Gaybutton Posted April 11, 2009 Posted April 11, 2009 The following appears in THE NATION: _____ PM: Reds 'Public Enemies' By Political Desk The Nation on Sunday Published on April 12, 2009 Coup Rumoured as Police and Army Hang Back Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last night called the red-shirts "public enemies" for declaring a victory over the cancellation of the Asean Summit with dialogue partners in Pattaya. "In this loss to the country, anyone or any group of people that announces a victory should be regarded as true enemies of Thailand. Whatever status I have, I will never allow these people to become influential," he told a press conference at the summit venue. Abhisit canceled the event and postponed it indefinitely after several hundreds of protesters managed to storm past police and military barricades into the venue at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Rumours of a possible coup or House dissolution were spreading last night as it appeared the government had lacked cooperation from police and military in preventing the protesters from entering the summit venue's compound. A source in the government said last night that an important decision would be made within 48 hours about what to do next. Abhisit also announced the lifting of a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chonburi that he had declared less than six hours earlier in the early afternoon. "The state of emergency announced earlier was aimed at providing security for the participating leaders to ensure their safe departure. Now that that task has been completed and there is no further need, the government has decided to lift it," the prime minister said. He said the government would now focus on restoring peace in the country and he would discuss with the relevant state agencies how to attain that goal. The premier also apologised to the public for the summit cancellation. He said he had talked to all the leaders before their departure, except for Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who had not yet arrived in Thailand, and that they had expressed their sympathy and understanding over the incident. Most of the red-shirts who had protested in Pattaya left for Bangkok after the state of emergency was announced in the afternoon. Leaders of the red-shirts earlier yesterday declared victory at their protest site outside Government House. They called on red-shirt sympathisers all over the country to protest at provincial halls and asked for volunteers to surround the prime minister's house in the Sukhumvit area. Protest leader Jatuporn Promphan said they would ask Abhisit to order government supporters not to assault them. He was referring to clashes between the red-shirts and blue- and black-shirts who tried to prevent the protesters from entering the Pattaya summit venue. The Interior Ministry reported yesterday that protests by red-shirts had taken place in 29 provinces involving more than 6,800 people. The protests occurred mostly at provincial halls or public parks in the North and Northeast. In a related development, fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra last night denounced the "use of force" by the red-shirts, many of whom are his supporters. In a video-link speech broadcast to the protesters gathered outside Government House, Thaksin called on his supporters to continue with the "fight for true democracy". ____________________ The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Thaksin Calls, Eggs-on Protesters Published: April 12, 2009 at 12:23 AM Fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra called by telephone to around 15,000 supporters still camped out at Government House on Saturday night. "I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told the crowd. "In the next few days we will see real change. Red Shirts in Bangkok and elsewhere must now act immediately so that we can change our country." The next move of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is not known, after they clogged Bangkok streets on Thursday and forced cancellation of the Asean summit in Pattaya on Saturday. Pattaya was reported back to normal on Saturday evening, as the anti-government protesters left for home or the Bangkok demonstration. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, meanwhile, made a surprise return to the summit venue at Jomtien late on Saturday, still protected by dozens of soldiers. He announced the lifting of a six-hour state of emergency, and also apologised. "We apologise to the Thai people that this incident happened," he told the media. "Even though the government was not responsible, it is its duty to ensure the meeting runs smoothly. __________ And this: _____ Asian Neighbours Express Sympathy to the Government Published: April 12, 2009 at 12:37 AM UN chief Ban Ki-moon Saturday led expressions of regret over the shock cancellation of an Asian summit but both Asean and Asian neighbours were sympathetic. "I deeply regret the postponement of the Asean and related summits and the consequent postponement of my attendance to the events," Ban said in a statement from neighbouring Laos, where he was on a short visit. "I hope for an early restoration of normalcy in Thailand and for the settlement of differences through dialogue and peaceful means," said Ban, who had been due to attend the talks Sunday. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was forced to cancel the meeting of leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and New Zealand. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said the turmoil was a "domestic issue" and supported Thailand's continued chairmanship of Asean. "We should give them a chance," he told reporters, adding however that the Thai government should also give an assurance that Saturday's events will not be repeated. "The risk is the same for all of us, not just for me. I'm sure that in the next summit they will take into account the experience of this summit in Pattaya and preparations will be made accordingly." Najib added: "It does not affect our spirit in Asean, which is still strong for us to continue to cooperate." He said he managed to squeeze in a bilateral meeting with Abhisit but after that he went back to his room and was told to wait while Thailand decided on whether to proceed with the summit. Philippine Foreign Secretary Roberto Romulo said the summit had been postponed until further notice, adding: "This is the suggestion of the (Thai) prime minister and we all agreed." Asked whether he wanted to go home - Philippine President Gloria Arroyo was among those airlifted by chopper - he added: "Let us all enjoy Pattaya first." A spokesman for Indonesian leader Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the president was "in high spirits" despite having to turn around for home shortly after arriving at a military airbase near Pattaya. "He's leaving it all to the judgement of the Thai government on how to proceed," he added. (AFP) Quote
