The RED SHIRT Crisis in Bangkok!

[jadeite]

The Thai Thai stock market is doing great too. Has become very bullish as things have worsened. Reminds me of all the president Clinton scandals, each scandal resulted in his approval rating going up much to the anger of republicans.

Just Imagine for a moment if the reds when they were in power smashed the yellows like this when the yellows shut down the airport and government house and dared the government to do something about it! People would have immediately ridiculed Thaksin as abusing power, murderer, masterminding of the whole thing, blah blah blah. But the reds hardly lifted a finger even though the yellow fiasco cost Thailand 300000000000 baht and a ton of credibility. That's 300 billion by the way if you have trouble counting all those zero's.

Now the roles have changed and right or wrong the reds get smashed and predictably, it's all Thaksin's fault yet again. Also got a laugh Thaksin spotted going shopping during this period angered people that he wasn't in his war room pushing all the buttons of his paid robots or something. For some, no matter what happens it's just always going to be Thaksin's fault. He has that polarizing effect. But like it or not, most in Thailand thought things were better in the Thaksin years and are not happy to have their votes squashed.

[rxpharm]

Sorry to disagree, but already the Red Shirt leaders have been videotaped acknowledging Thaksin's directions to refuse the road map which was initially agreed to by the Red Shirt leadership. I am sure more evidence will come out re: how much Thaksin has financed the rioters and continues to do so.

[Tomcat]

According to the BBC the Reds have surrenderd... is that true

[rxpharm]

The leaders have, but many of the demonstrators have gone on to loot and burn major buildings in BKK.

[anicon]

..looks like longtime is the order of the day, txt ur favorite ladyboy, stock up on ur favorite snacks & watch the mayhem together on TV (if it's working there)..  

[f0xxee]

An arrest warrant for Thaksin has just been issued to by the Thai High Court on charges of Terrorism... That will make a very large difference to his ability to remain at large.

[laputanegra]

Great the red shirt just fucked up my last night now I'm in my room alone bored and thirsty

[Snick]

It is all Thaksin's fault, he is a greedy megalomaniac.  If the coup didn't happen he would be chavez or marcos.
And he is directly responsible for what is happening today, he provided the money, brought in the black shirts, and vetoed the peace deal that was almost agreed to 2 weeks ago.
Its all his fault. Every death soldier, civilian, and redshirt.

[Snick]

(laputanegra @ May 19 2010,22:20) Great the red shirt just fucked up my last night now I'm in my room alone bored and thirsty  

At least its Wednesday, otherwise you would be bored, thirsty and horny.

[f0xxee]

(Snick @ May 19 2010,22:24) It is all Thaksin's fault, he is a greedy megalomaniac.  If the coup didn't happen he would be chavez or marcos.
And he is directly responsible for what is happening today, he provided the money, brought in the black shirts, and vetoed the peace deal that was almost agreed to 2 weeks ago.
Its all his fault. Every death soldier, civilian, and redshirt.

100% agree Snick. Terrorism charges are well justified. What's the dfiffenence between him and OBL? Both are financing nastly little acts from their postions of safety.
I hope this is the end of the man....

[guydesavoy]

When asked to intervene with the red leaders Thaksin said :  'Nothing to do with me'....

Maybe he had a tip off about those fires, hence his shopping trip to LV in Paris to stock up..

Apparently the only thing that saved MBK was the red's women who wanted to get some shopping in before returning to the provinces

[TTChang]

IMO (and I'm not a military specialist) the Thai Army have managed to screw it up again. After a carefully implemented dawn plan (which the BBC correspondent described as 'very measured and professional') the Army took their foot off the gas. Opening up access for debris removal (at all checkpoints, not just Lumpini), and making sure emergency services could get through, were surely vital ingredients.  Ok they wanted the safe evacuation of those who were going home, but leaving the hunting of red shirt thugs/ militia /anarchists until the curfew has left Bangkok in flames. They thought they were in control? ....  

I was chatting with Socrates999 tonight here in Pattaya, and we both sound like right-wing hawks (which I would argue strongly we are not).  The view of many expats I know in LOS is that the Army vacillated at the outset, and it was in fact a weak army that contributed to the number of deaths.  Does that make any sense?

The Politicians come out of the last 7 weeks with no credit, the Police ditto, the Red Shirts ditto, the Army ditto, Thaksin ditto.  Oh, there is another institution ... Total loss of face all round.  I'm still amazed at a few international commentators calling for Thaksin's return to 'assist' the Reconciliation  

An arrest warrant for Thaksin has just been issued to by the Thai High Court on charges of Terrorism...

Read somewhere that it's been withdrawn already.  Don't want to upset the Reconciliation plan?  'Flip flop'

Reconciliation?  :

[f0xxee]

It they have withdrawn the arrest warrant for Thaksin it would be a shame... they have him on toast.

[guydesavoy]

There does seem to be a total misunderstanding of the situation, evidenced by the fact that through this 'crisis' Red calls for external/international intervention were bought into by people who should know better..

My information is that certain 'elements' from within the U.S Embassy have been 'advising' on tactics. Of course, looking at the results so far, it's unclear whether they were actually followed or ignored

[Snick]

That would explain a lot, as I was watching the Thai Army neglect to keep the peace after 'winning' I was reminded of the US Army in Baghdad after we 'won' that war.