Thaksin says it's time to fight for complete democracy

[Mentors]

Some BM brought this up fairly recently and I can't remember who but keep in mind that Thaksin has said he would not come back to politics. I guess he was lying?

 

it's bizarre, maybe the result of to much thai soap-operas on TV.

 

[shygye]

Some BM brought this up fairly recently and I can't remember who but keep in mind that Thaksin has said he would not come back to politics. I guess he was lying?

 

When a politician is moving his lips lies spill out.

[Mentors]

Thai protests: ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra warns of fresh violence

 

Thailand's former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, has warned that violence will return to the streets of Bangkok if the authorities take a hard line against his supporters.

 

In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Thaksin demanded the release of the leaders of the protests that have rocked the country in recent days, after they gave themselves up as the army surrounded them on Tuesday morning.

 

Arrest warrants have been issued for 14 more opposition leaders, including Mr Thaksin himself, who went into self-imposed exile last year before a court convicted him of violating conflict of interest laws.

 

But Mr Thaksin said that the Thai government should now seek "reconciliation" with its opponents, who wear red shirts in contrast to the yellow tops worn by government loyalists.

 

"They have to talk to the leaders not just arrest them and put them into jail," he said.

"Violence begets violence. If they imprison the leaders there will be more violence.

 

[color:red]"If you think you can use power to crush people you can't expect that they will just be silent."[/color]

 

The last of the protesters, who had been besieging Government House for three weeks, gave up and left on Tuesday, many with tears in their eyes. Their position had been surrounded overnight by thousands of soldiers. Four of the leaders turned themselves in to police.

 

Mr Thaksin said he had not ordered the surrender, but that he had warned its leaders to be careful and to "worry about life" after a day of violence on Monday when protesters clashed with soldiers across Bangkok. Over 120 people were reported injured and two confirmed dead.

 

A police spokesman, Suporn Pansua, said the warrants carried charges of inciting a public disturbance and illegal assembly.

Many Thais are dismayed at the damage the riots did to the country's already tarnished image as a destination for tourism and investment.

 

Mr Thaksin denied that the end to the demonstrations marked a personal defeat. "I never fought," he said, insisting that he had been offering "moral support" to the demonstrators, not directing their activities.

 

"If I really fight, it is not going to be this way: I would have more of a strategy," he said, before adding that to date, "I have had no strategy".

 

The claim is at odds with his behaviour over the last three weeks, when he has made a series of explosive live addresses by video to crowds in Bangkok culminating in a call for a "revolution" at the weekend.

Mr Thaksin, whose main support is among the poor, incited the crowds by alleging that a conspiracy of elite interests overthrew his government in a 2006 military coup, and again toppled a government of his supporters last December.

 

Mr Thaksin was speaking over coffee in the lobby of one of Dubai's many five-star hotels. Although his British visa has been revoked, he has been allowed to travel widely in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa, spending time in both Hong Kong and Dubai with an entourage of assistants.

He acknowledged that he has been in regular telephone contact with the protest leaders, one of whom, he said, wept as she told him of deaths in the clashes with the army.

 

The government insists only two people died - in clashes between opposing civilians. He said that supporters had been told by police that at least five people had been shot dead and their bodies had been taken away by the army.

"It's very brutal," he said, adding that he was now "relieved" that the protests were over. "I feel relieved that no more will die or be injured," he said. "We are very sad with what is happening."

 

Mr Thaksin called on the Thai king to intervene to ensure that the government launched reconciliation efforts, saying that the use of force alone would cause a deepening spiral of violence.

 

"It is deep in the heart of the people," he said. "In any country without justice there will be no peace. Without peace and justice there will be no stability. We have to deal with the economic turmoil now, but we can't prosper because we have no democracy.

 

"If you think you can crush me, crush the red shirts - do you think you can do that? If not there had better be reconciliation otherwise the country will be more divided."

 

He refused to call for an end to the protests, claiming it was not in his power to direct the opposition. "Even if I told them they are not going to follow," he said.

 

[color:red]"I'm not a spiritual leader. They have their own thinking, even though they love me."[/color]

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5154120/Thai-protests-ex-PM-Thaksin-Shinawatra-warns-of-fresh-violence.html

 

 

[Flashermac]

Mr T gives new meaning to the term [color:red]DOUCHEBAG[/color].

 

 

[Torneyboy]

Mr Thaksin called on the Thai king to intervene to ensure that the government launched reconciliation efforts, saying that the use of force alone would cause a deepening spiral of violence.

 

"It is deep in the heart of the people," he said. "In any country without justice there will be no peace. Without peace and justice there will be no stability. We have to deal with the economic turmoil now, but we can't prosper because we have no democracy.

 

"If you think you can crush me, crush the red shirts - do you think you can do that? If not there had better be reconciliation otherwise the country will be more divided."

 

So it goes on ..on..

[drogon]

 

One of the few occurences in history when a political murder might help a country....-> somebody please get rid of him....and he will not become a martyr because Thailand isn't Christian

Thailand has to change but certainly not with him in the driving seat...

 

In my life I only wished one person to die (and I almost did it by my own hands but this is another story)...now I find myself hoping for a second one -> for the sake of my missus and my Thai friends.

(who are middle class, farmers, one police man, one hiso etc...)

 

 

[Bangkoktraveler]

Is Mr. T's democracy tied to the money the government seized from him?

[drogon]

Mr T "monocracy"

 

 

[Flashermac]

Had an interesting conversation with a taxi driver coming home from the market a couple of hours ago. He was ripping into the Red Shirts, saying he had lost all faith in Thaksin. He said thousands of people had been coming to Pattaya to spend money in Thailand - and the Red Shirts ran them off. He said protesting was one thing, but not blocking roads, burning buses and trying to blow up housing areas with a seized gas tanker. I mentioned the Yellow Shirts seizing the airport last year; he came back that the Yellow Shirts never shot anyone. Instead, the police shot them! He was pro-Abhisit now, comparing Somchai's actions against the Yellow Shirts (with several dead and many injured) with Abhisit's handling of a much more violent situation. He felt Abhisit was the best man for the job right now. I tipped him and wished him a Happy New Year. He wai-ed me and said he hoped to see me again.

 

No idea how widespread this change is, but I've seen other working class Thais shaking their heads and complaining about the Red Shirts' conduct. You don't gain support by ruining people's livelihood and threatening their property. Hopefully, Mr T has damaged himself beyond repair - but there will always be some who will continue to support him.

 

 

 

 

 

[Mekong]

Mr T "monocracy"

 

 

And if he had his way he would rename the country "Thakistan"