Mentors Posted April 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2009 Thai PM tells public not to panic after chaos Thailand's prime minister has called on the public not to panic as political chaos wracks country's capital. He says people should cooperate with the government to end the crisis. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva spoke late Sunday after a day in which anti-government demonstrators escalated their protests after he declared a state of emergency in Bangkok. Abhisit was barely able to escape a mob's attack on his car and by nightfall many city streets were under control of the so-called "red shirt" protesters. In his televised remarks, made just before midnight, Abhisit gave no details about how he planned to end the crisis. Despite emergency powers being invoked, there has not yet been a crackdown. http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=918477&lang=eng_news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted April 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2009 Comment: Thai PM recovers some credibility On Saturday, he was made to look like a clown in front of the most powerful leaders in Asia. By Sunday, it was hard to believe that he would be around for more than a few days. Events are moving so fast and unpredictably in Bangkok that it is impossible to be sure â?? but today the Thai government of Abhisit Vejjajiva appeared to be slowing his countryâ??s slide into anarchy. Whether this is a genuine reversal, or a temporary lull before a greater round of violence, will become clear in the next few days. It is a sign of how far Thailand has fallen that news which, in normal times, would seem disastrous, starts to sound positive.The full facts may not have filtered out, but if early reports are correct and only two people died in Bangkok today, reportedly in fights between protesters and local people, then Thais have got off lightly. When nervous soldiers with automatic weapons meet furious protesters with petrol bombs, tragedies can unfold in a few seconds. But the Thai troops seem mostly to have followed orders to employ restraint, to disperse crowds rather than attacking them â?? and to fire their live bullets into the air. Mr Abhisit won the media battle yesterday. In their respective television interviews with the BBC and CNN, he appeared reasonable, patient and articulate, while Thaksin Shinawatra, his exiled antagonist, was shrill and unconvincing. But the hardest job is still to come. About 4,000 protesters have fallen back to the physical and spiritual core of the demonstrations â?? the streets in front of Government House. There are women and elderly people there, and children too. To clear such a crowd without bloodshed would be difficult anyway â?? and the suspicion lingers that some of the Red Shirts are courting a violent response. A few unambiguous martyrs, genuinely innocent victims, would galvanise the movement at a moment when it may be in danger of losing momentum, and endow the movement with a new moral authority. This is what Mr Abhisit must at all costs avoid. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/article6087472.ece Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted April 14, 2009 Report Share Posted April 14, 2009 Our hands are tied. We were told not to use force by government leaders. They are more concerned with their image and underestimated the protesters...it's too late now and wonder if any country wants to come for any Summit in Thailand," a police official said. Sad admission.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 April 16 (Bloomberg) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pledged to call elections once stability is restored, as offices, banks and the stock exchange opened after anti- government riots killed two and injured 135 people in Bangkok. The capital and surrounding provinces entered their fifth day of emergency rule as the Southeast Asian nation returned to work after a three-day New Year holiday. Today and tomorrow were declared public holidays for some government offices. â??What we are now trying to do is to make sure there is a complete restoration of law and order,â? Abhisit said in a Bloomberg Television interview today. â??We have to make sure that there are no further disruptions and rioting of any kind. We hope over the next few days to make sure that is achieved.â? http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=atq3HDGP5L6U&refer=asia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 So off we go again ...what happens if the UDD get elected this time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentors Posted April 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 So off we go again ...what happens if the UDD get elected this time.... yellow shirts in trend then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torneyboy Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I think so as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.. Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I hope Abhisit rethinks that. A) it gives reward for thuggery and there is nothing wrong/illegal with the current government, so serve out the term. Mentors, you posture about democracy, yet you want to let 100k people (the red shirts) speak for 65 million. Isn't that just what you've been bitching about re: the yellows? Cheers, SD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I notice the Abhisit government is still there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coss Posted April 16, 2009 Report Share Posted April 16, 2009 I hope Abhisit rethinks that. A) it gives reward for thuggery and there is nothing wrong/illegal with the current government, so serve out the term. Mentors, you posture about democracy, yet you want to let 100k people (the red shirts) speak for 65 million. Isn't that just what you've been bitching about re: the yellows? Cheers, SD But like Fiji, the announced elections could be as far away as 2015... Cheers Coss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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