TH : Stop the violence

[benbear]

Once again in Bangkok we have fighting but this time during Songkran

Watch this twat

5K6bGlnirgk

Blooopers! Ex-Priminister Thaksin made a huge slip (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K6bGlnirgk)


In my opinion he has become the new Hitler and needs to be locked up in a padded cell.

Well not happy.

STOP THE VIOLENCE

[p0ly]

hahhahha crazy guy

[O-D]

I profess ignorance about the politics of that part of the world.. what exactly was wrong about what he said? :crazy_diz

[MisterDuck]

yeah i don't understand it

i am entirely ignorant too

unfortunately i know a lot more about political set-ups in the "western" world than i do elsewhere, which i dont intend to, but it gets more coverage from the media... i really should seek out more information

[General Lighting]

I think the slip is that he is implying all them red shirt protestors got paid to march and trash the city and get the ASEAN meeting stopped (this is like a G20 but with Asian leaders)

they got the meeting cancelled and all the leaders of China, Malaysia had to be airlifted out for their own safety - but it ended up a big riot with live rounds fired in the street, many injured and at least two people killed...

on a lighter note as the food had already been cooked, it meant that all the pro-government civil servants, journalists and soldiers remaining in the meeting venue ate it instead before they carried on fighting with the red shirts - you know your in South East Asia when they make sure everyone has eaten before they start fighting :laugh_at:

[MisterDuck]

"red shirts" as in communists?

[General Lighting]

nah, thaksin is a populist politician.

The pro-govt lot were wearing blue shirts (apart from cops and soldiers who had their own uniform - they even have "ARMY" on the riot shields for the non-civillian troops as Thai riot cops look very similar to soldiers.)

Thaksin is popular with the rural Thais as I think he has given them "subsidies" (hence the slip-up over mentioning money in the news report) but not with those in the urban areas.

The shirt colours are simply so people identify with their side like in footy and do not appear to represent any particular defined ideology. For all the modern stuff you get in Asia many bits of culture are still like the stories you may see in 18th century martial arts films!

[benbear]

Your spot on General.

Apart from pro-govt use yellow shirts.

Update = the reds went home yesterday after the army cutting the food supply into the protest. Thaksin was updated about this situation but sat in China and did nothing thankfully the other red leaders gave up.

This is the second time the Thai army have resorted to a non-violence tactic. Despite early fighting, overall, they are hero's and have saved Thailand from another internal war.

As for Thaksin he still seeks a way back into Thailand, so watch this space.

Lock him up

[General Lighting]

I'm sure I saw some dudes in blue shirts too, heavily armed compared to the others and the sky report below mentions this, although its probably just the cops in their PT kit

Sky are reporting like it is a football game... (although to be fair its not much more violent than a Western game these days)

Thailand: Guide To Different Protest Groups In The Country, Including Red Shirts And Yellow Shirts | World News | Sky News (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Thailand-Guide-To-Different-Protest-Groups-In-The-Country-Including-Red-Shirts-And-Yellow-Shirts/Article/200904215260829?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Page_Fe ature_Teaser_Region_0&lid=ARTICLE_15260829_Thailand%3A_Guide_To_Differen t_Protest_Groups_In_The_Country%2C_Including_Red_S hirts_And_Yellow_Shirts)

WHO ARE THE NEW ACTIVISTS IN BLUE SHIRTS?

On Friday evening in Pattaya, a new group wearing dark blue T-shirts bearing the phrase "Protect the Institution" - thought to be a reference to the monarchy - clashed with the red shirts.

The identity and aims of the masked men in blue shirts armed with sticks, clubs and iron rods remain unclear.

[benbear]

Looks like we have blue as well, first time I have heard of them.

[General Lighting]

the leader of the yellow shirts had his car shot up in an assasination attempt and is in hospital

BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Thai 'yellow shirt' leader shot (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8003531.stm)

[joshd96320]

jeeeeeeeeeeesus christ

thats a lot of bullet holes

how did he not get peppered himself

[General Lighting]

his driver was seriously injured and Mr Sondhi was struck in the skull. Depending on the calibre of weapons used the velocity of a lot of the bullets would be reduced having passed through the metal/glass.

it sounds like the assassins were a mob of angry men rather than the smaller groups of pro hitmen more often found in the former Soviet union...

Edit: apparently the weapons used were assault rifles (got confused by thinking of Malaysia's stricter gun laws ) - I think he was just lucky and his assassins were bad shots. Ironically had they set their weapons to 3-shot bursts their attempt would be more successful as full auto causes the weapons to rise off target (recoil)

[joshd96320]

yeah thats what im saying... im surprised that since the car took so many hits, he didnt take as many!

[benbear]

That shooting was right next to bar I drink at all the time. In fact he took a bullet to the head and in the side but the shell of the car took some impact.
He is still alive and recovering in hospital. Wish him a speedy recovery.