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Meanwhile In Thailand

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The protesters are taking over:

And so we have another nation where the people are less than delighted with its government and demand a change. From BBC:

Anti-government protesters forced their way into the finance ministry, as tens of thousands marched on a second day of demonstrations in Bangkok.

 

The protesters, who began their action over the weekend, want the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down.

 

After a huge rally on Sunday, crowds marched on Monday to several different locations in the city. The protests have been triggered by a controversial political amnesty bill. The legislation, which the opposition say would have allowed ousted leader Thaksin Shinawatra - the current prime minister's brother - to return to Thailand without serving a jail sentence for corruption, failed to pass in the Senate earlier this month.

 

But the proposed legislation led to an fresh outbreak of street protests, reigniting simmering political divisions and raising the spectre of renewed political turmoil in the South East Asian nation.

 

On Monday the anti-government protesters, who are led by a former opposition Democratic Party lawmaker, marched to state offices, military headquarters and television stations.

 

Campaign leader Suthep Thaugsuban had said the protest would be peaceful, with crowds "blowing whistles and handing out flowers".

 

But at the finance ministry, hundreds of people swarmed into the compound.

 

"Tomorrow [Tuesday] we will seize all ministries to show to the Thaksin system that they have no legitimacy to run the country," AFP news agency quoted Mr Suthep as saying.

 

"We have stood by silently while her [PM Yingluck Shinawatra's] brother calls the shots and she runs the country into the ground with loss-making policies," Reuters news agency quoted protester Suwang Ruangchai, 54, as saying.

 

Sunday's demonstration drew an estimated 100,000 people, who called on the government to step down.

 

 

Thai military officials look up towards opposition protesters after they came out of the Army Headquarters to receive flowers offered by protesters as part of their rally in Bangkok on 25 November 2013
Protesters marched to places including military HQ in Bangkok on Monday

A Thai opposition protester waves a clapper during a rally at Democracy Monument in Bangkok on 24 November 2013
An estimated 100,000 opposition supporters protested in Bangkok on Sunday

Thai pro-government "Red Shirts" waves clappers as they gather at Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok on 24 November 2013  
Tens of thousands of government supporters also held a rally on Sunday

It seems that the Greek riotcam, which had been permanently removed from Syntagma square as Greeks are now too bored to even stage protests in front of parliament, has found a new, if temporary, home.

 

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Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:25 | 4187296 GetZeeGold
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Remember the battle of Athens Tennessee!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:29 | 4187300 Doña K
Doña K's picture

I posted before that the unraveling will start in S.E Asia

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:01 | 4187334 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

I don't see how it CAN'T happen here now with the way the ass hat in the White House has ruined this country!

It will probably start with numerous labor strikes shutting down transportation and police forces among other vital sevices

which will allow civil protests to become violent rioting and looting much worse and more widespread than the LA riots in '92!

Then all hell breaks loose.   First in LA again next summer causing millions to flee only to find Texas closed its borders along

with Oregon and Washington state. Las Vegas area will be over run by Cailf refugees where FEMA will attempt to set up camps

only to be seen as Federal Labor Camps..  Eastern suburbs will become hit and run battle grounds and the cities will be put under

martial law much to the delight of Mayor Bloomberg. Canada will close its border with the US and millions will flee to South America

if they can.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:03 | 4187346 Popo
Popo's picture

Only a matter of days (if not hours) before blood is spilled in Bangkok. The latest I read is that the army is now being called out -- and it looks like there are some takers... And some abstainers.... Which means this is going to be a messy affair....

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:39 | 4187415 Keyser
Keyser's picture

Please, it is all theater. And of course there will be bloodshed as it adds to the dramatics. Having been in Bangkok during the last Red / Blue match, it is easily avoided as the confrontations between the two teams is quite localized. They will face off until the rice harvest, at which time the red team will go home to get the crops in. Same, same, no different than last time. 

 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 20:52 | 4189367 putaipan
putaipan's picture

very very deep stuff. i don't even wanna provide the link due to lese majeste, but that stuff has to be taken into account to understand the thai situation

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:16 | 4187363 Headbanger
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To continue:    The internet and all cell and land line  phone services will be cut as the Federal Government tries to regain control through the main stream media which it will take over.

Mail and delivery services are shut down as all food distribution is taken over by the National Guard.

Hospitals run out of medicines and millions die in weeks from chronic illnesses.  Millions more die in street battles.  Roads and bridges are blow up by rioters and the government.

Massive fires gut inner cities.

The US is finally occupied by what's left of European nations in the East and Chine in the West which sets up for a nuclear global war.

 

Change you can believe in!

 

But if you want to stop this apocalypse.. Then impeach this clown we have in the White House now!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:34 | 4187401 Keyser
Keyser's picture

Nothing to see here, move along. Much like the Olympics, the Red and Blue teams in Thailand get together every few years for a head bumping, aided by the Yellow team which represents the monarchy. Things like this happen when the current PM is the sister of a former billionaire PM which is in self-imposed exile to avoid jail time for corruption if he returns to the country. This is all a show of force in an attempt to have amnesty granted to the former PM so he can return to Thailand. 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:20 | 4187373 CPL
CPL's picture

Or they could just switch to BitCoins and disregard fools printing money then everyone could just get on with their lives? 

Nice long horrible war in country that's strip mined it's resources, or just change perspective on the whole thing and act like adults.  Then manage the problem with book keeping instead of a battle field on some knee jerk reaction that never works out for anyone involved.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:10 | 4187354 CPL
CPL's picture

What the unraveling of the hooker, cheap beach property and bar trade?  So it's not really unraveling is it?  It's correcting itself.  Any companies in there better start coming up with reasons why they get to stay.  If requiring capital during this flight please observe the BitCoin exits at either side of the aisle.

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 20:57 | 4189377 putaipan
putaipan's picture

sorry. you don't see it posted around these parts much, but bitcoin is illeagal in thailand.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:29 | 4187307 Ar-Pharazôn
Ar-Pharazôn's picture

peacefully? naaaaaaaaah

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:27 | 4187302 fonzannoon
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This is what happens when you have no NFL.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:35 | 4187312 negative rates
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We found that if you could teach um english and then turn them on to the Beverly Hillbillies, you can tame any nations citizens, in a heartbeat. 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:17 | 4187317 GetZeeGold
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Bread, circuses, and the NFL.....are you ready for some football?

 

The Thaimatches.com ad was a nice addition. Say what you will....Tyler is one hell of a capitalist.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:49 | 4187330 Azannoth
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It has been my opinion that Sports only serves to "still the thirst" for competitiveness among males thus making them impotent in the Real World competitions and challenges.

Sports is a replacement for War(not very effective) and the constant fight for dominance among males, it outsources the rivalry to "Professionals" who put up a show of competition, the Brain than processes this show as "real competition", thus Sport pacifies the natural drive to compete.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:06 | 4187351 new game
new game's picture

there are still sports that give real results, such as deer hunting...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:42 | 4187423 TeamDepends
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... or grizzly bear wrestling.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:34 | 4187772 LFMayor
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just ask Timmy Treadwell.  They're just big fuzzy party animals.  Oh, wait...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:36 | 4187315 DeliciousSteak
DeliciousSteak's picture

Wow. There are still people in the world naive enough to believe that their guy(s) will change things for the better. How cute. As the Greek example mentioned in the article shows, western populations are just waiting to die instead of walking the endless circle.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:36 | 4187316 22winmag
22winmag's picture

Land of Smiles... nice folks doing what Americans should have done long ago.

 

Now if we can only get the U.S. military to do what the Egyptian military did long ago and slap the cuffs on the illegitimate President.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:46 | 4187436 Keyser
Keyser's picture

When the average education level in the country is around the 6th grade level and is kept that way on purpose to keep the peasants in the rice fields and factories, who do you think it benefits? 

One positive about Thailand where we could learn a lesson, their unemployment rate is the lowest in the known world at 0.81%.

http://www.tradingeconomics.com/country-list/unemployment-rate

 

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:41 | 4187319 Azannoth
Azannoth's picture

"It seems that the Greek riotcam, which had been permanently removed from Syntagma square as Greeks are now too (bored) LAZY to even stage protests in front of parliament,"

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:41 | 4187615 SilverIsKing
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Do they have their own riot dog? Or is it a riot cat? Or perhaps a riot rat?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:33 | 4187768 LFMayor
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Elephant.  Riot elephants.  Get ready for a REAL show!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:45 | 4187326 new game
new game's picture

send rope!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:56 | 4187337 Bearwagon
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This reminds me of an old story from my working days: The boss walked by and, noticing me sealing roughly five thousand envelopes, made a remark he thought of as funny: "Enjoy the rest of the day, while I 'm away!" After a brief moment of cogitating, I decided to follow his orders, lit a match to my thousands of envelopes and burned down the factory.  ;-)

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:58 | 4187339 Dubaibanker
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Zimbabwe has ordered all foreigners to sell their businesses in many sectors and leave Zimbabwe before Jan 1, 2014 or face 3 months in jail: http://www.thezimbabwemail.com/zimbabwe/19349-30-day-ultimatum-for-forei...

Venezuela has been having its own issues and ratings for the Prseident continue to plummet. With municipal elections due Dec 8, 2013, expect some fireworks. With 56% YoY inflation, don't know, how long will the people remain peaceful?

Thailand has just joined the party along with Angola today. Angola is reporting opposition member dead with many protestors arrested: http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id...

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 08:58 | 4187340 new game
new game's picture

breaking news: a free shit army of 1 million plus has embarked on dc to demand moar, moar!!!!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:18 | 4187353 williambanzai7
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I am afraid that the subject of Thai politics is so confusing it is hopeless to even attempt an off-the-cuff summary. These "red" protestors (not communist reds) are backed by the Thai establishment so they enjoy the sympathy of the police and the military. The "yellows" (who are a huge rural block) back the Prime Minister who is accused of being a puppet controlled by her billionaire brother in exile. A billionaire who is deeply loved by the rural population because he paid attention to their needs instead of the entitled ones in Bangkok when he was in office. Go figure...

Either way, imagine living in a place where it is routine to listen to the political news rather than the weather and where throngs of protestors can look forward to maximum police restraint up to a yet to be established red line.

We should be so lucky.

By now, our streets would be full of officer Tony Baloney clones waving their batons and driving the looneys to the FEMA Farms.

Unless they close the main airport, don't bother cancelling your beach holidays. Just avoid Bangkok because the traffic jams will be epic.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:39 | 4187416 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

Here's an accurate off-the-cuff summary:

The Thais make Soros, Trumka, and Koch brothers look like pikers when it coming to astroturfing.

But astroturfing is expensive, so Thaksin needs his frozen funds from the sale to Singapore of the telecom business that he (build/bribed/stole) as a lower ranking official of the police state - so the payoff comes at the expense of a general amnesty for both sides.

Thailand is controlled by a factionalized military junta, with regular purges of the top brass every time the "elected" front-office switches teams.

Thaksin is a corrupt crook, who bought off the votes of the FSA with a healthcare scam, and his sister is running a variation with a rice subsidy scam. Thaksin probably can't much spend much time in Thailand even if he pardoned for fear of assassination, but a pardon simplifies the path to his longer term goal which is a JDA for oil production with Cambodia.

If Thaksin's sister tries to deploy the tanks, there is a significant chance that the military will find the next incarnation of Big Jiw, just in time for another Asian financial crisis.

Meanwhile, the beaches are still great, and the bear still sucks. Rinse, repeat.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:00 | 4187486 Keyser
Keyser's picture

Sorry, but you have the teams confused as to who they represent. 

Red Team - Supporters of former PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, who is in exile in Dubai as he was unseated from the PM role due to a multi-billion $$$ deal he cut to sell his telcom company to Singaporeans, along with many shady real estate deals by his wife while he was in office. He was convicted of these crimes by a Democratically selected court, so the ruling was political. He also challenged the power base of the Monarchy in Thailand, which is the real reason for his ouster. The Red team are ALL from the northeast part of the country which is a rural farming area of the country and Thaksin's power base. Votes for a candidate usually sell for anywhere from 200 - 500 baht in the elections and the Shinawatras have deep pockets.

Blue Team - Represent the democratic  Bangkok elites, the real power base behind the country, mostly Chinese-Thais. While the Red team want amnesty for Thaksin Shinawatra, the Dems will fight to their last breath to keep him in exile because if he returns, he will cause political problems as he seeks to regain power. 

Yellow Team - Represents the Monarchy, toeing a line to keep peace, while acting on behave of the Monarchy. 

Black Team - Black Ops forces, funded by all sides to do the dirty work of their team, i.e.; bombings, assassinations, sniping demonstrators, arson, etc.  

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:24 | 4187547 toxic8
toxic8's picture

Believe you're right here Keyser, you mixed em up Banzai. Reds are for Thaksin, yellows are middle+ class Thais. Spent 5 months living in Chaing Mai and while it was far north enough to be removed from most of the chaos, I got to see some action nonetheless.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:25 | 4187550 Marigold
Marigold's picture

I am afraid WB7 you are wrong on this one . The Red Shirts or mainly rural poor are supporters of the current Phue Thai / Thaksin government with it populist policies also bancked by the corrupt police and the Yellow shirts are the Democratic and monarchy supporters usually backed by the army. Thaksin did pay attention to the rural poors desires by robbing the treasury and making sure much of the proceeds ended up in his companies accounts. The current government are rapidly destroying a vibrant country by massively spending the country's surpluses on wastefull rice intrervention policies etc.The current Prime Minister Yingluck who is Thaksin sister is a total puppet and fashion victim who allows her fugitive criminal brother to run the cabinet meetings via Skype.

I do admire your work however.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 21:02 | 4189390 putaipan
putaipan's picture

wb-7. part of me wants to go look it up and link it. but- as complicated as the above sounds ,underlying those allegiances you described are the various factions of a tragic royal story.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:09 | 4187357 new game
new game's picture

i am afraid violence is the only answer left...

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:15 | 4187359 buttmint
buttmint's picture

Zhers..hey, I am resident of Muang Tai and life goes on without so much as hiccup. You are being exposed to msm alarmist wire reports designed to whack travel agencies and those easily spooked by a political panty raid.

Yes, Thaksin has looted the coffers and is holed up in Abu Dabi...a wanna-be King without a country. The dude's been absent for 7 long years.

If Thaksin had any cajonnes, he would've served his jail time, then seized the reins. No, he wants to set the rule for the sandbox without any give 'n go. Nice Trojan House ushering in his sister Yingluck into power.

But due to ahem...rules about political discussion in the Kingdom, this is all Iam stating for now. The pad Tai and kao ka mou is great and am off for a 150km bicycle ride in the magical night air in muang.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 12:57 | 4187986 GoinFawr
GoinFawr's picture

Yowsa, that 'night air' must be magical indeed if you can pedal a walloping 150 km in it; that or you must be one helluva n athlete. Pack a nightcap.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 09:21 | 4187376 buttmint
buttmint's picture

...it has been noted elsewheres that observing Tai politics is on par with watching horny chameleons mate. Keep this in mind while reading whatever you wish to believe....

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 13:00 | 4188047 TPTB_r_TBTF
TPTB_r_TBTF's picture

Horny Chameleons for comparison: 

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5RdR_-C04I

 

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:04 | 4187499 Reader1
Reader1's picture

As long as they keep making that awesome food and that super-charged tea, I don't care if their government is run by manatees.

BTW-is Thailand where all Vietnam Vets go when they die?  If you ever wonder what happened to the retired single white male, go there.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 17:14 | 4188831 buttmint
buttmint's picture
  • Reader1..interesting query about the VietNam Vets worth reading up on. It is the mid 1970s and the 7 large American built AirForce bases are being abandoned as 40k American servicement are being sent back to America...along with their 38k Tai wives and dependents. Kon Tai really cannot exist for long outside of their beloved Kingdom. A 6 week visit won't cut it, you would need to live several years to understand all the complicated reasons as to why. Tai culture is very complicated with multiple onion layers of concurrent realities. They love ambiguity.

Tiger Woods was a product of this Exodus, except his family was one of the few that stayed put in USA. The Tai wives petitioned the State Dept and raised holy hell and all got a free pass to head BACK to their Kingdom. Their servicemen hubbies (called "sammis" in Tai) went with them. If you recall, American Servicemen were not the toast of the town following the end of the VN War. The American enclaves are mostly around Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani. They took up lives as teachers,etc and raised their familes. Not a bad call at all. Take time and visit with them and hear their stories.

The reasons why kon Tai despised USA are many and varied: isolation, lousy food, cold, loss of community,  etc. The big deal breaker is called "tor-tahan." In Tai society, the soldier is at the top of the social heap. Not so in USA. They arrive in America only to find out that they did not marry the cream of the crop ---laywers, doctors, banksters.

If you have ever spent anytime inh the Kingdom, look around....many uniforms. This the "tor-tahan" deal. Once the Tais and their husbands got shipped BACK to Thailand, the State Depot slammed the door shut on getting visas. It is very difficult and expensive to bring kon Tai to USA, unless they are of the professional class.

It really is too much of a culture shock for kon Tai to adapt to the cold and isolation of America. You are welcomed to try, but it is much better for falang to adapt to Thailand than the other way around.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:29 | 4187562 Z_End
Z_End's picture

Trouble before the high tourist season?! Again?!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 10:37 | 4187602 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Someone find Marc Faber he's hiding out in the Monastery. with the eunuchs. He's the one with the testicles.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:08 | 4187697 autofixer
autofixer's picture

He's cool, he's safe up in Chang Mai with the King.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:20 | 4187725 Dubaibanker
Dubaibanker's picture

The 5th emergency since 2008 in Bangkok has been declared, minutes ago. Currency has tumbled over 10% in the last 6 months. Domestic demand was been weakening and GDP growth rates are hovering at 3% instead of over 5% predicted at the start of 2013.

Thai Prime Minister Invokes Emergency Law Around Bangkok as Protesters Seize Ministry Offices BANGKOK November 25, 2013 (AP)  

 

Thai prime minister invokes emergency law around Bangkok as protesters seize ministry offices.

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 11:30 | 4187757 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

The same bunch that killed Carradiene!

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 13:08 | 4188074 syntaxterror
syntaxterror's picture

Remember when Americans used to rise up against corrupt, putrid, scamming governments?

Mon, 11/25/2013 - 17:47 | 4188918 orangegeek
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MOAR SHIT SHOW

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!