Gaybutton Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 Things are expected to come to a head regarding the Bangkok protests. The following two articles appear in THE NATION: _____ Samak Issues Ultimatum to PAD By The Nation Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej warned protesters on Tuesday that his government's tolerance is drying up but fall short of saying what actions he will take. Samak assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Pol Gen Kowit Wattana to handle the security situations and to oversees the overall police operation. Samak acccused People's Alliance for Democracy of crossing the lines with its mass protest in Bangkok Tuesday that included the seizing of state-run National Broadcasting Television (NBT) studio and some ministries. His government's tolerance has nearly come to an end when the PAD-led protesters stormed into the Government House on Tuesday afternoon. He warned that if the PAD co-leaders still continued their cross-the-line movements, his government is still have many procedures and mechanism to handle the situation. He mentioned about the emergency laws but said that is another steps. He warned protesters to go home and go back to their families if they did not want to face legal action. He thanked Bangkokians for not joining the protest. But for people from up country who joined the protest, the prime minister said they were lured to join and should go back home. He also said he will take legal action against PAD's leaders who impolitely criticised him on the stages. He said all were recorded and they will surely be faced legal action. __________ Police Order Protesters out of Government House by 6pm Police ordered protesters who are now in the Government House to leave the compound by 6pm or to be removed. Deputy police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Surapol Tuanthong told reporters, "The protesters must leave the government compound before 6:00pm, otherwise they will be asked to leave." "They have caused disorder and breached the law." The order came after Police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan held talks with Deputy Prime Minister Pol Gen Kowit Wattana. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has assigned Kowit to handle the protests which was led by People's Alliance for Democracy. The protests seized many government agencies including the Government House. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted August 26, 2008 Posted August 26, 2008 At 8:00 p.m. Thailand time this evening, CNN had a live report from the Government House in Bangkok. It showed a lot of people milling about with yeelow shirts and lots of signs. CNN estimated the crowd at 10's of thousands...didn't look that big to me, but perhaps I was seeing only a portion. The interesting thing is that there was NO police or military presense of any kind. The protesters were there...and reportly growing in numbers..and no one to control or stop them. Could get interesting!! Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 The following is the latest, from THE NATION: _____ Police Back Off from Confrontation with Protesters At 6 am Wednesday, commando police pulled out of the Government House compound, backing off from confrontation with protesters there. Protesters at the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge started moving to join the protesters inside Government House after the police forces left. The Nation __________ Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief Promises not to Break up Rally Pol Maj Gen Suchart Muenkaew, deputy metropolitan police chief, told protesters that some 1,000 commando police entered the Government House's compound to change shifts with police stationed there. He said policemen, who have been stationed inside the Government House compound, have been working non-stop for over 24 hours. He said police did not intend to break up the rally and arrest the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy. The Nation __________ Our Tolerance is Limited: Samak Published on August 27, 2008 Samak said he would starve out the PAD protestors occupying the Government House's compound and insisted that he would employ "soft and gentle" tactics in dealing with the demonstrators. Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday warned protesters his government's tolerance was drying up, but he fell short of saying what action authorities would take to end the street protests. Samak assigned Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Kowit Watana to handle security and oversee police efforts. "I was granted an audience with His Majesty the King. His Majesty asked me to enforce the law with extreme caution, to be soft and gentle. I beg all of you to understand and sympathise with me," Samak was quoted by an official source as telling the Cabinet. Samak accused the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) of going too far with its mass protest in Bangkok yesterday, including the seizure of state-run National Broadcasting Television and some ministries. Speaking to foreign reporters early yesterday evening, Samak said he would starve out the PAD protesters occupying the Government House's compound and insisted that he would employ "soft and gentle" tactics in dealing with the demonstrators. He said no food would be permitted to enter the compound and that more officers from outer provinces would be deployed to Bangkok to help with maintaining security. Samak said other options, such as the Emergency Law, could be used but expressed concern that such approaches could tarnish Thailand's international standing. He told foreign correspondents at the press conference that the protestors wanted the government to "spark" violence so the military could stage a coup. "They want bloodshed in the country. They want the military to come out to stage a coup," Samak said. He said the mass protest, which drew tens of thousands of people to street, were the work of about five of six leaders from the PAD who also succeeded in luring people form upcountry to part in the demonstration. Samak said the PAD leaders had grievances with ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra who he said had "returned a little too early" because the sentiment against him has yet to subside. According to him, the leftover anti-Thaksin sentiment, as well as the government's decision to amend the Constitution, was the reason behind the PAD's continuing with the street protest. Samak said he was on good terms with everybody, including the military and the monarchy and insisted that he was not a proxy of Thaksin or receiving funding and instruction from the ousted premier - a claim that has long been dismissed by the PAD and his critics. He confirmed that the "From National Mother's Day to National Father's Day - 116 days to Built Unity" celebration, which HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will preside over on August 30, will go ahead as scheduled. Concern over his personal safety has the police from Lat Phrao station boosted the number of guards at Samak's home in Soi Navamin 81 amid rumours the PAD might go to the PM's house. Cabinet ministers were forced to shift their weekly meeting place from Government House to the Supreme Command headquarters on Chaeng Wattana Road, at 10.30am. However, it took about two and a half hours for Samak to make that decision. Quote
Gaybutton Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ Police Wait Court Decision on Arrest Warrants By The Nation Police are waiting for a court decision on their proposal to issue arrest warrants for the People's Alliance for Democracy's co-leaders for their involvement in the raid on NBT TV station and the Government House. Police provided to the court video footage of the incidents. The warrants would cite serious charges, such as inciting crowds to turn unruly, bids to oust the government and intimidate the media, via the NBT raid, and illegally entering government installations, he said. The nine PAD leaders were Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Amorn Amornwattananon and Therdpoom Jaidee. If the Court decided to issue the warrants, they will be charged with storing weapons or people as an act of treason; or committing other offences as part of a plot of treason or instigating the general public to join in the act of treason. The penalty will be a jail term of between three to five years ____________________ The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Protesters Clash with Police BangkokPost.com Some 10,000 PAD supporters remained in the govt compound Wednesday morning with 15 protesters slightly injured in pre-dawn clashes. Hundreds of riot police reportedly clashed with PAD protesters briefly when they were changing shift inside Government House at 3am Wednesday. Police later backed off from the confrontation and established themselves inside the compound. According to PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, injured protesters had cuts on their arms and heads. Despite the clash, the protesters stayed in the compound in an attempt to force Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and cabinet members to resign. "If we leave before this government resigns, that means we are defeated," PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang told supporters. Hundreds of riot police remained in their positions around the compound in the morning. "We will not disperse the crowd, instead we want to negotiate," Deputy Police spokesman Maj Gen Surapol Tuanthong said. Police investigators, meanwhile, headed to the Criminal Court to ask for arrest warrants for six key PAD members. It is expected that the court would issue the warrants today. Quote
