Gaybutton Posted April 12, 2009 Posted April 12, 2009 The following is from CNN: _____ BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has urged his supporters in the troubled south-east Asian country to revolt, a military-run network and CNN affiliate MCOT reported Sunday. His comments came after incumbent premier Abhisit Vejjajiva declared a state of emergency in the capital city, Bangkok, and surrounding areas in an attempt to contain days of intensifying anti-government protests. Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup, said in a video-link speech from an unknown location that he would return to Thailand to lead people in a march on the capital if necessary. Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 12, 2009 Author Posted April 12, 2009 Here is some further detail, from CNN: _____ Speaking by video link from an unknown location, Thaskin called for supporters to topple the Thai government. He also played on police forces' alleged affinity for the so-called "red shirts" and promised his eventual return. "The troops who have already come out can come and join the red shirts to help us to get democracy for the people," he said. "This is a golden opportunity. We will make history and there will be no more coups in Thailand. We must achieve democracy for all of us." The state-of-emergency decree suspends certain civil liberties, including the right to public gatherings and a free press. It also cleared the way for the government to call up military troops to tackle the protest mobs. But the military has yet to act, in some cases standing down as protesters clambered over their vehicles, waving flags and chanting anti-government slogans. Top brass have denied rumors of a military coup and have stressed that they will not initiate violence. Some of the protesters have no such reservations. "The violence has begun already. It started today and will continue. It may do harm, but it must be done to protect democracy," protest leader Sakrebee Promchad, 49, said today. "It must continue until we accomplish our goals. We will keep fighting." Abhisit's motorcade was attacked after leaving the besieged Ministry of Interior. Protesters smashed one black BMW with rocks, bottles and outdoor furniture -- anything at hand. In one case, a protester picked up a heavy, potted patio plant and heaved it against the side of the sedan. The prime minister managed to escape the attack on the motorcade unharmed. "I believe that the people have seen what happened to me. They have seen that the protesters were trying to hurt me and smash the car," Abhisit said in a television appearance after the attack. Abhisit, a 44-year-old Oxford-educated economist, was voted into office by parliament after his party came in second in 2008 elections. He promised to restore political stability to Thailand after a series of short-lived administrations linked to Thaksin, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006. Thailand has had four different heads of state and one interim military government since then. Thaksin is now in hiding from a two-year jail term for corruption. The Thai media have been awash in rumors of alleged sightings in Cambodia, Dubai and Africa. Last year, Britain revoked Thaksin's visa and, more recently, a consortium of Bangkok businesspeople offered a monetary reward for anyone who could bring him back to face justice. Some $2.2 billion in funds held by Thaksin and his family have been frozen by the Thai government, according to reports. Still, Thaksin remains popular with Thailand's rural majority. Poor and marginalized Thais, especially in the north and northeast, were won over by his campaign of "paddy-field populism," offering health and education programs. His followers, known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD, believe he has the economic prowess to steer Thailand out of the global economic crisis. "Thaksin's return is what we want most. To me, everything will go back to being better," said the UDD's Sakrebee. Thaksin, a former policeman and Texas-educated devotee of George W. Bush, is a striking contrast to soft-spoken Abhisit, whose kid-glove treatment of protesters at the summit has already drawn the scorn of the region's strongmen, such as Cambodia's Hun Sen. In recent days, Thaksin has stepped up broadsides against Abhisit in his daily video call-ins to supporters. He has repeatedly dismissed the youthful-looking Abhisit as "too young" to lead the country. He is stressing class difference and claims the UDD is a movement of democracy against aristocracy. "I'm ready to go back home. I'll be there soon," he said Saturday in a congratulatory speech to UDD faithful after the summit was canceled. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Here is some further detail, from CNN: _____ ....... Thaksin, a former policeman and Texas-educated devotee of George W. Bush ------- That is all the info I need!!! Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 13, 2009 Author Posted April 13, 2009 That is all the info I need!!! Maybe on another thread, my little joke about Dan Quayle wasn't so far-fetched after all . . . Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 Thaksin, a former policeman and Texas-educated devotee of George W. Bush So how does he view all this mayhem and street rioting, I wonder? A Gunfight at the OK Corral (but then which side is he on - law & order or the bandits)? Custer's Last Stand (is he cavalry or Indian)? Battle of the Bulge perhaps (is he Nazi or Allied)? But then Thaksin knew all along that Bush got it right, didn't he? "I answer to a higher God who tells me what to do and how to do it"? i.e. there's never two sides - only mine! Let them both burn in hell! Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted April 13, 2009 Posted April 13, 2009 These are a couple of excerps from an AP story appearing on Yahoo News. "At the nearby Century Park Hotel, foreign tourists were seen rushing into taxis and heading for Bangkok's international airport." That will sure help the tourist business!!! "Monday marked the beginning of the Thai New Year, normally the country's most joyous holiday. The Bangkok municipal government canceled all its festivities, but despite the rioting many Thais and foreign tourists began engaging in the ritualistic water throwing and general partying." To many Thai's this is the biggest holiday of the year, and a time when families gather to celebrate. I wonder how many will abancon protest to celebrate the Holiday??? Full Story http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090413/ap_on_...and_politics_30 Quote
