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Anti-coup protests lose steam

Pro-TRT movement thwarted at every turn

POST REPORTERS

The anti-coup campaign by former Thai Rak Thai members appears to be losing steam with their attempts to challenge the government and the Council for National Security failing to go to plan.

Police and soldiers in the North yesterday blocked attempts by former Thai Rak Thai members to gather signatures in support of their petition to His Majesty the King over the dissolution of their party and the five-year political ban imposed on the party's 111 executive members.

About 50 police and soldiers in Chiang Mai arrested eight former Thai Rak Thai members of the northern provinces and dismantled tents, loudspeakers and tables set up around the Three Kings Monument, a landmark in downtown Chiang Mai.

They were accused of illegally blocking a public area.

They include Surapong Towjijakchaikul, a leader of the Network of People Power for Thailand and Julaphan Amornwiwat, former Thai Rak Thai MP for Chiang Mai. They were released later.

Chiang Rai provincial army also warned residents not to sign any petitions that might lead to unrest.

Chaturon Chaisaeng, who was acting leader of Thai Rak Thai party before it was dissolved, distanced himself from the signature campaign, saying it was not carried out on behalf of the Thai Rak Thai group.

"The Thai Rak Thai group is not thinking of lodging any petitions. I have to admit that without a party, I cannot expect other members to act in concert," he said.

Key figures of anti-coup demonstrations agreed that they would remain at Sanam Luang and would not proceed to army headquarters as earlier threatened, given the fact that the number of protesters was unlikely to increase any time soon after the anti-coup rally was rained off and dispersed on Saturday.

Authorities also managed to block their supporters from joining them in the city.

Yesterday, core members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) called on the CNS to negotiate with the group in an open and straightforward manner. DAAD representatives, led by Veera Musikapong and Weng Tojirakarn, yesterday travelled to army headquarters to present a letter demanding the ouster of members of the CNS.

Maj-Gen Veeran Chantasartkosol, the army secretary, accepted the letter on behalf of CNS chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin.

Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, a lecturer of the National Institute of Development Administration, said the anti-coup protesters appeared to have reached a dead end in their battle with the coup makers.

Although some demonstrators would stay put at Sanam Luang, they could hardly make any significant political impact now.

Their reasons for staging rallies carried little weight, since it was obvious that the gatherings were engineered to pander to only one person _ deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Mr Pichai said.

Suriyasai Katasila, secretary-general of the Campaign for Popular Democracy, said Mr Thaksin's video address to his supporters on Friday night was a ploy in a bid to strike a political bargain.

He warned against any political collusion as he believed the old power clique was in regular communication with the government and the coup makers.

Mr Suriyasai disagreed with a proposal to grant an amnesty to banned executives of Thai Rak Thai and other smaller parties. He said the amnesty, proposed by Thammasat University's Surapol Nittikraipoj, should be granted after the general election.

Akrapol Sornsuchart, an NLA member, also agreed that this was not the right time for the amnesty.

He said said some of the 111 executives also face the prospect of criminal charges for their involvement in electoral fraud, which was the basis of the party dissolution verdict by the Constitution Tribunal.

Exonerating executives who may have committed criminal wrong was unacceptable.

Kuthep Saikrachang, former spokesman of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party, said its members would tomorrow call on the National Legislative Assembly to speed up passage of the amendment to the coup makers' announcement No. 15 to clear the way for registration of new political parties as soon as possible.

anybody know where coffee boy is in Chiang mai ??

The bar is still there. But not the boys.

This place has been closed for many weeks now.

ps

Location is near the ChiangMai railway station or behind the Bus station - "Ar-Keat" if you want to go there by a tuk tuk.

Interesting points from a real Colonel...

The acting police chief also has his men videotaping the rally, just in case police need evidence for criminal prosecution.

But somehow police under his command seem to prefer to keep their distance and leave the demonstrators alone. People are beginning to wonder what he is up to. A police colonel notes that it is not so hard to block demonstrators when intelligence reports suggest that most of them are factory workers paid to join the protest. "A friend of mine runs a factory in Bang Khun Thian. He told me his workers are paid 300 baht to come to Sanam Luang. Transportation is free," said the police colonel. Just a simple warning from the police of an impending search of the premises would be enough to scare factory owners into ordering their workers not to join any political activities. So far, however, no such warnings have been given. An observer theorised that many police officers were still staunch admirers of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his populist schemes. The police force is said to have been the beneficiary of several cash-spinning schemes initiated by the previous government, including the digit lottery. Some policemen were thus sympathetic towards demonstrators and thus had become lenient, or even lax in performing their duties.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/14Jun2007_news37.php

HEY! come'on now! this is not fair... the factory workers from Samut Sakhon are just paid Bt200! who the hel_l cut the Bt100 baht off? I will immediately inform the sources there...

No wonder another 8 Billion baht was withdrew from some accounts

Can't the 14 millions that adored and voted for him 'protect' him somehow?

that would be Bt500 each with free transportation to bangkok and food.

WOW!

That will be quite a sum !

14,000,000 x 500 baht

=7,000,000,000 baht

Any loose change to spare?

Can't the 14 millions that adored and voted for him 'protect' him somehow?

Only accidentally ran into Mr Thaksin in Hong Kong indeed.........

What is Chaturon trying to prove? Or who to fool?

Will be more interesting to see what kind of excuses Toxin give if he 'dare not' return to Thailand.

Will he play the poor victim and cry for international attention?

And no prize for guessing whose's name the house is registered under??

Maybe his new HongKong chef ??

hammered,

Must be Thaksin's star- mercury is not in line lately

Has he visited the witch doctor from the neighbouring country for advises lately

Or he prefers have his fate reading on tarrot cards or crystal balls now?

One question. Many possible answers.

Why did Mr. T announce he was returning?

1. To fight the ASC freeze of his accounts as stated

2. To fire up the pro-T rallies

3. To re-enter politics by a side door

4. To put pressure on his previous allies not to switch sides

5. To encourage a counter coup

6. To encourage an even more hard-line coup (leading to bigger demos)

7. To try to cause chaos

8. To initiate a popular uprising

9. To force a delay of the upcoming election

10. To try for martyrdom

11. To cut a face to face deal with the Junta or the government

12. Was it for any of the above or some combination or for a completely different reason?

13. To commit suicide in an act of repentance, albeit that is closely related to #11.

Sonthi: Thaksin doesn't dare to come back

Council for National Security chairman Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said Wednesday he doesn't believe ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra will return home to defend his assets now frozen by the order of the Assets Scrutiny Committee. Gen Sonthi reasoned that there are many people who oppose Mr Thaksin, and that the return may put his life in danger. He was responding to Mr Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Pattama, who said the decision will force Mr Thaksin to come back quickly to fight the charges.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=119412

I think the Chief is trying to break that Toxic ego

It is a phycological war now.

It's a 'I DARE YOU' on both sides. Very good mind games.

Getting interesting ......

Hope that the AEC freeze the accounts belonging to the drivers, maids, gardeners , security guards etc too ! You never know how many more honest mistakes he or Mrs will make !

The existing members are going to re-register a new party under the same name

THAI RAK THAI again??

That is so... very decieving !

I was told :

If number start with #3 means Thai by birth

If number start with #5 means for those born in the hilltribes and registered in Thai hospital for birth cert.

If number start with #8 means for those transfer of citizenship. So far, I only seen transfer of citizenship for those long term hilltribe immigrants.

Can you please tell us what is your the first number on your Thai ID card?

I've got a 5 at the beginning of my Thai ID number. And yes, I'm an overseas born Thai national.

My Daughter, born here while not having an ID card yet (she is only a baby), the first number of her ID is a '1'. This may or may not change when she grows up ang gets her ID card.

Hi Txs Samran for the reply.

It is interesting to know all the different 'classification' of the Thai ID numbers.

I am lucky to see one id card starting with the digit #1 today !

With yours. it makes 2 person I know having #1 as the first digit.

I a little confused here. Few days ago, when I logged in to read the forum, there are little boxes below indicating the pages 1,2,3,4, etc.

However, when I logged in yesterday as well as today to read I could not find the pages!

How can I read those pages? I had been trying all means but unsuccessful ! The only way I can read is by clicking on the 'reply' button and only the last page appeared.

Can those familar with using the forum advise please?

Thank You !

Hi CNX and not entirely sure what your problem is, but it could be your settings they do change all by themselves every now and again.

For a start, have a look at the top right corner of the Blue Title Box above and click on the tab options, the down arrow should appear and click on Standard, that might do the trick.

Otherwise Click Here and post a query you will get a better response.

Good Luck

Moss

Hi Txs Moss!

Finally I found out how !

I think I accidentally click on the option part. Now it is back to normal!

Thank Buddha !

I can read again !

Hi All,

I am new in this forum.

This is the best and most informative forum about Thailand. I am glad that I come across it !

I a little confused here. Few days ago, when I logged in to read the forum, there are little boxes below indicating the pages 1,2,3,4, etc.

However, when I logged in yesterday as well as today to read I could not find the pages!

How can I read those pages? I had been trying all means but unsuccessful ! The only way I can read is by clicking on the 'reply' button and only the last page appeared.

Can those familar with using the forum advise please?

Thank You !

Hi dbreen,

Great news to read about your quest to obtain a full Thai citizenship. Congrats ! May Buddha bless you !

I had heard that the Thai id card with different starting number .

The begining if the 13 digit Thai ID card can start with

#3

#5

#8

Or is there somemore? I am not sure. If anyone can add to the list?

I was told :

If number start with #3 means Thai by birth

If number start with #5 means for those born in the hilltribes and registered in Thai hospital for birth cert.

If number start with #8 means for those transfer of citizenship. So far, I only seen transfer of citizenship for those long term hilltribe immigrants.

Can you please tell us what is your the first number on your Thai ID card?

Thanks !

A new leader is born !