What is going on in Bangkok?

[Naam Jai (?2008)]

Wow !
A referendum
And you heard it first on Korat - Info.
And the Question?

You have seen mine.

What would yours be?

[KoratCat]

Security stepped up at home of prime minister

Bangkok police have stepped up security for the residence of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, after a procession of Ramkhamhaeng University students tried to reach his house to demand his resignation on Thursday night.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj-Gen Suchart Muankaeo ordered Pol Maj-Gen Wimon Pao-in, chief of Bangkok Police Subdivision 4, to have police from seven stations under the subdivision take turns to secure Mr Samak's house.

They will guard Mr Samak's residence and set up checkpoints on roads leading to Mr Samak's Olarn housing estate on Soi Navamin 81 road around the clock.

Meanwhile, police came up with four potential motives for the shooting that injured two Ramkhamhaeng University students who were marching to Mr Samak's house Thursday night and politics was one of the main assumptions.

Pol Maj-Gen Wimon said police at the Lat Phrao station assumed that the shooting might have resulted from conflicts among different groups of students at Ramkhamhaeng University.

Another theory was that local people might have felt annoyed by the marching students who used loudspeakers.

Alternatively, there could have been an attempt to create a situation for one or the other side's political advantage, Pol Maj-Gen Wimon said.

He said police have interrogated four students. According to their accounts, two men on a motorcycle without a licence plate approached and fired three shots at the procession while it was passing Soi Navamin 17 road.

The gunman used a .22-calibre pistol and injured two students aged 22. Anusak Sian-oon was shot twice in his right leg and Apichart Nakrit once in his elbow.

Police would question local residents, Pol Maj-Gen Wimon said.

Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong, deputy spokesman of the national police, said police would take some time to gather evidence. He said there were many witnesses such as students and local residents. Police will also examine video recordings from surveillance cameras of state and private agencies in the area.

Regarding the students' march to Mr Samak's house to demand his resignation, Pol Maj-Gen Surapol said police were concerned about such movements as the emergency decree prohibited the assembly of more than five people.

A group of 20 students at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University on Friday blamed the government for failing to guarantee safety for peaceful and unarmed demonstrations near Government House and Mr Samak's house.

They demanded that Mr Samak quit and an end the state of emergency.

University students calling themselves "Young PAD" also urged students nationwide to join the PAD's rally in Bangkok on Saturday evening.

Artep Soko, secretary of the Student Federation of Thailand, on Friday led about 30 students to the army headquarters to hand an open letter to Gen Anupong, calling on him to remain politically neutral amid the turmoil.

Bangkok Post Sept. 6, 2008

[KoratCat]

Why don't the PAD leaders turn themselves in on their arrest warrents? That would make them heroes immediately and maybe even gain a lot of support for the PAD. And the thai judicial system weren't put into this situation of not having enough power to enforce their rulings.

[KoratCat]

Thaksin's brother-in-law made it to the top post. How much louder will the PAD be now?

[KoratCat]

Thailand's deputy PM resigns amid fresh protests

BANGKOK: Thailand's recently appointed deputy prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned on Tuesday because of a crackdown on fresh anti-government protests.

In a resignation letter, Chavalit, one of five deputy prime ministers, said his role as chief negotiator with demonstrators had been compromised after police twice fired teargas to disperse crowds Tuesday morning, injuring 85 people.

"The reason I resign is because what the security officials have done is not in line with what I had promised and I have attempted to avoid casualties," Chavalit's letter said.

"I consider that I have to take responsibility for the injuries... I quit as deputy prime minister post as of now," it said.

Times of India Oct. 7, 2008

[KoratCat]

PAD: Dissolve the House

The People's Alliance for Democracy locked the government inside parliament and demanded Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat dissolve the House by sunset on Tuesday or face "decisive action" - with no further explanation.

PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul issued the threat on a fast-moving Tuesday, after police tear-gassed PAD demonstrators in the morning - and PAD struck back by besieging the parliament and kidnapping virtually the entire government and most MPs and locking them inside parliament.

Police who cleared the way into parliament on Tuesday morning stood by and watched the demonstrators regain the offensive and put a tight ring around parliament buildings.

In addition to the cabinet and more than 300 MPs and senators, the PAD also held an unknown number of government and parliament staff and media representatives hostage, and cut off lights and water to the compound without police resistance.

Mr Sondhi did not clarify what "absolute measures" PAD might take on Tuesday evening. But thousands of supporters were said to be on their way to Bangkok from up-country locations.

Back at the Parliament, most of the MPs and senators were still trapped inside the building as of Tuesday afternoon after the government delivered policy statement as PAD supporters blocked all the exits and entrances of the parliament.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob announced the closing of the joint session of the parliament at around 1pm after the government spent less than two hours to deliver its policy statement. The session was wrapped up quickly with little debate.

The opposition Democrat party once again boycotted politics, staying an arm's length from both the government and the protesters. Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said from the distant sidelines that he felt the government had no legitimacy to govern, but was unable to suggest what action it should take.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, accompanied by four to five followers, escaped the tight PAD siege on parliament by climbing ver a fence to the next-door Vimarnmak Palace, a royal site. Then, he got on board a police helicopter, which took him to the Armed Forces headquarters.

Mr Somchai was meeting late on Tuesday afternoon with chiefs of armed forces and supreme commander to discuss political turmoil.

Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh resigned to take responsibility for the police tear-gas attack, which injured at least 70 people, several of them seriously..

According to Gen Chavalit's resignation letter, he was "partly responsible" for the attack, but army officers said Gen Chavalit had ordered the attack at an early-morning meeting.

"I'm partly responsible for the damage that was done, although I've used all the effort in restoring peace to the Thai society by taking people and officers' work into consideration.

"But because the goal was not achieved, I would like to take responsibility for the operation by resigning from deputy prime minister post," he said in the resignation letter.

Bangkok Post Oct. 7, 2008

[KoratCat]

Tension grows

BySurasak Glahan and Prasit Tangprasert and Aekarach Sattaburuth

Scuffles broke out and a woman was punched in the face when five pro-government supporters were grabbed and held by People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) guards who claimed they were armed and ready to incite violence.

The incident has turned up the heat between the rival camps as tensions mount ahead of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship's (UDD) next big rally on Saturday.

Political emotions have grown increasingly hostile since the PAD shut the door on proposals by academics for peace talks with the UDD.

Observers believe the Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) mobile political talk show in Bangkok on Saturday will attract a huge crowd of UDD supporters as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected to address the rally by phone from London.

Concerns are mounting the talk show could stir up emotions and create a volatile atmosphere among UDD supporters.

In what many fear could be a taste of things to come, a group of UDD supporters in red shirts were intercepted on Tuesday by the PAD guards outside the alliance's protest venue at Government House.

Four women and one man wearing red shirts with the words "Choose Samak, Love Thaksin", were caught early in the afternoon in a pick-up stuck in traffic.

The PAD guards claimed a few young men in the back of the truck fired slingshots at them. The guards were manning a protest checkpoint near Nakhon Sawan Road. They alleged one UDD member tried to hit them with an axe, but missed.

The young men escaped and the PAD guards grabbed five people in the front seat. They paraded them on the PAD stage in Government House and said the five were UDD supporters.

PAD demonstrators reacted with fury and tried to grab the five before the guards hustled them out of the grounds.

During the chaos, a male guard reportedly punched one of the women, Sombat Khayanchoomnoom, 53, in the face. She fell to the ground with her face bleeding.

Some of the PAD guards alleged Mrs Sombat and the others were carrying petrol, a knife and an axe and intended to attack PAD protesters. The UDD members denied the claim.

The guards said they found a red flag with the words "The Truth Today Show" and a cap saying "Saturday People Against Dictatorship" in the truck.

The five UDD supporters were handed over to police for questioning.

Tuesday's incident was the second involving UDD and PAD supporters. On Sept 2, they clashed near Makkawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen avenue resulting in the death of a UDD supporter.

In the scuffle, the PAD guards were accused of taking the five and beating them near the protest security check point called the "PAD Station".

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila had earlier said efforts were being made to control the guards.

Those now allowed to carry weapons such as batons and sharp-edged metal sticks have to wear badges. Up to 1,500 volunteer guards patrol Government House, he said.

In Nakhon Ratchasima's Kham Sakae Saeng district, members of the two rival groups have patched up their differences and called on others involved in the conflict to stop quarrelling.

About 150 people wearing red shirts and about 110 people in yellow shirts gathered outside the district office yesterday for the government-sponsored "116 Days: From Mother's Day to Father's Day" activities. They held hands and sung patriotic songs.

Priew Chaijorhor, a leader of the UDD supporters, said the two groups in the district shared common ground and wanted to end the conflict.

The PAD yesterday urged police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan to look into a case in which a PAD guard, Sonchai Sriprajak, was shot dead by police in Bangkok's Romklao area on Thursday. Police claim the guard was involved in drug trafficking.

[KoratCat]

8 injured in another bomb attack outside Government House

Eight protesters were injured, one severely, after two assailants launched a grenade at them at the Misakawan Intersection outside the Government House early Saturday.

The attack was made at 2:10 am against a group of some 20 protesters who were standing and talking outside a gate of the Government House.

Anupong Samerphak, 22, was hit by bomb shrapnel at his body and neck. Ramathibodi Hospital doctors had to put him on respiratory system.

Eyewitnesses said two teenagers parked their motorcycle near the back gate of the Metropolitan Police head office and used a grenade launcher to launch a grenade at the protesters. The two fled the scene on Phitsanulok Road.

The injured protesters were standing near the Fifth Gate of the Government House Complex opposite from the Education Ministry.

The explosion caused a small hole in the ground and damaged two pick-up trucks, a sedan car and a motorcycle near the scene.

Maj Gen Anan Srihiran, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, rushed to the scene with bomb disposal officers to carry out an investigation.

Pongchai Saetang, 42, a taxi driver, told police that he was waiting at the intersection for passengers when he saw a red light in the air, which was followed by a loud noise shortly.

He said the explosion occurred at the spot where about 20 people were talking.

The taxi driver said he saw two young men fleeing on their motorcycle on Phitsanulok heading to the Wang Daeng intersection.

The two men were about 200 metres away from the explosion spot when they ran to their motorcycle and fled, the taxi driver said.

The seven other injured were identified as Wirat Piangsajja, 54, Somchai Wongsonthi, 44, Pongchanok Kanchana-amorndej, 31, Samrerng Buachan, 26, Prakrong Hachai, 38, Narong Nakiam, 64 and Ekkapol Sahawat, 33.

All of them were rushed to the Ramathibodi Hospital by the PAD guards.

It was the second bomb attack after the tacit ceasefire during the royal cremation period.

Early Thursday, a grenade was launched at protesters inside the Government House complex, killing one and injuring more than 20 others.

The Thursday bomb prompted the PAD to declare war and plan a mass rally outside Parliament Sunday to try to speed up the downfall of the government.

The Nation Nov. 22, 2008

[KoratCat]

Protesters shut Thailand's international airport

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of protesters occupied Thailand's main international airport Wednesday, halting all flights in a blow to the country's already-fragile tourism industry as they pressed their demand for the government's resignation.

The airport takeover was one of the boldest gambles yet by the People's Alliance for Democracy in its four-month campaign to topple Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, whom it accuses of being the puppet of a disgraced fugitive predecessor, billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra.

The alliance vowed to bring its campaign to a final showdown this week, and violence has spiked, including streets clashes between supporters and opponents of the government Tuesday that included the first open use of firearms by the anti-government protesters. Police said 11 government supporters were injured, some with gunshot wounds.

Early Wednesday, assailants threw an explosive at anti-government protesters camped out at a separate domestic airport in Bangkok, injuring at least three people, police said.

Demonstrators — some masked and armed with metal rods — had swarmed the international Suvarnabhumi Airport overnight, breaking through police lines and spilled into the passenger terminal.

The airport was fully shut down early Wednesday, with incoming flights being diverted to other points in Thailand including Chiang Mai and Phuket, and as many as 500 passengers remained stranded, airport director Serirat Prasutanont said.

"We have to close the airport because of (alliance) protesters blocked the entire airport," Serirat said.

"However, we are trying to negotiate them to allow outgoing passengers stranded by the protest to fly," he said. "The incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair."

The alliance said the airport would be shut down until Somchai quits. The prime minister was scheduled to return late Wednesday from an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru and would land at a military airport, officials said.

The protesters appeared intent on forcing the military to intervene and bring down the elected regime. Army commander Gen. Anupong Paochinda has repeatedly ruled out a coup, though he has also said the army "will keep peace and order to protect the public and uphold important institutions like the monarchy."

The alliance has staged a number of dramatic actions in recent months. It took over the prime minister's office in late August and twice blockaded Parliament — one time setting off street battles with police that ended with two people dead and hundreds injured.

Support for the alliance has been waning in recent weeks, and the group appeared to be edging toward bigger confrontations — involving fewer though more aggressive followers — in hopes of creating chaos.

"They had been losing steam and have so far failed to achieve their goal. Now, they are openly creating instability and provoking a military coup," said Thitinan Pongsidhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

Their brazen tactics could backfire if a majority of Thais begin seeing the disruptive tactics as a threat to the country's economy which depends heavily on foreign tourists.

The airport blockade is a fresh blow to Thailand's $16 billion a year tourism industry, already suffering from months of political unrest and the global financial crisis. Suvarnabhumi is the world's 18th largest airport in passenger traffic, handling over 40 million passengers in 2007.

The anti-government protesters are mostly better educated, more affluent, urban Thais demanding that the country move away from a Western-style electoral system, which they say Thaksin exploited to buy votes. They instead favor a system in which some representatives are chosen by certain professions and social groups.

They are vastly outnumbered by Thaksin's supporters in the rural majority, who delivered his party two resounding election victories. Their loyalty was sealed by generous social and economic welfare programs for previously neglected provincial areas.

The anti-government forces are well organized, and have the behind-the-scenes support of elements of the military and parties close the royal palace, the country's most influential institution.

Associated Press Nov. 26, 2008

[KoratCat]

Thai PM Somchai rejects calls to step down

Prime minister insists government is legitimate amid escalating protests

The embattled Thai prime minister appeared on television today to reaffirm his position as Thailand's leader and insist he would not step down.

After delaying his address to the nation, Somchai Wongsawat said his government was legitimate and democratically elected and he would continue to work "for the good of country".

"My position is not important. But democratic values are," he said.

His comments echoed those of a government spokesman earlier in the day who rejected calls from the country's powerful army chief to dissolve parliament and call a new election because of escalating anti-government protests.

Somchai's refusal to call a snap election heightened speculation of an imminent coup, despite Thailand's army chief denying one was planned.

Responding to the dramatic scenes at Bangkok's international airport, which was besieged by the People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday, Somchai said the protesters had violated the law.

He added that the cabinet would hold an emergency meeting to consider unspecified "measures" to deal with the protests.

The Bangkok civil court granted an injuction, sought by the operator of Suvarnabhumi airport, that said the protests had infringed on people's rights and that the blockade should be ended.

The crisis deepened as a pro-government gang shot dead an opposition protester in the northern province of Chiang Mai.

The man, whose son ran a small anti-government radio station, was dragged by the gang from his car and executed, senior policeman Atipol Thongdaeng told Reuters.

The army chief, General Anupong Paochina, today urged the government to step down and called for a withdrawal by demonstrators who shut down the country's main airport, leaving thousands of tourists stranded.

But Nattawut Saikuar, a government spokesman, said: "The prime minister has said many times that he will not quit or dissolve parliament because he has been democratically elected. That still stands."

Somchai returned to Thailand today after an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru and is due to have an audience with the Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Thai media reported that Somchai landed at a military airport in the north of the country. His flight had to be rerouted and his handlers were careful not to give details of his destination. There is speculation that he might declare a state of emergency in Bangkok.

The demonstrators, from the PAD, also rejected Anupong's demands. A spokesman, Suriyasai Katasila, said the group would meet to decide its next step.

"Right now, our demand remains the same. If the government does not quit, we will not quit," he said. The group has rejected a government offer of talks to end the airport blockade. It is insisting Somchai resign first.

At a news conference outlining a four-point plan to end the turmoil, Anupong repeated his view that a military coup would not resolve the deepening turmoil in Thailand.

"We are not pressuring the government," he said. "The government should give the public a chance to decide in a fresh election. If a coup could end all the troubles, I would do it. It is not going to resolve anything."

Anupong was constantly pressed at a news conference on what he would do if neither side heeded his calls, but would only say that he had set his mind against using force.

There has been speculation that the government might sack Anupong for calling on the Somchai government to quit.

Last month, Anupong and the heads of the navy, air force and police used a prime-time television interview to say Somchai should have stood down after bloody clashes between police and PAD protesters outside parliament.

Reuters reported that sources within a pro-government protest group had said if Somchai quit they would regard it as a coup and immediately launch anti-military demonstrations. "There will be war for sure," one senior member of the anti-PAD Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship told the news agency.

If a fresh election went ahead, it is likely that a pro-Thaskin government would return because of the continuing support for Thaskin in the countryside and among the urban poor.

Such a result would be as unpalatable to the PAD as the current administration, sending the entire crisis back to square one unless anti-government demonstrators pledged to honour the result.

Thousands of overseas passengers were stranded at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport today when all flights were halted because of an invasion by the protesters.

Thai Airways rerouted 16 inbound flights to the old airport at Don Muang, while many other airlines cancelled services.

A grenade was thrown at PAD protesters manning a checkpoint on the road to the airport. Two more were tossed at protesters guarding roads to Bangkok's second airport, injuring three people.

At one point about 50 masked demonstrators demanded access to Suvarnabhumi's control tower to check the flight schedule in the belief that Somchai might consider landing there.

The PAD vanguard - brandishing iron bars and wearing goggles and hard-hats - last night pushed through lines of riot police who were ordered not to use violence after two protesters were killed by faulty tear gas canisters last month.

The pro-government Democratic Alliance responded to the action by saying it would launch its own street action. "What they [the PAD] have done are terrorist acts," said Jatuporn Prompan, a ruling party politician who is the alliance leader.

The airport, an important regional hub, handles around 700 flights each day and almost 40 million passengers a year. Serirat Prasutanont, the airport director, said: "This incident has damaged Thailand's reputation and its economy beyond repair."

the Guardian Nov. 27, 2008

[KoratCat]

Thousands march to Gov't House in fresh Thai protests

BANGKOK (AFP) — Thousands of supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra rallied outside Thailand's main government offices in Bangkok Saturday, vowing to fight on until the new administration left office.

The protesters spent nearly two hours marching towards Government House, arriving just before midnight (1700GMT) after making their way past four steel barricades across their route, manned by unarmed riot police.

Rally leaders read a list of demands to the cheering crowd, vowing to return and stage a permanent protest in 15 days' time if these were not met.

"During those 15 days we will keep monitoring how the government intend to meet our demands. If we are not satisfied we will come back," rally leader Veera Musikapong told supporters.

"We will not come back at night, we will come during the day and will not return home. We will not let the government of Abhisit Vejjajiva administrate the country any more," he added as the crowd began to disperse around 12.30am (1730GMT).

Around 30,000 protesters had earlier gathered at Sanam Luang park in Bangkok to hear protesters' speeches before the crowd set off, led by more than 100 motorbikes and 10 trucks carrying rally leaders.

Police told AFP they had deployed 5,250 officers in response to the rally, with many more on standby along with the army, but confirmed it had gone off peacefully.

"I think they will return home... There was no incident during the rally," police area commander Major General Anan Srihiran said.

Many officers lined the 4 kilometre (2.5-mile) route to Government House, fearing a repeat of a three-month siege by rival protesters that began last August.

Saturday's protesters -- known as the "Red Shirts" because their crimson clothes show they oppose the yellow-clad, anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) -- were in good spirits during their march.

They waved Thai flags and foot-shaped clappers as they walked past police, encountering delays only at the fourth barricade that was heavily fortified with chains and barbed wire.

The Red Shirts are calling for those involved in a siege of Bangkok's airports last year to be fired from government jobs and prosecuted, and for parliament to be dissolved.

They also seek the reinstatement of the 1997 so-called "people's constitution," scrapped by the military administration following the 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin.

Organiser Jakrapob Penkair said the government was illegitimate and accused the army of staging a silent coup to bring it to power.

"How can the party that lost in elections three times become the government? The army denies being involved in setting up this government but no one believes them anymore," Jakrapob said.

Thousands of anti-Thaksin protesters occupied Government House for three months last year before moving their protest to a blockade of Bangkok's airports as they tried to topple the government elected in December 2007.

They said the ruling People Power Party (PPP) was running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup but has remained enormously divisive despite living in exile for most of the time since the putsch.

The PAD escalated their campaign for the PPP government's downfall and seized Bangkok's two airports between November 25 and December 3. They eventually got their wish when a court dissolved the PPP and forced then-premier Somchai Wongsawat from office.

The move paved the way for the Democrat Party's Abhisit Vejjajiva to be elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote last month, alienating many PPP supporters who felt robbed of their democratic rights.

Abhisit sparked outrage in December by appointing PAD sympathiser Kasit Piromya to the post of foreign minister and two other PAD members to key adviser positions.

But speaking earlier on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland, Abhisit said he was not worried by Saturday's rally.

"I think the mood of the people now is that they very much want to move forward, they want to get over the current divisions, they want to see a government that works hard, that deals with people's concerns and has the honesty and integrity that has been missing for so long," Abhisit said.

AFP Jan. 31, 2009

[KoratCat]

Rally calls for Thailand PM to go

Bangkok - Thousands of Thai anti-government protesters have rallied outside Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s compound in Bangkok, calling on him to resign.

The protesters, supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, are calling for fresh elections, saying Mr Abhisit came to power illegally in December.

The rally is the biggest by Thaksin supporters since a protest camp outside parliament broke up in February.

Mr Thaksin was ousted by the military in 2006 and is living abroad.

About 10,000 police and soldiers were deployed for the protest, Bangkok police commander Lt Gen Worapong Chiwpreecha said.

‘Get out!’

The red-shirted demonstrators, from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), say the current government is a puppet of the military.

The protesters, estimated to number at least 20,000, brought in cranes to remove shipping containers that police had positioned to block roads outside Government House in central Bangkok.

Chanting “Get out! Get out!”, they ringed Government House and listened to fiery anti-Abhisit speeches from the protest’s leaders.

“Today we have only one aim, to oust this government,” said protest leader Jatuporn Prompan.

He said thousands of UDD supporters had defied the military and government to come to the capital from other parts of Thailand.

“We only want to chase the government out, not do anything else, because the government is supported by the army,” said one protester, Saming Saelin.

“When it’s supported by the army how can democracy go on? Impossible.”

The protesters also criticised government cheques of 2,000 baht ($56; £39) distributed to millions of low-income earners in an attempt to stimulate the economy.

As the first of the cheques were distributed just hours before the protest began, Mr Abhisit defended the “help the nation” scheme as a way to quickly get money into the economy.

Thailand is going through its worst economic slump since the late 1990s as exports are hit by plunging international demand.

Political paralysis

Thai politics have been in turmoil since Thaksin was ousted in a coup in 2006. A court sentenced him in absentia to two years in prison on corruption charges, and he has been living in self-imposed exile since.

After a year of military rule, a general election was held which returned a pro-Thaksin government.

But that government was effectively paralysed by a long-running campaign by thousands of anti-Thaksin demonstrators who took to the streets clad in yellow shirts.

Their campaign succeeded in December when a court dissolved the government led by Thaksin’s brother-in-law.

The parliament then elected Mr Abhisit as prime minister.

Thainewsportal March 26, 2009

[KoratCat]

Time to write a short update:

The red-shirted Thaksin-followers had ademonstration in Bangkok on the 8th. Estimates to the nummber of demonstrators vary as usual. But the numbers were far lower than the 300.000 expected by the organisers. Today they broke in to the Cliff Beach Hotel in Pattaya, seemingly with "no good intentions" where the heads of the outh East Asian Nations plus China were meeting to find consensus about how to handle the worldwide economic crisis. The politicians were evacuated with helicopters. In Bangkok itself demonstrations by cabbies were also still going on. The homeward bound traffic of the weekend before Songkran did its share for a near total standstill on the roads there.

Pictures of the demonstrations shown on TV in foreign countries and pictures on important newspapers are certainly not helping Thailand's image. Why should tourists come to a country where their political leaders had to be evacuated for fear of being attacked by the mob?

Enjoy the pics:

[KoratCat]

PRO-THAKSIN MASS RALLY

Pro-Thaksin protesters criticise reporters of being bias

Red shirt protesters today spat at a TV channel reporter who said during a live broadcast that tens of thousands of protesters had joined the mass pro-Thaksin rally.

The protesters surrounded the reporter and Channel 3's mobile broadcast unit, insisting the number of the protesters had already reached 100,000. Some threw water and bottles at the crew while others criticised the team of bias and taking the side of the government.

Worried for their safety, the team retreated inside the mobile unit. The protesters demanded that the mobile unit and the team be moved from the area.

Police then intervened and asked the team and other reporters to move from the spot. They agreed but the protesters followed and again spat and yelled at them. The reporters then took refuge in a nearby temple.

The Nation April 12, 2009

[KoratCat]

Bangkok under state of emergency

Thai authorities have declared a state of emergency across Bangkok and the surrounding areas.

The announcement came after Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed to prosecute protesters who forced the cancellation of an Asian summit on Saturday.

Demonstrators have been calling for Mr Abhisit's resignation.

Earlier, the leader of the protests was arrested. But reports now suggest a group of protesters is trying to force their way into the interior ministry.

Arisman Pongruengrong, who spearheaded the protests by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was arrested after returning to his home in Bangkok on Sunday.

A police spokesman said he was co-operating with the authorities.

"There will be further arrests, but right now the police are gathering evidence," the spokesman added.

Correspondents say the storming of the Pattaya conference centre was deeply embarrassing for Mr Abhisit.

There was little resistance from the security forces.

The tactics of the pro-Thaksin activists mirror those of their royalist rivals last year: they too paralysed government activity by targeting key venues.

The BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok says there is no question the pro-Thaksin protesters broke the law.

But, our correspondent adds, the problem is that Mr Abhisit rode to power on the back of protests that were just as illegal, and the PM may look hypocritical if he only goes after the red-shirted protesters who embarrassed him.

'We have won'

"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Mr Abhisit said on TV on Sunday.

"The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."

Another protest leader, Jakrapob Penkair, said in Bangkok that the movement against Mr Abhisit had won a victory.

"We have won, we have stopped them from holding a summit," he said.

"But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."

Pre-summit street protests in the capital this week drew up to 100,000 people.

Mr Thaksin himself, who remains in self-imposed exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, has welcomed the protest in Pattaya.

"I thank the Red Shirts in Pattaya who showed strength," he told a rally of supporters in Bangkok by telephone late on Saturday.

"In the next few days we will see real change."

Officials say months of turmoil have lost the country $6bn in tourist revenue, just as the economy is taking a hit from collapsing exports.

BBC news April 12, 2009