Comments on: Red Letdown

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:31:56 +0000

I don’t really understand the problems they have in Thailand. It would be better for them to work together and try to find a good solution for the future of the country.

By: Red March in Bangkok, Day 1 / Thaksin: “I’ll travel to Europe tomorrow!” « Saiyasombut

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:45:20 +0000

[...] Absolutely Bangkok: Red Letdown [...]

By: Hobby

Hobby — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:07:42 +0000

“So what’s this latest day of reckoning really about?”

DOUBLE STANDARDS – it’s that simple!

BTW, even though many may not physically protest (for various reasons), there are plenty of sideline supporters cheering on those protesters that are prepared to make the sacrifices such as stop work, travel long distances, be subjected to searches, and stand in oppressive heat for long hours.

If it’s a choice between two colors, there is only one side that has any resemblance of democratic interest.

By: stoic

stoic — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:54:36 +0000

What if Isaan is not worse off today than under Thaksin?

This is what’s it all about, and talking to people in and from the north they don’t seem that neglected.

So what’s this latest day of reckoning really about?

By: Robin

Robin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 02:22:37 +0000

Qualtrough wrote:

“… I never liked Thaksin, but I can certainly see why the red shirts are really ticked off.”

I can see why, too, for the reasons Qualtrough mentioned (which I agree with), as well as the not-always-accurate propaganda they’re being fed, as described by GeGee’s observations up north.

Legitimate grievances + brainwashing = passionate, potentially volatile behavior.

I hope all sides can keep jai yen today and this week.

By: Qualtrough

Qualtrough — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:40:06 +0000

One of the things that irks the supporters of the red shirts the most, and who can blame them, is people like stoic who speak of blocking roads as violent, but somehow seem to have a different standard when it comes to shutting down international airports and and occupying government house. I guess that is different. Tell me too, how many yellow shirts responsible for that action have been brought to justice for that? As far as any courts not being on the red shirt’s side, I wonder why that is? Could it be that a twice legally elected government was brought down by a coup, and the constitution abrogated? I guess that is different too, and not violent at all. The double standard is amazing, too bad so many cannot or will not see it. I never liked Thaksin, but I can certainly see why the red shirts are really ticked off.

By: stoic

stoic — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:35:26 +0000

Even if a million red shirts show up on Sunday, Bangkok they lost big time on Friday. No Isaan construction workers, no migrants from the north and northeast joined them. That’s the letdown.

As we’ve seen from The Nation’s video how money was and is handed out (on YouTube you find a version from the incident filmed from a different angle), this won’t only be the nation’s biggest, but also most expensive demonstration.

And well whoever’s investing wants a certain return.

Even if not a single shot is fired and not a single drop of blood reported, blocking roads for the sake of “democracy” or freedom is a violent act. Paralyzing Bangkok not violent, have some people lost their mind?

The reds will have to provoke big style, but Bangkokians already gave them the thumbs down. They’ll be kicked out, and not in a nice way.

And the help of the courts is also not on their side.

A zero sum game, really.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:08:34 +0000

From what I was told, the red shirts didn’t even start leaving their areas until Friday noon.

Also, they intended on stopping at several points along the way for speeches, etc.

So no, the main group from the north would not make it to BKK by Friday. Most will appear on Saturday, with the rest arriving on Sunday.

I believe the ones already in BKK on Friday live in BKK or close by.

By: Jaded

Jaded — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:47:19 +0000

The panic reactions to the prospect of red shirted poorer people demonstrating in Bangkok do seem to have been overdone. I can imagine how all those people who have stayed at home, stocked up on food and fuel and candles are feeling right now. Underlying the panic of course is the guilty consciences and paranoia of the usurpers of political power. The oddest thing about this is that the mainstream media boycott of red shirt events has meant that the assumptions being made about what is likely to happen are based on the flimsiest of evidence. Ignoring the red shirts has produced a dividend. Nobody is really sure what to expect …

By: Oneditorial

Oneditorial — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:11:56 +0000

I hope everything will continue smoothly and the protesters will march peacefully like they do in the movie called “V for Vendetta.” I will be in the city presently. The idea that I might be landing into the vortex in the land where I was born simply renders me ecstatic!