Friday, January 23, 2009

Signs that the red shirts (pro-democracy?) activists have lost the plot

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Exhibit A:


The Nation Red-shirted people raid Santi Asoke branch in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai - Some 150 red-shirted supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra raided the Chiang Mai branch of Santi Asoke Buddhist sect to hunt for Chamlong Srimuang.
They raided the Phupha Nam Fah Monastery at 1 pm.
They stormed through a police barricade, which was formed 20 metre before the monastery's entrance.
Some 100 elderly people, women, children and Santi Asoke monks gathered at a pavilion and remained in silence during the raid by the angry protesters.
Some monks were standing still and the lay flowers were sitting in meditation without responding the shouts and aggressive acts of the protesters.
Some protesters hit some monks at their shoulders with "feet clappers".
The protesters raided the place following rumours that Chamlong Srimuang, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, visited the monastery Thursday night.
They dispersed nearly an hour later after searching through the place and did not find Chamlong.


A low blow attacking monks.


Exhibit B:

The Nation Red shirt protesters call for Singapore and Burma to boycott Asean Summit

Red shirt protesters who are loyal to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra called for leaders of Singapore and Burma to boycott the upcoming Asean Summit in Thailand.
They rallied in front of both embassies on Friday and submitted petitions to the leaders through representatives of the embassies.
The protesters waved banners and posters, written in English, criticising Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his government and Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya.
Thailand will host Asean Summit in Hua Hin next month. It had rescheduled the summit several times due to street protests.
Veera Musikapong, Jakrapob Penkair and Nuttavudh Saikue, who were hosts of controversial Truth Today TV programme, a pro-Thaksin Shinawatra media outlet, were among leaders of the protesters.
Reading the petition, Jakrapob said that Abhisit Government was not real representatives of Thai people. Moreover the appointment of Kasit had against the public's views as he joined the protesters after they seized the airports.
"We support Asean, but could not support the (Thai) government that had no legitimacy to administer the country," he said.
A Burmese diplomat received the petition from Jakrapob.
Later the red shirt protesters marched to Singapore Embassy on Sathorn Road and submitted the petition to the embassy's first secretary, who said that Singapore could not get involved in the matter because it was internal issue.
However he will forward the petition to Singapore government.


Just great - demanding those two bastions of democracy to boycott the Asean summit.


Caution: Both stories came from The Nation, so make of them what you will!