Bravo to The Nation and Thai MSM (as well as whoever else hating reds): as usually they are pretty quick at putting all such stuff on internet. Too quick and too good for reds ever to be able to match them in such a swiftness (not to mention wickedness), what to speak – to better them. Not surprising: after all, urban Bangkokians would always be ahead of some provincial peasants in all such things, even in basic taking photos and uploading them on the net, what to speak – making videos and figuring out how to upload them on youtube!

Hell, “baan nork” will never be able even to AFFORD having such things as digital photo/video cameras, computers, fast internet connection – in fact even a sufficient time to seat in front of computer to learn how to do all such things.

And thus – PAD, and especially establishment (government, army, MSM) will ALWAYS be able to vilify, demonize and “expose” reds. In other words – to be able to WIN the information war, which is much more essential than the numbers of protesters on the streets!

BTW the video of “reds giving money” is too blatant well staged show: I mean, why would they do it as if especially in front of many photo cameras? Also, people “receiving” money are too well-to-do who do not look as some peasants at all, who might be really needing money.

With all the oh so nice adds on TV during Abhisit’s term, many people on Thai forums have already figured out that practically ALL of them are well acted, to the last person.

Then to stage some little clip with “reds giving out money” – is a piece of cake for talented Thai media!

Thus once again I applaud in awe: Bravo!

Can’t wait for more. I have no any doubts that we’ll see more masterpieces of Thai “journalism” (or shall we say – cinematography?)

Sure, it is not at all fake – it is very believable, as much as any good Thai TV ads.

Oh, and for another video I think a better title would be Kwamchantin (Agitator! Provocateur!) instead of Tamruat.

Even the police themselves are being shrewd enough asking the “victim”: “Surely that guy wouldn’t just suddenly attack you unless you’ve said or done something to him first?”

I am sure we’ll see many more masterpieces from yellow media in days to come. After all, hey – they’ve being eagerly awaiting these events so long.

I see you have quite a lively discussion here, huh?

Honestly speaking, I have got tired and bored of Thai politics quite some time ago, and especially of arguing with all those who continue claim “unique/Thainess” stuff (usually they are either PAD, or yellow Thai MSM; by the way the term “yellow press” emerged more than 100 years before PAD even came to existence and thus has nothing to do with PAD itself, although funnily Thai MSM somehow enabled this hilarious coincidence – that local Thai MSM are YELLOW in both senses: that is is staunch supporter of PAD as well as shameless spinner of low grade sensationalistic copy-cat-from-official-press-releases-and-never-bother-to-check-FACTS “reports”).

So, I would not go into trying to defend or bash any group here (although I do not hide my position: I strongly dislike PADshists, to put it mildly). Because after all all the “color-coded revolutions” of last few decades in the world rather indicate certain pattern and design: to distract the sheeple into some artificial confrontations and create illusory appearance of “We the People” power, as if it really matters to all those who actually pull the strings (banksters, strongmen, elite, etc.). Therefore to let oneself get carried away by all this phantasmagoria of elaborate show – now I consider as allowing oneself get blinded or at least somewhat have one’s vision narrowed down with precise purpose of NOT seeing the whole picture.

What doesn’t stop to surprise me though is: how eager and never tired Thai media are at continuing their silly brainwashing attempts in an English-speaking blogosphere and web boards!

Sure, I have no slightest doubt that Thai MSM have their own bots and perhaps even hired participants who constantly scan all the web for anything which doesn’t fit their own yellow version.

Sure, Thai government, and especially military, as well as other concerned groups, have their own such fellas too – damn, PAD alone is worth mentioning, being quite skilled in it!

(As I know Israel’s secret service has first started using hired “bots” and “trolls” in internet info-wars.)

But what is funny: all such guys are TOO obvious and too blatant, not even bothering to pretend being subtle.

And even though nowadays I prefer to avoid participating in all such “debates,” sometimes I just can’t help it but notice how stupidly blatant and silly all such efforts are!

I mean: if one really wants to at least confuse a bit (what to speak – convince) some foreigners who DO FACTS CHECKING (unlike Thai media) – then perhaps they supposed to try doing a better job than simply employ demagoguery, fallacies and all too obvious dirty trick …

No?

P.S.: On the red’s rally my only comment would be: I hope they have learned their lessons from last Songkran and this time are much better prepared in terms of FACTS gathering, keeping and broadcasting – one of the main reason, in my opinion, why they have lost last time! They should have at very least digital cameras and better yet – video cameras, mobile broadcasting units, English-speaking/reading/writing their OWN people who have at least basic skills at blogging, or better yet – at dealing with international media!

Otherwise all their efforts are useless. especially taking into consideration the giant “media war” unleashed by government last year (still ongoing) right after Songkran events.

I have just sepnt the week up around Chiang Rai, Chaing Mai with my family (mix of OZ & Thai) and staying with some red supporters.

I think my friends are like so many red supporters.

They only want a better Thailand. They truly love this place (and I say, for good reason) – something which should not be forgotten.

You talk about “MSM” propaganda. If you haven’t already, you should see RedTV and hear the “dog whistle” lies and rumors the supporters (innocently) spread about certain individuals and the power structure of Thailand.

I know rumor and inuendo, often take the place of facts, but it would seem by the simple style of “on song” cliches spreading, they are planted in much the same way, as some blogs and tweeters are “emdedded” in this MSM Propaganda war.

I have come back even more convinced,the problem with the red shirts is not the people – it’s the leaders.

I cannot help but feel they are taking advantage of the inherant good nature in so many Thai people, in order to feather their own nests.

If along the way, they happen to help a few rise above the pack – so be it. But, when you see how they are doing this, their aim and the genuine aim of the supporters on coincide by accident, more than design.

In that, I guess they have been “well tutored” by the “Man in Dubai”??

Nick does a great job with his photojournalism and tries to be fair, with his pieces.

But, last April was a time of hightened tensions, which he was caught up in, because of the “service” he was rendering and going where many others were not prepared to. Therefore, I can understand his portrayal, as he was there – not watching from the sidelines on TV, as others seemed to do.

Having said this, although he was not fabricating what he saw, or believed he saw, he was emotionally involved in the events.

And if you read the text closely, a lot of these events took place in the dark – meaning his opinions were made under stress and might not be 100% accurate. But, in the “wider” picture, he certainly made a valuable contribution to coverage of the events.

Recently, he has seemed to confine himself, to written commentary on blogs, such as this one, New Mandala and Bangkok Pundit.

I do hope he is not “missing in action” and is able to make his usually high standard reports about this weekend.

Second, I wasn’t “admitting” anything; rather, I was elaborating on what I’d read last year that gave me the impression that the source of April 2009′s violence wasn’t as obvious, and hence not all the Reds’ fault, as some people now seem to believe. Have you read Nostitz’s exhaustive account? It wasn’t conjecture; this respected photojournalist was there, he recorded what happened with his camera and with notes, and he talked with countless witnesses and participants. (He speaks Thai.) How can you dismiss Nostitz’s account as “insufficient evidence”?

You wrote that I’m “selectively ignoring what other foreign journalists reported at the time.” As you’ve dismissed Nostitz’s words and photos, perhaps you’re also selectively ignoring certain reports. Well, I’ve given you Nostitz’s account as the source of information from which I developed an opinion. Can you please furnish aB readers with a link to your source of information that makes you so sure April 2009 happened differently? I will take time to read it if you post a link.

But you’re right, Oneditorial, I can’t be certain of anything, because I myself didn’t witness the incidents in question, and I don’t recall what other foreign and Thai journalists wrote at the time about it. Also, I can’t explain the car attack in front of the interior ministry (I’d forgotten about that until you mentioned it) — true, that wasn’t exactly peaceful behavior.

Thank you for acknowledging that the reds “might not be inherently violent,” and I agree that last year’s havoc “is a fact that cannot be argued” – however, the source of much of the havoc is. I also agree with your that “if this weekend violence should occur, the Reds are likely to be universally condemned” – which is what the ammart network wants, so I’m nervous that even if the reds manage, this time, to maintain peace whilst crowding tens of thousands of people into an inhospitable environment, violence might break out even if not by the reds. That infamous “third hand,” a la Newin’s blue shirts (but of course cleverly disguised in red shirts), might stir up trouble by either provoking violence or pretending to do crazy things like storming Siriraj Hospital. Let’s hope not …

http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2009/04/20/the-crushing-of-the-red-shirts/

So that’s where I gleaned the impression of probable third-agent provocateurs. From Nostitz’s very detailed post, the following quote stands out as relevant to the point in question – namely, if the red shirts were inherently a violent, frothing mob acting in a premeditated way, or if the majority of red shirts strove for peacefeul protest whilst a minority fell prey to their anger, probably provoked by anti-UDD saboteurs:

Nostitz wrote:

“… I refuse, however, to accept the present tone of the Thai media that demonizes the red shirts. Much of the escalation is the responsibility of the government. How, for example can it happen that PAD guards and navy personnel can appear disguised as “blue shirts,” who have collaborated with the security forces, as is proven beyond doubt, to engage in clashes with red shirts? That was not the decision of a local commander – this has been a top level political decision.

This is reminiscent of the dirty games and strategies of the 1970s, of extreme right wing militias, such as Navapol and Kratingdaeng, who with high level government and military support acted as agent provocateurs. Are we really back in this dark era of Thailand’s history? Have we not learned one thing?…”

“There was a lot of evidence that yellows costumed in red shirts and also possibly military provocateurs stirred up violence again.”

So, where is the evidence? Everything you said is simply an assumption. Many viewers from around the world saw the events playing out last year via the international media and it was clearly not a pretty sight unless your TV could not pick up BBC, CNN, Al Jazeera etc when the havoc was taking place. Their gathering ruined people’s livelihood last year but from what I have been hearing, the city dwellers are well prepared to protect their neighborhood this time. No one likes people who like to cause trouble be they reds, yellows, blues or any other color. Of course everyone has the right to stage their dissatisfaction PEACEFULLY and I am not against that either.