Bula #32, I am sure PM YS surrounding herself with many economists and all she needs to do is to ask them what was the inflation rate both before and after last year's devastating flood? Then, she can ask them how much impact the current global rise of energy price is having on the Economy in term of inflation. And finally, what will be the impact of the new minimum wage in terms of inflation and unemployment? And if the answer is more than 5%, forget it. Most economists expect inflation in Thailand is now about 10% and can reach as high as 30% by next year. So, the clock is ticking already, and I hope a decisive remedy can be found ASAP. By the way, the goal of all economists is to achieve near-full employment with acceptable level of inflation.
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pjt
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Discussion 34 : 08 May 2012 at 18.3934
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D32@bula - would that there was a vision - economic or otherwise. What we have is a rag bag of unrelated policies implemented on the run by a C team of economic ministers who seem to have no clue, and have failed to think anything through. Khun Thaksin seems to have learned nothing from his first term about policy formulation, integration or implemention
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pjt
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Discussion 33 : 08 May 2012 at 18.3933
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D31@johninbkk 'Red shirts think, TS acts' is never going to happen because at heart Khun Thaksin is a Autocrat not a Democrat, who has to be number one. He has used the democratic process and the naiveity of the people to get power for him, his family and associates. He will never cede that power to the red shirts, which is why they will part company. My belief has long been that TS will end up using the Thai police and army to restore 'order' over the red villages and districts
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bula
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Discussion 32 : 08 May 2012 at 17.1232
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Khun spiceman #29 - They are so many economists with differing views. What is important is that a leader dare to make decision knowing that he/she is responsible for the decision. Every economic policy has its own challenges in implementation. A good, strong leader knows that and not afraid to complete the task to the best of her/his ability. It is in the journey not the end. The end will take care of itself when you enjoy the journey. They may be bumps or even detours, but that is ok and he/she never lost sight of the vision.
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johninbkk
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Discussion 31 : 08 May 2012 at 17.1131
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englishbob 1 - You, and many others, also predicted the UDD and TS simply fading away 'within weeks' back in 2010. What this article describes is the Red Shirt Village grass-roots process which you previously rejected. I predict TS bending to their demands, as voters are clearly holding their leaders accountable. Red shirts think, TS acts.
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englishbob
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Discussion 30 : 08 May 2012 at 16.4730
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Until Thai people start expecting the government to implement long term feasible policies rather than flashy gimmicks and handouts, nothing will change.

Peua Thai is a perfect example of marketing a poor product successfully. In any other country, proposing a glorified secretary as Prime Minister would be ridiculed as a joke. Here, they elected her.
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Disgruntled red shirts fight for themselves | Bangkok Post: news