Udon Red Shirts

Agreed not to mention I was posting in the wrong thread, this one was meant to be Reds in Udon. That part I was wrong I should have be been posting in Death in Bangkok , which I will now do. No wonder Val was question so much, Nothing much has happened here that I know of one small gathering and forcing their way into the Government complex parking area.

re: getting paid for attending the protests in BKK.. While I've seen many items on the thread alluding to payments to protesters, I'd speculate that the payments are not universal.. My nephew's village is about 30km east of Udon. During Songkran we drove out to the Temple fair and a Tham Boon.. In chatting with folks, all said they'd heard of the elusive "payments" but knew of no one from their village that had gotten them.. In fact, they stated the village had taken up a collection to send a group of folks to Bangkok to participate in the protest.. Yesterday, (04/30) my wife talked to our neice in the same village who said, the villagers had taken up yet another collection to send two truckloads of villagers to Bangkok.. So, while allegations of bribery and payment may be true in some areas, in others the motivation seems to be political in nature and perhaps the desire to participate in a historical event. Of course, I can't discount that it is still 'Bitt Term" and that farmers won't "dum na" for another 3-5 weeks.. Getting a free ride to the big city of Krungthep and free food once you get there can be an attraction in itself..

On the Bangkok side, I've also heard rumors of the "See Lak Si" many-colored shirts getting paid also. True or False?? I've no idea but would suspect that there's truth in it on both sides. From a Psychological Operations standpoint if you prime the pump of protesters to get a core group to participate, the fact that you've got a large group protesting will in itself attract others that may be supporters or may merely be rubber-kneckers.. The rumor of money also will motivate folks to attend.. Figure it out.. Most poor Udon villagers don't have much cash. If they "think" they'll get money by attending, they'd probably go. Either way, you get media exposure showing "thosuands" in protests.. In reality though, when you watch most media shots of the protesters on either side, note that the shots are usually "tight" on a "large" crowd, rather than wide shots that show the true extent of the protest.. The other day, Thai media showed a very tight shot of "hundreds" of many-colored shirts protesting in Chiang rai in support of the gov't.. When the reporter goofed and panned wide, it was apparent there probably were 30-50 people there... Same for the recent Democracy monument protests.. Tight shot of monument showing the plaza full.. Nobody outside of it.. Media says "many thousands", organizers say "50 thousand" when in reality it was probably 2,000 people total.. Same for the Reds. They will pump up the crowds at Rajaprasong saying "we have 50,000 people here", when in fact they probably have 5-6,000 including my personal estimage of 10% street vendors...

so, all of you are probably right on the "payement issue"...

It was funny yesterday I saw an article in local news saying a protester and they named where he was from. Asked the Government for transportation home a they had not been paid as promised. I couldn't verify anywhere else so I didn't post it. True not true no idea. There is a media war going on that is clear. Who to believe that is impossible from what I can see thus far.

As you have pointed what is not being seem is probably more telling then what is seen. The foreign news has been quite for days if it don't bleed it don't read.

I really don't want to get into the middle of this "discussion" but wanted to pass this along to all.

If any of you out there really think money is not being passed out and or promised to these "protesters" for their participation in this event I would like to introduce you to the Easter Bunny and his pal Santa Claus. The Nation website ran a video (with audio) or two of the payments being made early on during this circus but not much was made of it at the time. As I recall there was an individual dressed in red (I assume he was a red shirt) calling names off a roster he had in his hand. A second individual in the video is then seen passing out nice new crisp 1,000B notes the individuals gathered. I would estimate the paymaster had at least 100,000B in his hand at the time. I assume this was money collected by local villagers (yeah right!).

Now I guess one could say that it was a staged event but I for one believe it was real. These people get paid to vote so why not to protest.

I doubt very much that there are many''rural farmers'' or ''poor''Isaan protesters that are not getting outside support to attend the protests,whether it is direct or not.I would guess that the earlier groups were probably getting direct pay,but as the event has grown,I would imagine many others joining in the ''fun'' or believing that the Reds were winning and joining up!

In a severe crackdown consistent over a couple of days,the latter group would probably fade away quickly as I doubt many have enough focus on their individual change desires to conciously put their lives on the line,unless caught up in the forefront of an early confrontation!

If the poorer and feeling disenfranchised Reds,could break with the power brokers,form their own peaceful group demonstrations in their home provinces,they could probaly woo the politicians to address some of their issues,but I doubt that the ''sheep'' could ever break away from their ''herders'',probably don't have the gumption to take any action for anything other than change that they feel would be needed today versus over the long run.After all that would take some serious thinking and planning,and who actually wants headaches

Yes, well, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus also said the red shirts would be gone from the streets of Bangkok back to the north and Isaan to celebrate Songkran, and to tend to the fields.

FrazeeDK wrote: In fact, they stated the village had taken up a collection to send a group of folks to Bangkok to participate in the protest.. Yesterday, (04/30) my wife talked to our neice in the same village who said, the villagers had taken up yet another collection to send two truckloads of villagers to Bangkok.. "...

What a good idea can they pick up some of my inlaws?

That the red-shirts won the past 5 (!!!) votes decisively but yet are not in power and are being denied a referendum by the MINORITY opposition is a travesty and miscarriage of democracy. Give them their vote and respect it.

Khondahm

I'm not sure I follow you. Maybe you could elaborate a bit for the rest of us slower individuals.

I'm not so sure that hard nosed Issan farmers would just run off if the "crackdown" hits Rajaprasong.. Remember all the expat tales of Thais getting into brawls as part of a mob scene.. Go figure.. All these Issan lads listening to fiery rhetoric for days and spun up.. The government moves in.. The Red speakers call out the masses.. A mob action a la' the 10th of April. who won that one?? For a true "crackdown" the government's must have fully reliable troops and cops that won't turn and run.. They'll have to be willing to use lethal force to gain control of the crowds and I don''t think it'll be easy..

If the re enforcement gets there,they will probably have trouble trying to keep them out, then removing the others. At this point I don't believe they would leave either they have been to successful in the past.