Gaybutton Posted August 24, 2008 Posted August 24, 2008 It looks like both Tuesday and Friday this week will not be the best days to be trying to get around or go sightseeing in Bangkok. Both groups are planning a major rally in Bangkok, but the time and place of each rally has not yet been announced. For those of you who have upcoming embassy business, it might be a good idea to try to take care of it on days when there are no marches planned, as far in advance as is feasible. You never know when the next march is going to take place. It would cause you major complications to put off embassy business until the last minute if you find that because of these marches you can't even get to your embassy. The following appears in THE NATION: _____ PAD Plans 'Largest Ever Rally' on Tuesday By SUNDAY NATION Published on August 24, 2008 Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said yesterday the group would stage its "largest ever rally" on Tuesday. It wants to oust the Samak Sundaravej administration, which it regards as corrupt and a proxy of ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Chamlong urged PAD supporters to join the protest on Tuesday morning at 7am but refused to say to where the demonstrators would march. He insisted the PAD was not calling for a coup and added that even if it did the military would not comply. The PAD leadership will inform demonstrators on Tuesday morning where they will march. Sites have been targeted, especially the proposed Parliament building at Kiak Kai, a project that he described as "a waste of money". He insisted that the demonstrators would not besiege Government House. The march will be peaceful and will not destroy public property. Chamlong denied that Tuesday's gathering was a way to end the marathon rally, now reaching 90 days. He added that the group's leaders were not seeking any political gain either, because "we're not politicians". The rally, he said, would continue until the government resigned. He defended the move as better than "analysing politics on a daily basis". Chamlong denied a claim by deputy government spokesman Nattawut Saikua that there had been conflict within the PAD, saying the rally would not have lasted 91 days if conflict truly existed. He added that he was confident police would keep pro-Thaksin supporters - who will also hold a rally on the same day at Chatuchak Park - at bay. Meanwhile, Pracha Prasopdee, People Power party MP for Samut Prakan, questioned the PAD's motive, saying that perhaps Chamlong or Sondhi Limthongkul wanted to become prime minister. Pracha added that if the PAD wanted to support opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva as PM, then Abhisit should appear at the PAD rally. Many pro-Thaksin, anti-coup groups such as Saturday People Against Dictatorship, taxi-drivers and White Doves, will meet, discuss the situation and hold a press conference on Tuesday. They expect to hold their own rally at Sanam Luang on Friday. Quote
Guest Posted August 25, 2008 Posted August 25, 2008 Personally, I wish they would just return most of his money and let him live abroad. Is that not in the best interest of all? It would keep him out of the limelight at least. Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 26, 2008 Author Posted August 26, 2008 Today is the big day for the major rally. At the time I am posting this, it is only 7:45am and already trouble has started. The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ "Them or us" Nattaya Chetchotiros and Pradit Ruangdit The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) is betting its future on Tuesday's showdown with the government with confidence that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet will be toppled. Calling today's showdown "the last whistleblow", Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the PAD leaders said: "If we fail this time, we'll quit and surrender the country to them. When people don't care about us, we won't have to care about them. Let others take over the country." But the group, which has staged the protest rally since May 25, will face defiance from the prime minister, who refused to bow to any move outside parliament to force him to step down. The government came to power legally and the only way to remove it from power should be through parliamentary means, Mr Samak said. "As prime minister, I am duty-bound to keep law and order in the country. Demonstrations must be kept within legal limits. If they go beyond those limits, the law enforcers will take action," Mr Samak said. Mr Sondhi expected 300,000 PAD supporters to turn up today but police estimated the rally would draw only tens of thousands. The PAD's strategy is to paralyse the administration and the country. It includes the seizure of Government House and all ministries along Ratchadamnoen avenue , disrupting two airports in Phuket and Hat Yai, and blocking roads, according to Mr Sondhi. "Today's protest is an extraordinary one. We will do everything possible to make sure the state mechanisms stop working. But we will not do anything to cause trouble to the people," Mr Sondhi said. A unit of about 100 Arintharat commandos have now been sent in to secure Government House. Mr Samak called the PAD's actions unreasonable and said they could hurt the country's economy. "People have started to panic. This is too much. But I will try my utmost to be patient," he said. He confirmed that the cabinet meeting would proceed as usual today despite the rallies and denied suggestions the government would resort to violent means to break up the rallies. Jatuporn Promphan, a People Power party MP, ridiculed the PAD's claimed final campaign, saying it was simply an attempt to make an early exit from their activities. Metropolitan police chief Pol LtGen Aswin Kwanmuang said police would not block protesters' movements and would help manage traffic flow. "Police units will be in place to facilitate movement, not to break up the rally," Pol Lt-Gen Aswin said. Police spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong said the national police chief has told officers to be patient in the face of the demonstrations. Special Branch police chief Pol LtGen Thiradet Rodphothong said people from Chon Buri would form the largest number of demonstrators in Bangkok. The protest would be joined by 2,000 to 3,000 staff of the Provincial Electricity Authority, according to Phien Yongnoo, chairman of the labour union of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority. But Sirichai Mai-ngam, chairman of the labour union of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, said the PAD leaders have not yet approached them to join today's protest. "We will wait to see the situation before making any move," he said. ____________________ Earlier Report: (By BangkokPost.com) Tens of thousands of demonstrators assembled on Monday for "one last protest march" to block highways, Bangkok streets and access to Government House to try to force Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his government out of office. Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have vowed to block major roads leading to Bangkok while PAD demonstrators in Bangkok plan to lay siege to Government House. The demonstration may focus on Government House, in attempt to force a confrontation when Mr Samak and ministers hold their weekly cabinet meeting. Retired Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, core leader of the PAD, called on anti-government demonstrators from everywhere to gather at Makkawan Bridge at 7am on Tuesday to begin moving to Phitsanuloke Road "to lay siege at Government House". The bridge has been the street headquarters of a 24/7 PAD protest since May 25. Mr Samak, in a strongly worded statement broadcast live on NBTV from Government House, called for the public to exercise discretion and pledged security forces would try to prevent violence. Mr Samak said: "The movement tomorrow should be abide by the laws.... If it goes beyond the boundaries of the law, police will handle it. "This government comes from legal elections. If someone want to overthrow the government, they should ask parliament. "About cases in the court process: If I have to quit, I will quit.... I am confident whatever happens, I can accept it. Whatever happens, it will not affect this country." The prime minister asked the PAD not to resort to violence, saying that the government will itself exercise restraint and try its best to maintain law and order. He vowed to take legal action if the PAD goes beyond the limits of the law. He also vowed that "a cabinet meeting will be held as usual tomorrow" (Tuesday). He pleaded for public "help to take care of the country," and asked them not tosupport a group of people who have been campaigning for the overthrow of the government. PAD members from Bangkok and the 14 southern provinces began to assemble at a gateway to the South on Monday afternoon. PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, said, via satellite-based ASTV: ''I'm making one last call for people in the North to come down and the South to come up. We'd like to ask people in every sector to come out. ''We ask you to trust us, the PAD core members.'' Protesters said they will seek to block main roads from the North, Northeast, eastern provinces and the South. If there is any resistance or clashes, "reinforcements" will join the battle. Politicians from all sides rallied around the government. Abhisit Vejjajiva, the opposition and Democrat party leader, said he believed Mr Samak would not resign and he did not see why the prime minister would yield to the PAD’s demands. "The government has not done anything wrong or malign to the country," he said. Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart said the government believes the PAD will not go beyond limits and bring the country’s administration or economy to a halt by laying siege to Government House or blocking roads in all regions. Maj-Gen Sanan warned the PAD to be careful, saying certain elements could stage an untoward incidents to incite unrest and a coup. The prime minister said he is ready to accept the outcome of all legal cases against him and vowed not to cause any damage to the country, adding that he is ready to leave his post through the right channels, not by pressure from any group. In his statement Mr Samak also strongly criticised the media for having too pessimistic an attitude against him. Late Monday afternoon, PAD supporters had arrived at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge from the provinces to prepare for the Tuesday rally. Pol Lt-Gen Aswin Kwanmuang, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said police will be deployed to provide security, maintain law and order and facilitate traffic flow. The police will not obstruct the PAD march, which is expected to be peaceful he said. Supachai Jaisamut, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said the ministry has coordinated with the Royal Thai Police Office and other security agencies to ensure law and order. Authorities concerned will not obstruct the PAD march, he said. ____________________ And this, from THE NATION: _____ Protesters Try to Seize NBT Station on Vipavadi Road By The Nation Protesters Block Entrance of National Broadcasting Telelvision Station on Vipavadi Rangsit Road on Tuesday. Police detained on Tuesday a group of protesters who tried to seize an NBT television station on on Vipavadi Rangsit Road. The attempt took place at about 5.30am when there are a few staffs of the NBT at that moment. The group, comprising about 60 men, covered their faces with black pieces of cloths and dressed in black t-shirt and jeans. Two NBT television hosts said in a news television programme at about 6.10am that police found a handgun and long knives from the group. The group also broke a glass door in their way to go to the station's building. They separated into several groups and went into the station. NBT staffs were told to leave the office. Police are interrogating the group. One of them was Nitirat Sapsomboon. Police brought the protesters who had weapons into 3 trucks to a police station while searching for protesters who might hide in the office. Main protest will go to the Government House where Samak Cabinet will meet in its weekly meeting. Quote
