jfchandler

It's a very small world...

The band playing at the protest lately was singing a song with the lyrics/refrain in English... "We shall overcome," -- though not with the same melody as the American 1960s version.

For anybody who's been listening, the music they've been producing for the crowd over the past two days has been really good.... If this were the U.S., somebody would be recording it for a benefit album/CD to raise money for the cause....

The latest prediction....

Police to disperse protest at Government House at 11pm.

BANGKOK: - People's Alliance for Democracy leader Chamlong Srimuang said police will disperse the rally at 11pm.

Speaking on stage at Government House, Chamlong said he was informed that police will raid the rally to evict the protesters at 11pm.

He told the crowd not to be afraid and to stick together.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

Just got back home and online as of 10:30 pm, and see on Thai TV the demo is still going strong.... Lights on... music loud... large crowd still....

While I was away... I see 10 different deadlines passed or were predicted.... some of them even set by TV members....

I surely don't know when, but it seems likely time is getting short for something to happen.

I hope everyone here remembers there are A LOT of regular Thai people out there who, right or wrong, believe they're there for an important reason. And they're not part of the political machinations on either side.

Let's sincerely hope everyone, on both sides, can stay safe... The last thing Thailand needs is a late night melee....

Civil Court order protesters to move out of Government House

BANGKOK: - The Civil Court issued an injunction, ordering the protesters to leave Government House compound immediately.

The injunction also ordered the protesters to stop blocking all roads near Government House.

The court reasoned that the protests affected the works of Government House officials and the Cabinet.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

The questions at this point are...

--when and how will the police move to arrest the PAD leaders....

--how will the PAD leaders and the crowd respond to the police move's...

--and everyone will stay calm tonight....or things will go bad....

Stupid comment... No one who's any kind of real "journalist" would say that.... But then again, despite your ID here...you clearly are NOT....

Try sticking to the facts, for a change. The events of yesterday were picked up and reported on by media outlets around the world, including AP, Reuters, AFP, New York Times, International Herald Tribune... and on and on and on....

Anytime a country seems on the verge of a potential regime change... people are going to notice. Thailand is no different on that score.

More on Samak's marching orders yesterday to his minions...

PM asks ministers not to resort to the use of force against PAD

Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Anusorn Wongwan, discloses that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has asked all sides not to resort to the use of force against protestors from the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) even should they break into state property.

The minister says the premier said during the Cabinet meeting yesterday that all ministers should not obstruct the protestors from entering into state buildings as he does not want to see clashes and violence.

Mr Anusorn says his ministry is not one of PAD’s targets although it is located near the group’s base at Makhawan Rangsan Bridge.

-- Govt. Public Relations Dept. 2008-08-27

This report below mirrors reporting on the Thailand Outlook Channel, where they're saying PAD supporters who had been involved in the provinces are now being summoned to BKK....

Provincial protesters unblock public highways

After 16 hours of obstructing traffic on a highway in kilometer 493-494 in Tha Kham Sub-district of Chumporn Province, thousands of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters eventually abandoned their rally site on the road.

The protesters are expected to gather and bolster major congregation in Bangkok metropolis soon, with their rally costing 5 million baht of economic destruction today (August 27th).

At the same time, PAD protesters in the Northern region have also unblocked highway No. 117 in Wachirabarami District of Phichit province.

-- Govt. Public Relations Dept. 2008-08-27

Court-approved warrants issued to arrest PAD leaders

The Criminal Court has approved the police request to issue warrants to arrest the PAD leaders on charges relating to the Tuesday's unruly protests. The warrants were out in the early afternoon of Wednesday.

As soon as receiving the news on the warrants, PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang walked to sit among the crowds on the lawn of Government House to await his arrest.

Police are expected to apprehend about seven to eight core leaders.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

To those who either a) don't bother to read things that THEY don't themselves write... or can't remember what was posted 4 pages back on page 30...here is a pretty clear explanation of the reason for the police's restraint...at least thus far...

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?s=...t&p=2170816

PAD receives Bt6.6 million and 80 baht gold in six days

BANGKOK: - People's Alliance for Democracy leader Chamlong Srimuang on Wednesday announced that he received public contributions amounting to Bt6.6 million and gold weighed 80 baht worth more than Bt1 million.

The contributions were solicited in the past six days to finance the PAD-led protests and pay the staff of ASTV, the satellite television station which is the PAD's mouthpiece.

Chamlong said he had already designated a successor to handle the funds if he was arrested by police.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

I'm evacuating my family out of Thailand next week to join me overseas.

This anarchy is all going to end in tears - its becoming a runaway train.

Do you think you could possibly be any more consistently alarmist???

The rest of us aren't feeling nervous enough yet... Why not go ahead and add some more fuel to the fire???

Considering that 30,000 people and the Thai police have been involved, thus far, the level of unrest has been remarkably low. That may change, though I certainly hope not... Let's keep a lid on things here....

PAD's protest activities disapproved by majority

BANGKOK: - More than 70 per cent of the people condemned the People's Alliance for Democracy for its Tuesday's protest activities, Bangkok University Poll said on Wednesday.

Almost 73 per cent voiced disapproval for blockading main roads linking Bangkok to the North, the Northeast and the South.

About 71 per cent said they disagreed with the raid of the NBT station. And 68 per cent said they found it unacceptable to lay seige at Government House and ministries.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

PAD leaders bracing for their arrests

The People's Alliance for Democracy decided on Wednesday that its five leaders would not flee nor surrender to police if the Criminal Court approved the warrants to arrest them later this afternoon.

PAD leader Somsak Kosaisuk said he and his four colleagues would await for police to arrest them at the rally site inside the compound of Government House.

"Police can arrest us anytime as we will be at the Government House and will not use people as shield," he said.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

Email Distribution Today from the U.S. Embassy...

August 27, 2008 This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in Thailand of demonstrations by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) throughout Bangkok. Police representatives indicate that early on Wednesday, August 27, there were approximately 10,000 people protesting in the Government House compound and nearby, including the Makawan Rangsan Bridge used by the PAD as the main rallying point. Thus far, the demonstration remains non-violent. The Royal Thai Police (RTP) have deployed police to the area, while pledging not to use force. As of this morning, only Government House and the Makawan Rangsan Bridge area still had PAD demonstrators. On Tuesday, August 26, protesters blocked transportation in the areas surrounding these facilities, several other ministries and government buildings, as well as into and around Bangkok. Transportations routes, including major highways, may continue to be partially or fully blocked by demonstrators as the demonstrations continue. We wish to remind American citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

Government to file complaint against protesters with court

PM's Secretariat office will file complaint with Civil Court against protesters' occupations of the Government's compound.

BANGKOK: - Loiluen Bunnag, deputy secretary general of the premier said his official will field the complain with the court at 1pm. He said the protesters have caused damages to the Government House which is an official venue.

It is not unclear whether he will seek compensation from the protesters.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

Police applying for an injunction to evict PAD

BANGKOK: - Police have petitioned the Civil Court to issue an injunction for the People's Alliance for Democracy to move out of the Government House, police deputy spokesman Suraphol Thuanthong said on Wednesday.

The injunction is being sought in the same manner that the Ratchawinit School successfully sought the judicial intervention to force the PAD to relocate its rally site, Suraphol said.

In a related development, police have already asked the Criminal Court to approve warrants to arrest the PAD leaders, he said.

The court is expected to rule before noon whether to give the green light to apprehend about seven to eight PAD leaders, he said.

-- The Nation 2008-08-27

I also have 2 mb True DSL in BKK...paying about 850 baht per month.

At best.... it runs about 1.7 - 1.8 mb... in the late night (after midnight) and early morning hours.... During the day it slows down some...and it really slows down in the evenings after dinner time...

If there's any better alternative in central BKK, I don't know what it would be. One good thing to say is....during the year I've had it....their down times have been VERY minimal... It almost always is working...even if slow...

This is an interesting item in one of The Nation's articles posted on their web site this morning.... This is the first reference I've seen to this kind of involvement in the situation....

"I was granted an audience with His Majesty the King. His Majesty asked me to enforce the law with extreme caution, to be soft and gentle. I beg all of you to understand and sympathise with me," Samak was quoted by an official source as telling the Cabinet.

"Soft and gentle" were the words Samak used yesterday in his news conference with foreign media... They seemed very uncharacteristic for him to use, given his style and history... Wonder if that direction came from a different source...

Actually, I've been monitoring the online Thailand Outlook Channel and their coverage for most of the day...

And while they're certainly sympathetic to PAD, their coverage and reporting has actually been pretty good and accurate...especially compared to the rest of Thai television and the two English language newspapers.

At one point, their evening anchors were skeptically pressing a guest about what justisfied the takeover of NBT. The guest ended up responding that part was probably the one big mistake and problem of PAD from the day.

They also did a good job of summarizing Samak's 6 pm news conference with the foreign media and the subsequent remarks by PAD's leaders, and then the standoff as it went into the evening.

It may be "propaganda"...but no less so than most of what else passes for journalism here.

Thai broadcast and cable TV news is mostly showing re-reruns of footage from earlier in the day, at NBT and elsewhere... Not much new being shown now...or status on the protests outside...

But there's a live continuing broadcast of the speeches at the demonstration, and occasional English-language news reporting on them, at this web site that is sympathetic to the demonstrators...

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/

Thai TV as of 9:45 pm still showing a huge crowd of demonstrators outside government house...calmly listening to a speaker. Nothing visible from the government as yet...

BMA orders closure of 14 schools

Manager Online reported that the permanent secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Pongsak Semsant had issued an urgent order directing all BMA officials to work 24 hours a day, from today to August 31, in preparation for any emergency cases. The BMA also ordered the closure of 14 schools located in the demonstration areas today for safety reason. The BMA also authorised the directors of these schools to continue cancelling teaching classes, if necessary.

-- Bangkok Post web site 2008-08-26

An updated version from Associated Press, which clearly is more anti-PAD in the tone of its reporting and wording than almost any other of today's major media reports... 6 pm deadline passes with no major known developments....

Thai protesters break into premier's compound

By SUTIN WANNABOVORN

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Thousands of anti-government demonstrators pushed into the Thai prime minister's office compound and rallied outside several ministries Tuesday, and a violent masked mob from the same protest group forced a state-run TV station off the air.

The right-wing People's Alliance for Democracy said its actions Tuesday constituted a "final showdown" in its efforts to oust the elected government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The group has been protesting sporadically across the capital, Bangkok, since May to demand the government's resignation.

"The people's army is victorious over the government," protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul told protesters from a stage assembled inside the Government House compound. "We are now in Government House and won't move until the government resigns."

The protesters remained peaceful and did not attempt to enter any government offices. Police monitored the rally but did not intervene.

Speaking less than an hour after Government House was stormed, Samak nevertheless refused to declare a state of emergency.

"The government is not willing to declare a state of emergency because it will damage the atmosphere," Samak said, without elaborating.

The prime minister said the protesters were breaking the law and that they must leave by 6 p.m., but the deadline passed without any reported effort to oust them. He said security personnel would not use force against the occupiers but that he was preparing legal charges against them.

Tuesday's actions by the alliance, which aligns itself with conservative factions of the monarchy and the military, began with a violent, pre-dawn raid by about 80 masked alliance members on the main studios of the government-run National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, known as NBT. The protesters claim the station is a political mouthpiece for the government.

NBT footage of the incursion showed the attackers, armed with clubs and iron rods, herding staff out of the building and smashing property. The invaders prevented the station from broadcasting for about an hour, after which police officers arrested them. Samak said police were holding them pending charges.

Local television news later showed police displaying knives and at least one gun that they said the attackers brandished during the raid.

A crowds of protesters later took over the TV station for a second time, at about 8 a.m., pushing down a gate and rushing past police to occupy the offices. The station was again forced off the air but resumed broadcasting within an hour from another location.

No one has been arrested in the second raid, and the protesters remain on the premises.

The Thai Journalists Association protested the station's seizure, describing it as a threat to press freedom and freedom of expression.

As many as 30,000 protesters rallied outside four government ministries and Government House, according to police spokesman Maj. Gen. Surapol Tuanthong.

"We are now controlling most of the key government offices to prevent them from coming to work," Sondhi said. "Today, we declare a long, long holiday for the government."

Samak moved Tuesday's weekly Cabinet meeting from Government House to the military's headquarters elsewhere in Bangkok to avoid the protesters, deputy government spokesman Natawut Saikau said.

The state's Thai News Agency, citing local police, reported that provincial branches of the alliance had blocked roads leading to the capital from the south, north and northeast. Police attempted to divert traffic and were not reported to have made any arrests.

The alliance contends Samak is a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and is living in self-imposed exile in England.

Thaksin and his wife skipped bail earlier this month with a string of corruption charges pending against them. The former leader has said he will never get a fair trial in his homeland.

Before Thaksin's ouster in a September 2006 military coup, the People's Alliance for Democracy led months of demonstrations alleging he was corrupt and had abused his power.

Gen. Anupong Paochinda, the army chief, reassured the public Tuesday that the military was not planning another coup, saying the latest crisis can be solved politically.

The alliance has accused Samak of trying to amend the constitution to help Thaksin avoid conviction on the corruption charges. They also accuse Samak's government of failing to aggressively prosecute cases against Thaksin and refusing calls to extradite him from Britain to face justice.

It has also proposed replacing Thailand's electoral democracy with a system that would be dominated by appointees from the bureaucracy and the military, on the grounds that the rural majority is not sophisticated enough to choose good public servants.

The alliance appeared to be a threat to Samak's six-party coalition earlier this year, but has been steadily losing influence. It has alienated many Bangkok residents by disrupting already bad traffic in the capital.

-- Associated Press 2008-08-26