Chaos in Pattaya

[Gaybutton]

How would you like to be a guest at the Royal Cliff Hotel today? The Red Shirts have actually managed to break into the hotel itself, with some of the foreign dignitaries already present. The Thai government keeps threatening to escalate their security steps, but so far there are no reports of any serious violence, although the Red Shirts did have some minor scuffling with the Pattaya police, who were unable to hold them back.

 

The following appears in THE NATION:

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Pro-Thaksin Protesters Break into Pattaya Hotel

 

By The Nation

 

Some pro-Thaksin protesters broke into compound of Royal Cliff Beach Hotel which is hosting Asean Summit plus dialogue partner countries in Pattaya, Chon Buri on Friday.

 

They are now siting close to stairs of the Conventional Hall which is the meeting venue. Their leaders; Arisamun Pongruengrong, used megaphone to criticise Abhisit Government.

 

Asean meeting is besieged by at least 2,000 pro-Thaksin protesters who are now reportedly at the gate of the Royal Cliff Hotel and within 200 metres of the convention hall.

 

Deput Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was seen heading to see protest leaders in order to negotiate, reporters at the scene said.

 

However, no negotiation has taken place and Suthep was later seen retreating into the hotel.

 

Protester leaders later told reporters that they would pave the way for foreign leaders to get in and out of the hotel. The summit begins this evening with a working dinner.

 

Lateron in the afternoon Suthep pledged to ensure security for the Asean Summit and Related Summits to proceed as planned.

 

Suthep said he would try to reason with the red shirts to end the blockade of the meeting venue in Pattaya.

 

He did not specify the next step if talks failed. He only said certain procedures might have to be adjusted in order to open up access for government leaders to enter the meeting venue.

 

Government leaders are on their way to the Summit. They are scheduled to arrive at U-Tapao airport before proceeding by motorcade to the meeting. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has already arrived earlier in the morning before the red shirts reaching Pattaya close to noon.

 

Earlier in the morning, around 100 Thai anti-government protesters broke through an army cordon and marched towards the hotel hosting a summit of Asian leaders and their dialogue partners here Friday.

 

The main crowd briefly clashed with police before some forced their way through a group of soldiers deployed about 500 metres (yards) from the luxury hotel.

 

A police deploying at an entrance of the hotel said that there were three police cordons to prevent the protesters from reaching the hotel.

 

As of noon, the protesters could break through the first cordon and are about 500 metres away from the hotel's entrance, police said.

 

Television footage later showed riot police and red-shirted protesters angrily pushing each other on a road leading to the hotel.

 

The protesters shouted slogans against current premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, demanding him to step down and dissolve the House.

 

"Abhisit get out! If this government does not accept our demands we will not go home," shouted the protesters.

 

In Bangkok, traffic turmoil continued with protesters continuing to occupy the Victory Monument. Concerns have been growing about several hospitals in the area. The protest has left severe constraints for patients, visitors and transport of medical supplies.

 

Protesters have blocked Sukhumvit 71 and a Vibhavadi highway-Suthisarn Road junction. Protesters have retreated from the Democracy Monument to the main rally site in front of Government House.

 

Police reported heavy traffic jams on several roads but the situation has not been as severe as Thursday since the government declared Friday a national holiday to counter the red shirts' aggression.

[Guest Oogleman]

[Gaybutton]

Things are happening too quickly now to really be able to keep up with it all. From what I understand, the main news items are saying that the Red Shirts are losing momentum fast and what has been going on in Bangkok is fizzling out. As far as I know, the roads are clearing, there is no sign of an airport takeover attempt, and the scare that they might try to takeover the BTS and Metro never materialized into anything.

 

On the other hand, the situation in Pattaya is, according to the latest news, likely to get worse. Supposedly, tomorrow a great many Red Shirt reinforcements are going to move into Pattaya and attempt to disrupt the ASEAN summit.

 

We'll know the real story tomorrow. Rumors are flying all over the place, so at the moment I don't think anyone really knows what to expect next.

 

Based on what I've been reading, it appears that in the end the government will prevail and the Red Shirts don't have much chance of succeeding in bringing down the government.

 

One thing I have yet to hear: Suppose the Red Shirts really do prevail and force the current government to resign. Who, then, would be the country's leader? Who would take over for the Prime Minister? I haven't seen one word about that. Maybe they think they'll be bringing Thaksin back in triumph. Who knows? If Thaksin ever does return to Thailand I think it will be either of two ways. He'll either return in victory and become a virtual dictator here or he will return in chains. I don't see any other possibilities.

 

Some people think Thaksin is a true statesman, that he has been treated unfairly, and that he has Thailand's best interest at heart. Others think his motivation is merely to try to regain the entirety of his wealth and power.

[Guest Astrrro]

Oogleman, Is your pic from outside the Royal Cliff?

[Gaybutton]

Oogleman, Is your pic from outside the Royal Cliff?

That's right.

 

Today the protests and possible violence are expected to escalate. The first story appears in the BANGKOK POST:

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Clash at Pattaya Protest

 

More Red Shirts on way for Summit's Second Day

 

By: POST REPORTERS

Published: 11/04/2009

 

The number of red shirts at the Asean summit venue in Pattaya is likely to swell today after 2,000 broke through security on the first day yesterday, sparking clashes with some angry locals.

 

Southeast Asian leaders have started their conference in Pattaya, where anti-government protesters poured into the venue yesterday. More were on their way there last night.

 

Around 2,000 red-shirt demonstrators broke through security barriers and presented a letter denouncing the government to the Asean Secretariat representative at the Asean summit, which is being held until tomorrow.

 

Protesters from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship swarmed areas outside the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, the summit venue.

 

They made their way through the police checkpoint before confronting lines of soldiers guarding the inner security layer. They gathered outside the hotel gate for two hours, then finally moved inside the hotel area.

 

Asean and other leaders attending the summit gradually arrived at U-tapao naval airport near Sattahip, Chon Buri.

 

However, the protest blockade stopped some from making their way through the front gate of the hotel, so they were taken in by other entrances. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reached the hotel by helicopter.

 

Leaders from the 10-member Asean grouping and from China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are at the summit to push for further economic integration, after the G-20 summit in London two weeks ago.

 

While the red shirts were pushing their way towards the hotel, about 100 disgruntled local people wearing blue shirts turned up and scolded them.

 

Both groups exchanged heated words and engaged in scuffles. The blue-shirt people swarmed the protesters' cars and pushed them, prompting some of the red shirts to flee.

 

The two sides clashed briefly before security forces stepped in. The situation was brought under control within half an hour. There were reports of minor injuries.

 

Still, groups of red-shirt demonstrators led by Arisman Pongruangrong, a former Thai Rak Thai MP, broke through three barricades manned by police and soldiers to reach the hotel.

 

In Bangkok, UDD leader Veera Musikhapong last night urged at least 100 taxi drivers and other supporters to take more protesters to Pattaya so they could join the gathering at the hotel.

 

They were to take their vehicles to the Royal Plaza and Vibhavadi Rangsit road Soi 3, then pick up UDD protesters for the journey to Pattaya.

 

In a video-link broadcast to supporters in Bangkok last night, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra urged UDD supporters in Bangkok and Chon Buri to increase the size of the demonstration outside the Asean summit venue. He insisted Mr Abhisit must dissolve parliament.

 

Back at the hotel, Mr Arisman was allowed to meet a representative of the Asean Secretariat.

 

He lodged a letter denouncing the country's leadership under Mr Abhisit as illegitimate. The letter added that the government was in no legal position to negotiate foreign deals.

 

The demonstrators decided to pull back from the hotel after delivering the letter but vowed to return today.

 

Influential politician Newin Chidchob, a leader of the majority group of MPs in the coalition Bhumjaithai party, was said to have led a group of blue-shirted people from Buri Rum to Pattaya to counter the red shirts. Last night he met Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban at the hotel to discuss how to block the UDD protesters.

 

Mr Suthep said the government was determined that the summit, starting with an informal dinner among Asean leaders, should proceed without a glitch.

 

"The interests of 16 countries are involved. We should not bring our domestic problems [to the table].

 

"I still cannot understand why they want to obstruct Thailand from hosting this summit," Mr Abhisit said.

 

He insisted that the international community was aware of the red-shirt protesters' objectives and what they were up to.

 

Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said Asean leaders appreciated the protesters' decision to withdraw from the premises and allow the summit to go on.

 

"We do not need to share the demonstrators' opinions, but we listen to them," said Mr Surin after receiving the one-page petition from the UDD through his external relations chief P. Bala Kumar.

 

Top military officers yesterday gathered at the residence of Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon in the compound of the First Infantry Division Royal Guard headquarters to assess the situation.

 

They agreed an emergency decree should not be invoked, to avoid walking into a "trap" laid by Thaksin who allegedly plans to instigate violence.

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And this, from THE NATION:

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Red Shirts to Asean : "We'll be Back"

 

Pattaya - Anti-government protesters are threatening to resume their demonstration at the Asean Summit in Pattaya today after being chased by opponents and local residents while retreating from the venue yesterday.

 

The noisy protest by 2,000 people from the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) ended yesterday evening after their leader, Arisman Phongruangrong, handed a letter of demands to Bara Kuma Palaniappan, a senior official with the Asean Secretariat.

 

Local residents and men in black shirts were seen throwing sticks and water bottles at them as they were leaving the venue.

 

The protesters said they had no intention of disrupting the meeting, but rather wanted to exercise their democratic rights in front of foreign leaders.

 

"We are a democratic force, not Thaksin followers. We're here to show our presence," said spokesman Sean Bounpracong.

 

Earlier, some protesters broke into the compound of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, which is hosting the Asean Summit and meetings with dialogue-partner countries, and sat there until their letter was handed to the Asean official.

 

The letter demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign and General Prem Tinsulanonda, former prime minister Surayud Chulanont and former Supreme Court chief Chanchai Likhitjittha step down from the Privy Council.

 

Abhisit told reporters the government was ready to host the meeting, which would benefit not only all Thais, but also the vast majority of the people in the region.

 

"We'll ensure the meeting proceeds smoothly. It involves the interests of 16 countries, so there is no reason for us to bring our domestic problems [to the table]. I simply cannot understand why they want to attack Thailand for hosting this," he said.

 

Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the grouping's leaders understood about freedom of expression but appreciated the protesters' decision to withdraw from the premises and allow the summit to go on.

 

"This is an important meeting, the first regional one since the Group of 20 to discuss issues of global concern that are related to unemployment and poverty in the world, including here," Surin said.

 

Leaders from Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Laos, Burma, Brunei, the Philippines, China and Japan arrived in Pattaya yesterday for the summit.

 

Security officials managed to take them to the meeting venue smoothly through other gates of the resort, although the protesters were in front of the convention hall.

 

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was in Pattaya yesterday to handle the situation. He came out of the resort to face the demonstrators briefly.

 

Leaders from Indonesia, India, Australia and New Zealand plus the UN secretary-general are scheduled to arrive today.

 

[Guest zzrichard]

Interesting timing!

 

 

source pattaya news online

Friday 10th April 2009

An estimated 7,000 US Marines arrive in Pattaya for 4 days of fun and relaxation.

 

Thursday saw the arrival of an estimated 7,000 US Marines who have come to Pattaya for some rest and recuperation. A total of 4 ships including an aircraft carrier are now docked at the Laem Chabang Port located 20kms outside of Pattaya and for the next few nights the US Marines will converge on South Pattaya to enjoy the nightlife and what it has to offer. Our cameras were out on Walking Street on Thursday Night where the Tourist Police reported only one minor incident, and they found the Marines who ventured out despite the poor weather conditions, to be friendly and clearly out to have some fun. This is a welcome boost for the local economy at a time when Pattaya enters the low season months. The US Marines are expected to remain in Pattaya until Sunday.