Protest In Bangkok Started 18/Jul/2020

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Business-trends/Thai-businesses-challenged-by-pro-democracy-boycotts?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=daily newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=1&pub_date=20200910190000&seq_num=2&si=44594

 

Thai businesses challenged by pro-democracy boycotts
Foodpanda, Burger King and Disney face backlash as protesters wield wallets

 

Foodpanda and Burger King are among about 25 companies identified by netizens as advertisers on pro-establishment Nation TV. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerSeptember 10, 2020 16:13 JST

 

BANGKOK -- Thailand's pro-democracy movement has started reverberating commercially as protesters weaponize spending power to make their voices heard by large corporates.

 

"It's been weeks since I deleted a Foodpanda app from my smartphone," Praew Sreechumpol told the Nikkei Asian Review on Wednesday.

 

Praew was one of about 20,000 protesters, who gathered at Democracy Monument in the administrative heart of Bangkok on Aug. 16, calling for Thailand to transform into a democracy with the monarchy under the constitution. The 24-year-old said the online food delivery operator's advertising strategy left no choice but to discontinue using its services.

 

Foodpanda was one of about 25 sponsors identified by netizens in mid-August as a company that advertises on Nation TV, a pro-establishment mouthpiece.

 

Protesters' antipathy toward the media outlet was ignited when one of its reporters was caught using a different company name to interview a participant of the Aug. 16 rally in fear of being turned down. Online pro-democracy supporters urged people to boycott Nation TV as well as its advertisers.

 

In a statement on Aug. 22, Foodpanda said it would suspend all its ads on the channel over concerns about its reputation. But the damage had already been done. "Distancing from Foodpanda has little impact on my life. I can still order food through other services," Praew said.
 

A pro-democracy protester holds a sign at an anti-government rally on Aug. 16. The demonstrators comprise students and many other youths unhappy with the lingering status quo.   © Reuters

 

It has been a long time since Thailand's food delivery market has been this competitive, thanks to the work-from-home trend due to the pandemic.

 

Ride-hailing giants Grab and Gojek are going head-to-head with Foodpanda. The industry is expected to grow by about 80% year on year in 2020, according to Kasikorn Research Center. The quick response by Foodpanda shows how much damage a boycott could cause.

 

Other sponsors also reacted. Food franchises such as Burger King, Coffee Club and Swensen's -- all under hospitality giant Minor International -- were also boycotted. The group said it will review its choice of media, while insurer Muang Thai Life said it would stop advertising on Nation TV.

 

It is unclear yet whether name-and-shame campaigns directed at sponsors' de facto support of repressive authorities is deep-seated or just a reflection of a fleeting "cancel culture." Shine Bunnag, Nation Multimedia Group's chairman, told Reuters the boycott was "social bullying from a group of keyboard thugs."

 

But raising pro-democracy awareness through spending power has become a trend in Asia. Calls to boycott Disney's live-action adaptation of "Mulan" emerged in August 2019, when main cast member Liu Yifei voiced support for Hong Kong police despite allegations of violence against pro-democracy protesters.

 

The boycott gained momentum in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand after it kicked off on Sept. 4. It also signaled that it was partly directed toward China's Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, which has been internationally condemned over human rights abuses.

 

Thai student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal asked followers on Twitter to avoid patronizing "Mulan," so that "Disney and the Chinese government know that state-sponsored violence against the people is unacceptable."

 

Pro-democracy protesters from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand have initiated an online movement called the "Milk Tea Alliance," naming it after the beverage all three communities enjoy.

[aaur4man]

How bad is it 

[Yamato]

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Thai prime minister discourages protests in name of COVID
Activists find selves in tight spot: Do they cancel events and risk looking weak?

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha addresses the nation in a televised speech on Thursday. (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerSeptember 17, 2020 22:06 JST

 

BANGKOK -- Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is citing the global resurgence of the coronavirus to discourage protesters from attending pro-democracy rallies scheduled for the days ahead, though his argument does not take into account Thailand's own success at keeping COVID-19 at bay.

 

"With the resurgence of the virus around the world," the prime minister said in a televised address on Thursday. "I would now like to ask everyone to double up their alertness and not to relax and let down their guard."

 

"Let me also take this opportunity to speak directly to those who wish to gather for various reasons -- when you gather in crowds you are creating an enormous risk of new transmissions, and with that, you also create enormous risks to the livelihoods of tens of millions of fellow Thais."

 

Thailand has a population of about 69 million.

 

"Any major flare-up of infections will lead to terrible consequences and even worse economic destruction the likes of which we have never seen," Prayuth said. "Please think about this."

 

People wear face masks in Bangkok. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha warned that mass gatherings create "an enormous risk of new transmissions."   © Reuters

 

The prime minister's address came two days before a major overnight rally planned by student activist group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration at Thammasat University. The gathering is to take place near the Grand Palace in central Bangkok.

 

Although the former junta chief's address did not directly state that authorities will forbid protests, it strongly urged people to rethink attending them.

 

This puts activist leaders and prospective participants in a tight spot. The responsibility of maintaining public safety and fostering an economic recovery is suddenly pinned on them. And calling off rallies might make activists appear weak and disappoint the young people who have been active in the movement so far.

 

If the protests lead to the virus staging an actual resurgence in the kingdom, participants would come under scrutiny; the kingdom has had only a few local transmissions in the past four months.

 

Prayuth emphasized the potential economic damage protests could cause and fixed blame on demonstrators in advance. "Your protests delay economic recovery because you affect business confidence," he said, "and you affect the confidence of tourists to return to our country when we are ready to receive them.

 

"We should not create a situation that puts our country at risk of returning to lockdowns as we had in March and April this year."

 

The lockdowns dealt a heavy blow to Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. Gross domestic product shrank 12.2% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year. It was the biggest contraction since 1998, when Thailand was struggling amid the Asian financial crisis. The slump is partly due to the Prayuth administration's failure to address the economy's heavy dependence on external sectors, including exports and tourism.

 

"Let me tell all protesters now," he said, beginning to sound conciliatory. "Loudly and clearly I hear you have political grievances, and that you have issues with the constitution," he said. "Let's try and get through this global crisis, and defeat COVID-19 first, together. And then we can come back to politics, again."

[stemcell]

cum in +1

[socrates469bc]

1 hour ago, Yamato said:

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thai-prime-minister-discourages-protests-in-name-of-COVID?utm_campaign=RN Subscriber newsletter&utm_medium=coronavirus_newsletter&utm_source=NAR Newsletter&utm_content=article link&del_type=10&pub_date=20200918123000&seq_num=8&si=44594

 

Thai prime minister discourages protests in name of COVID
Activists find selves in tight spot: Do they cancel events and risk looking weak?

 

 

 

the king and pm r desperate liao.

 

they know the masses r not with them.

 

looking in thai history, 100% will end in military crackdown thus far.

 

the last one was in 2010 but back then, the masses were not that dulan with the then-govt.

 

this time round, from north to south and east to west, can hear the masses r very very dulan.

[Yamato]

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Thailand protesters claim victory with letter to the king's council
Leader calls for national strike on Oct. 14 before protesters disperse peacefully

 

Student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattankul handed a letter on Sunday morning to a senior police officer at the Privy Council Chambers. It included demands for the ouster of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's military-backd government, constitutional amendments and reform of the monarchy.     © Reuters
APORNRATH PHOONPHONGPHIPHAT and MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writersSeptember 20, 2020 14:03 JST

 

BANGKOK -- In a ceremony laden with historic symbolism, Thai student leaders laid a plaque early this morning outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok and delivered a list of demands to the nearby Privy Council Chambers.

 

A plaque commemorating the overthrow of absolute monarchy in Siam, as Thailand was known 1932, was removed from Royal Plaza in 2017, and replaced with a royalist version. No official investigation was conducted into who was behind the act of political vandalism, which was one of a number of incidents.

 

The letter was delivered to a senior police officer by Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, one of the most prominent student leaders to emerge during mounting protests in recent weeks.

 

The officer promised to convey the letter to the Privy Council, an unelected body dominated by retired military officers that provide counsel to the king.

 

Addressed directly to King Maha Vajiralongkorn, and signed by the student-led United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD), the short letter repeated earlier demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government; redrafting of the constitution by an elected body, including the sections relating to the monarchy; and reform of the monarchy according to a 10-point UFTD outline made public in August. The letter made clear that it was advocating reform not the abolition of the monarchy, and was co-signed by "Thai people who refuse to be just dust.

 

"We have won this mission," said Parit Chiwarat, a leading activist commonly known as Penguin."Finally, commoners like us can send a letter to the king."

 

"Next time when you hear the national anthem, raise your three fingers," Parit told the crowd, referring to distinctive salutes and regalia mostly younger people have recently adopted as peaceful rebukes to the old royalist order.

 

"When you hear the king's anthem, you don't have to stand up," said Parit. "Please tie a white ribbon in front of your house to let them know that you salute democracy."

 

Parit told the crowd that there would be more protests, with the next scheduled for Sept. 24 outside parliament. He also called for a national strike on Oct. 14.

 

"Submit your vacation plan to your bosses in advance," he said. "We will stop working on Oct. 14 to paralyze Thailand. Then [the prime minister] will know the truth -- that we are the people who move the country's economy forward"

 

"Today I declare a war on dictatorship and bureaucracy," said Parit, exhorting them to close Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) accounts. King Maha Vajiralongkorn is the largest private shareholder in the bank.

 

"Let's ban SCB nationwide," said Parit. "We don't know if this will be our last fight or not -- what we know is that it is a fight we will win."

Parit Chiwarak, who goes by the nickname Penguin, was released from arrest during another major protest at Democracy Monument on Aug. 16.  (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

 

Undaunted by sporadic rain, Bangkok on Saturday night saw by far its largest demonstration since a coup in 2014 installed a military government and put a lid on free speech.

 

Police claimed that only about 18,000 people turned up, but organizers and the press were in no doubt the figure was much higher.

 

"About 100,000 attended, "Panusaya told reporters. "The turnout is proof of people's support for our demands," she said.

 

Police and parked buses have been deployed around the Grand Palace in Bangkok to ensure protesters are kept at bay.    © Reuters

 

Protesters in recent weeks have openly called for a free debate on a bold slate of pro-democracy issues -- including for the first time reform of the formerly sacrosanct monarchy.

 

The organizers ignored a police order yesterday afternoon to disperse, and a smaller hardcore slept out overnight on the 12 hectare expanse that is used for major royal cremations and other ceremonies.

 

A march to Government House on Sunday morning was also originally scheduled, but organizers late on Saturday night said there were new plans without giving details.

 

Police meanwhile erected a razor wire barricade across Phan Fah bridge, a choke point between Sanam Luang and Government House that was the scene of violent clashes during political protests in May 1992.

 

All the protests in 2020 have so far peaceful and without serious incident.

 

This weekend's protest was organized by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, or UFTD, an activist group at Thammasat University. It began there early on Saturday afternoon despite officially being denied access to Thammasat University's historic Tha Phra Chan campus located between Sanam Luang and the Chao Phraya river.

 

Student leader Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul broke a major taboo in Thai society when she read out a 10-point agenda on Aug. 10 for reform of Thailand's once sacrosanct monarchy. (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

 

Among other demands, the UFTD has tabled 10 reforms of the monarchy. Panusaya read the proposed changes out during a rally on Aug. 10 at another Thammasat University campus at Rangsit in northern Bangkok.

 

These included revocation of the law of lese-majeste, a reduction in public spending on the royal family, and a clearer distinction between royal and public assets.

 

The brazen demands broke a longstanding taboo on public criticism of the monarchy and stunned many, including some pro-democracy advocates.

 

"I agree with the 10-point demand for the monarchy to be under the constitution," Panithan Chanviboon, a 33-year-old company employee from Bangkok told the Nikkei Asian Review yesterday. "I also want the government to resign -- it is incapable of running the country."

 

Panithan said he used to see things differently and had joined the rally to make amends. "I want to redeem myself for being one of those people who called for coups to get rid of corrupt politicians," he said. "This is my way of repaying back to the country."

 

The Aug. 16 protest was organized by Free People, an activist group. Its organizers focused on three demands: dissolution of both chambers of parliament; rewriting contentious parts of the constitution; and an end to official harassment that inhibits people from exercising their fundamental rights.

 

Political awareness has unquestionably been raised by the recent protests. Hundreds of academics have offered support and welcomed more debate, and celebrities made appearances yesterday. Secondary school students, many of whom will vote in the next general election due in 2023, have taken to wearing white ribbons and giving three-fingered salutes as expressions of silent rebuke to the government.

 

Access to Royalist Marketplace, a private Facebook group that openly discusses the role of the monarchy, was restricted on Aug. 24 following a legal submission by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The group had already garnered over a million subscribers. A replacement Facebook group, Royalist Marketplace Talaat Luang, was immediately set up and has already attracted over 1.38 million members.

 

Student protesters laid a plaque in Bangkok near the Grand Palace on the morning of Sunday Sept. 20: "This country belongs to the people." The ceremony followed an overnight demonstration nearby calling for the ouster of the military-backed government and reform of the monarchy.   © Reuters

 

Although he resides mainly in Germany, the king has been very much in the public eye recently, both at home and abroad. On Sept. 2, he reinstated Sineenat "Koi" Wongvajirapakdi as his royal noble consort after abruptly stripping her of the position in October 2019. She was the first to be elevated to the position in about a century when the king turned 67 in July 2019. A few months earlier, the king married for the fourth time, and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalakshana remains his main consort.

 

According to the Royal Gazette, the official journal in which laws and promotions are announced, the new army chief in October will be Gen. Narongphan Jitkaewthae, one of the king's favorites. His trusted predecessor, Gen. Apirat Kongsompong will become a lord chamberlain in the royal household after his retirement and is expected to wield considerable influence on the king's behalf.

 

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attempted to dampen public enthusiasm for this weekend's rally by playing up the COVID-19 threat. "When you gather in crowds, you are creating an enormous risk of new transmissions, and with that you also create enormous risks to the livelihoods of tens of millions of fellow Thais," the former army chief who staged the 2014 coup said in a televised speech on Thursday. "Any major flare-up of infections will lead to terrible consequences and even worse economic destruction the likes of which we have never seen."

 

But many of the youngsters see the government as the bigger problem. "The economy will thrive if we can truly establish the foundation of democracy," Somsom, a 20-year-old Thammasat student told Nikkei. She was sitting under an umbrella with two friends who asked not to be identified, but said they had come to demand constitutional reform and freedom of speech.

[socrates469bc]

the masses r dulan with the economic situation, so thats why there r no yellow shirts.

 

the thai pm did the rite thing by frustrating the masses.

 

he will remain in power as long as the army units guarding bangkok remains loyal to him.

[Yamato]

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Thailand protesters rally as parliament weighs constitution change
Lawmakers vote to set up panel on six amendment proposals

 

Pro-democracy protesters flash their mobile phone lights during a mass rally to call for the ouster of Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and reforms to the monarchy in front of parliament in Bangkok on Sept. 24, 2020.    © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerSeptember 24, 2020 18:51 JSTUpdated on September 25, 2020 02:16 JST

 

BANGKOK -- Thousands of Thai protesters assembled outside the country's parliament on Thursday as lawmakers debated on accepting constitutional amendment motions submitted by the ruling coalition and opposition parties.

 

The parliament decided to delay votes on accepting six motions, instead voting to set up a panel to study each motion. The committee will involve lower and upper house members.

 

"Senators, get out!" shouted crowds in front of the parliamentary building. From the bed of a truck, two speakers addressed the importance of Thursday's gathering and insisted that senators are not qualified as they are not truly chosen by the general public.

 

The scene was filled with white ribbons and three-fingered salutes, both expressions of silent rebuke to the government. Some protesters tied a large white ribbon on the entrance gate to parliament, as guards and bystanders watched.

 

Parit Chirawat, a leading activist known as Penguin, promoted Thursday's protest during another rally over the weekend, which attracted 30,000 to 50,000 demonstrators, according to local reports. Parit, one of the leaders of the student-led United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, urged people to gather at parliament to pressure house members into considering revisions to the constitution.

 

The parliament building is located by the Chao Phraya River in central Bangkok's Dusit district. Although past pro-democracy protests have been peaceful even with large numbers of participants, six boats were ready for politicians to evacuate in case of emergency.

 

The protest was initiated by pro-democracy group Free People, which hosted a rally attended by 20,000 people on Aug. 16.

 

Thailand's parliament consists of 250 members in the upper house and 500 in the lower house. A majority of the 750-member body is needed for a constitutional amendment motion to pass. The majority must be comprised of at least one-third -- or 84 senators -- from the upper house and 20% of opposition party members.

 

The constitution, Thailand's 20th since 1932, was drafted at the military's behest and was adopted through a national referendum in 2016. It gives the senators a large say in choosing the prime minister and a powerful veto tool over constitutional reforms. The current senators were hand-picked by the former junta and are led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

 

Free People on Thursday demanded the parliament to lessen senators' involvement in legislative process, allow forming a draft council with fully elected members, and make sure Thailand to be a democratic country with the monarchy truly under the constitution.

 

An open letter addressed to King Maha Vajiralongkorn was submitted on Sunday by the UFTD's key figure Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul. One of the demands in the letter was for revising the constitution by an elected body, including sections relating to the monarchy.

 

The ruling coalition's motion proposed an amendment, which paves a way to form a charter drafting assembly, with 150 members elected by the general public and 50 selected from as-of-yet unnamed groups. The assembly will be able to write a new charter.

 

Leading opposition Pheu Thai Party submitted a motion that would create a fully elected drafting council.

 

Four other proposed amendments were submitted by other opposition parties. These included removing senators from choosing a prime minister, curbing the Senate's powers in following up on national reforms, allowing citizens cast two ballots -- one ballot for a candidate and another ballot for a party - in general elections, and dropping the recognition of all laws, orders, and announcements issued by the former junta.

 

If parliament's decisions do not fully answer the protesters' calls, they could further fuel the activist movements in near future.

 

A committee of 45 parliamentarians will be formed to examine the amendment motions that were accepted. The group will be comprised of 15 senators, 16 ruling coalition members and 14 opposition party members.

 

Other groups have expressed their views through petitions. Nonprofit human rights organization Internet Law Reform Dialogue, or iLaw, gathered the names of 100,732 people who favored revising the constitution. The list was handed to parliament on Tuesday.

 

Warong Dechgitvigrom, founder of ultraroyalist group Thaipakdee, collected 130,000 signatures from people who oppose any changes. "The current constitution was approved in a referendum by 16.8 million Thais," said Warong. "The voices of the majority of Thais need to be respected," referring to the poll which drew 29.7 million out of the nation's 50 million registered voters.

 

Thai protesters assembled outside the country’s parliament on Thursday as lawmakers voted on accepting constitutional amendment motions. (Photo by Masayuki Yuda)

 

However, the public is questioning the credibility of Thaipakdee's signatures, although Warong insisted they were valid. While the royalists only asked for a phone number and home address, iLaw required proper identification so that it could sift out duplicate or fake signatures.

 

The building has been in use since August 2019, but part of it remains unfinished. The project was initiated in 2008 and construction, which began in 2013, was supposed to have been completed in 900 days.

 

But nearly five years of delay prevented lawmakers from moving out of the old parliamentary building on time before its land was given back to the Crown Property Bureau at the end of 2018. An auditorium thus had to be rented for parliament to assemble until the new building became usable. The new parliament is also surrounded by military compounds.

[socrates469bc]

parliament can talk and talk with no ends.

 

end of the day, the power is still with the army.

 

as long as the army says no, there is nothing the protesters can do.

 

wahahahhahahahah

[Yamato]

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thailand-latest-State-of-severe-emergency-declared

Thailand latest: State of severe emergency declared
Obstruction of royal motorcade and threat to national security cited

 

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, left, and Queen Suthida in a motorcade driving toward the Grand Palace in Bangkok.   © Reuters

Nikkei staff writersOctober 15, 2020 07:17 JSTUpdated on October 15, 2020 11:53 JST

 

Thailand announced an emergency decree early Thursday after thousands of demonstrators massed around the Government House, the seat of government, in Bangkok.

 

Here are the latest developments (Thai time):

 

9:40 a.m. A number of key protest leaders have been arrested, including one who posted a video clip encouraging people to continue with a protest in another part of Bangkok this afternoon.

In light of the emergency decree, police would likely turn out in force for this. Stay tuned.

 

A cleaner sweeps up trash after the protest in Bangkok in the early hours of Oct. 15.   © Reuters

 

6:47 a.m. Thai riot police clear thousands of protesters from outside the prime minister's office, according to Reuters.

 

6:14 a.m. Here is a preliminary translation of the government's announcement signed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha:

 

"Many people have instigated and mobilized illegal public gatherings in Bangkok with many ways and channels that caused chaos and disorder. There was conduct that affected the royal motorcade, and there was reason to believe there was violent conduct that affected state security, safety in life or assets of the people and state. This was not a peaceful gathering endorsed by the constitution. It also directly affects the control of COVID-19, which directly affects the vulnerable economy of the nation. It is very important to have urgent measures to fix this and halt this conduct effectively so the law is respected and the public is in order. Therefore, following Section 5 and Section 11 of the emergency decree, the prime minister has declared a state of severe emergency on Oct. 15 from 4 a.m. onward."

 

6:08 a.m. The government orders a ban on gatherings of five or more people in Bangkok, according to an official document accompanying the emergency decree.

 

Under measures that took effect from 4 a.m. local time, authorities have the power to ban people from entering any area they designate.

It also bars the "publication of news, other media, and electronic information that contains messages that could create fear or intentionally distort information, creating misunderstanding that will affect national security or peace and order."

 

Pro-democracy demonstrators flash the three-finger salute at a protest against the Thai government.   © Reuters

 

5:30 a.m. Thai state television announces that the government has issued an emergency decree, citing a need to maintain peace and order.

Protesters have called for the ouster of junta leader-turned-Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha as well as a new constitution. They have also called for reforms to the monarchy of King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

 

A royal motorcade carrying Queen Suthida had earlier encountered demonstrators, who flashed three-finger salutes. She smiled and waved back. The king's motorcade later passed along the road without incident on his way to a ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha near the Grand Palace.

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1316338507040710656?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1316338507040710656|twgr^share_3%2Ccontainerclick_0&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fasia.nikkei.com%2FPolitics%2FTurbulent-Thailand%2FThailand-latest-State-of-severe-emergency-declared

 

State television said: "As it appears that many groups of people have invited and incited illegal public assemblies in Bangkok ... acted to affect the royal motorcade and committed severe actions that affected national security ... it is extremely necessary to introduce an urgent measure to end this situation effectively and promptly to maintain peace and order," according to Reuters.

 

Pro-democracy demonstrators sit on the street outside the Government House in Bangkok at a mass protest on the 47th anniversary of the 1973 student uprising.   © Reuters

[socrates469bc]

now see if 1st and 2nd division will obey orders or not.

[Yamato]

 

This is no longer a laughing matter

[socrates469bc]

7 minutes ago, Yamato said:

 

This is no longer a laughing matter

 

theres nothing the protesters can do.

 

the thai pm not so dumb to order a violent crackdown.

 

the pivot player in this act will be the bkk-garrisoned first division.

 

will the colonels of the first division obey orders to stay in barracks, stage a self-coup with nearby 2nd division or throw their lots with the protestors????

 

the colonels r proteges of the junta, so most likely they will obey orders.

 

 

[Bigbird]

SawadeeKap!

 

What's happening to Thailand again?? 

 

Is this the sentiments for the Thais in Bkk or around Thailand?  Or just the youth?

 

Our Thai resident "reporter" pse report!

[Satki]

must bring out the trays of rolexes

 

army should coup

 

no reason why the macha tea chap takes all the money

[socrates469bc]

20 minutes ago, Bigbird said:

SawadeeKap!

 

What's happening to Thailand again?? 

 

Is this the sentiments for the Thais in Bkk or around Thailand?  Or just the youth?

 

Our Thai resident "reporter" pse report!

 

alot of thais dulan becos no jobs while red bull kia can drive ferrari and ram traffic mata kor kor.

[Bigbird]

9 minutes ago, socrates469bc said:

 

alot of thais dulan becos no jobs while red bull kia can drive ferrari and ram traffic mata kor kor.

 

I see.

 

Why is the jiak liao bee monarchy also affected?  Monarchy pattern has been "same same but different" for a long time liao mah?

 

Paiseh, i only know Thai makan and sabai sabai! 

[socrates469bc]

15 minutes ago, Bigbird said:

 

I see.

 

Why is the jiak liao bee monarchy also affected?  Monarchy pattern has been "same same but different" for a long time liao mah?

 

Paiseh, i only know Thai makan and sabai sabai! 

 

becos his crown property bureau has too much properties and holdings but thats not the fatal dulan part.

 

the fatal dulan part is he transferred the bureau from the finance minister's oversight to his own.

 

secondly, the current monarch spends most of his time in bavaria instead of siamland.

 

thats why alot of thais very dulan.

[Bigbird]

12 minutes ago, socrates469bc said:

 

becos his crown property bureau has too much properties and holdings but thats not the fatal dulan part.

 

the fatal dulan part is he transferred the bureau from the finance minister's oversight to his own.

 

secondly, the current monarch spends most of his time in bavaria instead of siamland.

 

thats why alot of thais very dulan.

 

Ahhhhh...  I see. 

 

He looks like a S&M druggie!  He tool back the new young "concubine" right?  Looks like the sex is good and when he shoots, she swallows!

[socrates469bc]

8 minutes ago, Bigbird said:

 

Ahhhhh...  I see. 

 

He looks like a S&M druggie!  He tool back the new young "concubine" right?  Looks like the sex is good and when he shoots, she swallows!

 

thats why i like to look back history for understanding.

 

the downfall of every dynasty is due to a corrupt incompetent ruler.

 

a folklore curse can only do so much but if a ruler has lost the support of the masses, he must be prepared to face the consequences.

[Bigbird]

2 hours ago, socrates469bc said:

 

thats why i like to look back history for understanding.

 

the downfall of every dynasty is due to a corrupt incompetent ruler.

 

a folklore curse can only do so much but if a ruler has lost the support of the masses, he must be prepared to face the consequences.

 

But Thais are very forgiving one right!

[socrates469bc]

8 hours ago, Bigbird said:

 

But Thais are very forgiving one right!

 

thats a misconception.

 

the most forgiving country is a small island republic called temasek.

 

tiagong the elite called their peasants xia xuay and still can be supported by 71% of their peasants.

 

wahahahhahahahah

[Yamato]

NOW!

[socrates469bc]

11 minutes ago, Yamato said:

NOW!

 

compared to previous crackdowns, this is very tame by thai standard.

 

however, the reason why the movement gained momentum across the broad society in less tha3 mths since july is becos of the pent-up dulan over the yrs and finally exploded becos wuhan wrecked the rice bowls of at least 10m thais directly or indirectly. add in the lower rice price for 19/20 crop, the number of dulans can easily exceed 40, or abt 2 in every 3 thais r angry.

 

my suggestion for dousing this peasant revolt will be pledging a substantial part of the holdings in siam commercial bank and siam cement to the public coffer, but i doubt anyone in the circle of power has the wisdom to see the solution.

 

wahahahhahahhahaha

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Yamato]

Battle line drawn!