Smell something fishy?

Since nobody is allowed to protest in Thailand without the red shirts attacking or at least harassing them, a red-mask group counter-protested, alleging an anti-monarchy bias by the white masks as the excuse for being there.

Noppadon Pattama said certain groups of people were attempting to destabilise the government via “legal mechanisms”. This is an interesting phrase, as though he wanted to say illegal mechanisms at a time when alleged reconciliation advocates want to legitimise the red-shirt rallies and presumably also the 50 red shirts haunting the home of the Constitutional Court president. 

Noppadon also claimed there were many rumours on the social networks that were untrue, but he did not mention the rumour about a snap election, declaring that the opposition should wait for the government to complete its four years. Remembering what happened in 2006, when the election fell around Thaksin’s ears, it might be worth checking up on the smaller parties to see if they are keeping their subordinates up to date in readiness for recruitment. That might be a pointer.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok