Gaybutton Posted April 23, 2009 Posted April 23, 2009 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ 'Guerrilla War' Threatened Published on April 23, 2009 Room for Legal Means Getting Smaller: Jakrapob Fugitive protest leader Jakrapob Penkair yesterday said the red-shirt movement to drive the Abhisit Vejjajiva government out was not spent, but rather would come back even fiercer, including adopting guerrilla tactics if necessary, to achieve its goal. "I believe the room for unarmed and non-violent means to resolve Thailand's problem is getting smaller every day," he told BBC by phone from an undisclosed location. Jakrapob said the struggle to bring down the present administration would continue, but the opponents would no longer rely on conventional forms of protest. Different tactics would be used to confront the government, including possible clandestine subversion or armed attacks, he said. "The state of emergency is a big help. It puts people underground," he said. One of the most outspoken red-shirt leaders, Jakrapob managed to flee abroad after the Army broke up the mass protests in Bangkok last week, leaving the movement in disarray. Five of the rally organisers have been arrested and are being held under the emergency decree, which remains in effect. Prime Minister Abhisit told yesterday's joint parliamentary meeting that Thais should refuse to join any political movement that used force of arms. As he has managed to have the combined house session convened to clear any controversial issues related to the crackdown, people should voice their opinion in the open instead of resorting to violent means, he said. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said he would like to ask Jakrapob in return what he would do if he himself were attacked with weapons. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya came out to accuse ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra of plotting to "rub out" his enemies in an effort to return to power. Thaksin "has resorted to some sort of assassination attempt" as a "last resort", he said in a speech to the Asia Society in New York. Kasit said that, besides himself, the targets included Abhisit, Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. "The five of us are at the moment quite well protected by security forces," Kasit said in the speech on the Asia Society's website. "Thaksin is fighting to the death." Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of anti-Thaksin protests who was shot and wounded by gunmen last week, is also among the former prime minister's targets, Kasit said. Thaksin spokesman Pongthep Thepkanjana was in a meeting and not immediately available for comment, according to an aide who answered his mobile phone. Abhisit, whose car was attacked by pro-Thaksin protesters twice this month, has maintained emergency rule in Bangkok and surrounding areas since April 12. Police have yet to arrest any suspects for spraying Sondhi's car with more than 50 bullets. Kasit, a former Thai ambassador to the United States and Japan, said "about 10 fully armed marines" are providing security for him and he has stayed in "two or three safe houses" in Bangkok for protection. Quote
payless Posted April 23, 2009 Posted April 23, 2009 Jakrapob Holds Press Conference In Batman Costume Announces creation of "vast, underground lair" for Red Shirts SINGAPORE - “ Fugitive politician Jakrapob Penkair, who vanished from Thailand in the early days of last week's UDD protests, appeared publicly for the first time in today in Singapore where he spoke to the press while wearing a full Batman costume. The Thaksin supporter spoke of plans underway to build a "vast, underground network of tunnels" as a base for the Red Shirts, who would now operate nocturnally. "Bangkok is infested with a disease, and we are the cure," he said cryptically from behind a heavy black mask attached to a cowl and cape. "Our methods are silent and invisible. Our movements are undetectable. We will strike from the dark and bring fear into the hearts of the enemy." Jakrapob did not elaborate on exactly who the enemy was, although he insisted that it was not the PAD. "We did not try to kill Sondhi," he said, referring to the recent gun attack on PAD leader Sonthi Limthongkul. "Bullets are the clumsy weapons of the greater enemy." Responding to the arrest warrant against him and allegations of lese majeste, Jakrapob said cryptically, "There are four kings in the deck, but only two Jokers. Who has the real power?" When queried by reporters about the Batman costume, Jakrapob declared the press conference over and then detonated a small smoke bomb on the table, disappearing in the ensuing confusion. According to his press manager, Jakrapob is scheduled to appear on CNN next Thursday. This is taken from Not The Nation http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=768 Quote
Guest Soi10Tom Posted April 23, 2009 Posted April 23, 2009 No surprises here, unless some rational adults step up to the plate soon and take control Thailand will decend into a hole that will destroy the country that we have come to love. The French revolution proved that the rich and privilaged can only hold out again the masses for a limited time....then all hell breaks loose. Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 23, 2009 Author Posted April 23, 2009 Interesting man, this Jakrapob. Where did he come from all of a sudden? I never heard of him until a couple days ago. Sounds like some kind of a frenzied nut to me. Just what Thailand needs - him! Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted April 23, 2009 Posted April 23, 2009 unless some rational adults step up to the plate soon and take control Thailand will decend into a hole that will destroy the country that we have come to love The French revolution proved that the rich and privilaged can only hold out again the masses for a limited time....then all hell breaks loose I have separated your post into two. It seems to me that no matter how much you favour true democracy with free and fair elections (which inevitably means no vote buying etc.) in a country tainted with a great deal of political corruption, where on earth do you find the former - i.e. rational uncorrupt adults - to prevent the latter - i.e. all hell breaking loose. This seems to me one of the basic conundrums of this country and until it goes through the pain of rooting corruption out of the system, the political process can never be free and fair. Quote
Gaybutton Posted April 24, 2009 Author Posted April 24, 2009 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Revoke Jakrapob's Passport: Democrats Published on April 25, 2009 The ruling Democrat Party has urged Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to revoke the passport of red-shirt leader Jakrapob Penkair to prevent him from using any foreign country as a launch pad against the government. Party spokesman Buranat Samutharak said it would consult with Kasit when he returned from the United States. Fugitive Jakrapob, whose whereabouts are unknown, has said via international media that the red-shirts may very well turn from peaceful struggle to insurgency. Jakrapob, a former minister at the Prime Minister's Office, is charged with lese majeste and has been missing since the Songkran Day rioting. Quote
