Thai protesters win some hearts and minds - 30 Nov 08

[beshnola]

better than red shirt violent demonstration.

[TheZen999]

The Founding Fathers of the USA did NOT give the right to vote to everyone - only to the educated (wealthy white males), and they thought giving the vote to uneducated people was a TERRIBLE idea. It was many years before this was changed. I used to wonder how those men could be so undemocratic - but now I think I understand their point of view. The ignorant masses understand nothing, and are so easily duped and used by crafty politicians and loud-mouthed demagogues.

[TheZen999]

Vote buying is NOT democracy either. When votes are bought and sold - which obviously Thai Rak Thai, Peoples' Power Party did on a massive scale - it is NOT democracy, it makes a joke out of democracy. They cannot claim to be legitimately "democratically elected" by the people. They were elected by illegal means - which is why they were dissolved by the courts.

[makethemyth]

i was there. in the middle of the red-shirts. i went to the 'riots' and ate with them. very great showing of what it is to be a free human and be alive.

[Kharami888]

a real protest, without hundreds of american police officers abusing people. in america we are actualy afraid to protest in general. Congradulaions Thai People for your courage and determination, may you be blessed and eventual happy!!!!

[dadacow]

you all stupid

[mamamyny]

does anybody know how vote buying work exactly??. I never sell my vote, so I dont know. Can I get the money and not vote for Thaksin? Is it possible?

[Cptofthecaptain]

well i never vote by am pretty sure that they go someone at the vote system watching, making sure you vote for him.... just don't vote at all or vote for another party, that way you are not on any side and you are safe! for now....

[theagent3]

This is mess up for Thailand.

Thailand can never progress so as long as a priveledge minority group can hold the country hostage and dictate against the majority of the will of the people. (masters/slaves)

You may have heard the PAD argument for a appointment to the governing body to consist of 70% of business and special interest groups, while the remaining 30% by the vote of the people. PAD knows they can never win a legal election by the people. So they want to rigid the constitution.

[me27119]

For those who think that it's ok for the government to be corrupted because every past governments are corrupted, I just want to ask you something.

Admit it that every people has violate the laws at least once, so does that make violating the laws ok? More than millions of people around the globe have or had been a criminal. Does that make doing a crime all right? Murder happens daily. Does that make murdering a fine thing to do?

Same goes with corruption. It is NOT all right and will never be.

[theagent3]

I am afraid you are confusing with replacing a democratically elected government that is being accused of being corrupt. What these PAD protest have done is an obvious corruption.

To make claims that the current elected government is corrupt because of aledged vote buying. How does overthrowing an elected government and claim the majority of voter are too uneducated and poor in making the decision of the due process?! PAD protest are a minority group. So the PAD lost fair and square.

[theagent3]

What the PAD want is to have 70% of their governing body to consist of business and social groups that are APPOINTED!!!! and 30% by the populace. A populace that PAD cannot beat. This is not democracy, this is fascism.

The biggest corruption against the people because this group caters to the special interest and to the elite few.

The people have a right to vote whoever so chooses from all incomes and cultures and background so as long as they are legal citizen of their homeland.

[KhmerSerey1]

bhumi the butcher !!

[watergrass5150]

In Thailand, vote buying is carried out in several ways. The simplest and most common way is to simply give cash to people for their vote. In order to guarantee that they vote for the candidate on election day, canvisers will collect their identification card and post party members at the voting venue with voter registration lists.

[watergrass5150]

Thailand is a great place to live, but there have always been some underlying problems with corruption. It permeates all segments of society and has existed in various forms for hundreds of years. Money is power in this society. It works for you if you have it, against you if you don't.

[samkoi56]

PAD= People Against Democracy is destroying their own country and put million of people back to the dictatorship era. The people behind the PAD are the armies, the elites and the royal family who control more than 60% of the whole country's wealth.

[theagent3]

I sure hope the Thai people can put a stop to these Yellow Shirts (PAD) for the sake of democracy in Asia.

[me27119]

Don't forget Burma though

[theagent3]

Your right about the similarities with Burma.

We should all be against military dictatorship.

The military should only be the tools or arm of the elected government by the people.

[cherubdog]

That's cool, grandma! XD

[pokeriss]

i am planing to visit thailand at the end of January 2009 and this all situation upsets me really bad ;[i'd never thought that thai people will act this way-don't they understand,that only turists suffer from theit actions???WAKE UP PEOPLE!You make big mistake-nobody wants to go to your country anymore!they prefer sri lanka,malaysia and other,but thailand-thanks no. I bought the tickets few months ago-if i had a chance,i would not bought tham,imean if i'd knew whats gonna happen inyour country.

[watergrass5150]

arrest the pad and reeducate them. Its a shame the land of smile becomes the land of tears.

[me27119]

By the tear gas, of course!

[tevontronz]

Create sympathy?? Read the messages here... PAD is loosing support left and right. Go RED SHIRTS!!!

[fraziercrane]

Visitors to Thailand are not interested in your local politics. They are there for holiday or business. No matter how aggrieved or upset PAD is about their govt, they should not make guest pay the price. Protest all you want but don't inconvenience visitors. The world is watching you and right now PAD looks like the bad guy.

[biggestfan777]

They also don't mention the PAD leaders delight in publicly announcing that they're using women and children as human shields against the police. Such brave protesters.

[biggestfan777]

Interesting that they don't mention that the "People's Alliance for Democracy"'s core argument is that the poor are not smart enough to vote the right way and, therefore, shouldn't have the same vote as the elite in Bangkok. Should be "People Against Democracy". These idiots are fascist thugs or brainwashed sycophants of elite. They're destroying Thailand in ways they never dreamed their opposition would.

[skybz23]

It's not about being smart or stupid. Thai governments failed to reform Thai educational system. Many people in up-country can't read Thai, their own mother language when they graduated from grade 4. This shows that the educational system gives nothing to them. What they really need is knowledge and information, which are very limited due to media censorship. 99% of them only knows that the Democracy is election and nothing more. Democracy in Thailand becomes "whoever got most people, wins".

[biggestfan777]

Prior govt was the first to provide serious reform to the poor. Opposition has no such plan. I'm not thrilled with any of the options but now we're looking at two legitimately elected govts getting overthrown in 2 years. That's never a good thing. All govts in Thailand have been corrupt. Just one's been a lot more effective than the old elites and that is the threat. Just offer a BETTER CHOICE! QUIT USING FORCE! YOU LOSE.

BTW - democracy actually DOES mean whoever gets the most votes wins.

[ClanDemented]

congrats!

[kioisursktitoeiru]

I love you guys !

[lownavee]

Taksin we love you, pls come back to arrange the PAD , kill all of them

[lownavee]

Taksin we love you, pls come back to arrange the PAD , kill all of them

[ACTORnSCREENWRITER]

what are they protesting?

[biggestfan777]

They're protesting that the poor rural voters didn't have the intelligence to elect their lackies and elected someone else's lackies instead - TWICE!!

[jnycnuk]

bravo protesters. you have shown the world how to act. make the gov't reform!

[XMARINEmax]

Obviously PAD Anti-democracy movement don't understand true democracy itself. They are doing the military's job and will let in a non-elected corrupt miltary backed puppet regime. The present governement were actually democratically elected by a majority.

[popozuda749]

such great reporting, ive been watching both bbc and euro news which in my opinion have only represented one side of the story, thnx al jazeera

[50Lobo]

Resist!