Reconciliation Event Gets Cool Response

[Flashermac]

There has been a mixed response to the junta's first reconciliation event, held at an area in Pathum Thani known for having a radio station that supports the ousted government.

 

The radio station was set up by Koh Tee, a hard-line red shirt, and is no longer operating after its broadcasting equipment was seized last week in a raid by police and soldiers.

 

National reconciliation is the first step of the three-step roadmap that will culminate with elections.

 

The roadmap was laid out on Friday by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, who heads the National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO).

 

The Army hosted the Pathum Thani meeting at Piyanon village so that people from all sides could attend and try to reach an understanding.

 

"When everyone has a common understanding, reconciliation can begin," said Lieutenant Pitchaya Boonserm, who was one of the soldiers present at the event.

 

Running from 9.30am till noon, the event was open to everyone, and Army officials provided a free barber service, health checks, desserts, drinks and even staged a concert. There was also an exhibition listing the dates and achievements of His Majesty the King.

 

The atmosphere was similar to a lively carnival which, according to the Army, about 1,500 people attended. Some observed things from a distance.

 

Getsuda Gosalavanid, 43, a former People's Democratic Reform Council (PDRC) supporter, said she was happy the Army hosted the event because it gave her a place to express her political views. Prior to this, she feared showing support for the Army and the coup.

 

A resident of the area, she said none of the red-shirt supporters she knew joined the event. "They were watching from the sidelines - they aren't causing trouble, they just sit at home," she said.

 

Many attendees wore Army-striped or black shirts with Thai flags like PDRC members wore. A few brought water or handkerchiefs to give to soldiers.

 

One man said that he was not satisfied with the Army. He said he wanted elections and democratic rule, and that the reconciliation event would not change his mind. Another was unhappy as he usually set up his stall at the site.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Reconciliation-event-gets-cool-response-30235152.html

[Flashermac]

Mai Pen Rai No Longer

 

 

by Voranai Vanijaka

 

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/412937/mai-pen-rai-no-longer

[StoneSoup]

The one thing that Thaksin and his minions absolutely, positively cannot allow to transpire is for a peacful reconciliation process to proceed to a successful, outcome, with no provision therein to exonerate Thaksin, and return to him his seized assets.

 

Had the coup occurred ten months ago, when Thailand was nominally running in routine fashion, executing the coup would have been outrageous - and all the current resistance and teeth-gnashing would have been quite appropriate.

 

But - as it happened - the coup occurred ten days ago - when Thailand's political landscape was teetering on the edge of total chaos - with two large, seething mobs of extremists preparing for a bloody showdown amidst the capital city of Thailand. In that environment, the coup was a welcome "lesser of multiple evils" event.

 

The protesters who seem to want to return the situation to the scenario that was present two weeks ago seem to me to be completely insane.

 

Right now, if all the "three finger" Redshirt protesters would simply mind their own business and stop agitating, the military would most likely go back to barracks, the curfew would end, and life for 99.999% of all Thais would continue as it was ten months ago, before the ill-fated parliamentary amnesty shenanigans.

 

Instead, the antics of a few hundred Redshirt activists continue to cause turmoil and hardship for the broad majority of Thais who would otherwise be leading normal lives.

 

The protesters belong in reeducation camps - not to force them to abandon their political views - but to teach then how to coexist in a society of differing beliefs, without feeling compelled to force everyone else to play involuntary roles in the protester's own personal political dramas.

 

SS

[Flashermac]

I just rode home with a red shirt taxi driver. He told me the people will soon rise up against the military, and the US is going to help them with troops. I wonder who is telling him that interesting bit of "information".

[waerth]

The usual Western agitators on twitter are going in a frenzy on twitter at the moment. Saying "Thailand is on fire", "resist now" etc. Western media is also buying into the idiocy with some media reporting Bangkok is shut down by the protests. While those same media when Suthep had 10,000's running around Bangkok reported life is going on normally. Go figure.

 

If there is one thing after 15 years of Thailand it is that my respect for reporting by the western press has gone down to 0.

[SpiceMan]

Yes the Army controlled Post and Nation are so much more free to report. Hahaha

[robaus]

 

The protesters belong in reeducation camps - not to force them to abandon their political views - but to teach then how to coexist in a society of differing beliefs, without feeling compelled to force everyone else to play involuntary roles in the protester's own personal political dramas.

 

SS

 

Yes, you're quite right...Suthep and his yellow shirt cronies who have been holding Bangkok to ransom for the last 6 months and have stuffed up the Thai economy for the next 3 years should have been sent to re-education camps to learn how to coexist in a society of differing beliefs

 

.