Ready to topple a govt, Or not

COMMENTARY

Published: 25 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit claimed the police were trying to incite violence in order to justify a crackdown, thereby stomping on a peaceful and democratic protest.

Jatuporn Prompan claimed the Pitak Siam group was trying to incite violence to provoke a police crackdown and thereby bring military intervention that would topple the Pheu Thai-led government.

Who makes more sense?

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pquinlan
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Discussion 51 : 28 Nov 2012 at 12.3651
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D27: You're right about the elite making a bundle out of the devaluation, which was hidden from public sight until they had made their moves. The hero of the hour, TS, was the main beneficiary of the devaluation.
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Asian Hand
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Discussion 50 : 27 Nov 2012 at 10.0850
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K. V: just another member of the older generation whose minds are rooted in the status quo of the past and want the limelight. Good their stint in that limelight was brief. Thailand is on a path of change and as always if you want to make enemies, try to change something.
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kena
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Discussion 49 : 27 Nov 2012 at 08.0949
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The PT gov't knew that painting protesters as violent would be to their benefit. It looked as though the authorities (which outnumbered the protesters) incited the violence, and the strategy worked to the gov't's advantage.
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JP

Discussion 48 : 26 Nov 2012 at 23.2348
... great use of the analogy of Alex in 'A Clockwork Orange' doubt very much that was comprehended by many readers. Funny thing about that film was banned in the UK for so many years due to its violent genre.
from iPhone application.
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ggh
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Discussion 47 : 26 Nov 2012 at 09.2247
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Dis 45 - I know many very hard working Thais. Generalization should not be made.
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nns
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Discussion 46 : 26 Nov 2012 at 08.1146
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@@OldThaiHand, D.45: I don't doubt for a minute that you DID have better options :)
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OldThaiHand
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Discussion 45 : 26 Nov 2012 at 06.4145
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Disc. 44 NNS

I have actually travelled to some 40 countries and been a university professor in 8 of them including Canada, the US and the UK. So, I do have and have had better options.
Perhaps the traits I describe are not unique to Thais, but the Thais are the extreme of those traits and have 'broken the mold', so to speak.
I have usually viewed these traits with benign amusement, more than anything else, because it was still a pleasant place to live and retire. But, as things become more and more serious in this country and the superficial smiles leave the faces of the hypocritical natives, it becomes increasingly difficult to stay.
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nns
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Discussion 44 : 26 Nov 2012 at 03.5444
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@OldThaiHand, D.36: Your descriptions of certain traits of Thai people are generally true. However, if you've traveled and lived long enough in other countries, you may realize that such traits are not unique to Thais. The real question I have is why on earth with your self-proclaimed superior intellect are you stuck with '16 years of trying to teach...' in this country? Could it be that you just don't have a better option?
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ggh
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Discussion 43 : 25 Nov 2012 at 23.4343
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Dis 39 - The IMF and World Bank had warned Thailand on numerous occasions the Baht was overvalued. It was common knowledge. Regardless of who was finance minister, it was common knowledge the Baht would be floated. It was only a matter of when. I was also able to benefit from the devaluation. I was able to pay off my home which would have normally taken me a few years. If I can benefit, I’m sure many of the wealthy also did.
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englishbob
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Discussion 42 : 25 Nov 2012 at 21.4142
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Disc41 Tomo - Leaving aside your immense naivete and the plethora of evidence against Thaksin Shinawatra (which you have no doubt failed to research at all), Thaksin IS popular among some people, that's true. He is also unpopular among many others... Your argument is already invalid. Bad people can be popular - Hitler, Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il and Justin Bieber all have supporters.

"I see alot [sic] more worse [sic] people in Thailand and thier [sic] still walking the streets."
Riiiight.... So if one person is guilty and free, we shouldn't punish anyone else?
Spoken like a true Red Genius.
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Ready to topple a govt, Or not | Bangkok Post: opinion