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[moo9]

The PAD even threatens to raid the Police Headquarter. I think those guys are going nuts now. There must be something big behind as they are saying bye bye to peaceful protest. What a shame for the country!

I think it would be best to have a Military Government again. After all, the country is by far not ready for democracy....

Edited by moo9, 2008-08-26 09:34:09.

[Thai at Heart]

This is very worrying.

[h90]

Pierrot, on 2008-08-26 09:25:55, said:

h90, on 2008-08-26 09:49:30, said:

gymshark, on 2008-08-26 08:36:56, said:

These people are a pain in the arse. Protests never solve anything.

Learn history......From France, Russia to Cuba and and and all was done by protests....

Then followed by terror . ...

well some lead to democracy (French and Romania revolution) or in improvement of the life of the people (Cuba), others made the situation worse (Sovjet).

[george]

PAD block a main highway linking Bangkok and the South

About 1,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy have shut down traffic on Phetkasem Road at Ta Sae district, Chumphon disrupting the transportation between Bangkok and the South.

Protesters were reportedly mobilised from many southern provinces, including Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat. They have vowed to block the traffic until the government resigned.

Police have directed vehicles to use alternative routes.

Another group of PAD-led protesters are seen congregating at Bang Saphan district, causing concern that they might be planning to put up additional road block which, if happens, will completely cut off traffic to and from the capital.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26

[Don Aleman]

As PAD, apparently, has thousands of followers  I am surprised they are not using the known strength and non violent power of boycotting and worker strikes. They should just tell their people, many in vital service industries, to just, safely, stay home and wait for Samak to call. Surely he will as the Government will not sweep, mop, do laundry, cook their own meals, maintain the buildings, and pickup garbage. Such "strikes" and boycotting crippled New York city, Chicago, Las Vegas, Paris and many other major cities and will do the same here. Just say"no" and stay home.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26[/quote]

News on that from The Nation:

PAD denies involving in the raid of NBT Channel


People's Alliance for Democracy leader Bhipop Thongchai said protesters were not involved in the pre-dawn raid of NBT Channel on Wednesday.

Deputy police spokesman Maj General Suraphol Thuanthong countered that evidence showed that raiders were from the PAD-led rally. About 80 men were involved in the raid.
[/quote]

Edited by Don Aleman, 2008-08-26 09:46:55.

[Gary A]

PAD is better described as People Against Democracy. If democracy was truly embraced, Thaksin would have served out his term/terms. When the social elite consider themselves above the "low" class farm people there cannot be a democracy. It's a sad situation and appears to be getting worse. Politicians are elected by popular vote and the elite who consider themselves above the majority must accept the results and wait for the next election. These elites refuse to work within the system and they are wrong.

[Foggy Bottom]

Just for the record - is today Tuesday or Wednesday?

I only ask because my calendar, computer, and the Thai Visa clock says it is Tuesday, but the Nation reports are all claiming it is Wednesday, and I'm well confused.

.... unless the Nation has been forwarned about events due to happen tomorrow?

Gaz

[george]

NBT is broadcasting its signal from a mobile unit

BANGKOK: -- After its main station was seized by protesters, the NBT broadcast from a mobile unit outside the station at about 9:40 am Tuesday.

It began with interviewing a deputy police chief, criticising the PAD.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26

NBT female announcer thanks PAD guards for escorting her out of NBT after seizure

BANGKOK: -- From a special mobile broadcast unit, Tuangporn Assawawilai thanks guards of the People's Alliance for Democracy for escorting her, police and other NBT officials outside the NBT head office after the protesters stormed in and seized the station Tuesday.

Tuangorn and another announcer, Jirayu Huangsup, were talking live from an undisclosed special broadcast unit.

Earlier, the NBT broadcast from the Metropolitan Police head office but the protesters stormed in and blacked out the signal there again.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26

[moo9]

Gary A, on 2008-08-26 09:47:23, said:

PAD is better described as People Against Democracy. If democracy was truly embraced, Thaksin would have served out his term/terms. When the social elite consider themselves above the "low" class farm people there cannot be a democracy. It's a sad situation and appears to be getting worse. Politicians are elected by popular vote and the elite who consider themselves above the majority must accept the results and wait for the next election. These elites refuse to work within the system and they are wrong.

Although I am not Pro Taksin and Samak I agree to your opinion. What happens now is far beyond the acceptable.

[issanpaul]

This is scary    

[george]

PAD blocks roads linking Northeast, North, South to Bangkok

Apart from blocking the main road to the South, the People's Alliance for Democracy protesters also blocked the roads linking to the North and Northeast.

The block the northern main road in Phichit and block the Mittraparp Road near Nakhon Ratchaisma to block the gateway to other northeastern provinces.

The blockade was made in Chum Phon, the gateway to southern provinces.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Gaz Chiangmai, on 2008-08-26 09:47:28, said:

Just for the record - is today Tuesday or Wednesday?

I only ask because my calendar, computer, and the Thai Visa clock says it is Tuesday, but the Nation reports are all claiming it is Wednesday, and I'm well confused.

.... unless the Nation has been forwarned about events due to happen tomorrow?

Gaz

It is definitely Tuesday hereabouts Gaz.

[shawndoc]

Anyone willing to give (or provide a link) summarizing the main political parties in Thailand and what their platforms are?  I'm afraid I'm not too up on PPP vs PAD vs whatever, and thought it might help me put this in perspective.  No need to get into scandals or matters of opinion, just an overview of what they stand for.

[pipchatel]

In almost any other country, past History in this siuation ,you have had a revolution. But Thailand is different. You have no midddle class.
You have The Rich, The Military, The Royal Court. Then you have The poor around 80% poor farmers with nothing But Debt.
Its for sure the Military will see fit to take power again due to weak inefective Government. Another Coup for The Rich! Poor Thailand

[hammered]

This needs calm heads. The PAD leaders need to make a clear statement admitting to what are their activities. If the NBT raid is not them, which I find hard to believe but the claim should be investigated, who is it? The PAD should also limit their activities to set time periods. The police should stop using the treason word and the government should stop threatening to arrest generals. This is rapidly spiralling out of control. In fact I dont think anyone really has control right now. And why is the head of the army reportedly in Malaysia today?
If any of the PAD leaders get martyred on treason charges the little road blockage in the South could turn into something massive don south. This is rapidly heading to where only a state of emergency or a coup will result in control over the whole country and that is not good at all as I am sure few if anyone really wants either.
It is obvious that the stakes are being raised by all and nobody knows where it will end.

[p1p]

Pierrot, on 2008-08-26 09:25:55, said:

h90, on 2008-08-26 09:49:30, said:

gymshark, on 2008-08-26 08:36:56, said:

These people are a pain in the arse. Protests never solve anything.

Learn history......From France, Russia to Cuba and and and all was done by protests....

Then followed by terror . ...

You need to look much close to home. Several despotic Thai and other Asian governments have been brought down by protest from students and others.
Sukarno in Indonesia, Marcos in the Philippines, consider Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma. In Thailand student protests brought down (the US puppet) Thanom Kittikachorn in October 1973 and Suchinda Kraprayoon in 1992 to name but two recent despots.
The current PAD is led by Chamlong Srimuang, one of the most highly respected Thais of modern generations and the leader of the 1992 pro democracy movement. They have legitimate grievances which need to be addressed.

For those who understand Thai. There is a very good live TV feed from the PAD rally, showing the speeches on stage etc HERE

[george]

PAD invades NBT    

BANGKOK: --  One of the five leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), Mr Sondhi Limthongkul, announced at the anti-government rally near Makkhawan Rangsan on Tuesday morning that the state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) television channel was shut down, creating a euphoric atmosphere among the PAD supporters at the venue.

About 100 PAD followers enclosed and broke into the NBT station on Vibhavadi Road early Tuesday, halting its operation and cutting access to electricity. Previously, the police were preventing the massive protesters from entering the station, but they were outnumbered shortly, forcing many NBT personnel to flee to safety.

The anti-government groups were reported to lay siege to other NBT stations in various provinces.

The PAD also provided buses near the Equestrian Statue of King Rama V to take its supporters to different government offices, such as the Ministry of Finance, NBT and the Ministry of Transport.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-08-26

[StevieH]

grantbkk, on 2008-08-26 09:29:24, said:

If this action by PAD causes the price of beer to rise in the capital there is going to be hel_l to pay!

I know that some here on Thai Visa want to compare this situation (perhaps a revolution) to famous communist coups around the world since the 1950's.  I prefer to compare PAD to that once infamous German Army corporal, Adolf Hitler.

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.  The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is using scare tactics to mold the opinion of the uninformed populace to their own ends.  While complaining and pointing fingers at the elected government about anything and everything they refuse to negotiate on any subject and simply call for an end to present government rule.  Sound familiar?  Same thing happened two years ago which led to a coup d'état and the ousting of a seated, elected government.  

This is nothing new.  Many of us remember from our history lessons that back in the 1930's Europe they had their own PAD saying exactly the same thing about the seated government.  The Nazi Party used the economic hardships suffered by the Germans to grab power.  Adolph Hitler and his ilk fooled the German people into joining their extreme and radical movement to overthrow the government.

Like the Nazi's in Germany PAD has no business in a civilized Thai society.  They are trampling on the peoples consciences and revising history to suit their own ends.  These extreme, unconscionable leaders are master manipulators, preying on the weak, drunk with power and serve no constructive purpose.  It is time to put an end to the madness and remove PAD and their self-serving leaders.  They have had their fifteen minutes in the spotlight and have fooled innocent Thai people long enough.

IMHO

with respect, likening the PAD to the third reich is so spectacularly misinformed as to be downright offensive.

[cmsally]

As I have said before there is a lot more to this than meets the eye, and the signals are not good.
The outcome is going to depend a lot on how cohesive the PAD are and more importantly if they are fused to other interests or whether there are rifts there.
I hope there are a few cool, rational and well placed heads somewhere up there in Bangkok, because they will be needed.
The main hope is that there are a few who have not been factionalised and can take up the middle ground, but that's hard to say.
There is a lot at stake here, maybe more so than it appears.

[sgunn65]

gymshark, on 2008-08-26 02:36:56, said:

These people are a pain in the arse. Protests never solve anything.

You are joking right?

Protests brought the MAgna Carta and the beginnings of democracy to Britain.
Protests brought women the vote.
Protests brought independence to India and a great many other countries.
Protests brought the end of segregation to the US and the end of the Vietnam war.

Protests are what change things in a democracy.

[gymshark]

This country is never going to gain any international credibility, is it? Muppets overthrowing muppets, it's becoming even more of an international embarassment. Thailand, military coups and ping pong balls, yeah, great !

[george]

PAD orders NBT to relay ASTV broadcast

BANGKOK: -- People's Alliance for Democracy Sondhi Limthongkul on Tuesday announced at the main rally site that the PAD had gained a complete control of the NBT station following a raid.

Sondhi ordered the state-run station to relay the broadcast of his ASTV, a satallite television station.

Inspite of the raid, the NBT management was trying to continue broadcasting by mobile units but this was disrupted at periodic intervals.

-- The Nation 2008-08-26

[WISteve]

moo9, on 2008-08-25 20:31:33, said:

The PAD even threatens to raid the Police Headquarter. I think those guys are going nuts now. There must be something big behind as they are saying bye bye to peaceful protest. What a shame for the country!

I think it would be best to have a Military Government again. After all, the country is by far not ready for democracy....

So will this be the day?

I can't imagine the military standing by idly if they start ransacking police stations.  More guns into the hands of a mob?

Closing off the highways to the capital, surrounding the government center, at least attempts at securing the television station, threatened attacks on police stations.  Yup, that sure sounds like a coup to me.  I fear there will be blood in the streets soon enough, sad to say.

A power grab and another step backward for democracy in Thailand it seems.


~WISteve

[kedawi]

NBT - is seen as little more than a vassal of the govt and or Thaskin & Co.

In any normal democracy the govt would have resigned ages ago.

However the opposition seem to be little different from the govt.

THis is a country ruled from tghe top down and this represents a struggle not for the people but between which of thwe ruling clans will run the corrupt system.

[StevieH]

sgunn65, on 2008-08-26 10:10:01, said:

You are joking right?

Protests brought the MAgna Carta and the beginnings of democracy to Britain.
Protests brought women the vote.
Protests brought independence to India and a great many other countries.
Protests brought the end of segregation to the US and the end of the Vietnam war.

Protests are what change things in a democracy.

indeed.  the million man march, for example.  protest is a democratic right and frankly a social duty.  anyone thinks that protests solve nothing is talking out of their arse due to their head being firmly in the sand.