Jon

Interesting article Nick - I read it earlier.


".....There is little doubt that the police were reckless in the way they moved against the protesters.
But there has been surprisingly little condemnation in the Thai media of the PAD's own tactics: the construction of tyre-and-barbed-wire barricades to blockade MPs inside parliament, the use of guns by some PAD supporters against the police, video showing a PAD truck ploughing into a line of police then reversing over the injured body of one officer.

The protesters' tactics have been subject to little scrutiny.
There has been no attempt by the Thai papers to trace the source of the PAD's very substantial funding, or of the obviously expert paramilitary training given to some its followers.
It is true there is little public affection for Thailand's corrupt police force, and even less, in Bangkok, for the members of the new cabinet, who astonishingly seems even less convincing than their inept predecessors....."

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Farangrakthai

J.D. I don't mind it when both of us stand on the soap box, as it were, and discuss/debate Thai politics, but let's not make it personal, o.k.?

b.t.w., since a few months ago, when you questioned the PAD's motives, you don't really say whether you are for or against the PAD, only saying that you're not Thai, so it doesn't matter and you don't really care.

So, why do you even like discussing Thai politics? IMO, the PAD should call off their protests, and wait for the next election whether it comes soon with the parliament being dissolved or at a later time. The PAD is hurting the Thai economy when Thailand should be working hard together to do well when the global economy goes into recession.

do you think the Nation is misquoting Sonthi? The nation is, if anything, pro-PAD, b.t.w.


like others said, none of us can really know what's going on behind the scenes, but it's an interesting topic, IMO, to discuss just like others like to endlessly discuss Obama/McCain, which I do, too. and, there are many Brits and other nationalities here who like to discuss Obama/McCain though they can't vote in the election, nothing wrong with that, same with Farang discussing Thai politics, IMO.

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tomcat

^^less convincing?

please, Dearest Jon....Thai politicians and "convincing" in the same sentence..?

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kikiat

Why is he staying silent? is there a bigger idea behind it? letting the kids grow up and sort it out amongst themselves, because he won't be able to sort it out for them forever?

any ideas? or am I treading on thin ice discussing this here?

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I ALWAYS GIVE A 100% AT WORK:

12% Monday
23% Tuesday
40% Wednesday
20% Thursday
5% Friday

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Farangrakthai

Well, yep, fair enough, the Mods have to delete posts that could be considered critical of the monarchy.

according to M.L. Nattakorn , who is not afraid to tell it like it is, IMO, on Ch. 11's English morning news the other day

the PAD have a constitution written and ready which that takes Thailand back to pre-1932 to an absolute monarchy. Maybe, unlike previous conflicts, the King isn't speaking up because the controversy involves the monarchy itself.

.

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jonny danger

Yes, I read that three days ago.

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Farangrakthai

at least WilliamBlake and AgingOne come out and say they support the PAD. Do you? it's no problem if you do J.D. same as Brits and Irish giving their opinions on Obama/McCain.

all you seem to do is criticize my posts and any article written by Thais or Farang.

here's an idea, J.D.

how about you write a paragraph describing your opinion about the PAD and let us debate your opinion, you do have one right?

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jonny danger

BANGKOK - Thailand's prime minister indicated Saturday that he may resign in the wake of political violence earlier this week that left two people dead and hundreds injured.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who has held the job for little more than three weeks, said he was considering his position as anti-government protesters prepared for another mass rally.

Asked if he would resign or dissolve parliament, Somchai told reporters: "It's the issue that I must consider, what's best in both the short and long term. I'm not attached to the idea of being prime minister.

"I have to study the pros and cons of each scenario, such as dissolving the House or resignation," he said.

Somchai is struggling to govern Thailand amid political protests that show no signs of abating.

On Friday his spokesman insisted he would not quit, but in the past few days, senior military leaders have put pressure on the premier to take a decision on his future and solve the crisis.

Somchai insisted there was no rift between himself and the military however. "I am still talking with them, there is no conflict," he said.

On Tuesday police fired tear gas on demonstrators who had blockaded parliament to protest a government plan to amend the country's constitution, a move they say is aimed at helping ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The People's Alliance for Democracy claims the current government is running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was toppled in a September 2006 coup following other PAD protests.

Thousands of the group's supporters marched to parliament on Tuesday where Somchai -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- was delivering his first policy address.

Bloody clashes that followed between the protesters and police left two dead and at least 478 people injured in the worst street violence in Bangkok in 16 years.

Somchai has since announced an independent investigation into the incident, but the PAD on Friday said it would hold further rallies on October 13.

On Saturday, the premier called on the PAD to reconsider the protest.

"Our country is in turmoil -- is this only the government's fault?" Somchai said.

"I want to ask protesters not to create more disturbance, I am ready to talk. They (protesters) are Thai so we speak the same language."
as of 10/11/2008 8:16 PM

Thai PM considers resigning in wake of political violence | ABS-CBN News Online

None of your business.

I feel better now.

I don't criticize your posts, I criticize your posting them.

I'm not Thai. My opinions don't count. And how could I be in favour or out of favour with an issue that about five people in the world are privy to?

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Killing Me Softly 101

Boys isn't there a vs thread you can go to for your slug fest? Or put each other on ignore?

On topic, I notice that the pro-government groups is planning a counter rally a mile from Government house. Might want to avoid the area Tue. or maybe you want to be in the firing line.

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Jon

This isn't the thread for debating the purpose of the Soapbox, or whether you want to make love to another poster

Dearest tomcat, you'll have to thank Jonathan Head of the BBC for that. I like his articles.

Anyway, how about 'convincing fuckwits'?

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robitusson