http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thaksin_Shinawatra. You're on the net - use it. :p

He is generally loved and respected by (most) Thais, also the reds. That's where his power comes from. The army would most probably not oppose him, ever.

Too bad he is kinda old, and his only son is not as much liked (he is called a playboy-prince). The king has a daughter though who is well liked, but she is not becoming a king either for obvious reasons.

I just read yesterday that the prince has "fled"(??????) to some luxury hotel in Britain. Probably just wants a vacation from the ruckus in his homeland.

I guess they should, but the yellow protesters don't want democratic elections because they know already they will lose every time, due to being in the minority (there are much more rural poor people, than rich or middle-class people living in the big cities). The yellows openly seem to think that the poor rural people are not fit to vote.

I've seen some suggestions by the yellows that there should be some other political system in Thailand instead of democratic elections. Like some kind of "public servant government" where the people of Thailand don't get to choose the people running the country. It should be the better people in Bangkok who run the country by default, I guess.

was there ever a benevolent dictator? can't really recall one.



my family used to travel to Thailand fairly often. 2 years ago my parents went there and were really impressed how the country changed in past 20 years. shame that's not really true.

what saddens me the most is people reaction. The moment government starts censoring media, should be the moment where one picks up a weapon and marches against the capitol. but people are cowards, are naive and just plain dumb and will accept the rule of military.

There's been a few imho, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Juan Peron, Fidel Castro (if you filter through all the US propaganda). My point before was mostly that power is not an inherently evil thing, and it can be used to improve the lives of others.

I somehow doubt that an unorganized mob of civies armed with brooms and kitchenknives is going to impress trained military forces armed to the teeth.

But no word of Bloodygoodgames, I guess they closed the webz too. =(

I'm sorry to say, Crossmando, that - although I know too little about the guys you listed (execept Castro) - you can probably say there's been a genuine benevolent dictator as much as you can say there's been genuine communism (never happened, they always got stuck at the socialism stage, the rule of the proletariat).

Sometimes I really wonder if a meritocracy with some kind of council wouldn't be the best...hmmm. The problem is people always get corrupted when they're in power.

As far as I can tell from the news, there are now big protests by the reds against the Thai military coup.

The yellows naturally support the coup which stripped reds of the power.