Pattaya Daily News

Bangkok, March 17, 2010, [PDN]: the Association of Medical Technology of Thailand (AMTT) reported, yesterday, that of the blood donations collected, 2% were infected with HIV/AIDS, 5% with hepatitis B and the same percentage with hepatitis C, without specifying exactly how they had reached that conclusion. If true, this illustrates how by using low-tech methods of blood collection and screening neither the blood donors nor their donations, the Red Shirt are working against the common interest, just to make their point.

Meanwhile, hi-tech methods are being employed by both sides of the political divide, the Red and Yellow factions, as well, reportedly, as foreign powers contributing to the mix, the US in particular. The US earned the wrath of the Red Shirts after Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban let it slip, yesterday, that its intelligence agencies had learnt of potential sabotage attempts, partially by tapping some of Thaksin’s phone conversations.

Accordingly, after their blood protest outside the premier’s residence, Red Shirt elements apparently went to the US Embassy in Witthayu Road to call the Americans to account.

As for the cyber-war between the Red and Yellow Shirts, prominent social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook, are being used by both sides in an effort to keep their cronies abreast of developments and win over fence-sitters to join their particular side. Both factions have apparently had agents in situ, filming or capturing on phone cameras rally developments as they happen in real time and losing no time in posting pictures and commentary on Twitter and Facebook. These postings have been advocating both aggression, like the Facebook group ‘Watch Red Shirts’ and pacifism, like ‘Stop Ruining Thailand’ and “We Love Thailand’. There have also been anti-Thaksin groups, like ‘Stop Thaksin Shinawatra from Poisoning the Kingdom of Thailand’ and ‘Against Thaksin Shinawatra’, the latter having 1 million members. On the other tack, certain Red Shirt groups have been pouring anti-monarchy sentiments across the Internet and the number of Lese Majesty websites has increased up to 160 daily.

In this cyber-war, the pro Red-Shirt politicians have been doing somewhat better than the government, posting numerous threads on both Twitter and Facebook, whereas only Korn Chartikavanij has been active on the social networking sites, according to the Bangkok Post.

It appears those who have the most efficient cyber-warriors will win this particular war.

Taliesin Verity
Chief-Reporter
news@pattayadailynews.com

Related items

• Street Vendor Arrested Selling Anti Abhisit-Suthep Sandals
• Thailand’s New Army Chief Speaks on Colour-coded Nation
• Discovery of 3 Unexploded Bombs Raise Tensions in Bangkok
• Thai Rich-Poor Divide Increases According to Forbes
• Thai Premier Seeks to Clarify Ongoing Preah Vihear Dispute

Extensive Gallery [ 4 photos ]