PattayaMale Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Chiang Mai - The second Gay Pride Parade here was called off late Saturday evening after a stand-off with a group of "Rak Chiang Mai 51" red-shirted demonstrators who were objecting to the public event. The parade started from Buddha-sathan and was to head towards the Night Bazaar and end at the Tawan Trendy Mall, but organisers decided to call it off fearing violence. Earlier in the evening, about 30 red-shirted protesters had confronted the organisers, forcing them to dismantle the stage erected near the mall to welcome the parade. About 30 red-shirted protesters went to the Tawan Trendy Mall where a stage had been erected to welcome the Gay Pride Parade, scheduled to march from the Buddhasathan towards the Night Bazaar and to the mall. The protesters launched verbal attacks through a megaphone saying the event tarnished the city's reputation. They also reacted angrily to remarks made by the organisers that the "Rak Chiang Mai 51" group was acting like thugs. The Nation It seems that Thailand is becoming a lawless society. Certainly the police could have arrested 30 "thugs" and provided security for the parade organizers. What is going on? Quote
fedssocr Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 perhaps the police agree with the thugs Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 Here is the full article from THE NATION: _____ Red Threats Call Off Gay March Published on February 22, 2009 The second Gay Pride Parade here was called off late yesterday evening after a stand-off with a group of "Rak Chiang Mai 51" red-shirted demonstrators who were objecting to the public event. The parade started from Buddha-sathan and was to head towards the Night Bazaar and end at the Tawan Trendy Mall, but organisers decided to call it off fearing violence. Earlier in the evening, about 30 red-shirted protesters had confronted the organisers, forcing them to dismantle the stage erected near the mall to welcome the parade. About 30 red-shirted protesters went to the Tawan Trendy Mall where a stage had been erected to welcome the Gay Pride Parade, scheduled to march from the Buddhasathan towards the Night Bazaar and to the mallThe protesters launched verbal attacks through a megaphone saying the event tarnished the city's reputation. They also reacted angrily to remarks made by the organisers that the "Rak Chiang Mai 51" group was acting like thugs. The group vowed not to allow the event to be held in a public space. However, they had no objection to the venue being shifted to a hotel or conference room. A few red-shirts also tried to break through police security in front of the stage to attack an organiser because they were upset that she had been taking their pictures. After an hour of confrontation, the organisers agreed to dismantle the stage and cancel the activities in the area, to the disappointment of many, including tourists, who had been waiting to join the event. This was despite the security provided by 150 policemen. Earlier yesterday, Petchawat Wattanapongsiri-kul, a leading member of the "Rak Chiang Mai 51" group said local residents disagreed with the parade as it was against the old city's culture and could tarnish its image. He said such an event should be held in Phuket or Pattaya, which were tourist entertainment cities. He said if the organisers wanted to spread the message about Aids then that should have been the main focus of the parade, not homosexuality. "Chiang Mai people cannot accept this and will stop the parade by all means, even violence." Sureerat Trimakka, from the People Living With HIV/Aids Network in Thailand, said earlier yesterday that the parade had taken six months to organise and its participants were properly dressed. The idea was to increase public understanding about sexual diversity and equality as well as promoting awareness of HIV/Aids issues, she said. Quote
Guest Soi10Tom Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 I fear that Pattaya Male hit the nail on the head. Thailand is becoming a lawless land, and this sad canceling of the Gay Pride event is just one more example. I think that therre is a much bigger picture here to be seen than the canceling of Gay Pride. The police and military do nothing as long as the crowds are doing their bidding. What I truly fear is what will happen when the day comes when there is no one to moderate the behaviors of the surrogates of the rich, the mobs of the poor, the royalist, the intellectuals, police, and military. I think we all know when that day will be at hand. I suspect that the military will come out on top. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 It is becoming clearer every day that the police/military only enforce those laws that they agree with, or are being paid under the table for. The examples would be the 30 thugs and the closure of the BKK airport. Police everywhere do this to some extent...but this is getting more prevelant. Quote
Guest shebavon Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 Very troubling news. I hope the Yellow shirts which seem to prevail in Bangkok and Chonburi exhibit more tolerance. Quote
Gaybutton Posted February 22, 2009 Posted February 22, 2009 As far as I know, this is the first time there has been a public protest directed toward gays in Thailand. I recall no others. I'm a bit puzzled as to why the parade was called off. Unless there was reason to believe a lot more than thirty protesters would be out there doing their Reverend Phelps routine, I'm not sure why they weren't simply told what they can go do with it. I guess in this case the decision was that discretion is the better part of valor. Quote
