InfoAnda - Special Report: Defiance in Thailand's red shirt villages |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Top Five Scams in the Middle East | 24 June 2010
Toronto police fire tear gas on G20 protesters | | 28 June 2010
Trinidad declares state of emergency to fight crime | | 23 August 2011

GM, union at odds as bankruptcy deadline looms | 17 May 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Special Report: Defiance in Thailand's red shirt villages |

Edition: U.S. Article Comments (0) Full Focus Editor's choice A selection of our top photos from the past 48 hours. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read UPDATE 1-Eastern Arizona fire claims nearly 350 square miles 06 Jun 2011 U.S., Pakistan authorities dispute militant's death 06 Jun 2011 Analysis: E.coli outbreak poses questions for organic farming 06 Jun 2011 Congressman Weiner admits online affairs | 06 Jun 2011 China paper warns Google may pay price for hacking claims 06 Jun 2011 Discussed 82 150 economists back U.S. Republicans in debt fight 67 ”The world is getting warmer”: Romney 65 Moody’s sounds alarm over U.S. debt limit and deficits Watched Apple's Jobs unveils iCloud Mon, Jun 6 2011 Congressman Weiner admits to online affairs Mon, Jun 6 2011 The day ahead: June 7, 2011 Mon, Jun 6 2011 Special Report: Defiance in Thailand's "red shirt villages" Tweet Share this Email Print Factboxes Pre-election opinion polls in Thailand 3:23am EDT Main parties contesting Thailand's election 3:23am EDT Related News Thai opposition's Yingluck: populist but pro-business 3:12am EDT Facts about Thailand's election 3:23am EDT Analysis & Opinion Desecrations of Divine Shepherdess images stir polarized Venezuela Americans will never allow Medicare to be gutted Related Topics World » Thailand » By Ambika Ahuja and Jason Szep NONG HU LING, Thailand | Tue Jun 7, 2011 3:23am EDT NONG HU LING, Thailand (Reuters) - Its brilliant green rice paddies, thatched-roof huts and overgrown jungle resemble most rural villages in northeast Thailand. But the red sign looming over a quiet dusty road in the community of Nong Hu Ling is something different. "Red Shirt Village for Democracy," it reads, proclaiming its allegiance to the red-shirted, anti-government movement whose protests paralyzed Bangkok last year and sparked a bloody military crackdown that ended with 91 people killed and hundreds of activists arrested. "After what happened in Bangkok, people were scared to wear red shirts," said Kongchai Chaikang, chief of Nong Hu Ling, a village of 350 people in Udon Thani province, about 450 km (280 miles) northeast of Bangkok. "They feared they would be harassed by police or followed by plain-clothes officers. We want to give them courage by sticking together." The idea is catching on. Ahead of a July 3 national election, dozens of rural communities are branding themselves a "Red Shirt Village" in this poor northeast plateau, home to a third of the country's population, giving the movement grass-roots muscle to mobilize behind its parliamentary allies, the opposition Puea Thai Party. The mostly low-income red shirts broadly support ousted populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra in a five-year political conflict against the traditional Bangkok elite that includes top generals, royal advisers, middle-class bureaucrats, business leaders and old-money families who back the ruling Democrat Party. At least 320 villages in the provinces of Udon Thani and Khon Kaen have designated themselves "Red Shirt Villages" through regional offices of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), as the movement is formally known. The phenomenon underlines the government's failure to pacify opponents ahead of an election many fear will deepen the divide between the urban and rural poor on one side and the elite on the other, a rift that drove Thailand close to full civil conflict last year. The villages and their defiance also highlight the failure of a year-long national reconciliation effort, heightening concerns that the losers of the election will not accept the results, a tangible risk in a country scarred by 18 coups since the 1930s and five years of sporadic unrest. The polarization comes at a delicate time with Thailand's unifying figure for six decades, 83-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, hospitalized for nearly two years. The military and supporters of the establishment often invoke his name to rally the public against the red shirts, dragging the monarchy into the political melee. In the balance is Thailand's well-crafted image as "The Land of Smiles", a catchphrase that crumbled last year under a catalog of horrific scenes: banks on fire, military snipers firing on demonstrators, mysterious black-clad gunmen rallying behind protesters, grenades exploding in the business district, and free-wheeling Bangkok reduced to 9 p.m. curfews. The red shirts have launched about 50 red villages in the past two weeks alone, said Anond Sangnan, the UDD's secretary-general in Udon Thani. Last week, they inaugurated five at once in Udon Thani's Sam Prao sub-district. "After we lost last year, we decided we would fight this battle differently," he said at the launch of one village, whose Buddhist leader marked the occasion in a ceremony in which red string was tied to the wrist of each villager in a symbolic show of strength. "Originally we wanted the villages to show how much support the movement had, a symbol that empowers people. But it is also a mobilizing tool," he said. In total, 129 red-shirt villages have been launched in Udon Thani and another 100 in neighboring Khon Kaen, he said. The bigger goal, he added, is to carve out entire red districts and provinces. Inside the villages, slogans on red T-shirts and posters rail against the "double standards" of Thai society, accusing the rich, the Bangkok establishment and top military brass of breaking laws with impunity -- grievances that have simmered since a 2006 coup overthrew Thaksin, a billionaire tycoon-turned-prime minister who is revered by the poor as the first politician to have addressed their needs. Thaksin's smiling image beams from red signs at the entrance to the red villages. From his villa in Dubai, where he lives in self-imposed exile, he has good reason to smile. His sister, Yingluck, a telegenic 43-year-old businesswoman with no political experience, has electrified supporters since her May 16 nomination to lead the opposition. 'ATTACK ATTACK' Reuters interviews with a dozen red-shirt leaders, activists and local businessmen suggest the movement has been energized by Yingluck's popularity. Any perceived injustice to her at the polls could be enough to galvanize supporters and touch off a new wave of unrest. Opposition to Yingluck is fierce among the royalist establishment who toppled her brother. Her supporters fear the courts or powerful behind-the-scenes figures will intervene to prevent her from forming a government if her party dominates. "If Puea Thai wins and they don't let us form a government, Yingluck should rest first. Brothers and sisters, you come out," veteran red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikua told a recent rally of about 30,000 supporters in Udon Thani. "Attack. Attack," he added to waves of applause. "Let's get this over with and finish the fight. Then we will bring Yingluck back to become prime minister." It is a message that resonates with Wan Suwanpong, a 72-year-old lawyer and radio DJ, who says the election is not about bread-and-butter issues but social justice. "This is what I have been telling my listeners," said Wan, whose show reaches tens of thousands of listeners in five provinces on one of several red stations in the northeast set up to rival government broadcasters. "If we win the election, we need to be ready to go to Bangkok quickly. We need to get food ready, transportation ready, and then we head to Bangkok, surround parliament and raise pressure so the party that comes in first is allowed to set up a government." he said. Pressure is something Wan knows a thing or two about. In October, authorities turned up at his previous studio, cut the mast-wires and hauled off the equipment. Now he operates in a hole-in-the-wall studio with a bright red carpet on a farm. While he is a populist hero to the poor, Thaksin has been branded a "terrorist" by the government, which accuses him of directing protests that descended into urban warfare last year. Even among red shirts, he is divisive. He declares himself the embodiment of democracy, but his record tells a different story. Critics accuse him of abusing his electoral mandate to dismantle constitutional checks and balances while cementing his own authoritarian rule during his two administrations from 2001 to 2006. A 2003 war on drugs burnished his image as a crime-buster and won votes, but human rights groups were appalled at 2,800 deaths in extra-judicial killings in the first three months of the campaign. Corruption scandals, and alleged abuses of power steadily eroded his popularity among Bangkok's middle class. That was compounded by royalist accusations Thaksin was undermining Thailand's powerful monarchy -- charges he said were politically motivated. Simmering anger exploded in 2006 when his relatives sold off, tax free, their $1.9 billion stake in Shin Corp, his telecoms empire, to a Singapore state company. But in the northern heartlands, he remains a hero. His populist policies -- from virtually free healthcare, to easy consumer credit and a system of low-interest loans to the nation's 70,000 villages -- were unprecedented, winning him enough support to become Thailand's first elected leader to complete a full four-year term without being unseated by a coup or pressured into stepping down. The policies proved so popular the current government is extending them. Rural, conservative Thais say they are willing to overlook his authoritarianism, actually welcoming his take-charge, CEO-style leadership. His ouster reinforced his image as a mold-breaking outsider who had challenged the Bangkok elite and lost. Thaksin fled Thailand in 2008, weeks before he was sentenced in absentia on corruption and conflict-of-interest charges, settling in Dubai where he keeps in close touch with supporters through Skype, Twitter and Facebook. A court last year seized $1.4 billion of his assets, but he retains considerable wealth after investing in gold, coal and platinum mines in Africa. THAKSIN'S CLONE Thaksin describes his sister Yingluck as his "clone" and she does little to dispel that image, hewing to soundbites echoing her brother's populism. She has rebuffed repeated requests by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for a debate despite polls showing undecided voters want to see her take on the British-born 46-year-old economist, an eloquent speaker whose debating skills were honed in the halls of England's Eton College and Oxford University. Thronged by supporters at Udon Thani's airport for her first appearance in the northeast, she stuck to well-worn talking points, vowing to heal the political divide. That will be difficult. Many red shirts want Abhisit's government to be held to account for civilian deaths during last year's military crackdown. Abhisit denies troops were responsible for any casualties and blames shadowy black-shirted gunmen among the red shirts for the killings. "I am happy to talk to every side," Yingluck said in an interview with Reuters that was nearly drowned out by cheers in an airport lobby packed with red shirts. "Most importantly, this election is one that will bring true democracy to Thailand so I would like to persuade everyone to accept the result." That could depend on whether she goes ahead with a general amnesty that would effectively pardon her brother, clearing the way for his return and risking the re-awakening of anti-Thaksin protesters who stormed parliament in 2008, occupied two airports and helped to topple a pro-Thaksin government. When pressed on this by Reuters, she was non-committal. "I cannot make rules for one person," she said. "I have the interest of the public in mind first." Yingluck is well managed but not well known beyond her name. She is the youngest of nine children in a family of ethnic Chinese silk merchants, graduated from Chiang Mai University in the north and received a master's degree in political science at Kentucky State University. She rose swiftly through the ranks of family companies, first as managing director of Advanced Info Service Pcl, a mobile phone provider formerly controlled by Thaksin before it was sold to investors, and then as president of SC Asset Corp, a property developer. Her affable, relaxed manner and northern dialect connect with rural Thais, but she stumbles occasionally on policy. From the stage at a rally in Udon Thani, she breezed through promises of Thaksin-style policies before tripping over the price of rice. "What about rice? Are we going to buy rice from farmers?" she said. The crowd, clearly apprised of her party's policies, roared back the answer. "Yes." "Jasmine rice will be bought at 15,000 baht ($495), right?" "No, no 20,000 ($660)," shouted the crowd. Yingluck didn't skip a beat. "That's right, 20,000 baht," she said. "See? There are real fans who are listening," she added, to wild cheers. In a subsequent Reuters interview, she elaborated on her economic priorities, saying she would not interfere in currency trading, vowing to cut the corporate tax rate and to pursue big infrastructure projects in the mold of her brother whose government built Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, the largest in Asia when it launched in 2006. Economists praised Abhisit's government for steering the country out of its first recession in 11 years in 2009 and generating economic growth last year of 7.8 percent despite the civil unrest. Thailand's stock market was one of the world's biggest gainers last year, climbing 41 percent. But the Democrats have not won an election in 20 years. Abhisit is desperate to change that, promising policies straight out of Thaksin's populist playbook, including a 25 percent increase in the minimum wage, diesel and cooking gas subsidies, and free electricity for the poor. Two years ago he rolled out free healthcare to replace a Thaksin plan in which patients paid just 30 baht ($1) a visit. The campaign platforms of both sides are trying to deal with Thailand's widening wealth gap. The richest 20 percent of Thais earn 55 percent of the country's wealth. That figure is close to Tunisia's, the epicenter of the "Arab spring" uprisings, where the top fifth take in 47 percent of the wealth, according to World Bank statistics. Thailand's northeast is its poorest and most populous region. Its sons are Bangkok's taxi drivers and its daughters dominate its racy go-go bars. Although poverty in Thailand is down from 27 percent of the population in 1990 to about 8 percent now, many Thais in the red-shirt strongholds of the north and northeast live just above the poverty line. Per capita GDP in Isaan is about $1,410 a year -- an eighth of Bangkok's. Many red shirts believe Thaksin would have changed that and say they have suffered under Abhisit. But this reflects global trends, not national politics. While Thaksin presided over a period of relative economic stability, the world's fortunes shifted under Abhisit, as the global financial crisis hit. WILL THE RESULTS BE RESPECTED? Most polls show Yingluck performing well and suggest the opposition will grab the largest number of the 500 available seats. But Korbsak Sabhavasu, the Democrats' campaign manager, and many independent analysts doubt either party will secure a majority, opening the way for both sides to wheel and deal with smaller parties to form a coalition. That's where Korbsak reckons Abhisit has an edge. If Yingluck fails to stitch together a coalition, the opportunity passes to Abhisit. What will happen if Yingluck loses? The answer may lie in the wooden homes in the red shirt community of Nong Hu Ling. Kongchai, the village chief, says he will accept a fair Democrat win, but he is skeptical. "We stand for democracy so we have to accept what the majority want even if it's not what we want," he said. "But people will mobilize if the election is robbed." Kongchai and his wife, Kamsan, choose their words carefully -- and for good reason. They have been under close surveillance since joining Bangkok's protests last year. With their two-year-old daughter, they lived under tents with tens of thousands of protesters occupying Bangkok's main shopping district, showing solidarity with red-shirt leaders. Three days before a military crackdown, Kongchai returned home. His 18-year-old son, Kittipong, had joined a protest at the governor's office. When the military launched its assault on the red shirts in Bangkok on May 19, riots erupted in Udon Thani, and the governor's office went up in flames. Kittipong, a quiet boy who worked the eucalyptus fields, was arrested a month later, one of 51 detained in connection with the destruction of the municipal hall. Just over half were released, but Kittipong was held without bail. His case went to court in May. He shares a packed cell with seven other prisoners, some accused of murder and drug trafficking. Kongchai blames himself. He pulled Kittipong out of school when he was 15 to join an early wave of pro-Thaksin rallies. In December, local red-shirt leaders brought supplies to his village, including blankets and food. A nearby village had branded itself a 'Red Shirt Village' with a red sign. He liked the idea. The movement was in disarray. This was a way to change that, he said. "In the beginning, it was 20-30 people talking half-jokingly about this idea over lunch. We weren't going to do anything organised. But then the idea caught on." The authorities are watching closely. "Officers will drive by, peek in, take pictures, ask our neighbors whether I have gone to Bangkok. They follow me," Kongchai said. Since April, they've had new visitors: soldiers from a military unit responsible for national security issues that went after Communists in the 1970s. The soldiers, who are well known in northeast, have offered to renovate the poorest house in Kongchai village -- a hut with a thatched roof. "They always ask for something in exchange," said his wife, Kamsan. On some visits, the soldiers bring framed portraits of the king as gifts to hang in homes. The villagers find it hard to refuse. In Kongchai's home, the king's picture hangs on a wall next to a poster of Buddhist monks. But a far bigger, life-sized picture of Thaksin is draped along another wall. A spokesman for the military unit was not available for comment. VIEW OF THE MONARCHY As Thailand's polarization deepens, views of the monarchy have changed, part of a broader cultural shift in the largely Buddhist country where the king has been revered as almost divine for three generations. Most still express steadfast loyalty to the king, the world's longest-serving monarch, but his throne is seen as entwined with the political forces that removed Thaksin, especially ultra-nationalists who wear the king's color of yellow at protests. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has yet to command the same popular support as his father, raising questions over whether royal succession will go smoothly. Long-simmering business, political and military rivalries are rising to the surface, forcing Thailand to choose sides between supporters of the Bangkok establishment or those seeking to upend the status quo. For others such as Kongchai, being "red" is a much more simple equation, boiling down to sheer double standards and economics. His son is one of at least 417 people detained in connection with violating an emergency decree during last year's red-shirt protests, according to Human Rights Watch. But none of the thousands of yellow-shirted supporters of the establishment -- who occupied two airports in Bangkok in 2008 for eight days in a campaign to bring down a Thaksin-proxy government -- have been arrested, and Thailand's army did nothing to prevent the airport siege. "I am still a red shirt because there is still no justice for my son," he said. (Editing by Bill Tarrant) World Thailand Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story directly or with relevant tangential information. We try to block comments that use offensive language, all capital letters or appear to be spam, and we review comments frequently to ensure they meet our standards. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) © Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters Editorial Editions: Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom United States Reuters Contact Us Advertise With Us Help Journalism Handbook Archive Site Index Video Index Reader Feedback Mobile Newsletters RSS Podcasts Widgets Your View Analyst Research Thomson Reuters Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Professional Products Professional Products Support Financial Products About Thomson Reuters Careers Online Products Acquisitions Monthly Buyouts Venture Capital Journal International Financing Review Project Finance International PEhub.com PE Week FindLaw Super Lawyers Attorney Rating Service Reuters on Facebook Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Egyptians honor activist whose death sparked revolt |
U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon says running for 2nd term |
Five U.S. troops killed in Iraq rocket attack |
"The Voice" coaches take on Queen during live show
U.S. calls Baba Ramdev eviction in Delhi, an "internal matter"
Serbia met obligation by nabbing Mladic: prosecutor |
Norwegian Epic to offer dual embarkation options in Western Mediterranean next summer
Supreme Court agrees Senate appointment requires special election
FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman reaches 100 career shutouts
State controlled Syrian TV reports murder of 120 police officers by armed gangs
Katie Couric officially signs onto ABC for syndicated talk show
Maryland Episcopal church becomes first to convert to Roman Catholicism
Humala claims victory over Fujimori in Peru presidential election
Base attack kills 5 U.S. soldiers in Iraq
Videogame heavyweights seek fresh start at powwow |
Microsoft's Kinect to control TV, YouTube, more games |
Toshiba, Sony in talks to merge LCD panel operations: Nikkei |
Katie Couric signs deal for ABC talk show |
Lonely Boy singer Andrew Gold dead at 59 |
Cole out of U.S. X Factor; accent not to blame |
Actor Wesley Snipes loses tax case appeal |
U.S. urges Yemen to move to swift transition |
Special Report: Defiance in Thailand's red shirt villages |
Royals rookie Hosmer delivers in the 11th as Royals nip Blue Jays
Explosions in Tripoli, rebels seize Libyan town |
Bruins get right back in Stanley Cup series with rout of Canucks
Pirates pick pitcher: tab hard-throwing Cole with first choice in MLB draft
Streaking Twins top struggling Indians
Left-winger Humala wins Peru election, markets dive |
FIFA ruling on headscarves may end women's international soccer for Iran
U.S. ready to review glitch in Green card lottery
U.S., Pakistan authorities dispute militant's death |
IMF agrees with Britain’s austerity measures, recommends tax cuts
Wounded Saleh plans to return to Yemen
Rasmussen: NATO not keen to send troops on ground in Libya
Former Giants WR Plaxico Burress released from prison
Interpol says al Qaeda remains biggest global threat |
Hackers claim to have hit Sony again |
Sony unveils new handheld device, seen expensive |
Apple's Jobs makes big push into an everyday cloud |
FT launches Web-based app to work on all tablets |
Taiwan's HTC May sales more than double |
Microsoft's Kinect to control TV, YouTube, more games |
Analysis: Nimble Asian rivals raid Nokia's emerging markets turf |
Toshiba, Sony plan to merge small LCD panel units: sources |
Katie Couric signs deal for ABC talk show |
AC/DC singer driven to write about cars in memoir |
Syria to send army to town after scores killed |
Special Report: Inside Germany's E.coli hunt |
Josh Duhamel returning to 'All My Children'
South Sudan death toll tops 1,500: U.N. |
Japan makes new nuclear safety vows after quake |
Rate of German E.coli cases slows, tests inconclusive |
Tortured for ransom in the Sinai desert
Iran says no offer from world powers could halt its enrichment |
Car blast in Moldova kills national tennis chief |
Jewish settlers accused in West Bank mosque attack |
Ivoirian refugees watch and wait in Liberia
Britney Spears expands European 'Femme Fatale Tour' dates
RSA offers to replace SecurIDs after Lockheed hacking |
Parliament speaker lambasted over Somali govt’s protracted bickering
NATO daytime air strikes hit Libya near Gaddafi's compound
Lady Gaga honored with CFDA Fashion Icon award
Huge demand for hearing aids
Chicago area prep hoops star shot, killed after birthday party
Volvo recalls S60 due to fuel pump issue
French media can tweet -- but can't mention Twitter |
Sienna Miller settles phone-hacking claim |
Nashville marks 40 years of country music festival |
Bobby Kennedy Jr. battles big coal in documentary |
Lyon gives Wagner's Tristan a moving production |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01