Gaybutton Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 As of noon today, the Bangkok protest marches are starting to become quite dangerous. The Bangkok Post reports that Thai stocks are falling sharply in the wake of the political upheaval. So far, neither the British or US embassies have issued any strong warnings. The only warning so far has come from the British embassy: Demonstrations outside embassy and honorary consulate (25/08/2008) It is possible that a demonstration will take place outside the British Embassy, Bangkok and the Honorary Consulate in Chiang Mai on Tuesday 26 August. Although we will be open for business as usual, access might be affected. If the demonstrations do go ahead we would advise you to reschedule your visit if at all possible. British Embassy, Bangkok 25 August 2008 The English language press have posted several articles: __________ From the BANGKOK POST: _____ Military Figures Meet to Discuss about Unrest (BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej shifted the weekly cabinet meeting Tuesday to the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters after supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked roads around the Government House. Meanwhile, Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit and chiefs of armed forces reportedly attend a separate meeting at the same venue to discuss about the political unrest. It is still unknown whether the military figures will meet with the ministers as anti-government protesters rallied at important venues around the capital. Meanwhile, a group of protesters gathered in front of the Metropolitan Police Bureau to demand that authorities release about 80 group members who were arrested for invading the state-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT) television station in the morning. Police, however, revealed that they were already moved to Border Patrol Police bureau. __________ From THE NATION: _____ Protesters Storm into NBT Station on Vipavadi Road By The Nation Electricity at NBT Cut Off, All Broadcast Programmes Suspended Protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy managed to break police corridor to enter compound of the National Broadcasting Television on Vipavadi Rangsit Road on Tuesday. Some 2,000 protesters pushed the entrance gate where police line tried to push back. Finally the protesters managed to push down the gate and entered the compound. The electricity was cut off, resulting in all programmes to be suspended at 8.30am. NBT station's acting director Suriyong Huntasarn said the protesters are now in the station's compound but has not yet entered the buildings. Suriyong said most of the station's staffs already left the station. The protesters started gathering in front of the station at about 6am, making police to seal off some roads leading to the station. Suriyong said it was not the station that cut off the electricity. He is talking with police in order to control the situation. Earlier 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. 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. _____ There Will Be No Coup : Gen Anupong By The Nation The Army gave an assurance on Tuesday that it will not stage a coup following the chaos caused by protests against Samak Government. Army Commander in Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda insisted the army will not intervene into the situation. The army chief was speaking after the protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy stormed and seized National Broadcasting Television office on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road on Tuesday morning. The general asked people not to be panic and spent their lives as usual. The main protest is at the Government House where tens of thousands of protesters surrounded the venue. The cabinet meeting has to move from the Government House to Supreme Command headquarters on Chang Wattana Road. The meeting is scheduled to start at 10.30am. Meanwhile an informed source said that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej left his residence at about 8.30am to unknown place. The source said Samak reportedly telephoned to Gen Anupong to check the situations from time to time. PAD-led protests have scattered around the capital. One is at the police headquarter and others at ministries of Transportation, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Finance. __________ From TNA _____ Anti-Govt Protesters Storm NBT Television Station, Halt Broadcast BANGKOK, Aug 26 (TNA) - Hundreds of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators broke through the closed gates of the state-run NBT television station and stormed into the premises, halting all programmes, as other groups of the PAD rallies at Government House and the Ministry of Finance to press the government to resign. After breaking through the NBT gates, the protesters poured into the premises and seized the station. The government-sponsored channel was airing its morning news programme showing the moment the protesters stormed into the station, for a moment only, as the station went off the air. Earlier in the day, before dawn at about 5 am, a group of people raided into the station to try to gain control of the facility. Police eventually regained control of the building and arrested 80 of the raiders. Police also seized guns, knives, golf clubs and mild drugs from the trespassing protesters. Meanwhile, Sondhi Limthongkul a core leader of PAD announced at the so-called democracy movements main protest venue at Makkawan Bridge on Ratchadamneon Nok Road that the anti-government protesters had already taken control of the NBT television broadcast facility and that more PAD supporters were heading to join the group at the government television station's compound. Hundreds of anti-government protestors also rallied at Government House and blocked all gates to its premises in an attempt to bar the Samak government's ministers from attending the weekly Cabinet meeting. The protestors also staged a demonstration at the Ministry of Finance and the Agriculture and Co-operatives Ministry, where the PAD has reportedly taken over the premises and asked the civil servants and senior officials to stop working. 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