News from Thailand – January 16, 2014
News from Thailand is short today, because most of the news is in Bangkok Breaking News of January 15 and 16. The protest of the rice farmers is in the post Rice farmers are fed up; they want to see money now. Here's the rest of the news.
– Radical red shirts have stored weapons and ammunition in Bangkok. According to a red shirt source in Ubon Ratchathani, they have been hidden there for the past few months; not to be used against the anti-government demonstrators, but in the event of a military coup as well as against anyone who forces the population, government agencies and the judiciary to postpone elections.
The 'underground wings of the red shirt movement', as the source calls these people, do not care about the leaders of the UDD (United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship). 'The red shirt mavericks are strongly opposed to a coup and to the judiciary. They are familiar with and have experience with the use of weapons.' According to him, they would also have access to heavy weapons in the North and Northeast.
Pichit Likitkijsomboon, a lecturer at Thammasat University and a red shirt supporter, acknowledges that there are a number of splinter groups and opportunists within the red shirt movement that the leadership has no control over. When it comes to violence, they will close ranks. "The UDD must stop pretending to be a white shirt group advocating for elections while the anti-government protesters drag the country to hell."
Pichit calls on the radical red shirt leaders in Chiang Mai, Pathum Thani and Udon Thani not to block anti-government demonstrations or come to the capital. 'Stop actions that create an undesirable image of the whole red shirt movement among the population.'
– And again wild gaur carcasses have been found in national Kui Buri (PrachuapKhiri Khan). During a field study of the number of gaurs in the park, park staff came across two specimens. This brings the total number of dead gaurs to 22. It is still not clear what the cause of death is: poisoning or disease.
– A soldier was injured in a bomb attack yesterday in Sungai Kolok (Narathiwat). The attack targeted three armed vehicles carrying XNUMX soldiers patrolling the Sungai Kolok-Singai Padi road. The bomb was buried under the road. Further details are missing.
– Governor Veera Sriwattanatrakul of Prachuap Khiri Khan has ordered an investigation into the problems of leasing land at the Singkhon border crossing. A businessman there issued land to 190 sellers, but they are now afraid to leave because they have discovered that the land is intended for distribution to landless farmers and should not be used for commercial purposes.
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
In 2010, it was already possible to read how weapons came into the possession or came into the hands of or were made by 'the common man', in response to the finds of grenade launchers. At the time, Thailand also received a lot of attention because of the political unrest at the time. An eyebrow-raising story from then and still relevant today, in:
http://www.dewereldmorgen.be/artikels/2010/04/01/corruptie-diepere-oorzaak-problemen-thailand
There is a lot to do in Thailand, and especially to 'clean up', as it is appropriate to say in good Flemish.
There is indeed a lot to clean up (in which country isn't?), but also among the so-called “good people” who are demonstrating against the government.
Their language about the "buffalo" from the north and north-east of Thailand says a lot about their superior qualities.
And what to think about the doctors of Songkhla University's Faculty of Medicine who yesterday issued unusually crude, obscene and sexist threats against Yinluck. Beautiful people who will lead Thailand to better times! It was not the first time that speakers of the protest movement, who according to certain media are driven by higher ideals, are guilty of brutal obscenities about Yinluck.
But yes, they are people who are better educated and more civilized than the "buffalo" from the rest of the country and who would therefore also have more voting rights than those "buffalo". Why am I even bothering???
Dear Paul, understanding your indignation, it must be said that you have to tell the whole story. There was one doctor, singular, working at the university you mentioned, who used foul language on a podium in BKK. A! His words were almost immediately distanced from his words, including by colleagues from the university, and condemned, among others, by the minister of health. See: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Medical-workers-told-to-avoid-insulting-words-on-s-30224387.html
Dear Soi,
I want to believe you, but The Nation is the bastion of the old establishment and the reporting is at least biased. Other sources, at least as reliable, say that his colleagues applauded warmly.
And the Minister of Health does not belong to the government camp.
Excuses are always possible, especially in times of high emotions. but the statement that the protesters are “good” people with only good intentions belongs in the realm of fables.
No hard feelings.
Hopefully we will meet in BKK for a nice chat over pot and pint…
Dear Soi,
If this were an isolated case, you're right. But that's not true. There is a stream of sexist, and sometimes downright obscene, comments on the various stages, in social media and on posters carried along. I have seen a poster that really beats everything, I dare not describe it here. Misogyny (aimed at Yngluck) is really rife with this movement.
As for the wild gaurs, have they still not been able to find the causes or the culprits?
@ diqua There will be a statement on Friday. The tissue examination appears to have yielded no results, according to initial reports. Wait and see.