I was surprised to see several hundred red shirt clad folks congregating on Thepprasit here in Jomtien. They were all gathered for a concert, but the number there and the sea of red shirts was surprising. It seemed peaceful enough, but there apparently are a large number of sympathizers here.

There was a large red shirt rally on Silom in Bangkok on Friday. I could not get a taxi to take me anywhere near there.

There was a large red shirt rally on Silom in Bangkok on Friday. I could not get a taxi to take me anywhere near there.

 

They were protesting -but I think khun macaroni reads the newspprs very well to know that- against BangkokBank. BKKBank is in their idea the housebank of the privy council and associated rulers.

Driving down Sukhimvit between Thepprasit and Pattaya Klang with my boyfriend this afternoon we noticed several (maybe 10 or 20) large trucks with signs identifying them as for Red Shirts parked along the side of the road going north. No sign of any people, but I thought it was sort of interesting and don't know what they were/are used for.

You were probably looking at the intersection of Sukhumvit and Soi Khaotolo. There is a large field there and the Red-Shirts have set up shop there several times. Among other things, they sell the red shirts along with other Red-Shirt souvenirs. They also set up tables, microphones, etc. The trucks probably hold those supplies. I fully expect to see them setting up there any time now, in anticipation of the February 26 Supreme Court ruling about Thaksin and the money. I won't call it his money at this point because that's what the Supreme Court will decide.

Don't worry, I'm sure it was just for a small pep talk, something like this one.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70csu2Z51sM

in anticipation of the February 26 Supreme Court ruling about Thaksin and the money. I won't call it his money at this point because that's what the Supreme Court will decide.

 

Well, I think we all already know the decision on that one. There's a reason the current government is deploying tens of thousands of additional security forces around the country.

Well, I think we all already know the decision on that one.

Then I'm the exception. We all know what we think the decision will be. I think so too. But until the ruling is handed down we don't know anything.

 

Here's why I don't take anything political or the outcome of court cases for granted:

 

I also have a copy of the Chicago Sun Times with a headline that reads "IT'S REAGAN AND FORD".

You were probably looking at the intersection of Sukhumvit and Soi Khaotolo. There is a large field there and the Red-Shirts have set up shop there several times. Among other things, they sell the red shirts along with other Red-Shirt souvenirs. They also set up tables, microphones, etc. The trucks probably hold those supplies. I fully expect to see them setting up there any time now, in anticipation of the February 26 Supreme Court ruling about Thaksin and the money. I won't call it his money at this point because that's what the Supreme Court will decide.

 

Done........the red-shirt weekend-market on Soi Khao Talo/Sukhumvit is a fact!!

Sound truck just went by announcing a gathering tomorrow on Soi Khao Talo.

Sound truck just went by announcing a gathering tomorrow on Soi Khao Talo.

Thank you for posting that. There goes my shortcut . . .

I'm thinking of taking a look-see tomorrow.

 

How far down Khao Talo from Sukhumvit is the staging area?

 

My understanding is that Khao Talo is on the darkside of Sukhumvit approx at Teppessit. Is this correct?

 

Are the white baht busses on Sukhumvit a good way to get there?

 

A friend of mine on holiday wants to buy something more authentic than a Che T-shirt.

I'm thinking of taking a look-see tomorrow.

The area is at the junction of Sukhumvit and Soi Khao Tolo. Yes, the white buses can take you there. If you are coming from Thepprasit Road, go to Sukhumvit. Turn left onto Sukhumvit an then make an immediate right at the traffic signal. That's Soi Khao Tolo and that's the place. Believe me, if they are out there, you won't miss it.

Personally, I will stay as far away from that place as possible.

There apparently was a rally there last night - my bf went with friends. This morning he said the red shirts would be going to Bangkok - wasn't sure as he didn't know English word for where they were going, but I think from his attempt at describing it, it is probably the Court house where the verdict will be rendered.

Lots of riot police and road blocks around Sukhumvit and Khao Talo last night also .... 'be prepared' seems to be the motto this time around?

Whatever was going on on Soi Khao Tolo, apparently it's over. This evening I drove down Soi Khao Tolo to Sukhumvit. There was nothing. That large area where the Red-Shirts usually rally was completely empty and deserted. There was no sign of any recent activity.

 

Today in Pattaya everything appeared perfectly normal. If there was any trouble anywhere, other than heavy weekend and holiday traffic, I saw no sign of it.

Whatever was going on on Soi Khao Tolo, apparently it's over. This evening I drove down Soi Khao Tolo to Sukhumvit. There was nothing. That large area where the Red-Shirts usually rally was completely empty and deserted. There was no sign of any recent activity.

 

 

That photo, Astrrro, is the area I'm referring to and that photo shows the entirety of the Red-Shirt activity I've encountered in Pattaya. I've been saying all along that I expect nothing to happen.

 

One thing strikes me as odd, though. We haven't heard a thing from the Yellow-Shirts. What happened to them?

 

In any case, I said at the outset that there will be little or no serious response to the Thaksin verdict. So far that has been the case despite the media managing to convince people that there will be a response on a scale tantamount to a revolution. All hype and bullshit.

 

A major Red-Shirt rally is scheduled for Sunday, March 14. Just how major it will turn out to be remains to be seen.

 

The main reason I still expect no major serious reactions is because I believe the Thai people are the same as everyone else. People might say, "Isn't that terrible?" and then pretty much forget it. People have their own lives and their own problems. I never did believe all that many people were going to get themselves all upset because of Thaksin's money. You're talking about people who are lucky to scrape together lunch money. Somehow I doubt they have all that much sympathy for a man who still has billions.

 

With all the arguments about how wonderful Thaksin is for the country or what a nightmare he is for the country, life still goes on.

 

People are fickle and quickly move onto the next item of interest and stop thinking very much about the last item of interest - yesterday's news. You want me to prove it? Ok, ask yourself how long it's been since you paid much attention to or discussed what's going on in Haiti . . .