macaroni21 Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 The Red Shirts have promised to hold rallies twice a month in Bangkok. The above is today's protest procession on Ratchadamri Road, the second for January 2011. They are heading to the Democracy Monument where I suppose the main rally will be held this evening. The Red Shirts started forming at Rachatprasong intersection in the forenoon and the procession began around noon. This picture was taken three hours later, and as you can see, vehicles filled with Red Shirts supporters were still flowing through. Quote
TotallyOz Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 Wow. This is a great picture. It does show that this is not going to be over any time soon. I wonder what, if anything, can be done to bring the country to a reconciliation? Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted January 23, 2011 Posted January 23, 2011 Remember that both colours are protesting now. The next yellow shirt demonstration is in Bangkok on Tuesday 25th. The retailers and merchants around Ratchaprasong are again suffering loss of business as a result of the protests. They have asked the red shirts not to protest at that intersection. Today the leaders had said they'd hold a symbolic protest at Ratchaprasong before moving on for a rally at Democracy Monument. Quote
TotallyOz Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 BANGKOK, Jan 23 (Reuters) - About 30,000 anti-government "red shirts" rallied in Thailand's capital on Sunday in another show of strength that heralds a rocky run-up to an election due this year. It was the second big rally this month by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and serves as a reminder of the polarisation that has plagued Southeast Asia's second-largest economy for the past five years. The mostly rural and urban working-class "red shirts" marched from the upmarket shopping district they effectively closed for much of April and May last year to Democracy Monument in the city's old quarter. The protests last year were halted by a military crackdown. In all, 91 people were killed, and many UDD leaders remain in detention, one of the reasons for the latest protests. "We will stay until midnight and will meet again on Feb. 13. Our rally will get bigger and bigger until the government releases our leaders," said Jatuporn Prompan, who managed to stay out of prison because of his status as a lawmaker. Some protesters said they were also there to show their support for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and now lives in exile to avoid a jail term handed down for corruption. "This government's policy is no good. I want Thaksin back," said Boonsri Sudanetr, 42, from Nakhon Ratchasima in the northeast of the country, a Thaksin stronghold. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has promised an election sometime this year, perhaps in the first half, although that timeframe may not appeal to his coalition partners or his powerful backers in the military and royalist establishment. Analysts say the regrouping of the UDD and the zero tolerance shown by the authorities threaten instability and economic damage if political tensions again spill over into violence. "Despite (military and government) efforts to contain the situation, Thailand's political crisis will continue in 2011," risk consultancy IHS Global Insight said in a client note, adding there was a "high likelihood of further political instability, even if Abhisit manages to win the polls". http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE70M00R20110123 Quote
pong Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 they now seem to have curtailed the nr of monthly red mobs (this is just normal Thai for any demonstration-dont use it the english way!) to 1. The gossipped pay-out seems to be now 1000 bt/.head. As from early morning the usual stalls were set up along Ratchdamnern, with the pavements choked by noon. More vendors as demonstrators. It often now seems they want to sell-off any of the huge amounts of red ''show affiliation'' wares, even the banished feet-clappers (feet are seen as unholy, they have been replaced by hearts-feet were chosen as the yellows already claimed hands). In the eve all traffic was stalled here, naming this a ''rally'' well-up to you. They now also seem to lack the fuming communist-propaganda spitting speakers of last year, the single lady remaining did not sound very convincing. Mainly overloud music (the complaint in another post abou tloud noise is simply a Thai thing-nothing her ever can get non-loud-that is just not fun). It lasted-of course you have to challenge the autorities in charge a little to show you are not that childish-stubborn, till about 0.30. This morning heaps and mountains of refuse, which were already searched for any usable recycling stuff were left and being disposed of by BMA-trucks. Now see what the yellows, fuming about perceived give-away of huge tracks of THAI land to the foul Khmer=Cambodians, will do, or the clad in brown monk-lookalike robes about another perceived huge and also grave fault of the govmt. Elections are looming, and the poor rice-farmers are in the season the lands hardly need attention-so plenty of time for demonstrations, the more as elections are now looking behind the corner soon. Quote
macaroni21 Posted January 24, 2011 Author Posted January 24, 2011 I wonder what, if anything, can be done to bring the country to a reconciliation? While the word "reconciliation" has been used, neither side in the present conflict is serious about it. Both sides feel they are under existential threat if they even compromise with the other. monthly red mobs (this is just normal Thai for any demonstration-dont use it the english way!) Then don't use the word. It smacks of royalist propaganda to label the red shirts as mobs. As foreigners we should try to stay out of the conflict. We should certainly follow the news, we can even offer analysis and opinions, but it's not necessary to echo any side's propaganda. Best to use neutral descriptions. If it's a rally, call it a rally. If it's a procession, call it that. Remember that both colours are protesting now. The next yellow shirt demonstration is in Bangkok on Tuesday 25th. The lead story in the online Bangkok Post, 24 January 2011, seems not to be the Red Shirt event, but the upcoming Yellow Shirt one with expected numbers that are far smaller. Now why does Abhisit think the Yellow Shirts are a greater concern? Bangkok Post, 24 Jan 2011: Abhisit stands firm in face of joint rally Three-sided protest arises from border spat Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is insisting the government will not bow to pressure from the People's Alliance for Democracy, Thai Patriots Network and the Santi Asoke sect ahead of their planned joint rally this week. Mr Abhisit said in a televised address last night that the government would not submit to the groups' demands, particularly the revocation of the memorandum of understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia in 2000 governing the two countries' border disputes. The PAD is calling on the government to revoke the memorandum which they say puts Thailand at a disadvantage in its dealings with Phnom Penh. It also want the government to force Cambodians from every disputed area and to cancel Thailand's membership of Unesco's World Heritage Committee. "[The PAD and Thai Patriots Network's] actual goal is not to push for the revocation of the memorandum, it is to oust the government from office," Mr Abhisit said. He insisted he would not allow a repeat of the 2008 yellow shirt PAD seizure of Government House, when the pressure group targeted the Samak Sundaravej government. A member of a security team led by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban predicted yesterday that the number of PAD protesters tomorrow would be relatively small at between 3,000 and 3,500. "But the PAD's capability cannot be underestimated," the source said. The PAD, the Thai Patriots Network and its ally, the Santi Asoke sect, might appear to be at odds, but "the three groups remain unified and their supporters have the capability to hold and continue with protracted rallies". The Thai Patriots Network and Santi Asoke are already encamped outside Government House to try to force the government to alter its stand on its dealings with Phnom Penh. A team of advisers to the prime minister also said they were concerned about the demonstrations. They believe the ultimate goal of the rallies is to ensure there will be no general election later in the year. The security source said the government must explain to the public its position on the border dispute, especially the middle class in the capital who represent a strong PAD support base. The leaders of the PAD could again convince members of the middle class to support the yellow shirt movement, which played a key role in the ouster of the elected Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2006 and succeeding Thaksin-backed nominee administrations in 2008. "If the government fails to curb the PAD rallies, the red shirts are expected to cry foul over double standards and they too will mount pressure on the government," the source said. PAD spokesman Panthep Phongphuaphan said yesterday the rally planned for Makkhawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue tomorrow would go ahead and would continue until the group's demands were met. But he denied the PAD was seeking to overthrow the government. Mr Panthep was confident the PAD, the Thai Patriots Network and Santi Asoke would unite at the mass rally tomorrow. Santi Asoke leader Samana Photirak stressed his sect's rally would be peaceful and they would make the ultimate sacrifice by going on hunger strike. Link: Bangkok Post Abhisit stands firm in face of joint rally Quote
Guest HeyGay Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 The frightening thing is, I speak to many knowledgeable influential Thais in the course on my work in Bangkok and the sense of opinion is, if you think its bad now and what you have already seen, just wait for after 100 days after the worst inevitable has happened. It will be carnage then, if something is not done, this they say it all just a rehearsal lets hope not. Quote
Guest aaronaxeiss Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 Worst than dogs on the street. Next time I go Bangkok and I face a dog and a red shirt member, I think I wai'sawaddii krab' to the dog. Quote
Guest fountainhall Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 The SET index plunged 4.26% today. I have heard some people suggest this was a result of fears of another red shirt/yellow shirt/government confrontation, particularly amongst overseas investors. Other Asian markets today have been mixed with no great swings. Personally, I do not think this is much more than an overdue correction, given that the SET rose around 40% last year. Perhaps those more involved in the world of finance have other views. Quote
Guest xiandarkthorne Posted January 24, 2011 Posted January 24, 2011 I do ho[e this will be mostly over by the time I am free to come to BKK. I have been planning to do that for the last three years and every time I wanted to buy my plane tickets, news of new mobs broke out and made me change my mind. I haven't been tto Bangkok since 2006. Quote
