adaptorplug
สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ Bangkok. December 1 2013.
Wouldn't it be convenient if, like on my flat screen Sony, life had a mute button?
Because then I wouldn't have to hear that peanut, Suthep (above). But, intrusive free speech does have its advantages. Incessant rambling from an imbecile can mean the dangerous lunatic soon loses what's left of his dwindling credibility.
Suthep, the leader of the current anti-government protest, was on my TV begging for us to go on strike tomorrow... so that him and his chaps could overthrow a democratically elected government and install a royally appointed committee of overseers. Stuff him. I now intend to put in overtime. And send out invoices to all my Democrat clients with the date heavily emphasized in bold italics.
What listening to people does not always do is reveal their background and pasts.
Suthep's Democrat Party has never won an outright majority in a general election. The phrase (badly translated) used in Thailand is that "the people vote in the government, the army coups them out and puts in the Democrats".
However. And popping that "unelectable Democrats" issue aside, today we saw an encouraging break with Thai history. Today... neither the army nor the police reacted to violent street demonstrations by shooting off thousands of semi automatic live rounds (a la 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2010); today they just simply and effectively used repeated tear gas shots and water canon to protect Government House from being over run.
When Suthep was Deputy Prime Minister some years back it was quite different...
- - - - -
"Thailand: Abhisit, Suthep Charged With Murder Over 2010 Crackdown
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Dec 07, 2012
"Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said it will charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and then deputy prime minister Suthep Thuagsuban with premeditated murder for their involvement in the death of a taxi driver during the crackdown on the anti-government red shirt protests in May 2010, where about 90 people were killed. Both will be summoned to acknowledge the charges on December 12, 2012.
The charges come after a court determined that taxi driver Phan Khamkong was killed by security forces during the crackdown – more similar cases and inquiries lead to the same conclusions.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police and Thai prosecutors jointly decided to charge the former leader and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288, the section of the Thai criminal code that deals with murder, said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. “Their actions — repeatedly sending the armed forces against civilians — show an intention to endanger life,” he said. “Ex-Thai PM to face murder charge" by Thanaporn Promyamyai, AFP, December 6, 2012
...and guess what? Suthep's court trial is planned to start later this month.
Don't hit the mute button.
(Update. January 2014. Suthep hasn't turned up to court yet. He has been saying he is busy at the moment.)
สุเทพ เทือกสุบรรณ Bangkok. December 1 2013.
Wouldn't it be convenient if, like on my flat screen Sony, life had a mute button?
Because then I wouldn't have to hear that peanut, Suthep (above). But, intrusive free speech does have its advantages. Incessant rambling from an imbecile can mean the dangerous lunatic soon loses what's left of his dwindling credibility.
Suthep, the leader of the current anti-government protest, was on my TV begging for us to go on strike tomorrow... so that him and his chaps could overthrow a democratically elected government and install a royally appointed committee of overseers. Stuff him. I now intend to put in overtime. And send out invoices to all my Democrat clients with the date heavily emphasized in bold italics.
What listening to people does not always do is reveal their background and pasts.
Suthep's Democrat Party has never won an outright majority in a general election. The phrase (badly translated) used in Thailand is that "the people vote in the government, the army coups them out and puts in the Democrats".
However. And popping that "unelectable Democrats" issue aside, today we saw an encouraging break with Thai history. Today... neither the army nor the police reacted to violent street demonstrations by shooting off thousands of semi automatic live rounds (a la 1973, 1976, 1992 and 2010); today they just simply and effectively used repeated tear gas shots and water canon to protect Government House from being over run.
When Suthep was Deputy Prime Minister some years back it was quite different...
- - - - -
"Thailand: Abhisit, Suthep Charged With Murder Over 2010 Crackdown
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Dec 07, 2012
"Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has said it will charge former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and then deputy prime minister Suthep Thuagsuban with premeditated murder for their involvement in the death of a taxi driver during the crackdown on the anti-government red shirt protests in May 2010, where about 90 people were killed. Both will be summoned to acknowledge the charges on December 12, 2012.
The charges come after a court determined that taxi driver Phan Khamkong was killed by security forces during the crackdown – more similar cases and inquiries lead to the same conclusions.
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), police and Thai prosecutors jointly decided to charge the former leader and his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban under article 288, the section of the Thai criminal code that deals with murder, said DSI chief Tarit Pengdith. “Their actions — repeatedly sending the armed forces against civilians — show an intention to endanger life,” he said. “Ex-Thai PM to face murder charge" by Thanaporn Promyamyai, AFP, December 6, 2012
...and guess what? Suthep's court trial is planned to start later this month.
Don't hit the mute button.
(Update. January 2014. Suthep hasn't turned up to court yet. He has been saying he is busy at the moment.)