Red moved to take the parliament

The Nation

Hundreds of red-shirted protesters rallied outside Parliament to demand the government to dissolve the House of Representatives.

They started gathering on the Uthong Nai Road since in the morning.

They later blocked the road from behind the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall until the Uthong Intersection and set up tents along the wall of the Dusit Zoo.

Their leaders urged the passers-by to join the protest.

The protesters plan to rally until Monday when MPs and senators are scheduled to hear the government’s policy statement.

According to one of red speaker, they will let MPs and the cabinet, including Abhisit in and they will chant “we want democracy back.”

Just went back from Sanam Luang. Today I got a pure white heart clapper.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Firearms Crimes Stat in the South

Just when you think that I am holidaying, Santa Meaw dig in her harddisk and found firearms crime stat in the South of Thailand, including but not limited to the so called restive deep south.

Would be update more when the police HQ finally make all the links work.

 So the area that was partially control was military weapons. However, more civilian firearms offended  could be noted during 2008. As trend of military weapons offenses were reduced. Does this make me less worry? Nope. I am afraid that the non-military weapons could come in more handy in the city, drive by shooting and the conceal carry and easy access to ammunition would cost more life. I also worry that the stolen civilian firearms will now play more role that traditional military weapons. Civilian weapons could be “refilled” easily by killing or injured  someone and get the rest of the ammunition from the endless living weapon cache, by attacking armed civilians, which could be easier that raid a military weapon depots.

Yet still, what characterize “deep” south is surging military weapons cases in police statistic, comparing to other provinces in the same police region.

Narathiwat is still the hotspot. But it should be noted that civilian firearms offenses, despite it cannot be speculated from the police information, were very heavy in Songkla- a borderline province, while the rest of the deep south the offenses were, to my surprise, lower than other provinces out if the deep south area. Probably gun recycling? Cannot capture offenders? Bombs are cheaper? Why oh why?

For the details of offenses relating to firearms, check the law in  Kramer (2001) 

Anyway, Santa meaw has to really have a holiday. Let me know if you are sick of my bangkok politics because I am sick of it, too. 

Peace everybody  and enjoy the rest of the xmas-new year continuum.

Filed under: Political Sciences , internal security, salw, Security, south of thailand, thailand

Hiatus

just to let you know I am busy with research writing, new year journal making (30 of them, one by one, coptic bound notebooks for friends) and preparingfor several lecture plus a lot of birthday/ xmas party.

miss you all
got a lot to say.

anyway

be back after 25.

peace

Filed under: Political Sciences

Troubles?

Some democrat MPs are not happy in Samui, several people complained that they either do not get fair share in the cabinet, they rest were just unhappy about the choices of the cabinet.

Only 40 Democrat MPs attended the Party’s meeting at Imperial Boat House in Samui, Surathani. The lisst of those big names who did not attend the meeting includes:
Ongart Klamphaiboon (MP-Bangkok), Chuti Kraireukse (MP-Phitsanulok)
, Niphit Intrarasombat (MP=Phattalung), Dhepthai Senpong (MP-Nakorn Si Thammarat), and Niphon Buyamanee (Partylist). Banyat Banthathan party’s executive member and the new PM did not attended.

So they sent SMS to disrupt my mini break. I just narrowly missed the landing.

Then many waves of criticism over the choice of cabinet members like Kasit Piromya for his active involvement with PAD. Alongkorn Polabutr (MP-Phetburi) did not have anybackground for his Ministry of Commerce post, not for me. The other MInister of Commerce potential line-up was not very welcomed by business representative.

After all, politicians are politicians, regardless of how good the party tries to represent itself. People will need parties that work for them, not for the good image. That was very true. The “good” politicians theories had to be rewritten. I am happy to read Machiavelli’s the Prince.

Filed under: Political Sciences

it’s oh so quiet

i’m telling you I am taking several day off. and it is so quiet in the south despite the beginning of high season. one of waitresses told me it had been since political tumult. SO I hopped to several place known to locals to *ahem* attract tourists. Quiet. Guess their tips and commission will be drained. Plus a bit of bad weather (for 20 mins)

Thanks to informant and motorcycle driver to deliver me on time to blog.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Comments about Abhisit and the future

Nation has timeline.

Here are some comments.

Twice-elected Thaksin alienated elements of the old elite in the palace, military and bureaucracy, who saw his immense popularity among the urban and rural poor as a drain on some of their power.

Abhisit failed to win over Thaksin’s rural supporters in the elections, but is believed to have the backing of the kingdom’s old establishment.
Thawee Suraritikul, a political science professor at Sukhothai University, said Abhisit’s Democrats will face a shaky coalition and a slim majority.
“Their first three months will be a crucial period. They have many problems waiting for them — economics, and the sharing of power among coalition partners,” AFP

“The Democrats are positioned to win this round. They seem to have the votes, the support of the private sector and the business community which hopes for temporary respite,” said Sukhum Nuansakul, a political scientist at Bangkok’s Ramkhamhaeng University, shortly before the vote began.
“But the peace is likely to be short-lived. The fundamental problem has not been resolved,” Sukhum said. “A Democrat win sets the stage for another round of street protests, this time by pro-Thaksin groups.” AP

The country is on a spiral backward of what goes around comes around. We have many copy cats. Democrat copied any measures they have accused TRT to Puea Thai to buy their way to government with cabinet package to former coalition parties and add “moral” obligation to console that they switched to flavor the “country.” The Red may also want to copy the Yellow. Seeing that the measure to block places work. It is up to them to choose to do or not to do it.

“Abhisit hasn’t put his foot in much rubbish so he’s one of the more credible parliamentarians out there,” said Prudhisan Jumbala, a political science lecturer at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University. “A number of people hope he can last a bit longer to put the house a little more in order before dissolving Parliament and calling for new elections.”

Abhisit has been endorsed by protesters who led a 193-day campaign against the People Power Party, and by top military generals and business groups who want political stability. Thailand’s consumer confidence in November fell to the lowest in almost six years after demonstrators forced the closure of Bangkok’s airports, and the global recession eroded exports.

Abhisit defeated Pracha Promnok, the leader of a minor party who was supported by Puea Thai, comprised of allies of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Puea Thai is the largest party in Parliament after welcoming former members of the People Power Party, which won 68 more seats than the Democrats in last year’s election.

Protester Demands

The People’s Alliance for Democracy, an unelected street- protest group backed by the Democrats, made 13 demands for the new government, including canceling Thaksin’s passport and preventing “evil people from taking power.” Bloomberg

The same Bloomberg quoted a Thammasat lecturer as saying:

“Abhisit united different factions who wanted to see unity and peace in the country, but they are not aligned because of common policy,” said Somjai Phagaphasvivat, a political science lecturer at Thammasat University. “It could hold together for about six months before conflicts emerge again.”

I do not think he can reunited the red fraction which are anticipating how they would take their voice back. It could be certain that most government coalition parties may not claim the missing 26 seats in the parliament in the by-election, particularly in the North and Northeast. It would be shaky government due to narrow margin of vote. I do not expect that they can also control Friends of Newin’s vote in the parliament either.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Mr. Abhisit, you are not welcome

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva beat his opponent Puea Pandin leader Pracha Promnok by 235 to 198 votes.</block Nationquote>

I expressed my disagreement at the method used to win the vote to be the PM. I am disappointed to having silenced Democrat MP I did not elected.

I am disappointed that you choose to surrender your leadership of the party in exchange from being Suthep-Newin’s nominee within the party and be under other military influence and other “gravitation” force.

We end up having the same nominee government, yet a different party. [Is that CLEAR?] Additionally, in Thai, please refer to this article by Prasong Visut to see why we should not except Democrat government.

The following is the methods employed to encroach basic human right to ensure that former PPP MPs will be supportive of Democrat. A heavy thugnocratic ban on the use of cellphones, telephone and a safe house. If they cannot be independent and trustworthy, why Democrat have to risk working with them?

Filed under: Political Sciences

Red is confident: “Mark to lose it”

SMS spreading the word that Mr. Abhisit “Obamark” will not be the next ( and youngest) PM were sent by pro-puea thai supporters. The blockade of the parliament is cancelled. Supporters and leaders of the group speculated that Pracha Promnok will be elected so it would be a waste of time to block the parliament. (Via Matichon)

ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า กลุ่มคนเสื้อแดงมีการส่งข้อความผ่านโทรศัพท์มือถือ (เอสเอ็มเอส) ไปยังสมาชิกในเครือข่ายเพื่อแจ้งยกเลิกการชุมนุมคัดค้านการโหวตเลือกนายกฯ หน้าอาคารรัฐสภา ในเช้าวันที่ 15 ธันวาคมนี้แล้ว ข้อความระบุว่า “ปชป.กินแห้ว มาร์คอดเป็นนายกฯ เสื้อแดงยกเลิกการชุมนุมวันจันทร์15ธ.ค.แล้ว” อย่างไรก็ตามจากการโทรศัพท์กลับไปยังเบอร์ผู้ส่งทราบความว่า แกนนำพรรคเพื่อไทยได้แจ้งไปยังมวลชนคนเสื้อแดงว่าโผเลือกนายกฯจะพลิกโผ และ พล.ต.อ.ประชา พรหมนอก ว่าที่หัวหน้าพรรคเพื่อแผ่นดิน จะได้รับเลือกเป็นนายกฯ อย่างแน่นอน

Filed under: Political Sciences

Puea Thai named the candidate

Pracha Promnok from Puea Pandin was named the PM candidate endorsed by Puea Thai party. the move insisted that they will use “third party” to compete with Abhisit, as explained through the deal between Thaksin and Sanoh. Trade off the phone in for support to be a part of the government, a large chunk of votes but probably they have to accept non-Puea Thai’s PM.

Bangkok Post had more details at the breaking news.

the movement also convince me that in thailand there is one party that almost every MPs is in. it is called cough puea ku cough party. everyone is selling or buying and negotiating everything to retain the position and to seek to be government that they really don’t care about people who have elected them. particularly the Mark-Newin merge, which would make the founder of Democrat very upset. Some even translated thaksin’s welfare and his party as the national welfare. Likewise, the national government idea also coaxed people to accept that the survival of parties and the aspiration to be a PM of one person or a certain group is a survival of the country.

i spat.

the counting of voters also represent those who had elected a party, which make the vote no-vote a bit unsure if the no vote could voice any concerns.

Filed under: Political Sciences

In exchange for political stability

The organizer said no live phone-in will secure Puea Thai party’s place in the government. thus, to stop live phone in was a trade back, as the man promise Sanoh, that he would not call live (and due to blockage of their broadcast, according to Veera Musikapong). The man was a bit late from prescheduled time according to my friend at 8 pm. we were yawning and do anything to keep our eyes open before then.

But the prerecorded clip was tamed, and you might have already read the script. It was. We were yawning and trying to fight drowsiness with snacks and some nicotine. It was advertised to be the show-all-tell-all one. Mild disappointment, but I think people can cope with it if they wanted Puea Thai in the government.

Earlier, chakrapob penkair was urging people to call to MPs that change their minds and remind them not to forget and betray the people, Matichon reported.

thaksin, those people and speakers are confident that Abhisit will not make it to the Premiere, they even shout “Mark, kin haew” on the road while clapping heart clappers to people in buses. we also saw a bus driver shake hands with rally participants. tuk tuk drivers offer a ride to sky train which was, after the phone in, red.

the signal sending out to the “traitors” was rather serious. they are reminded that thaksin was the one who help them to be MPs in the first place since TRT. Yet, Matichon reported that Newin and his mates still did not change their mind after the phone in.

if you see two women, wearing obviously not red and one was clapping her heart clappers along the road, that was me. i am still in the campaign to wear white.

then i went to a gig (read: an excuse not to instant blog) and was looked at because of the red heart clappers I both to people as a gift. most of them are pad supporters. had a little explanation whether heart clappers and red were a symbolic support for thaksin or not. you know these day the climate prompted you not to show your color with strangers so easily, even if you don’t belong to any color or you really take transgender pride color ribbon. a red heart clapper was all it took to be perceived as thaksin supporters. sigh. make me a bit uncomfortable.

anyway, all went well at the stadium. it was a bit tough to get home after the end of thaksin’s speech as we are pushed by part of large amount of, according to many sources 40,000 people. for one day, the little planet of the national stadium orbit around thaksin. and i was having thaksin shock syndrome due to over exposure to him. but yes, it is addictive. i am heading out for a dinner talk.

Filed under: Political Sciences