Here We Go Again - Protests Start Following Prime Minister Election

[Gaybutton]

The following two articles appear in THE NATION:

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Red Shirt Protesters Block Access to Parliament

 

Red shirt protesters blocked access to the Parliament and threw stones at vehicles leaving the venue after Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva won parliamentary votes to be new prime minister.

 

They also threw stones and objects into the Parliament compound, forcing officials and reporters to cover themselves.

 

A reporter was injured after a stone hit stone hit his nose. The stones and objects hit many vehicles, breaking their glasses and damaged them. An anti-riot police suffered head wound after an object hit his head.

 

More police were deployed to the area. Police failed to calm them down. They had to use police with shields to push them back from the entrance of the Parliament. Then vehicles were allowed to leave the compound.

 

The red shirt protesters were known for their supports of fugitive ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra, now-defunct People Power Party and Pheu Thai party.

 

Latest reports said that many red shirt protesters organised protests in many provinces of Thailand, mostly in the northeastern region, to protest the victory of Abhisit.

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Several Injured in Rock Throwing by Red-Shirted People

 

A reporter and several other people were injured when angry red-shirted supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra threw rocks against vehicles leaving the Parliament compound.

 

The red-shirted people became angry after Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva was elected the next prime minister.

 

The protesters blocked the gates of the Parliament for about 30 minutes but were later pushed off by police.

 

They then waited at a gate and threw rocks at vehicles which were leaving, breaking their windows.

 

Sitthichai Jaruhiransakul, a reporter of Prachathat, was hit at his nose, causing it to bleed.

 

[Guest lvdkeyes]

My guess is that the red shirts will be dealt with more aggressively then the PAD was.

[Gaybutton]

My guess is that the red shirts will be dealt with more aggressively then the PAD was.

I think you're right. Unfortunately, the way I see it, either way Thailand loses. If they are dealt with aggressively, there will be the inevitable violence that goes along with it and we might end up seeing photos that are all too similar to the photos we saw from Burma not all that long ago.

 

On the other hand, if nothing more is done than was done about the PAD demonstrations, then Thailand still loses by setting a precedent that makes Thailand appear to the world to be a place where if one group doesn't like the current government, then they get to take over government buildings and airports with impunity.

 

If large scale protests start happening again, especially if violence is involved, I think that will put Thailand in a no-win situation that will take a very long time to recover from.

 

The tourist industry is bound to be hurt even further if more uprisings start happening. If I was in a different country and seeing this on television or reading about it in the newspapers, that would place Thailand way down at the bottom of the list of places I would want to go or take my family on a holiday.

 

I had been considering a trip to Burma after reading the posts on this message board by Nikom, but based on what I saw going on last year, now the idea of going to Burma has gone to the bottom of my list of places I want to go and it will probably be at least a couple of years before I would consider the trip.

 

I can't help but think a great many people who would have been potential tourists in Thailand are going to have second thoughts, even if they were considering coming anyway after the airport siege ended.

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Red Shirts Being Mobilised for Siege

 

By The Nation

Published on December 17, 2008

 

Right from day one, the Democrat-led government faces a major obstacle to running the country, with thousands of pro-Thaksin "red-shirt" protesters being mobilised from 11 provinces in the North.

 

Supporters of Pheu Thai are en route to Bangkok to lay siege to Parliament in a bid to stop the Abhisit government from announcing its policies - the same ordeal that the Somchai government went through with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) in October.

 

Petcharawat Wattapong-sirikul, chairman of the Rak Chiang Mai 51, the red-shirt group that supports ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, decided to send protesters to Bangkok on a daily basis to rally against the Democrats' government.

 

Some reportedly left their homes yesterday to join the rally in Sanam Luang.Meanwhile, the red-shirt group in Ubon Ratchathani has called for an "uprising" of Isaan people against MPs who betrayed Thaksin to rally against the new government.

 

Theerapat Watcharapol, a radio anchorman led 500 protesters to rally on the streets of Ubon yesterday, damning the MPs who defected from Pheu Thai to the Democrats coalition as traitors. They accused the MPs of being selfish and betraying poor people who voted for them. The protesters gathered outside the house of Withoon Nambutr in Muang district and burnt an effigy of the MP.

 

Ubon Ratchathani governor Chuan Sirinanporn urged people not to join Theerapat's movement, saying the country stood to loose if the people were divided.

 

Former government spokesman Nattawut Saikua, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, said the group would join red shirts across the country to protest against the new government but his group would resort to peaceful and legal ways to do it.

 

"We will not lay siege to Parliament to prevent the House meeting," he said.

 

He defended the red shirts who blocked MPs from leaving Parliament yesterday, and destroyed cars and injured some politicians after voting for the new PM, saying no leaders ordered the mob to behave that way but they were angry.

 

Charan Distaapicha, a leader of the DAAD, said the group would organise rallies at Sanam Luang to protest against the change of government, which he said had been done unfairly with outside influence.

 

The group would pressure the new government to amend the Constitution and take legal action against the PAD for its illegal occupation of Government House and closing the country's two main airports.

 

He said the DAAD would not resort to violence in it protests, claiming violence occurred on Monday because the red-shirts did not have leaders to control them.

 

He believed Prime Minister-elect Abhisit Vejjajiva would not survive the political storm and his government would be short-lived because he faced political pressure from both the PAD and the DAAD.

 

He said the PAD made 13 demands the new government must meet and the DAAD had two. "This will show that the change of political camps will not solve the crisis facing the country," he said.

[PattayaMale]

He said the PAD made 13 demands the new government must meet and the DAAD had two. "This will show that the change of political camps will not solve the crisis facing the country," he said.

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If this kind of conflict continues, there certainly must be some thing that will happen. I can't see anything else happening except the military taking over. But this time it will not be short lived and may be harsh.

 

What else could be the answer?

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Red Shirts Gather Forces

 

Advance Guard Moves to House Overnight

 

By: POST REPORTERS

Published: 29/12/2008

 

United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters have started surrounding parliament ahead of today's policy statement by the government.

 

Almost 20,000 red-shirted supporters converged at Sanam Luang on Sunday in preparation for the seizure of the ground outside parliament on Monday.

 

An advance guard of several hundred Sunday night blocked a key road outside the legislature.

 

The rest are to move to the site on Monday, and plan to stay put for the next three days. They will disperse for the New Year break and then return for a protracted demonstration until parliament is dissolved.

 

UDD core leader Jatuporn Promphan announced the plan to the Sunday crowd at Sanam Luang.

 

The government is due to deliver its policy statement to parliament on Monday morning, with a two-day debate - a constitutional precondition to legalising its administrative power.

 

The protesters believe the Democrat-led coalition government under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva lacks legitimacy, and want him to dissolve the House.

 

Mr Jatuporn said the protesters will not cut electricity or water at parliament.

 

But if the government changes venue for the policy statement, the protesters will follow them.

 

Groups of UDD supporters moved to the front of parliament on Sunday night and blocked Uthong Nai road which approaches its main gate.

 

Natthawut Saikua, another UDD leader, said protesters will leave a narrow path for the MPs to walk into parliament. Surrounding protesters will shout "give us back democracy" while MPs make their way through.

 

Police have closed the gates of parliament and are guarding the legislature in front and at the rear.

 

Deputy Metropolitan police chief Amnuay Nimmano said professional photographers and cameramen drawn from the police force and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will record the activities of UDD demonstrators.

 

Video footage and photographs will be used as evidence against any law-breakers.

 

In the event the protesters commit offences in view of police, they will be arrested on the spot.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay said police need help from photographers and cameramen because protesters have covered surveillance cameras around parliament with black plastic bags.

 

Whenever police remove them, the bags are put back on again.

 

"This shows they intend to do something bad and want to cover it up," Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay said.

 

Protesters who commit violence to stop the government delivering its policy statement would be charged with insurrection.

 

Demonstrators would have to pass through metal detectors installed around parliament before entering the protest site.

 

Demonstrations must be peaceful and demonstrators must not carry weapons of any kind.

 

Pol Maj-Gen Pongsant Jiam-on, another deputy city police chief, said he had received information that many UDD protesters assembling outside parliament were seen carrying catapults and metal rods.

 

At the same time, the Democrats said they will not force their way through anti-government protesters if they are blocked.

 

Democrat deputy spokesman Warong Dejkitvikrom said Deputy Prime Minister and Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban told party MPs to be careful when confronting protesters.

 

The Democrats will not insist on entering parliament if the building is sealed off by protesters.

 

"The government has asked 3,600 police officers to ensure security at the site.

 

"Mr Suthep told authorities to avoid the use of force or tear gas" to disperse the crowds, Mr Warong said.

 

Democrat MPs were told to gather at party headquarters before travelling together to parliament. Supplies of food and drinking water are in place in the event the MPs manage to enter parliament but are later trapped inside.

 

[Guest GaySacGuy]

These people have way too much time on their hands. They should get a job...or a life.

[Guest fountainhall]

United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters have started surrounding parliament ahead of today's policy statement by the government.

 

So here we go again! I realise Abhisit is treading a very fine line, but the image he has been projecting since his appointment is one of near total weakness. This country is crying out for leadership. He has to take a stand or do something to show that he means business. But given the depth of corruption in politics (and in life in general), I suppose there is zero chance of finding an honest politician with charisma, skill, the ability to 'move' crowds . . . We live in hope!

[PattayaMale]

One of the big differences I see today between the PAD and Red Shirts is that the PAD was not violent in their protest at first.

 

There was not the rock throwing and grenade attacks that the Red Shirts seem to use as there first resort.

 

After being shot at by police, some PAD did become a bit violent.

 

I believe the Red Shirts are more disposed to violence and that it is more probable that this violence will cause the military to act.

[Guest luvthai]

Maybe we need a new color shirt for people that are tired of the protest and just want a chance for peace. Blue -Green- Brown-Passion purple? Any color but enough is enough.