Gaybutton

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ More Rallies 'As Soon as Decree Ends' By THE NATION Published on April 16, 2009 Movement will Regroup and Hit Back Stronger, Pheu Thai MP Vows The red shirts were likely to regroup after the government lifts the state of emergency, sources from security forces said yesterday. Although life in Bangkok appears to have returned to normal, intelligence officials have had tips that supporters of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra plan more rallies as soon as the state of emergency is discarded. Red-shirt leaders such as Jatuporn Promphan, Jakrapob Penkair had earlier announced they were ready to stage an underground movement. Informants claim the new round of rallies were intended to be more dramatic than those that took place in recent days. The government has been warned to check D-Station carefully and take legal action against taxi drivers' local radio stations as they were a media allegedly instigating an uprising and anarchy. Pheu Thai Party Udon Thani MP Lt Col Surathin Pimanmekin said the red shirt movement would continue although they had been told by the leaders to suspend the protest. "People who are treated unfairly still want to demonstrate their protest in their own way. They do not need leaders. Having leaders does not necessarily ensure victory." He said provincial people would come to Bangkok to issue demands to the government. Democrat Party adviser Banyat Bantadtan believed the red shirt movement would revive after regrouping to try gather more strength. However, he said the longer the rallies went on, the more public opposition the red shirts would face before finally dying down. "Thaksin fears that it would reach that point and that's why he has been calling for a mediator to bring reconciliation,'' he said. Banyat, formerly a Democrat Party leader, gave three reasons that would drive Thaksin to compromise: first he doesn't want to go to jail. The Supreme Court's Political Division for Political Office Holders had sentenced him to two years in prison over a land deal by his ex-wife. Secondly, he did not want to lose his assets (courts are due to rule on $2 billion of family money that has been frozen in Thai banks). And third, he wanted to return to power. Banyat said it would be hard to find people who would act as a mediator for Thaksin, as the former PM wanted the government to throw 13 graft cases, worth Bt200 billion in damages, out of the court. "Thai society has developed to the point that people will not allow a few people to settle this problem because it goes against moral and legal grounds,'' he said. Meanwhile, a former Roi Et MP for the pro-Thaksin People Power Party, Nisit Sinthuprai, claimed the riots this week were the work of a third party and not the red shirts. He also claimed the military crackdown on the protesters on Monday led to deaths and that he would find evidence and relatives of people supposedly killed to present to the press. He said the red shirts had not lost the war; they were just taking a recess. "We will actually steal a small victory by breeding red-shirt seeds in the heart of people. Once we blow the whistle, a bigger number of red shirts will turn up." He said he would be a second-generation leader for the red shirts and would lead a rally to call for the resignation of three privy councillors and the PM.

There are no gay bars in Sukhotai, but if you cruise around the markets you have a good chance of finding someone. If you're staying at a hotel, a discreet tip to a bellboy might produce results. He probably knows someone or may be willing himself.

Apparently they've taken their we site offline or let it lapse. Their phone number is 038 720 688. The office is located 1 block west (toward the beach) of the Third road intersection on Central Road (Pattaya Klang).

The Thai banks have not reported the exchange rates online since April 10. The best I can come up with is what is showing on the Oanda site, that the current exchange rate is 35.66008 baht to the US Dollar. The following article says the baht has been downgraded. I have very little understanding of economics and I don't have any idea what this means or where it will lead. Perhaps someone who understands these things can post a reply. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Baht Downgrade 'Understandable' Published: 15/04/2009 The downgrading of the baht's credentials from "A" to "A-" by Standard&Poor's was understandable in the wake of the Songkran holiday riots and the country will just have to live with it, Thai Chamber of Commerce adviser Arch Taolanont said on Wednesday. Foreigners now saw increased investment risks, he said. The S&P downgrade would increase the cost of the government’s planned bond issues and and foreign loans it enters into. This also applied to the business sector, Mr. Arch said. He expected Thailand’s rating would prove with a speedy restoration of both the economic and political scenes by the government. Lifting the state of emergency as soon as possible would allay investors’ worries and boost confidence in the country. he said. The international ratings agency lowered Thailand's local currency rating to "A-" from "A'' on Tuesday and said the outlook for the rating was negative, meaning it could be downgraded again. The country's foreign currency rating was left unchanged at "BBB+" with a negative outlook.

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Thaksin's Passport Revoked, Retains Citizenship Published: 15/04/2009 The passport of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been revoked for his role in inciting the protests that caused the cancellation of the weekend Asia summit in Pattaya and subsequent rioting, the chief government spokesman said on Wednesday. Thaksin still retains his Thai citizenship. ''The foreign ministry has cancelled his passport,'' spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said. ''The incident on the 11th [of April] is the reason. ''The decision to cancel his passport was based on passport issuing regulations, which state that the ministry can cancel or recall a passport if it can prove that a person has caused damage to the country,'' he said. "The cancellation will hinder Thaksin's foreign travel as a Thai, although his Thai citizenship remains intact," the spokesman said. Thaksin's diplomatic passport, issued to him as a former prime minister, was revoked on Dec 12 last year, days after the Abhisit Vejjajiva government came to power. Thaksin was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and lives in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for a corruption conviction. He has made a series of speeches to his red-shirted supporters in Thailand by videolink and phone in recent weeks urging them to overthrow the government . A Thai court issued an arrest warrant for Thaksin and 12 of his key supporters on Tuesday over the anti-government protests in Bangkok that left two people dead the previous day. The demonstrators abandoned a three-week vigil outside Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's offices at Government House on Tuesday after troops cleared rioting protesters from the streets on Monday. The withdrawal of his ordinary Thai passport is the latest in a series of actions against the outlaw politician, who fled Thailand to avoid a conviction and two-year jail sentence for abuse of power while in office. His assets in Thailand, worth an estimated 76 billion baht, were also frozen. He faces additional corruption charges if he returns, and arrest for inciting the unrest which led to the holiday weekend riots and cancellation of the Pattaya summit. The government spokesman said the Foreign Affairs Ministry had not reported canceling the passport of any other person wanted over the Songkran riots. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Thaksin's Passport Revoked The Foreign Ministry has terminated an ordinary passport held by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra since his traveling right might hurt the country, spokesman Tharit Charungvat said Wednesday. Thaksin's revoked passport is his last Thai traveling document after his diplomatic passport was terminated in the middle of December when the government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took office. His ordinary passport was revoked April 12 after he used video link a abroad to provoke a group of red shirted protesters to disrupt the Asean summit last Saturday. The foreign ministry has authority to recall any passports which the traveling holders could exploit it to facilitate their movement to hurt the country, Tharit said. However, the termination of his passport did not affect Thaksin's Thai citizenship, he added. Thaksin could no longer travel with Thai passport but he can ask for temporary traveling document from any Thai embassy or consult office in abroad if he wanted to return to Thailand, Tharit said.

Wednesday, April 15: _____ Today I drove down Beach Road, from the Dolphin Roundabout to the new Central Festival shopping mall. Almost as soon as you get as far as the Hard Rock Hotel, that's where the traffic backs up. It might as well have been the big Songkran day. Lots of people at the open air bars giving free ablutions to passers by, especially anyone on a baht bus or motorcycle. There were also lots of pickup trucks filled with revelers and their water barrels. Most of it was squirt guns, but some people were splashing people with full buckets of water. Need I tell you that almost all of that was drunken farang? Second Road was just as "busy." Once I reached Central Road (Pattaya Klang), all of it stopped. So it seems most of the goings on is taking place along the beach and the first couple of roads parallel to the beach roads. Other than that, I really saw nothing at all.

Ok, "it ain't true."

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Thaksin Has Been Found Out, and Out-Maneuvered Published on April 15, 2009 Before noon yesterday, key red-shirt leaders like Veera Musikapong and Nattawut Saikua, among others, realised it was time to cave in. They understood that it would be futile to continue fighting because their boss, Thaksin Shinawatra, had been finished. Yes, the plug had been pulled and the fugitive former PM was completely routed. It will be difficult for Thaksin to seek asylum because most countries would not want to welcome him now that they have witnessed the riots and subversive tactics used by his supporters in Bangkok. Thaksin was caught telling blatant lies on CNN and BBC, feeding false information to the global audience that his red-clad supporters were fighting for democracy - when in fact they were burning Bangkok to pave the way for his return. He was reading a script, telling the international news channels that the military had killed many of his pro-democracy protesters, when in fact there was not a single such case of death reported. The only two people who died, had done so during clashes between Bangkok residents and the protesters. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was wisely exercising restraint, allowing Thaksin to make blunders. Thaksin, who bet all his political fortune on April 13, has failed miserably. He had his red shirts set fires around Bangkok just as Neptune overshadowed the Sun - a bad omen. He thought he had big military and police bosses on his side, as well as some politicians on the government wing. He remembered to move his family out of Thailand a few days before the Songkran inferno. Khunying Pojaman is currently shopping in Dubai, still with plenty of money in her pocket. Thaksin thought he could hold Thailand hostage as he bargained for his return, his amnesty and his Bt76 billion in assets. He thought he was entitled to a royal pardon because he had Thailand in the palm of his hand. But his strategy backfired. Thaksin failed to get critical mass support. On the contrary, Bangkok residents rose against his red-shirt supporters, who were burning Bangkok while he - just as Nero fiddled while Rome was burning - was singing on his karaoke machine. The subversive tactics being used by the red shirts appalled the global audience. This was a critical factor. If most Thais were to rise against the red-shirt movement, then Thaksin could only go under. Thaksin thought that the burning of Bangkok would force the country into lawlessness and the military would step in to intervene in his favour. The plan did not work. The whole world realised that Thaksin had duped it all along, and many Thais were disgusted by his ability to destroy the nation in exchange for his return to power. Bangkok was ravaged all Songkran Day, before the security forces brought the situation under control. By then Thaksin must have realised that the game was up. Now all the red-shirt leaders will be going to jail under treason charges. If you plant gas tanks and threaten to set them ablaze, you are committing an act of terrorism and subversion against the state. It is not too difficult to trace who ordered the trucks to be brought onto the streets. Now Abhisit has emerged as a strong leader. He has almost transformed overnight from a lame-duck PM who was forced to cancel the Asean Summit in Pattaya into a leader who can defuse a political crisis in a subtle and artful way. There were no deaths during the authorities' crackdown against the red shirts. Only two persons were pronounced dead, both as a result of shooting by the red shirts. Abhisit has prevailed despite the military, the police, the security people and his own political partners plotting against him. Though we have no evidence to substantiate doubts that these top people are linked to Thaksin, we did not see Army chief General Anupong Paochinda or police boss Patcharawat Wongsuwan show up while the red shirts were ambushing the Asean Summit. The security forces were not doing their duty, standing by idly as the protesters wreaked havoc in Pattaya. So far none of Thailand's top security people have come out to admit that they failed to provide security for regional leaders and Thailand's guests. Abhisit is known to have sought advice from a special unit, set up in haste under his command. As Thaksin played his cards one by one, the advisers countered each hand effectively until Thaksin lost his bet. At this hour, with the power of the emergency decree in his hand, it is Abhisit - not the Army chief - who is the most powerful person in Thailand. He must use this occasion wisely by controlling the red shirts and dealing with the failure of the security apparatus, which has been undermining national interest and the government's stability. We expect to see a reshuffle of top security and peacekeeping personnel soon. However, if Abhisit resorts to his image of a timid Oxford graduate, he would be missing out on an opportunity to take the country forward. Now is the time for him to stand tall and be the prime minister of Thailand. ____________________ The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Thaksin Needs Change By: Atiya Achakulwisut Published: 15/04/2009 These past few days have felt like a nightmare, like groping for the way out in a deep, dark tunnel full of pitfalls. But one thing has become clear: we now know why fugitive Thaksin Shinawatra made sure his children left Thailand. He did not want his kids, who recently claimed in a book that they'd suffered horribly from political harassment, to be in harm's way. Let other people's children face the mayhem. Has anyone ever looked into Thaksin's eyes? Could they tell anything about his soul? Does he have one? As the tension and mayhem subsided, one voice remained in my head. It was that of a Nang Lerng resident. It sounded so young, full of anxiety and ambivalence; yet it was obvious the young man was trying his best to do his good citizen's job of calling the TV station and recounting the day's incident to the two anchorwomen. His 19-year-old brother had been hit when drive-by shooters sprayed bullets into the neighbourhood, whose members had banded together to fight off red-shirted rioters who tried to set fire to tyres near their wooden houses. As he finished giving his account and the two anchors were about to cut him off, the young man made one last plea. "Phi khrub," he said, "I still don't know how my little brother is doing. If you'd please check on him for me, could you?" The genuine anxiety in his voice made the whole thing even more tragic. This was a young voice you'd associate with what is bright and beautiful in life, with a future and its many promises. The kind of voice you wouldn't want broken by tragedy. The anchorwomen promised they would and asked him his brother's name. Yuthakarn, the youth replied. Soon after, the breaking news came up. Two deaths had been confirmed from the Nang Lerng clash. One of them was a 19-year-old male named Yuthakarn. I want to say that Thaksin, who instigated the mob and whipped them into this frenzied state so that they'd smash things down enough to pave way for his return to power, is responsible for the young man's death and for the melee that essentially turned Bangkok into a war zone. How does he intend to redeem the lives lost? He cannot. And that makes what he's done hideous. Was the Sept 19 coup bad for Thailand? Definitely. Was it wrong for our democratic development? Certainly. Does it offer justification to incite people, rouse them with hate speeches and blatant lies and then let them loose to wreak havoc on ordinary citizens and public property? Absolutely not. Was the coup necessary as a wake-up call for the all-too-powerful army to realise that the age of their intervening in politics through staging coups d'etat was over? Maybe. We haven't had another coup, despite the prolonged political tension and open rioting. It may have taken a long time, probably longer than many are willing to give it, but if the Sept 19 putsch serves as the last nail in the coffin of military coups in Thailand, would it have been worth it after all? Instead of trying to redo the past and get tangled in all its complexity, would it be wiser to use it to put a final stop to the practice and think of it as a stepping stone to a more democratic future? Isn't that what demonstrators of every colour want? Everybody can blame a bad childhood. Those who are smart, however, waste no time moping. They gather up the pieces and move on. The Abhisit administration may have won the first major battle with the red shirts but the seeds of discontent have taken root. The strength of the resistance - both those who support Thaksin for who he is and those who support him for what he is fighting against - should prompt whoever is thinking they can control it by force, to think twice. These people can't be dismissed. The government must find a way for their grievances to be taken into account, their cries for change heard and heeded, or it faces a long and belligerent war. Democracy is ultimately about fair compromise. It is obvious now that Thaksin neither knows nor respects that philosophy. He wants it all. If he can't have it his way, he'd rather destroy and burn it all. That is who he is. It will be a long road to rebuilding the country, bruised and burned in the Songkran skirmish. Again, the future might appear like walking in a deep, dark tunnel not knowing which direction to go and where the snags and perils are. But without the pixelated apparition of demagogue Thaksin Shinawatra inciting people and misleading them about what democracy is - now that his selfish motive and cruel intention have been laid bare - at least we won't feel so haunted. * Atiya Achakulwisut is Editorial Pages Editor, Bangkok Post.

The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Warrants Out for Thaksin, Protest Leaders Published on April 15, 2009 Dispersal of Red Shirts from Govt House not a Loss, Says Leader The Criminal Court yesterday issued arrest warrants for ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and 13 of his supporters over Monday's riots, police said. The court issued the warrants late in the afternoon after protest leaders told the red shirts camped out at Government House to go home before turning themselves in around noon. The warrant said Thaksin was sought for inciting unrest that led Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to cancel the Asean summit in Pattaya and impose a state of emergency that led to military crackdowns on protesters. "Thaksin and his allies are charged by court for illegal assemblies of more than five people, threatening violence and breach of peace, punishable by five years in jail," the warrant said. It said the former PM was also accused of inciting people to break the law and cause unrest, a charge punishable by seven years in prison. Red-shirt protest leaders, Veera Musigapong, Natthawut Saikua and Dr Weng Tochirakarn turned themselves in at the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters. Before surrendering, Weng told the red shirts that they had to move out of Government House not because they had lost but because they had to change their stronghold and rally strategies. He said basing themselves at Government House would put them at a great disadvantage, adding that he would take legal action against Abhisit for killing citizens. Natthawut told the red shirts that the rally had to be called off temporarily because they did not want more losses of lives. As their leaders were telling them to disperse, the red-clad protesters objected saying they wanted to continue fighting in Sanam Luang. However, upon refusal, they got upset and some even broke into tears. Protest leader Jakrapob Penkair, who disappeared while others were surrendering to police, told reporters on the telephone later that he would definitely not turn himself in, adding that the red shirts would continue protesting, but their strategies would be discussed later. He also said that though he did not know the whereabouts of Pheu Thai Party MP and fellow protest leader Jatuporn Prompan, he knew that he was safe. After being interrogated by police, the three protest leaders held a press conference. Natthawut said he was against moves to have him and his counterparts detained at a different unit or a military camp because their charges were for wrongdoings they had allegedly committed before the state of emergency was imposed. Later their lawyers said police agreed to detain them at the Metropolitan Police Bureau Headquarters until they were granted bail. Apart from Thaksin, the 13 people wanted are Veera, Jatuporn, Natthawut, Jakrapob, Weng, Adisorn Piangket, Sirawit Pimklang, Peera Pringklang, Narongsak Mani, Nattapong Intanang, Shinawatra Habunpad, Arisman Pongruangrong and a man only identified by his photo. Police yesterday issued arrest warrants for five men suspected of leading red-shirt protesters for wreaking havoc in Pattaya on Saturday. The five are Siriwan Nimitsilapa, Tornchai Sakmangkorn, Surachai Danwattananusorn, Sakda Noppasit and Pol Lt-Colonel Waipot Apornrat. Yuthana Cherngproey, a representative of the Asean meeting venue, Royal Cliff Beach Resort, filed a complaint with police estimating damages to the hotel at Bt141,824. Arisman, who was detained on charges of inciting unrest in Pattaya, won temporary release yesterday. The Pattaya Provincial Court approved his request for bail despite objections from the police on grounds that protesters in Bangkok had been dispersed.

The Songkran water splashing activity in Pattaya this year is much heavier than it has been in the past, with much more of it going on in more places, for longer periods of time than we've seen in previous years. Along Jomtien Beach Road, according to some locals, it might as well have been the actual big day. I observed water splashing going on as late as 7:30pm.

I believe it is over for Thaksin. You're right that only time will tell, but this really seems to have backfired on him in the end. I really believe he envisioned the outcome as ending in a triumphant return to Thailand, having his conviction overturned, regaining all his money, being placed back in as Prime Minister, and eventually becoming a dictator. It didn't quite work out that way. According to the latest news reports, apparently Thaksin is in Dubai. The Thai Islamic community is drawing up a petition asking Dubai to refuse him safe haven on the grounds that he instigated everything that has happened and incited the riots, the violence, and tried to overthrow the government. Where I come from, that's called treason and I fully expect that charges of treason will at some point be leveled against him. For all his wealth, I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now. There are still pockets of die-hard protesters, none of whom are wearing red shirts any longer, and the government has vowed to mop it up, but most have gone back home. Arrest warrants have been issued for 13 of the Red Shirt ringleaders.

Today the Red-Shirts ended their protest and are now returning home. Buses have been provided for them and the police have warned them that they ought to change their shirts to a different color so that people who they managed to infuriate won't attack them. The ringleaders have given themselves up to the police. The violence has ended and order has been restored. What nobody knows at this point is just how much damage has been done to the country as a whole, the people, the economy, to property, to Thailand's reputation, to the tourist industry, etc. Nobody knows how long it will take for Thailand to recover from this. And by the way, since the rally ended, nobody seems to have heard from Thaksin.

In my opinion, as badly as Abhisit underestimated what the Red Shirts would do at the ASEAN summit, Thaksin just as badly botched his attempt to force his way back into Thailand as a triumphant dictator. Look at the result of all this. Now the tourist industry is virtually destroyed. Millions, perhaps billions of baht worth of damage has been done to buildings, property, vehicles, etc. People have been hurt and killed. People have been seriously frightened. The country has been divided into Yellow Shirt vs Red Shirt. Thaksin gets neither his money nor his power back. The aftermath will probably result in hundreds of arrests as authorities are able to identify those responsible for damage, attacks, and other blatant lawlessness, unless they decide to go for a general amnesty. The value of the baht will probably take a serious hit. Thailand's reputation has been destroyed. And for what? I think the Thai government will also be very interested to find out which country not only gave safe haven to Thaksin, but also allowed him to make the broadcasts that incited all of this in the first place. From what I gather based on the latest news reports, the Red Shirts have lost and the insanity is winding down. I would not be at all surprised if the Thai government now makes a serious effort to have Thaksin brought back, while the country is still under military control, not only to serve his prison sentence, but to face a whole slew of new charges. I have no idea how strong or capable Thailand's intelligence service is, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the aftermath of all this somehow results in Thaksin's disappearance or he even becomes the victim of some sort of an "accident."

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Grim Warning: Stay Away from Thailand By: ACHARA ASHAYAGACHAT and AFP Australia, Russia and Hong Kong have joined governments around the world in advising their citizens to avoid or reconsider traveling to Bangkok. "We urge Australians not in Bangkok to reconsider their need to travel to Bangkok," Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told reporters in Canberra. "Those Australians who are in Bangkok, we urge them to stay within their homes or their hotels, to avoid demonstrations and to certainly avoid large gatherings of people." Mr. Smith's warning echoed an official travel advisory issued on Monday, the fourth time in three days the Australian government's advice on Thailand has been revised in the face of a rapidly evolving crisis. In Tokyo, the Japanese foreign ministry warned travelers to be on high alert and to stay away from government buildings and street rallies. The ministry also recommended that Japanese travelers and residents refrain from wearing red or yellow T-shirts to avoid being mistaken for either anti- or pro-government protesters. The Philippines, Malaysia and South Korea on Monday also told travelers to stay away from Bangkok or exercise extreme caution. And Hong Kong stepped up its travel advisory. "[The government] strongly urged Hong Kong residents to avoid traveling to Thailand, particularly Bangkok, unless they have an urgent need to do so," a spokesman said. "Those who are already there should stay away from large crowds or protesters." Beijing issued a warning that the situation has descended into violence. Officials said travelers considering Bangkok as a destination should adjust their plans. They said Chinese citizens in Thailand should avoid demonstrations and road blocks. The United States told citizens in Bangkok to avoid demonstrations and to exercise caution. Paris highly recommended that French citizens postpone travel arrangements to Thailand until the situation is stable. Foreign diplomats in Bangkok feared political turmoil might escalate to a civil war, which would inevitably invite another coup. Italian Ambassador to Thailand Ignazio Di Pace told the Bangkok Post the demonstrations were more serious than the political unrest last November when the PAD seized the airports. "It is sad and unfortunate that in the past three years Thailand has yet to solve political deadlocks in a democratic and constitutional manner that could stabilize the situation," the Italian ambassador said. Mr. Di Pace said there were concerns that if the situation escalated to a civil war, it would lead to another coup and "that would be dark days for Thailand". Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayagorn said police, military and civilians were under strict orders to defend themselves and the situation would be put under control as soon as possible.

Update, from THE NATION: _____ 11.00pm: PM Abhisit Vejjajiva appears in a press conference on TV pool programme with key officials. He reports that the government has tried to do its best according to the procedure and most areas are under control except the main rally site near the Government House. He expresses his sadness on the Nang Lerng incident. 10.40pm: More details are revealed on Channel 3's "Kow Sam Miti" (Three-dimensional news) on the shooting at Nang Lerng Market and the second victim known as Yutthakarn is pronounced dead. According to eyewitnesses, the Nang Lerng residents negotiated with the red-shirted protesters to remove a bus as they fear for their safety. They successfully pushed the bus away from the area but shortly after that, a number of motorcycles roamed the street and there were gun firing at the residents. Apart from Pom Pholphanbua, 50, who died on the way to the hospital; Yutthakarn died at the Central Hospital later and another lady severely injured from the shot on her foot. 9.30 pm: Details of the Nang Lerng Market shooting remains sketchy. Apparently, the victim was shot during a confrontation between Nang Lerng residents and some red-shirted protesters who allegedly caused fears that they might set fire to the market. Earlier, many vendors have helped troops confront protesters who were armed with a lot of molotov cocktails. The residents booed the protesters and cheered the troops, according to the Manager website. The website said up to 10 people may have been injured in the shooting. It said several protesters were armed with guns. The website said the protesters claimed they were intimidated by the presence of hostile Nang Lerng residents.

Update, from THE NATION: _____ 8.40pm: Red-shirted protesters entered Nang Lerng Market Monday evening and pushed the vendors outside. PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtoey tells NBT channel that three are injured and one guy named Pom aged 54 years old dies at the hospital after being shot by redshirted protesters, according to eye-witnesses who phoned Satit.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/...tml#cnnSTCVideo

Updates, from THE NATION: _____ 6.30pm: Narenthorn Emergency Centre's director Chatree Charoenchivakul in his interview with Thai PBS denies the rumour of death caused by the crackdown. "We are doctors and we have medical ethics. We'll certainly report the death if there is any." He says that the latest report shows 94 people injured of which 24 are in serious conditions. The injured people are both civilians and military officers and they are treated equally. 5.50 pm: Gunshots have been heard for around 10 minutes around the Army headquarters. Initial TV reports say it might be the result of a clash between red-shirted protesters and some people angry at their aggression. No injury is immediately reported. 5.45pm: Troops take control of the Royal Plaza area and there is no report of casualty. However,NBT reports that there are still a number of protesters left near the Education Ministry. The TV report says there is a sign of fire near the ministry and the officers now deploy force to investigate.

Monday, April 13: _____ The Songkran celebrations in Pattaya were not diminished by the insanity over the weekend. Today marks the beginning of Songkran in Pattaya, the traditional Thai New Year. It's almost impossible to believe that just two days ago Pattaya was experiencing the worst turmoil in its history. It's also difficult to believe that in nearby Bangkok people are being killed, hurt, arrested, beaten, threatened, and lord-knows-what else. In Pattaya you never would know anything was going on at all. It was the beginning of the annual Songkran water splashing fun (or ordeal, depending on how you look at it). Out in my area, "The Dark Side" east of Sukhumvit Highway, I observed no water splashing activity at all. However, it has begun within Pattaya. It's easy to get to and from the beach now, but the sporadic revelers are out there, gleefully dousing away. Most of what I observed was on Soi Buakhao. You couldn't go more than about 30 feet before encountering splashers. There was also plenty of it on Second Road and Thappraya Road, the road to Jomtien. I was not on Beach road today, but I imagine plenty of it was also going on there. Friends who live in Jomtien report that the splashing activities got underway today in that area too, as expected. However, once you're at the beach, you're safe. No splashing activity at all there. During this week it's best to seal whatever non-waterproof belongings you're taking with you in plastic bags. Again, you're only going to get doused if you want to get doused. Passengers on baht buses are especially tempting targets for the revelers. The solution to that is to sit up front with the driver. One thing I didn't like at all: I saw several revelers drenching people driving motorcycles. That is definitely against the law and extremely dangerous to do to people. Who do you think was doing all of that, at least from what I witnessed? Thais? No. All of it was being done by groups of drunken farang, most of whom probably don't have the first clue what the meaning of Songkran is in the first place.

Updates, from THE NATION: _____ 5.50 pm: Gunshots have been heard for around 10 minutes around the Army headquarters. Initial TV reports say it might be the result of a clash between red-shirted protesters and some people angry at their aggression. No injury is immediately reported. 5.45pm: Troops take control of the Royal Plaza area and there is no report of casualty. However,NBT reports that there are still a number of protesters left near the Education Ministry. The TV report says there is a sign of fire near the ministry and the officers now deploy force to investigate. 5.30pm : Audience in Khon Kaen and around 10 provinces in the upper Northeast are unable to watch news report on NBT channel as the red-shirted group demanded the station to cease broadcasting. After the rally in front of the station, the protesters are reportedly moving to block part of the Mitaparb Road and traffic has started to be congested. __________ And this: _____ Local Residents at Yommaraj, Nang Lerng Intersections Battle Red-Shirts About 500 local residents near the Yommaraj Intersection gathered to confront the red-shirted protesters after they set fires on roads. They clashed with the protesters after they protesters refused to put out the blazes they set to things used as barricades. Meanwhile, vendors and local residents near the Nang Lerng Market gathered to form line to guard their properties and shouted at the red-shirted protesters. They shooed away the protesters who threatened to slam their motorcycles at the local residents.

Update: _____ 4.35pm : Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd dismissed reports that soldiers who dispersed the red shrits in many areas used live bullets and have killed many protesters. In a live broadcast, Sansern said the soldiers used blank bullets and fired into the air as warning shots. "Reporters and camera men who accompanied the troops are our witnesses to prove that we used only blank bullets on the protesters. We also used practise bullets which created loud noise. The protesters distorted these, claiming that the soldiers fired live bullets and killed many protesters," he said. He insisted that no one was killed during the crackdown. 4.20pm : Government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn says the authorities manage to clear red shirted protesters from many areas on Monday afternoon, resulting in resuming of traffic near Victory Monument and nearby roads. All roads from the Foreign Ministry to Phaya Thai intersection and to Victory Monument were now safe for motorists and people. However the authorities have still tried to disperse the red shirts rallying near Yommarat express toll and Manangkasila Residence.

And here's what has been happening so far today, as published by THE NATION. There will be further updates later: _____ April 13, 2009, the Black Songkran Thailand Faces Another Black Day in Politics Tension remains very high in Bangkok, with retreating protesters putting up resistance near the Din Daeng flat and holding the community hostage by threatening to blow up a gas truck. Following is our live report: 3.30 pm: Supreme Commander Songkitti Jakkrabat, head of the committee enforcing the state of emergency, goes on TV to reiterate that the operation to retake key traffic areas has been carried out with all democratic principles respected. "We base our operation on the principles that everyone is Thai who has right to gather in peace without infringing on rights of others. We will never hurt Thai citizens but we reserve the rights to self-defence," he told a TV address. According to Songkitti, people coming back from Songkran retreat could face inconvenience as road blocks and searches will be required to make sure no weapons are sneaked into the city. He suggested travellers come back earlier or later in order to spread out traffic. 3 pm: Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd says that despite sporadic incidents. the operation to retake control of the Victory Monument and nearby areas has been "satisfactory". He denies claims that some protesters had been killed. There had been no death, he insisted. He also says footage of soldiers aiming and firing at protesters could have misled the public, because the soldiers were only firing blank bullets. 3.10 pm: Scattered protesters in the Sri Ayutthaya intersection are said to have fled toward the Urupong area. 2.45 pm: Tension is very high between flat residents and the protesters. One TV reporter reports seeing protesters beating and chasing some residents. 2.30 pm: Din Daeng flat residents and some officers try unsuccessfully to negotiate with red-shirted protesters who parked a gas truck near the flat the community. Gas valve has been secured and the authorities shower water on the truck. Although the protesters claimed the use of the gas truck was only meant as a blockade, there was increasingly fear among the residents about an explosion. 1.30pm: Thick smoke is spotted at the Victory Monument. Red-shirted protesters reportedly set tires on fire just opposite the Rajvithi Hospital and some protesters also drove a car over a fiberglass police statue near the monument. Police also ask people to get out of the pedestrian bridges around the monument but the Skytrain station was not closed yet. 1pm : it was reported that soldiers manged to take hold of all corners of the Din Daeng triangle and the red-shirted protesters backed towards Rajaparop Road. Twenty people were reported to be injured from the clash there. 12.15pm : an explosive sound is heard followed by smokes from a public park near the Victory Monument, where there are only the red-shirted protesterd. While soliders continue to push the protesters out of Din Daeng area towards the Victory Monument direction, the demonstrators set on fire a bus that was parked in the middle of the road. 12.10pm : soldiers continue to clash with the red-shirted protesters at the entrance to the Din Daeng elevated road. As the latest, the protesters reportedly tried to drive a bus into the soldiers but the officers counter that with gunshots thus the bus crash into the bridge railing. There was no report yet if anyone was killed. 12.30pm : PM's deputy secretary-general Panitan Wattanayagorn, on TV, ensures foreigners' safety and that the government is gaining control of the situation. Red Shirt's D Station black out. 12.10pm: Pheu Thai MPs threaten to mobilise more people to join protesters if the government does not stop using weapons, open an urgent joint-meeting among MPs and the Senate. 12.03pm : The gas truck is removed from King Power. 12pm : Protesters burn a bus at Din Daeng Triangle. Gun shots were heard. 11.45am : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva addresses live on TV, denying death report in the morning. He added that 23 soldiers and 47 protesters were injured. Four soldiers suffered bullet wounds. He calls on people to cooperate by filing information. He also tells people to be confident that the government is trying to restore order as soon as possible. 11.20am : The director of Rajavithi Hospital insists Monday that no protester was killed during the crackdown at the Din Daeng Intersection early Monday. 10am : Protesters park an LPG gas truck at King Power Shopping Mall. 9.50am : Protesters confront and throw molotov cocktails (bottle bombs) at soldiers around Din Daeng Intersection while (the protesters) retreating to Din Daeng flats. 9.30am : Weng Tojirakarn tells protesters to seize four buses and use them to block Orathai Bridge and Misakawan intersections. 8.45am : Police beef up force from 200 to 300 officers to secure Democrat Party headquarters on speculation that protesters would raid the place. Police later ask reporters and cameramen to move away from the area for fear that they would be injured in a possible clash with protesters. 8am : Protesters seize buses and use them to block Si Ayutthaya road. Some burn tyres at nearby intersections. 7.30am : Protesters at the Royal Plaza round up 15 journalists, saying they reported unfairly. The group attempt to attack, forcing journalists to leave. 7.20am : Deputy PM's Secretary-General Panitan Wattanayagorn tells a press conference Monday morning that some protesters were arrested, detained unharmed. Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the protesters were detained at "proper place" without elaborating. 7.15am : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva sets up a committee to direct the implementation according to Emergency Decree, authorising the Supreme Commander as the director to fix emergencies and prohibiting blockade of any roads in Bangkok and other effective areas. 6.40am : Protesters park 10-wheel gas truck on in-bound Vibhavadi-Rangsit road in Din Daeng Triangle area to prevent soldiers from coming in. Both directions of the road are closed. Protesters drive truck fueled by NGV gas into the compound. The truck uses several NGV cylinders and the protesters shouted that the flat residents should leave immediately, prompting speculation that the protesters would explode the gas tanks 6.00am : Army spokesman says soldiers fired tear gas at Din Daeng Intersection only after protesters threw Molotov Cocktails at them and tried to hit them with a bus. 4.30am : Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan says another leader Arisman Pongruangrong had been bailed out. 4am : Anti-government protesters and military officers are injured as the government has employed a force to disperse the protest near Din Daeng Intersection in Bangkok. Gunshots were heard until 5.30am. Soldiers insisted they fired the shots to the air. 1.30am : Three bombs are shot to Constitutional Court. One exploded while two did not. Police said the bombs could be M79 type.

According to the latest reports, the violence has escalated. 4 soldiers are reported shot. They were wounded, but I saw not reports to indicate the seriousness of their wounds. Also, in Bangkok the protesters set fire to a bus.

I used the standard by which we were all taught. I wanted to make certain you would not be confused . . .

Well then, in what should I get them caught?