Red Shirts

[ElectricSheep1203]

Hey guys,

I heard about the situation in Thailand, and ive been reading up on it, and i dont know what exactly is going on. I gather that Abhisit Vejjajiva was appointed the new leader of Thailand and now a lot of people aren't happy with the decision. Thats all i understand as to what is going on.

Can anyone explain what the full story is? I've been trying to find some sort of "backstory" so to speak as to what lead to the current protests going on, but all the pages i could fin only lead me to what is happening in to protest.

Thanks :)

[Proletarian Ultra]

Try these articles from Harpal Brar of CPGB-ML:

http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/mar2008/thailand.php
http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/jan2009/thailand.html
http://www.lalkar.org/issues/contents/may2009/thailand.html

[AK]

Unfortunately, it seems to be some nationalist movement - fighting for this Bourgeois "democracy" lark. But it does show the very real potential that the working class has to be militant and challenge the way things are and potentially overthrow the system.

[cyprose]

Unfortunately, it seems to be some nationalist movement - fighting for this Bourgeois "democracy" lark. But it does show the very real potential that the working class has to be militant and challenge the way things are and potentially overthrow the system.

If only i realized earlier that they were nationalist. -_-"

[AK]

Fig. 1: Red shirts = Thai nationalists
http://www.thaiphotoblogs.com/media/blogs/new/090401.jpg

[cyprose]

Fuck nationalism,it divides us workers. Hmm,maybe thats why some seem so xenophobic. Thanks for the heads up Kappa.

[ContrarianLemming]

Nationalism is a poison of socialism
national socialism!

[AK]

Nationalism is a poison of socialism
national socialism!
I'm confused just as to what point you're trying to bring across to us, here...

[MortyMingledon]

I feel I have to butt in here.

The red shirt movement isn't a nationalist movement so much as a populist movement. Its leaders use slightly xenophobic (but not overly nationalistic) reasoning to sway the members of the movement, but this is only done in a populist sense; only to attract popularity by playing on the emotions of the common people. The movement also includes some left-wing traits, as its main appeal is with the agricultural rural poor from Thailand's northeast region. It could have been the start of a genuine movement for the advancement of the lower classes, but sadly the movements was (like so many movements before it) hijacked by populist capitalists who only seek to obtain power.

[cyprose]

I feel I have to butt in here.

The red shirt movement isn't a nationalist movement so much as a populist movement. Its leaders use slightly xenophobic (but not overly nationalistic) reasoning to sway the members of the movement, but this is only done in a populist sense; only to attract popularity by playing on the emotions of the common people. The movement also includes some left-wing traits, as its main appeal is with the agricultural rural poor from Thailand's northeast region. It could have been the start of a genuine movement for the advancement of the lower classes, but sadly the movements was (like so many movements before it) hijacked by populist capitalists who only seek to obtain power.

That is why some of the members seem somewhat xenophobic.