Abhisit Says End Rally Today Or Else . . .

[Gaybutton]

Irked PM says 'rally ends today'

 

Army may cut power, water at Ratchaprasong

 

Published: 12/05/2010

 

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to end their protest today and leave their rally site.

 

Mr Abhisit yesterday said the UDD's decision to continue demonstrating at Ratchaprasong intersection was tantamount to rejecting his reconciliation road map, which he proposed on May 3 to end the political rift and the confrontation between the government and the red shirts.

 

If the UDD did not end its rally today, then the government has the legitimacy to take the necessary action to restore national security and normalcy in the country, he said in parliament.

 

"If the situation in the country does not return to normal, it will affect the election. Protesters should return home on May 12."

 

A source at the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation said the new school term was another reason to clear the area. Most schools are due to resume on Monday.

 

The source said if UDD leaders do not end their protest today, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would consult army chief Anupong Paojinda about measures to end the protest.

 

However, the source said the CRES yesterday did not discuss mobilising security forces against the red shirts.

 

The new army plans include cutting off water and electricity supplies to the Ratchaprasong area to put more pressure on the red shirts to go home.

 

Irked PM says 'rally ends today'

[Gaybutton]

Authorities to Cut Water, Electricity, Phones at Ratchaprasong

 

Published: 12/05/2010

 

Water and electricity will be cut off and food supplies blocked to red-shirt protesters camping in the Ratchaprasong area from midnight Wednesday, to pressure them to end the anti-government rally and return home, Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday.

 

"This is the beginning of measures to fully enforce the law," Col Sansern said.

 

Telephone signals will also be cut off, and there will be no access to public transport - buses, trains and boats - from the protest encampment, he said.

 

He also warned that authorities were now ready to disperse the protesters if necessary, and called on them to leave the rally site.

 

"The army is ready, but at this moment I don't want to talk about a crackdown, as we want to use measures to put pressure on them first.

 

"To the residents in the area -- please leave. After midnight, authorities will not allow anyone to enter," Col Sansern said.

 

Non-protesters living in the area as well as embassies would be affected by the measures, he said.

 

Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) responded by saying they will continue their rally despite the threats.

 

Authorities to cut water, electricity, phones at Ratchaprasong

[Guest lvdkeyes]

I admire the way Abhisit is handling this bad situation with restraint.

[Guest Hedda]

I admire the way Abhisit is handling this bad situation with restraint.

 

I assume you are talking about the restraint shown since April 10, the day that Abhisit presumably ordered an armed attack on the protesters with live ammunition and armored vehicles, leading to the death of 20 civilians, five troops and almost 1000 injuries.

[Guest luvthai]

Or you can count from the day the red shirts took over a hospital forcing the evacuation of all patients and resulting in 5 patients dying from the forced evacuation.

The red shirts have cost billions in damage and lost business for merchants as well ad negatively impacting tourism. I'd say the PM has shown amazing restraint.

[PattayaMale]

FINALLY, a stern warning for the PM. That should settle things! lol

[Gaybutton]

Nov 14 Ppoll Sscrapped

 

By THE NATION

Published on May 13, 2010

 

Govt calls off plan to dissolve Parliament after reds refuse to heed ultimatum to end demonstration; Move to cut off power, water and food supply to protesters put on hold following plea by foreign envoys, Rajprasong residents

 

The government yesterday decided to scrap its plan to dissolve Parliament and call an early general election in November after the red-shirted protesters refused to leave their protest site at the Rajprasong intersection, and also put on hold a plan to cut off essential supplies to force them to disperse.

 

"As the protesters failed to follow the conditions agreed on in a series of negotiations earlier, we decided to cancel the November 14 election date," Prime Minister's Secretary Korbsak Sabhavasu said

 

The government, under Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, would carry on its tasks until the end of its term next year, he said.

 

Nov 14 poll scrapped

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Agencies Say They Receive No Oorders

 

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

Kornchanok Raksaseri

 

The Nation

Published on May 13, 2010

 

After the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) announced that it was cutting electricity and power supply at the red-shirt rally site by midnight last night as well as suspending bus and Skytrain services, related agencies said they had received no such orders.

 

Agencies say they receive no orders

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Govt Revokes Election Offer

 

Troops, APCs sent to seal off rally site, says source

 

Published: 13/05/2010

 

The government has abruptly canceled its offer to hold a general election on Nov 14 after red shirt protesters refused to call off their rally at Ratchaprasong.

 

As the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is showing no signs of complying with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's demand to end the rally, the government has responded by dropping its offer to dissolve the House between Sept 15-30 and call an election on Nov 14, Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister's secretary-general said yesterday.

 

Govt revokes election offer

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PM Risks Becoming Laughing Stock with Ultimatums

 

Published: 13/05/2010

 

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has given yet another ultimatum for the red shirts to leave Ratchaprasong junction - to no avail. This time, he has threatened that supplies of water and electricity and phone signals will be cut off from the protest site. He also said the area would be isolated - people would only be allowed to exit, not enter the premises.

 

Despite the ultimatums and threats, there is no sign yet when - or if - the situation will return to normal.

 

The red shirts continue to squat in the commercial district even though the government has bowed to all their demands.

 

Instead of packing up and going home when PM Abhisit announced the date for the House dissolution - which was what the protesters said was the only thing they wanted - the red shirts have added more requests, including for Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to surrender to the police, as well as a resumption of their PTV television broadcasts.

 

PM risks becoming laughing stock with ultimatums

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Plan to Cut Off Supplies Postponed

 

Published: 12/05/2010

 

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation on Wednesday night decided to postpone cutting off water and power supplies to the Ratchaprasong area for fear of causing hardships to residents in the area.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/177680/plan-to-cut-off-supplies-postponed

[Gaybutton]

It's difficult, at least for me, to know just what to make of all this. The way I'm seeing it, Abhisit is starting to be viewed as The Boy Who Cried Wolf with ultimatums that just don't get carried out. If I was a Red-Shirt, by now whenever Abhisit and/or CRES comes out with a fresh threat I'd need a few minutes to finish having my little laugh.

 

It is also difficult to know just how well the planned threats have been thought through before announcements. Apparently a lot of residents of the area who are caught right in the middle of all this have been phoning in to complain that cutting off water, electricity, and phone service is going to affect them too and they don't want to stand for the government causing them even further serious hardships than they are already enduring through no fault of their own. That resulted in the cancellation of the latest threat against the Red-Shirts.

 

Some call it restraint on Abhisit's part. Some call it being caught between a rock and a hard place. But whatever you call it, the Red-Shirts seem to be calling all the bluffs and so far have been prevailing every time. Considering the lack of serious action against them, there's no reason for them not to continue calling the bluffs.

 

Now, as predicted, Abhisit has canceled the November elections.

 

What happens next?

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I don't have any idea what is next???? He has missed by a mile his best chance to end this. He doesn't need to cut off electric supplies...just blockade the demonstrators. No one in..you leave, you stay out. NO FOOD! NO bottled WATER. NO WHISKEY!! NO BEER!! Nothing in...leave if you like.

 

There would be problems with the locals, but the rally needs hundreds of bottles of water a day, and surely that could be cut off. Hungry and thirsty people will change there political feelings pretty fast!!

 

That this rally has maintained a "Party" type atmosphere is really sick!!

[Gaybutton]

Hungry and thirsty people will change there political feelings pretty fast!!

"So, you won't come out and fight? Then starve! When you are eating cockroaches, then you will come out. And we will be here! Do you hear me, Pole? We will be waiting!"

 

Yul Brynner, 'Taras Bulba'

[Guest lvdkeyes]

My bf says this is not Thailand anymore; it is TOYLAND.

[Guest RichLB]

I don't have any idea what is next???? He has missed by a mile his best chance to end this. He doesn't need to cut off electric supplies...just blockade the demonstrators. No one in..you leave, you stay out. NO FOOD! NO bottled WATER. NO WHISKEY!! NO BEER!! Nothing in...leave if you like.

 

I don't have any idea what's next either, but maybe Abhisit isn't so stupid either. If I were him, I might want the demonstrations localized in a manageable area - in spite of the disruption to Bangkok businesses and the reputation of the city. If the demonstrators are forced out of Bangkok, I doubt they will just go away. I fear they will just move their activism to other cities. I understand many of the low cost hotels in Pattaya are being booked solid by red shirts and assume the same might be happening in Chiang Mai, Udorn Thani, and other places.

 

It seems to me simplistic to shrug off the red shirt's as partiers and/or simpletons congrregating for a payment. While that may be true for some, my belief is that they have a True Believer syndrome and feel strongly in the justice of their cause. My guess is they represent only the tip of an iceberg and dispersing the demonstrators without some reconciliation could escalate the problem dramatically.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

Well, another threat!!!

 

CRES to Surround Red-shirts This Evening, Live Bullets to Be Used

 

The Center for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has announced that to encourage the protesters to disperse armored vehicles will be used to surround the anti-government red-shirt protesters this evening

 

Now, if this is like all the rest, it means nothing...just a lot of talk...but I can't see them letting this go on forever and ever!!

[Guest GaySacGuy]

I understand many of the low cost hotels in Pattaya are being booked solid by red shirts and assume the same might be happening in Chiang Mai, Udorn Thani, and other places.

 

How good is your source on this information??? If true, it could have many and far reaching implications.

[Gaybutton]

Army to Seal Off Rrally at 6pm - report

 

Published: 13/05/2010 at 01:28 PM

 

The army warned Thursday it would seal off a protest site in the capital with armoured vehicles, turning up the heat on defiant red shirts as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva shelved a plan for early elections.

 

Hopes were fading of an imminent resolution to a crippling two-month crisis that has sparked several outbreaks of deadly unrest and brought parts of the capital to a standstill.

 

"I have cancelled the election date... because protesters refuse to disperse," Prime Minister Abhisit told reporters. "I have told security officials to restore normalcy as soon as possible."

 

An army spokesman said security forces would surround the anti-government protest site in the heart of Bangkok with armoured vehicles from 6pm to prevent people entering the area.

 

The planned move was announced after authorities failed to carry out a threat to cut off utilities to the protesters at midnight Wednesday although Mr Abhisit said Thursday that the action would still go ahead.

 

Army to seal off rally

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The Thai government is also saying that power and water cuts will not affect the various embassies in the immediate area. Still, if you have a need to go to your embassy, I suggest first contacting the embassy to make sure they will remain open and what hours they will be open.

 

Also, in case your embassy does close, if you have any urgent business with the embassy it might be a good idea to call and check if they have a "Plan B" for those who need their services. I would make that call ASAP in the event your embassy might close and nobody is answering phones there.

[Guest GaySacGuy]

This link is to a map of the protest area, with the danger areas outlined. Kind of interesting!!

 

Bangkok Dangerous - Red Shirts Rally March-May 2010 - Google Maps