Comments on: Thailand's descent into chaos

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:57:16 +0000

The protesters are negotiating to help people who want to leave, and it appears that agreements have been made Sunday to do that.

Nevertheless, the blame for all of this should not be placed upon PAD. It's Thaksin, desperate now that he knows he will not find an "acceptable" country that will let him live in it because he's an international fugitive, who has forced the confrontation.

I feel sorry for those tourists who have been so inconvenienced for so long, especially those in other countries, but you still must see this as a good vs. evil situation with far reaching consequences for Thailand's future. Ask yourself what Thailand would be under a Thaksin dictatorship?

By: Troubled Thailand

Troubled Thailand — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:14:04 +0000

This is the first time in my life that I am ashamed to be living in Thailand (used to be so proud). The mob protesters claim to be they are protecting the country, but they are taking the whole country of Thailand into ruin. Thaksin may be corrupt in his own right but the PAD leaders are no exception, they are killing the country, our economy, industry, and the prople's living because they just want to "win". The damage that is done to the country by the PAD closing the airport is beyond compare to Thaksin's corruption, it is worse than Tsunami, or any other crisis. Why can they close 2 airports and no one can touch them? Not even the authorities? The police can't even be armed. They cannot "touch" "move" the people who are killing our country? Why?!?
Police can't be armed but the protesters have dangerous weapons in posession, they use (aged) women and children as the forefront barricade so they themselves can be saved, and people speak about humanitarianism? They speak about saving the country from corruption but the protesters get 3 meals a day (not including the sandwiches' taken' from the shops at the airport), place to sleep (currently is the airport) and daily pocket money. They speak about saving the country for democracy, but they are proposing for themselves to be chosen as the minister, and for the government not to be elected by the mass but chosen by the minority. They have gone beyond the boundaries of protesting within bounds of constitution. They are taking Thailand back to the past, to the most unliberal type of politics. When will the PAD supporters wake up to see the truth? Maybe they can't because they only watch the PAD's television channel and listen to 1 side of the story . And how much is that side of the story is the truth???

By: Platinum

Platinum — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:53:43 +0000

While people are trying to make Thailand better, some of them still only care of themselves. How can you only worry about enjoying yourself in this kind of situation? You don't care where your tax money goes? Are you one of the person who feels fine with corruption? Please tell me you still have some moral.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:47:36 +0000

I spoke to my wife of 20 years this morning. She is staunchly Thai and proud of her country, yet, quite out of character, angered and reduced to tears by recent events.

We have been counting the days until my next visit planned for this coming weekend and my wife has spent months planning to receive friends that she has not seen for some 12 years. It was with heavy hearts that we had to tell them that 'tolerant' Thais would not be giving up the occupation of the airport anythime soon and as a result, they will now be transitting through a country that has a better understanding of democracy. Meanwhile, I will remain trapped in a neighbouring country, unable to visit those I love

There has been a great deal of talk about corruption, which will not be cured overnight by the way, so I ask, how morally corrupt is it to act in such a barbaric manner? By all means demonstrate, but holding people hostage indirectly or otherwise is a shameful act.

By: Platinum

Platinum — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:40:13 +0000

"Witness to Nation Building" thank you for explaining that to everyone. You really have seen the truth. I was so sad too when I saw that poll out. I have a friend who her brother said he wanted to be a politician because he could earn lots of money. Being politicians is about honesty, not the money.

By: stateofaffairs

stateofaffairs — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:55:39 +0000

Such a shame the human race evolves at such a slow pace, however this is an evolution that has to take place, for the human mind is still based in an animal state and the kaos that prevails is not a debate, its is the worlds fate and you cannot mistake the state of such things will not break, untill we as a whole collectively enlighten our minds, then u will find we can become devine. The people of the world can work as one, peace, prosperity and harmony we will become and once this is ensued and then the true fulfillment of human exsistance can be persued. Until such a time we shall have to wait for the human mind to decide its fate, raising from this primal sludge or sliding back to be begrudged. Such tedious things we all surcome too, the time is now for us to renew, this the time the mind has come clear, a point in history to erase all fear to consolidate and raise up on this sphere. Please raise your consiousness here forget all this which you do fear!

By: Poor Thailand

Poor Thailand — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:00:13 +0000

Well, as I said "Thai People don't know how to use democracy to improve their country" because corruption in whole system in Thailand. Many officers omit their duty to maintain justice in country, I mean whole system include independent organization such as FBI (in USA). These corrupting system ruin the country for many decades until Thailand falling from leading country in SE Asia to 4th or 5 th in this region.

We watched and learned many developed countries how they advance at the fast pace and found that the key is to educate people with the sincere governments. Without corruption we can speedy develop the country with steady rate. Therefore we tried to make it happen but all corruption politicians who rule the country used every ways to prevent our goal. They fear that their wealth from corruption will no longer exist. They use money to bribe almost every mass media to misrepresent and made PAD to be bad people. they used deadly weapons to break PAD apart to make people fear and not come back again. This resulted in more PAD rally.

I wrote this to present the truth which you may not receive from some mass media; e.g . R....r. Because in capitalism sometimes good maybe evil or evil will be good. If you want to find out the truth please come to see with your own eyes.

P.S. About Suvannabhumi airport, I didn't agree for this action because PAD should go to all free TV stations which always misrepresented about PAD and told them to present the truth to all Thai people who can't afford any channel more than these free.

I doubted about any hidden intention of some PAD leaders because of their decisions in the past, they can made a better decision which result in more compromise solutions. However I agree that this country need to drive all corruption politicians away to make the country better.

By: Beth

Beth — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:56:27 +0000

Right on Bernie!! Thank you for your realism and diplomacy. I agree that if any one that thinks it takes absolute knowledge to vote then they are mistaken...it takes heart and faith.
I must say that I am so happy still to be in Thailand and be able to be here. I really do not want to see this great place faulter because of civil unrest regarding Politics of all things. If anyone has a way to get this to those involved, do it. This is the time of season when Thailand, Bangkok especially should be booming with tourists, fueling the economy and sharing the richness of life . But no, we have silliness at the airports with some PM and General not doing anything. I just hope Thailand can recover.
I think Tracy has a great outlook on all of this.
AG..I dont want to see this place become Burma either.
Foreignonlooker, great words, really.
If only a group of people could get together to play babysitter to a possible meeting, to resolve all of this selfishness. And yes, any protester that thinks this is good is selfish...your killing your country you are going to starve the land. I really hope ALL involved realize their actions or lack there of.

By: david lulasa

david lulasa — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:07:18 +0000

the UN is putting its heads into the sand when its clear that the chaos in thailand could end up into a civil war.and the people in UN doing this ignorance are the same people who want everybody elsewhere in the world to believe that mugabe is the sole problem in zimbabwes current situation.

tambua,hamisi,kenya.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:51:08 +0000

So, 'Poor Thailand', now you have to be 'educated' to vote, perhaps you could quantify what that means? Only those that you consider bright enough can have their say and not 'those peasants' who in truth are your country's lifeblood. What next? Sterlising those individuals deemed too half witted to bear children. A certain Mr Hitler and his associates adopted that approach.

You are lucky that you live in a country that allows you a voice, many others in this world would brutally oppress you from doing so. That said, damaging the livelihoods of your own people and inconveniencing countless more by occupying an international airport is neither an educated nor a rational approach, but it's OK because you wear yellow shirts and carry around portraits of the King right?

I ponder whether PAD really stands for People AGAINST Democracy.

Perhaps the following taken from the Cambridge Dictionary may clarify your apparent confusion, if you choose to read it that is:

Definition
democracy
noun
1 [U] the belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves