Death Threats Against Democrats

“Democratic lawmakers have received death threats and been the victims of vandalism,” we learn from the NYT. Well, not here, but over in the U.S. There is a growing hatred movement in the U.S., fed by the health care bill. You need to be ready for neighborhood defense squads, a paramilitary American went on air with. But then again, as hard as politics are fought in the U.S., there’s not a single coup in U.S. history.

Our own current street politics look like peanuts in comparison. Peace all over, patient people, a few M79 attacks, but with no real targets, so who bothers. Or in plain language: Thailand’s latest Gandhi-style show of red force is not taken seriously without some sort of escalation. That’s the nature of a protest without the numbers to back up your legitimacy claim.

OK, we’re promised an intensified “mother of all protests” this Saturday. Who knows what ace they have up their sleeve. Or we already witness a change of strategy with the cutting of the Thaksin umbilical cord? De-Thaksinization in the making? He tweeted the other day that talks have nothing to do with him, they’re something between the three red core leaders and Abhisit. And his sore throat. Can’t talk. His faithful wait. That’s plain whiny. What’s going on beyond?

The protest has de facto long fizzled out, but keeps on going somehow while recently in Italy hundreds of thousands filled the streets of Rome for their illustrious prime minister and tens of thousands demonstrated in Washington for immigration reform. The only reason why Thailand’s red protest is reported in the international media is due to it weirdness factor.

Cursing rituals, blood, poo-poo, temporary blockades – and now an outsmarted opposition boycotted the house while ruling lawmakers didn’t hesitate a second to ram three key pieces of legislation through parliament … As bitter as it sounds, so far the government is always a step ahead. Reds would have strong points, but lose credibility thanks to their own leaders.

Take this: They’ll now contact the Guinness Book of World Records to see if Saturday’s protest could set a record number of protesters joining campaigns to oust the prime minister. Another headline-hungry gimmick, and again not about democracy. A feel good protest satisfying the egos of some reds doesn’t lead the red movement anywhere, we all know that.

Escalate, up the ante. Civil disobedience, as Thaksin suggested, should peaceful means fail (whatever he means with peaceful). Or pack your bags and wait until 2011 and elect lawmakers who do the work they’re supposed to do.




Sphere: Related Content

Related posts on absolutelyBangkok.com:

  1. Red & Abandoned
  2. Red Serendipity (Poll)
  3. Backlash Say Hi!
  4. Reds’ Peace Farce
  5. Red Letdown
  6. A Real Ultimatum, Really?
  7. Carte Blanche

March 25, 2010 | Filed Under News & Media, Politics 

Comments

3 Responses to “Death Threats Against Democrats”

  1. Tweets that mention Death Threats Against Democrats -- Topsy.com on March 25th, 2010 3:56 pm

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Don, Pim Pimlapas. Pim Pimlapas said: RT @BangkokDan: (BLOG) Death Threats Against Democrats http://bit.ly/cdlQAA [...]

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  2. J on March 26th, 2010 4:25 pm

    “… there’s not a single coup in U.S. history …”

    BKKDan, about 70 years after its formation, the United States fought a Civil War, and over 600,000 Americans died. Probably not a great illustration of the rock solid nature of other, young democracies.

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  3. Not So Random Links on March 30th, 2010 8:24 pm

    [...] day you published Death Threats Against Democrats [...]

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