Today the Bangkok locals on Twitter were abuzz with news and comments after taxis blockaded all roads into the roundabout at Victory Monument. The so-called "Red Shirts" (UDD) gathered en masse. I tweeted what I could see from my balcony. Breaking Tweets featured the story.
It was interesting to see opinions from both sides in real time. One twitterer, clearly not a Red Shirt sympathizer, linked to a phony Red Shirt membership application. It's intentionally offensive to the Thaksin loyal, but it gives a clear picture of how some view the protesters: as uneducated rabblerousers.
Amused, I hastily translated it into English and tweeted it.
Here is the original letter, linked variously on the web, but I read it on this blog on the Manager website (click to embiggen):
What do Thai call the เสื้อแดง - apart from that? It is an abbreviation, but I can't recall what it is right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
It's นปช. (read นอปอชอ) -- you can see it in the top right corner of the fake application.
ReplyDeleteStands for แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาติ (National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship) = UDD.
It used to be นปก. (read นอปอกอ) -- แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยขับไล่เผด็จการ Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship) = DAAD.
Excellent, RIkker - I knew you were the guy who would have that answer at hand.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd heard both นปช and นปก, but was starting to question my sanity, or my ears. At least, I was confused...
Thanks for the detailed clarification.