Red Shirt vs Yellow Shirt Demonstration in Pattaya - Turns Violent

[Gaybutton]

The following appears in PATTAYA ONE:

 

For photos, see: http://www.pattayaone.net/news/2009/februa..._23_02_52.shtml

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Red Shirt Anti-Government Protests turn Violent on Pattaya Beach

 

Political Demonstrations are not common here in Pattaya, however on Sunday Afternoon the Pro-Thaksin Red Shirts were out in force as they attempted to spread their message to the people of Pattaya. Banners suggested the current Democrat-led government was illegal and Parliament must be dissolved immediately so new elections can be held. They also demanded that the Yellow-Shirt anti-Thaksin Demonstrators that caused widespread disruption in Bangkok should be held to account and arrested.

 

A parade of around 5,000 red shirts marched along Pattaya Beach Road. The parade was peaceful until they reached Mike Shopping Mall where a small group of Yellow Shirt Supporters gathered to voice their anger towards the demonstration. There was potential for a major problem and with only a handful of Police and Police Volunteers on-hand to keep order, the situation began to deteriorate.

 

Small scuffles broke out and items were thrown at the Yellow Shirts who barricaded themselves inside Mike Shopping Mall which sustained damage during the attack. During the chaos a Police Volunteer, Khun Wirort aged 43 sustained a head wound caused by broken glass. He made a Police report but could not confirm which group threw the offending item.

 

Local residents are now concerned that these demonstrations may escalate here in Pattaya at a time when the town is trying to recover following the demonstrations in Bangkok which effectively ruined the recent High Season Months. At a time when the town is trying to rebuild its tourism industry, this could be seen as a major blow to those efforts, especially if these demonstrations continue.

[PattayaMale]

I am interested in knowing where these 5000 people came from. How the police could not see 100 buses moving into Pattaya (50 x100)? Nor see that a large group of this size was forming to bring security to Pattaya?

[Guest fountainhall]

How the police could not see 100 buses moving into Pattaya (50 x100)?

 

Same way they could not see 3,000 people on the way to take over Suvarnabhumi, I guess.

[KhorTose]

I am interested in knowing where these 5000 people came from. How the police could not see 100 buses moving into Pattaya (50 x100)? Nor see that a large group of this size was forming to bring security to Pattaya?

 

Oh come on now, how are they supposed to see these buses while they are out collecting their morning tea money. I mean you can only do so much in any given day.

[Guest Oogleman]

The whole thing is starting to get scary now. I have a gut feeling that the red shirts are capable of going a lot further than the PAD did. For Thailand sake lets hope somehow it can be resolved peacefully.

[Guest Astrrro]

The whole thing is starting to get scary now.

 

I feel the same way. Maybe it's cause I'm prejudiced against the red shirts "despite not knowing much about Thai politics".

 

Not that I approve of the yellow shirts shutting down the airport. But they didn't even drink the booze in the duty free shops. I get the impression that the red shirt behaviour is more akin to rioters during an American blackout.

[Guest shebavon]

The big difference right now is that the Yellow shirts are pro-monarchy, in control of the government, and supported by the army.

 

I too am surprised at the behavior of the Pattaya police. However, we do not want them to be breaking heads either.

 

There is an old joke. How do you hide a huge elephant in Sunnee? Answer, Behind a 100 baht note. I guess the same might be true of the 100 buses.

[Guest fountainhall]

In Bangkok early this afternoon, 2 lanes of Rama 4 near HSBC were blocked off by a small group protesting against something or other. No idea what, but they were not wearing red shirts. This is the first time I have seen any street protest in that area. Police were on hand but did absolutely nothing to move them on; so traffic in the entire area was just crawling for well over an hour.

[PattayaMale]

I asked my Thai friend if he read anything about this in the Thai paper or heard anything on the Thai TV news. He said he heard nothing about it.

 

It is good that we have English internet sites that report the news in Pattaya.

I am not really sure that this will end peacefully. I have a feeling that 21 PAD leaders have been charged so that the Red Shirt leaders can be charged. How will this end? What will it take? With the Thai economy spiraling down like the rest of the worlds' economies, how can it recover?

 

 

[Guest fountainhall]

I have a gut feeling that the red shirts are capable of going a lot further than the PAD did

 

I think Oogleman is right. The red shirts saw how successful the yellow shirts had been in bringing the country to its knees by closing the airport and getting rid of 'their' government (yes, i know the courts did the latter, but they probably reckon the courts were influnced by the demonstrations). So it's their time now, they must believe, and I think they will make the most of it. To let this type of demonstration turn violent and not lay down the law, given the country's recent past, is idiotic. Does the government not realise it is just asking for trouble.

 

I read that the draft of the new law to prevent airport takevers in future will depend on police reasoning with marchers before they get there , an open area where they can demonstrate without taking over facilities , and piddling little fines. In other words, no deterrent at all

[Guest Astrrro]

Dealing with demonstrations is tricky.

 

You don't want a Kent State where people are killed.

 

At the same time, demonstrations should not be allowed to endanger people or shut down a country.

 

It's not easy to find the proper balance to stop civil disobedience without using excessive force.