Gaybutton Posted March 20, 2010 Posted March 20, 2010 The following appears in the BANGKOK POST: _____ Reds Launch Mobile Rally Traffic chaos looming, 30,000 protesters likely Published: 20/03/2010 Authorities and city commuters are bracing themselves for possible traffic chaos as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship embarks on a 46km mobile rally through Bangkok today. Traffic police anticipate traffic snarls when a caravan of about 1,000 cars and motorcycles leaves Phan Fa Bridge, the red shirts' base, for other areas around Bangkok including Rama IV, Silom, Ramkhamhaeng and Yaowarat (for route details, see graphic). The government's peace-keeping command estimates up to 30,000 demonstrators will join the march, half of them from the provinces. The red shirts' march, which may be extended to the Thon Buri side of the city, is expected to take all day. The convoy is likely to leave Phan Fa Bridge at 10am and is expected to finish at 5pm. The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) will deploy at least 1,350 police to help direct traffic. MPB deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Phanu Kerdlarpphol, in charge of traffic, yesterday advised city commuters to avoid the march route. "We will talk to the UDD leaders and have them confirm the routes," he said. Pol Maj Gen Phanu said traffic police will staff intersections to direct traffic and ensure that other motorists can use the roads. He said security would also be stepped up to boost the safety of UDD demonstrators and the public in general. Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the peace-keeping command, asked the UDD not to occupy all traffic lanes, and to allow other commuters to use the roads too. He said security authorities are concerned about "organised" supporters along the routes, but noted that police are making security preparations. Today's march follows a blood protest early this week in which demonstrators shed 10cc of blood each and poured the blood at the gates of Government House to protest against the government's rejection of their demands. Today's march is aimed at drumming up support from city residents for the UDD's battle against the government and the elite. Puea Thai MPs have made a suggestion that the caravan should not carry on for too long, to avoid causing traffic congestion and upsetting commuters, as the UDD has decided to go for a prolonged protest. "[The UDD] needs the support of city residents if it is to prolong the rally. The march is also intended to show the UDD's stance and woo support," said a source in the Puea Thai party. The route does not cover Din Daeng and Nang Loeng communities, who confronted the red shirts when they protested there last April. Two residents of Nang Loeng community were killed and scores of people injured in the clash. Instead the march is set to pass Ramkhamhaeng area which is said to be a support base of its core leader Jatuporn Prompan. UDD leader Weng Tochirakarn yesterday denied the route of the march was designed to pass through Puea Thai's strongholds in the city. "It has nothing to do with the Puea Thai party because we also go through the Yaowarat [Chinatown] area," he said. Few parts of Chinatown are thought to support the UDD. He added the caravan will be decorated with flags bearing messages, "Red Shirts Love Bangkok", and "Bangkok Loves Red Shirts". People's Alliance for Democracy coordinator Suriyasai Katasila criticised the red shirts' march, saying it was not a move to pressure the government, but the public in general. The UDD march was unlikely to win support from "the silent force" which was aware of the group's agenda and interests. "It is a parade day for the red shirts in the provinces and in Bangkok," he said. Meanwhile, police are investigating a Molotov cocktail attack at the 2nd Cavalry Division near army-run Channel 5 TV station in Sanam Pao. The attacker hurled a Molotov cocktail, which is made of kerosine, inside the division compound about 11pm. The attacker arrived in one of three taxis which sped away after the attack. It caused slight damage to a decommissioned tank parked outside the division. A taxi driver has been detained and questioned in connection with the attack. Meanwhile, police are also looking into two shootings in Soi Thong Lor on Thursday night to establish if they are related to the political situation. Gunmen sprayed bullets at houses which belong to local businessmen, Supoj Techawibul, 56, and his brother Surapong, 58. The brothers own a pulp-related business which has financial problems. In early February, gunmen fired shots at one house but no one was injured. Quote
Gaybutton Posted March 20, 2010 Author Posted March 20, 2010 I don't know. Maybe it's just me, but I'm having great difficulty trying to figure out how pouring blood and deliberately causing traffic chaos is supposed to get more people sympathetic to the Red-Shirt cause. If the Bangkok Post is correct that 30,000 people are expected to participate, that is a significantly lower number of participants than in the recent rallies, none of which drew the numbers the Red-Shirt leaders, according to news articles, had hoped for in the first place. If nothing else, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out today. I'm glad I'm not in Bangkok today. Quote
pong Posted March 20, 2010 Posted March 20, 2010 The idea as I heard via their never ending loudspeaking systems was to find more support by inviting donations, and inviting people to join them. As you also know-there are thousands, if not millions, of lowly-paid Isan workers all over BKK, with a mild or strong support of their case. There are also some rumours they may try to also protest on the BTS and MRT -it will take just a few people on tracks to stop it all. As from yesterday eve fresh ''troupes'' with brand-new red shirts are being trucked/bussed in. It is expected that a lot of BKK's tuktuks and taximeters-for 99% known to be red-case supporters, will participate. I for me cannot think of a single Thai willing to walk for 10 hrs along that route. But all week you can see motocys and pickups with red-flag wavers riding all over town (well-the area I happen to be in). According to BKKpost and serious Thai newspprs (like Matichon), the demo carefully avoids areas where last year there were bloody clashes between demonstrators and locals (like the DinDaeng KeHa, which BTW mainly houses ex-Isan lowly paid workers) Quote
