Thousands Protest Outside Thai Privy Council Chairman's Home

[Mid]

Thousands protest outside Thai privy council chairman's home

Jul 22, 2007, 8:55 GMT

Bangkok - Thousands of anti-coup protesters on Sunday marched on former Thai prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda's house in Bangkok to demand the senior statesman's resignation as the top advisor to the country's monarch.

2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Bangkok locals , confirm /deny , more info ??

[Mid]

just hitting the wires now

July 22, 2007 : Last updated 03:02 pm

Some 3,000 anti-coup protesters march to Prem's house

July 22, 2007 : Last updated 03:42 pm

Protesters break through police barricade

July 22, 2007 : Last updated 04:16 pm

Counter rally against anti-coup group held at Lumpini Park

July 22, 2007 : Last updated 04:18 pm

Anti-coup protesters surround Prem's house

The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship led thousands of protesters to surround the house of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda Sunday afternoon.

They arrived at Prem's house at 3:20 pm and continued to rally there despite heavy downpours.

The Nation

[think_too_mut]

Thousands...but nothing near to almost 40 million that voted for the deposed Prime Minister in the last (flawed) elections.

The usual practice in Thailand - upcountry folks elect the leader but BKK brings him down.

Not as easy as that this time around.

[Mid]

now on local TV

all is not well in the LOS ...............

[farangene]

now on local TV

all is not well in the LOS ...............

TITV seems to have the best visual coverage. Lots of rocks chairs and misc debris being thrown by protesters but the cops/soldiers seem not to be provoked into attacking back.

Yet.

[Mid]

as translated by the better 1/2 ,

the boss has given the police untill midnight then it's tanks back on the streets ,

currently police are reinforcing from 500 to 1000 .

[Mid]

there on the move to Sanam Luang

found the spelling ............

[Mid]

Update: Police try to break up protest

Bangkok (dpa) - Thai police on Sunday attempted to disperse thousands of anti-coup protesters demonstrating outside former Thai prime minister Prem Tinsulanonda's house, demanding the senior statesman's resignation as the top advisor to the country's monarch.

Sunday afternoon more than 6,000 members of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) marched from Sanam Luang - the Royal Grounds - to Prem's residence to demand he resign as chairman of the privy council to Thailand's much-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Post Publishing Public Co

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Thai police clash with anti-government protesters

The Associated PressPublished: July 22, 2007

BANGKOK, Thailand: Demonstrators opposed to Thailand's military-installed government clashed with police Sunday night in the most violent protest since a military coup ousted the country's elected government last September.

the International Herald Tribune

[qualtrough]

I just scanned the stations here including TITV and there was nothing on this. Have they been instructed not to cover this?

[qualtrough]

From the Nation Web site:

Situation is under control, no need for state of emergency : Gen Sonthi

Military junta's chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin said the situation outside Privy Councillor Prem Tinsulanond's residence is now under control.

There is no need for now for the army to issue state of emergency, he said.

He was speaking afer the anti-coup protesters clashed with police outside Prem's residence.

They threw a barrage of rocks, chairs and debris into the compound.

Police have to use water canon to disperse the protesters and they vowed to take action against leaders of the protest who are now heading back to Sanam Laung.

[A_Traveller]

To follow up from the Nation site:-

Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda was barricaded inside his house late last night as anti-coup demonstrators threw a barrage of rocks, chairs and debris into the compound.

In the first major outbreak of violence since the anti-coup movement started in September, protesters from the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DADD) clashed with police outside Prem's home.

I just scanned the stations here including TITV and there was nothing on this. Have they been instructed not to cover this?

Don't know {there was coverage for a short while and then back to normal programming} but interesting that this Thread is down in Bangkok forum not as a News Clipping {as of yet}.

Regards

[Mid]

was on nation tv / #5 ??

nothing further live at the moment ,

protesters heading to sleep , police heading for 8 arrest warrants tomorrow .

updates @ midnight local .

[Mid]

but interesting that this Thread is down in Bangkok forum not as a News Clipping {as of yet}.

note the timing of the OP , but more importantly the source ,

aka international media ..............................................

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speaking of which

Thai police clash with anti-government protesters

Sunday, July 22, 2007 11:21 PM

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Demonstrators opposed to Thailand's military-installed government clashed with police yesterday night in the most violent protest since a military coup ousted an elected government last September.

Several thousand protesters staged a rally outside the home of former Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda, whom they accuse of instigating last year's coup against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The protest was led by former top members of Thaksin's now disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.

Protesters broke through police barricades to march to the house, but more serious fighting between the two sides appeared to be triggered by an effort by police to detain the protest leaders while they spoke from a stage, according to video shown on Thai television.

The protesters first scuffled with police, then began throwing bottles and other objects at them as the security forces retreated from their effort to take the protest leaders.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests.

Philstar.

[Farma]

CNN, BBC and Sky news haven't picked up on it yet.

[george]

It's a no-news event. We are covering it if something happens.

[Mid]

CNN, BBC and Sky news haven't picked up on it yet.

watch that change at the top of the hour .................................

[Mid]

It's a no-news event.

[bulmercke]

This is a fairly important news story - how come no mention in the Thailand News Clippings section?

[Mid]

Police and anti-coup protesters clash in Thai capital

Sun Jul 22, 2007 5:21PM BST

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Anti-coup protesters clashed with police in Bangkok on Sunday during a rally to demand the resignation of a top adviser to the king.

About 5,000 demonstrators took a 5-km march to the house of Prem Tinsulanonda, the chief adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accusing him of being the mastermind of the coup that removed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra last year.

reuters.com

[george]

From 2bangkok.com:

Surrounding Prem's house

16:58 - Manager: Protesters are making a stage in front of Prem's house. There is no word on how long the protest will last.

16:18 - The Nation: Anti-coup protesters surround Prem's house

15:42 - The Nation: Protesters break through police barricade

-- http://www.2bangkok.com / The Nation 2007-07-23

Attached below: Prem's house on Google Earth (2bangkok.com)

[JetsetBkk]

CNN, BBC and Sky news haven't picked up on it yet.

watch that change at the top of the hour .................................

BBC had an 80 second report on it. This guy wants democracy so bad he'll break your legs to get it.

[britmaveric]

Prob more to come - wonder when Mr T will return?

[bingobongo]

CNN, BBC and Sky news haven't picked up on it yet.

watch that change at the top of the hour .................................

from the BBC site

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6911060.stm

[PeaceBlondie]

As an absolute pacifist who's studied nonviolent protests and violent protests more than the average koala bear has studied them, I'd say this protest wasn't terribly violent. Throwing water bottles and plastic chairs, and some small rocks (per the BBC report) - if that was the extent of it, pales into insignificance compared to Molotov cocktails. If General Sonthi and his gang know about violence, they ought to know this is petty. It was wrong and bad and not in line with what I think the Lord Buddha taught, but it doesn't threaten the junta tremendously. It's unfortunate, and Thaksin may be behind it somehow, but at this point it could have been far worse. It could have been Tai Bak......

[Ricardo]

Agree that this might be in the News Forum, as it was shown on TITV several times last night, and again this morning. It's not just a local event.

This level of violence, attacking the house of Paa Prem, is not good. He has always denied being involved in any way in the September coup, but appeared unfazed by last summer's small bomb outside his home, and is unlikely to be moved by yesterday's events.

Nevertheless it is worrying that protesters, many in yellow shirts and head-bands which usually means supporting another revered figure, should seek to target him. Given his position in the country and relationship to that revered figure. Wiser heads amongst the protest-leaders should have chosen another more-appropriate target.

Let us hope that there are no more such incidents. And that the police & military continue to be so restrained in their response.

[bingobongo]

Thailand Police Arrest Six After Bangkok Protest Turns Violent

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...&refer=home

[Mid]

Thai police clash with demonstrators protesting military-installed government

July 22, 2007 - 22:07

By: SUTIN WANNABOVORN

Anti-coup government demonstrators clash with Bangkok police Sunday, during a demonstration. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Police said they would seek arrest warrants Monday for the leaders of a protest rally against Thailand's military-installed government in which dozens of people were injured in clashes with police.

[hammered]

Maybe this should be moved to the news forum now that it has been on local and international news stations

[Mid]

Calm restored, arrests imminent, after anti-coup demonstration turns violent

Monday 23 July 2007 10:43:47 AM (GMT+7:00)

etna.mcot.net

BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) – Calm has returned to the Thai capital after localised violence late Sunday night when anti-coup demonstrators protested at the home of Privy Council President and Senior Statesman Prem Tinsulanonda, chief advisor to the country's monarch.

After a night of struggle, the demonstrators were dispersed and normality has returned.

MCOT Public Company Limited

[hammered]

After violence the authorities will propbably feel they can now arrest those caught on film and probably even bring charges against organisers of inciting something. Compared to some riots it didnt look much but the foortage on the BBC report still had the police looking relatively calm and orderly while the demonstartors looked like the instigators. It is all about perceptions. As long as no out of control charges are brought the international community will probably stay relatively silent, and locally even the ex-TRT are split on what they think of the PTV.

In some ways it was probably predictable that PTV were going to do something this week in the run up to the launch of the TRT part two on the birthday? of Mr. Thaksin.