Thailand's spreading yellow tide

[buksida]

"Thaksin Ample Rich. Thais ample poor".
- Banner at the 50,000-plus anti-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra rally in Bangkok, February 4

"I'll go on doing my duty as the prime minister for three more years ... These are just a few stupid people. Let's ignore them."
- Thaksin's reaction in Chiang Mai, February 5

BANGKOK - It was a sea of yellow - yellow T-shirts, yellow paper caps, yellow scarves, yellow headbands, all of them bearing the mantra Koo chat (Save the nation) - a compact monochrome tapestry woven by more than 50,000 people and completely enveloping Bangkok's Royal Plaza on Saturday night.

They were teachers opposing the proposed local-government takeover of schools, environmentalists, labor unions fighting privatization, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) fighting free-trade agreements, pro-democracy groups, intellectuals, senators, students. A full cross-section of Bangkok's urban middle class came straight from the office, came with their families, came with an army of mobile phones with built-in cameras ready to spread the message to the rest of the city and country.

And the message was unmistakable. "Thaksin!" shouted the protest-rally organizer and founder of the Manager Media Group, Sondhi Limthongkul. Ok pai! ("Get out"!) responded the sea of yellow. This was the biggest anti-government protest in Thailand since 1992, when a military-backed dictatorship was toppled.

Full Story: Asia Times Online
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I've got a bad feeling about this

[prcscct]

The bottom line is, if he goes, who are the Thai's and us (indirectly) going to get that is any better? Yes, Chuan and the Democrats of old were good but SLOW and not much got done. Banharn and Chavalit were disasters but, some things got done. I'm afraid much of the potential talent from this country, overseas educated, stay there and don't really give a damn what happens here...until it's time for them to retire and come home. Pete

[Norseman]

BANGKOK, Feb 8 (TNA) -
The government has softened its stance, announced on Wednesday that it would allow the next-round of anti-Thaksin demonstration to be organized at the Royal Plaza if the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Metropolitan Police Division give the green light.
Government Spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said if the two agencies which oversee metropolitan areas allow the demonstration to take place at the Royal Plaza, the government would have no objection.

"Any demonstration at the Royal Plaza in which loud speakers are used is required to ask for a permission from the BMA and the Metropolitan Police Division, as the area is in the compound of two Royal Palace--the Dusit and Amporn Palaces," he noted.

Asked why the government changes its stance, as Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra earlier vowed that the government would no longer allow such the demonstration to be organized at the Royal Plaza--after the previous one on February 4, Dr. Surapong said the government earlier wanted the rally to take place at other places considered more suitable, like Sanam Luang, but later learned that there would be events and exhibitions marking the Makha Bucha Day during the period.

Dr. Surapong's remarks followed a confirmation by media mogul Sondhi Limthongkul, who led the anti-Thaksin rally at the Royal Plaza last Saturday, that the next rally would be carried on at the Royal Plaza on February 11 as planned.

He said, however, that the alliance for democracy would lead the next rally, not him, adding that he would certainly attend the rally as a "participant".

Mr. Sondhi said as well that he is ready to meet the prime minister at any public place or on a TV programme and wants the prime minister to clear himself with questions he would raise.

The prime minister wants Mr. Sondhi to meet him at the Government House, according to Dr. Surapong.
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I intend to live forever -- so far, so good.

[lomuamart]

That's interesting and good news. All I'd heard earlier was that the demo wouldn't be allowed to go ahead.
The invitation from Thaksin sounds interesting. Would it be simply for a social lunch and chit-chat?
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"I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds and fast cars - the rest I just squandered". George Best.