Women Learning Thai… and some men too ;-)

The signs of the Red Shirts…

Bangkok is dripping in red: Red shirts, red hats, red clappers, red headbands and more. All are slathered with slogans. Some are for an English audience – hello BBC! – but most are in Thai.

So… do you know what the Red Shirts are saying? In Thai?

If you intend on witnessing the Red Shirt march this weekend, how about brushing up? It would be good reading practice. Or, at the very least, a lark.

UDD reveals route for Saturday march: The convoy would move along Yommarat and Phetchaburi roads to the Asoke intersection and turn right to Ratchapisek road, he said. From the Fortune Town department store, the red-shirts would turn to the right and march along Lat Phrao road to Bang Kapi, Lam Sali intersection, Ramkhamhaeng road, Rama 9 road, Khlong Tan, Phra Khanong, Silom, Rama IV, Klongtoey, Odeon circle, Yommarat and back to Phan Fa bridge.

Additional rounds found via twitter@tulsathit: Pokklao Bridge, BanKaek intersec, Wongwien Yai, Taksin, Tha Pra, Jaran intersec, Pin Klao Bridge.

To make sure I understood the nuances of the slogans (translated below), I sat down with Khun Phairo (my long suffering Thai teacher). As we were under time constraints, Friday night I asked Rikker from Thai 101 to check for mistakes (mine).

Rikker’s input cleaned up typos, tidied up my too literal translations (although I did leave one in), and added the needed political background. A good thing too, as I did not cotton to the change when bouncing between Red and Yellow. I did notice references to the elite in the English language news, but… sigh… Sometimes Thai numbs me. So Rikker, thanks for clearing it up.

NOTE: To see the Thai transliteration, scroll over the English translation (not the Thai). The tone marks are not perfect, but… hey…

Red Shirt headbands…

There was no lack of headbands anywhere. At Phan Fa Bridge I watched Red Shirt’s marking out their territory for the duration, while others were just arriving. As I wandered around taking photographs, these fun-loving guys (below) waved me over.

ไม่ ต้อง จ้าง, กู มาเอง

No need to hire me, I came by myself.

Kaewmala: Not hired, I fricking came on my own.

How fun. This headband is about Red Shirt supporters getting paid to show up in Bangkok. There are crazy rumours about payments, but the standard figure being batted around is 300 baht a day, which is a little over US$9. US$9 is pocket change for some, but in Thailand (especially in the rural north) it’s a decent day’s wage.

แดง ทั้ง แผ่นดิน

The whole land is red.

Apologies, but I couldn’t make out the Thai script located on the far right headband.

ยุติธรรม กลับ คืนมา

Bring back justice.

This photo was taken alongside Central Mall (Ladprao), on day four. Compared to previous days, day four had wealthier Red Shirt supporters amongst the rest. That’s what I noticed anyway (did anyone see the same?)

รวม พล คน เสื้อ แดง

Red Shirts unite!

During my four days running around with the Red Shirts, the slogan Red Shirts unite! came up most often.

And isn’t she sweet? She wasn’t comfortable surrounded by strangers making noise – there was a LOT of noise at Phan Fa Bridge – but her daddy was visibly proud.

อำมาตย์ ชั่ว

Wicked/evil elite.

What a great face he has :-) Btw – He’s not blowing me a kiss. He was finishing a snack, but wanting me to take photos anyway.

In my reckoning, there wasn’t enough street food available in the Phan Fa Bridge area to feed the thousands of people from the countryside. When I queried Khun Pissout, he replied that the supporters were fed elsewhere (and I believe, for free).

ความจริง วัน นี้

Truth Today.

And here’s another great Thai smile. Her slogan comes from the political TV show) of the same name.

The logo and/or slogan was around during last year’s Red Shirt rallies. During these four days I saw a number of shirts and banners from the 2009 Red Shirt event. Actually, anything red was a consideration (slogans didn’t seem to matter): Bowling shirts, pizza delivery hats, etc.

ยุติธรรม เป็น สากล

Justice is universal.

รอ วัน ทักษิน กลับ

Waiting for the day Thaksin comes back.

Red Shirt t-shirts…

T-shirts were also in abundance. When I decided to write this post, I came close to running out to buy a selection… but then I woke up (as I’ve already put Khun Pissout’s youngest through uni…)

เรา รัก ทักษิณ

We love Thaksin.

I expected to see more of the We love Thaksin type of slogans. A smattering made an appearance, but not in the numbers predicted. And, ok, it might just be my wishful thinking… hmmm?

นักรบ พระองค์ ดำ

Fighters of the Black King.

ศรีสะเกษ

Srisakate (the province they come from).

The Black King is the Thai King Naresuan. He was trained by the Burmese in martial arts, which eventually became Muay Thai (I believe).

The History of Muay Thai: King Naresuan was the King of Siam from 1590 until his death in 1605. At a young age he was taken captive by the Burmese to ensure the fidelity of his father, Maha Tammaraja, who became King of the Ayutthaya Kingdom after it was occupied by the Burmese in 1569. Naresuan spent nine years of his youth at Pegu under the protection of the Burmese King Bayinnaung, who trained him in martial arts, literature and military strategies.

The Red Shirts donning black shirts are members of the Black Guard. The Black Guard were assembled to protect the Red Shirts from harm (and some say to stop the Thai government from creating false problems). You can see the Black Shirts amassing in a previous post (second video): The Red Shirts in Bangkok: The Faces of Day Three.

Red Shirt flags…

โค่น ร้ฐบาล อำมาตย์ ยุบ สภา

Topple the elite government, dissolve parliament.

This design was on banners, flags, t-shirts, the sides of cars… you name it, I found it.

ชมรม คน รัก ประชาฐิปไตย

Democracy Lovers Club.

I have a zillion photos of this lovely man, but the flag was visible in only a few. None of the photos came out great, but… it’s being able to see the flag that counts.

Red Shirt signs…

As mentioned above, most signs include the different locations where the Red Shirt supporters hale from. Noticeable were streets in Bangkok, as well as countries outside of Thailand.

แดง ทั้ง แผ่นดิน

The whole land is red.

เคลื่อน พล ล้ม อำมาตย์

Marching to fell the elite.

หนอง บัวลำภู

Nongbualamphoo (a district in Ubonratchathanee).

14 มี. ค. 53 ปลด แอก ทาส อำมาตย์ มาเฟีย

14 March 53 (2010). Taking the yoke off the slaves of the mafia elite!

Mafia is (obviously) a foreign word: มาเฟีย /maa-fia/

จน เครียด เป็นหนี้ คิดถึง นายก ทักษิณ

Poor — Stressed — In debt. We miss PM Thaksin.

สันติ วิธี

The peaceful way.

ร่วมใจ ร่วมแรง

Hearts united, strength united.

แดง ลาดพร้าว

Reds from Ladprao.

รัก ความถูกต้อง รัก ความเป็นธรรม รัก ประชาธิปไตย

(We) love truth, love justice, love democracy.

14 มีนาคม 2553

14 March 2553 (2010).

This banner mentions government projects that failed for one reason or the other (usually corruption).

โกง ปลากระป๋อง

Corrupt! Canned fish.

The 2009 canned fish scandal: Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit yesterday said Wichen Sommat was responsible for arranging flood-relief bags which included Chao Doi brand rotten canned fish. About 100 flood victims became nauseous and vomited after eating the fish products which were donated through the Social Development and Human Security Ministry.

โครงการ แพง เพียบ

Lavish economy project.

A play on words (kaewmala: it’s the play on the term ’sufficiency economy’). This is in reference to corruption uncovered last year in the Sufficiency Economy Community Projects handled by the Democrats: โครง การ พอ เพียง /krohng gaan por piang/.

ไทย อ่อนแอ

Weak Thai.

More word play, only this one is pointing to a strong Thai project (corruption was apparently discovered there too).

ต้นกล้า มหาโหด

The brutal seedlings.

This calls attention to the Tonkla Archeep Project (โครง การ ต้น กล้า อาชีพ /krohng gaan dtôn glâa aa-chêep/), a vocational training program. It’s an expensive Abbisit project that failed enormously (emphasis on the enormous).

4 เสา ดอย แดก

4 Corruption hill

This is another play on words. Similar to the west, rich people in Thailand give names to their homes. (บ้าน /bâan/) สี่ เสา เทเวศร์ /sèe săo tay-wâyt/ is the name of Prem’s house. So ดอย แดก /doi dàek/ might be a play on the name of his house. ดอย is a reference to Khao Soi Dao (below — khao also means mountain/hill).

เขา สอย ดาว

Khao Soi Dao

The land belongs to the forestry department, but a VIP built a resort on the property: Khao Soi Dao land encroachment complaint.

ไอ้ รัฐบาล โจร หยุด โกหก ตอแหล

Damn government of thieves, stop lying!

นักรบ ธุลีดิน

Fighters for the common people.

There is a typo in the sign: ธุรี instead of ทุลี (seems that the Red Shirts spell as badly as I do ;-)

แดง พรเจริญ

Red Pornchareun (where they are from).

ชมรม คน รัก ประชาธิปไตย

Democracy lovers club.

อ. เซกา จ. หนองคาย

Seka District, Nongkhai Province (ditto on original location).

แดง นำ้ยืน

Reds from Nam Yeun.

โค่น อำมาตย์

Come to cut down the elite.

รัก ทักษิณ

We love Thaksin.

Bye, bye Red Shirts…

Well, (knock on wood) that’s pretty much a rap for me and the Red Shirts. Below is the entire week of the Reds:

• The Red Shirts are in Bangkok. Again.
• The Red Shirts in Bangkok: The Faces of Day Two
• The Red Shirts in Bangkok: The Faces of Day Three
• The Red Shirts in Bangkok: The Faces of Day Four
• The Red Shirts in Bangkok: Thai Army goes RoboCop
• The Red Shirts: Thai Reading and Listening

Larger photos will eventually go up on: Catherine Wentworth: Photography : Red Shirts

A special thanks goes to Gaccha for sharing his VOA files, Khun Phairo for being ever so patient while trying to stuff strong stem a lot cruel into my head, Kaewmala for answering an emergency question as well as adding more in the comments (below), and Rikker for being amazing. Again.

Enjoy…

RoboCops cover the Thai army…

Thailand’s RoboCops made an appearance on day one of the Red Shirt’s march into Bangkok. Impressed and surprised, I had Khun Pissout whip around to drive sloooowly past this Bangkok bunch.

But it wasn’t until day two, when I was dwarfed by RoboCops, that I realised just how impressive they are. And ok, sue me, but some men just look hot in uniform.

But there’s hot, and [...] Continue Reading…

Day three of the Red Shirts in Bangkok…

Ok, today is even more rushed than yesterday as I have company arriving any second soon. Yikes.

So here they are, the faces of day three…

Ok, my guests just walked in (they are watching me type this actually) so time to go!

EDIT: If you want to get minute-by-minute updates, follow Richard Barrow on twitter (thanks Talen :-)

Enjoy…

There be Red Shirts…

Thursday afternoon I tried to focus on a Friday post. Sigh. But I could not, would not settle. With everything going on this weekend, there was too much on my mind.

The closer the Red Shirt rallies came, the more alarming the news.

Protesters plan to paralyse Bangkok: city could burn
Thailand braces for massive political protests
Petrol sales and deliveries in Bangkok suspended

Expats started phoning one another [...] Continue Reading…

Tip Number 1: Take your time, enjoy your studies…

“Why does it have to be sooooooo hard?”
“Why does it have to take sooooooo long?”

Maybe we need a little attitude adjustment…? Maybe we need to listen more carefully…? Most of us do have nearly excellent hearing skills for normal conversational volume… BUT, most of us have very POOR LISTENING SKILLS for normal conversations… Just think of the [...] Continue Reading…