Red-shirt leader insists press conference going ahead today

[webfact]

Red-shirt leader insists press conference going ahead today

By The Nation 

 

File photo

 

BANGKOK: -- The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) insisted that it would hold its press conference on Thursday regarding its bid to seek justice for the victims of the 2010 crackdown, and said it was not a political movement.

 

Nattawut Saikua, a key leader of the group, said he could understand the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s concern, but the press conference was an exercise of citizen rights.

 

The UDD, however, had no opposition to officers observing the event, he said.

 

He had always given cooperation to the NCPO, Nattawut said. Every time he had said an event would not be political, he kept his word, he said.

 

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisat said on Thursday that the event could be allowed if it did not involve politics.

 

Another UDD leader, Tida Thavornseth, told The Nation that the group insists on holding the news conference. It had not been contacted directly by the NCPO to stop it, she added.

 

As of press time Tida said she had not seen any officers around the venue, Imperial World Lat Phrao. But she believed they would come in plainclothes as usual.

 

The note came after the NCPO on Wednesday warned the activity could be banned if it were deemed to be political. The country remained under a ban on political gatherings for the sake of peace and order, an NCPO spokesman said.

 

The UDD would explain at the news conference how it would redeem justice for those killed in the bloody crackdown in 2010, said Nattawut. The group would not implicate anyone or be provocative to cause disorder, he said.

 

On the contrary, the red-shirt leader said the press conference would be an opportunity to create understanding as well as reduce the pressure building among some of the people interested in the issue, as it showed there were still legal channels for them to find justice.

 

The response to the 2010 crackdown would be left to judicial proceedings, Nattawut said.

 

There would be no movement activity, he said. Signature gathering would be kicked off after the election, he added, referring to the group’s threat to remove the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) if the agency failed to take the case forward. The NACC has authority to investigate and bring the accused to court.

 

Nattawut stressed that justice was valued by people throughout the nation, and said he believed involved agencies would understand.

 

The yellow-shirts were recently allowed to exercise their right to meet and hold a press conference after the case related to the crackdown on its supporters was dismissed, Nattawut said.

 

He was not asking for more than was deserved, the red-shirt leader said, but only hoped that he would not be restricted when he did everything according the law.

 

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Chalermchai Sitthisat said on Thursday that the event could be allowed if it did not involve politics.

 

Another UDD leader, Tida Thavornseth, told The Nation that the group insists on holding the news conference. It had not been contacted directly by the NCPO to stop it, she added.

 

As of press time Tida said she had not seen any officers around the venue, Imperial World Lat Phrao. But she believed they would come in plainclothes as usual.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30326669

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-09-14

[onthesoi]

The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) insisted that it would hold its press conference on Thursday regarding its bid to seek justice for the victims of the 2010 crackdown

 

Hmmnn, predictably the article omits much needed context for the crackdown by the military.

 

After initial UDD unilateral demands of an early election were unsuccessful, dozens of M79 grenade attacks occurred...

[Becker]

5 hours ago, onthesoi said:

The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) insisted that it would hold its press conference on Thursday regarding its bid to seek justice for the victims of the 2010 crackdown

 

Hmmnn, predictably the article omits much needed context for the crackdown by the military.

 

After initial UDD unilateral demands of an early election were unsuccessful, dozens of M79 grenade attacks occurred...

Hard to give proper context when freedom of speech (as well as other basic human rights) are severely limited under a military junta.

[onthesoi]

36 minutes ago, Becker said:

Hard to give proper context when freedom of speech (as well as other basic human rights) are severely limited under a military junta.

 

And yet, I was able to do so ...quite effortlessly.

[Becker]

18 minutes ago, onthesoi said:

 

And yet, I was able to do so ...quite effortlessly.

Well you did give something effortlessly, but that was far from proper context.

[phantomfiddler]

I find the redshirt behavior to be the height of hypocrisy, since they were the ones who instigated all the violence ! The actions of the government during the Bangkok riots can only be seen as extremely muted.

[yellowboat]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

But she believed they would come in plainclothes as usual.

The only things that remains consistent in contemporary Thailand; fear of debate and the secret police. 

[tominbkk]

46 minutes ago, phantomfiddler said:

I find the redshirt behavior to be the height of hypocrisy, since they were the ones who instigated all the violence ! The actions of the government during the Bangkok riots can only be seen as extremely muted.

Exactly.  Red Shits trying to rewrite history.

[Happyman58]

Give the red shirt leader a bag of Marbles and tell him to go and have a game That is how effective his speech would be  One wrong word mate and you will disappear  Welcome to democratic Thailand Oh and dont ask about the defence budget?

[tbthailand]

9 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

I find the redshirt behavior to be the height of hypocrisy, since they were the ones who instigated all the violence ! The actions of the government during the Bangkok riots can only be seen as extremely muted.

you don't seem to understand much about the events in 2010.

[Baerboxer]

11 hours ago, Becker said:

Well you did give something effortlessly, but that was far from proper context.

 

Are you denying that the UDD demanded early elections, and that grenades were fired by their supporters?

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, tbthailand said:

you don't seem to understand much about the events in 2010.

 

Whereas you do? Perhaps you would like to share your "understanding" of the events.

[Becker]

4 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Are you denying that the UDD demanded early elections, and that grenades were fired by their supporters?

I'm denying the claim it was proper context. We could start the whole argument about why the military took power for the umpteenth time (both coup and argument) but I haven't had my coffee yet.

[TKDfella]

I don't understand some comments here. If we want freedom of speech to prevail then that means anyone, including Red, Yellow or whatever colour shirt, can voice their opinion or petition the courts. That doesn't mean anyone has to listen, take note etc. and in this case, courts accepting such a petition. What ever happened to 'I might not like like what you say but I'll defend.....'

[Thian]

36 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

I don't understand some comments here. If we want freedom of speech to prevail then that means anyone, including Red, Yellow or whatever colour shirt, can voice their opinion or petition the courts. That doesn't mean anyone has to listen, take note etc. and in this case, courts accepting such a petition. What ever happened to 'I might not like like what you say but I'll defend.....'

Mate there are several alcoholics on this forum...they live upcountry, laying in a hammock all day while sipping lao kao..

[Eric Loh]

12 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

I find the redshirt behavior to be the height of hypocrisy, since they were the ones who instigated all the violence ! The actions of the government during the Bangkok riots can only be seen as extremely muted.

Try going back before the redshirts started their protest. Maybe you see the reasons for their behavior. 

Muted action was when the military tolerated the Bangkok shutdown for 7 months while live rounds were used indiscriminately just over a month of the redshirts demonstration.   

[TKDfella]

7 hours ago, Thian said:

Mate there are several alcoholics on this forum...they live upcountry, laying in a hammock all day while sipping lao kao..

Well I'm TT what are you?

[Thian]

3 minutes ago, TKDfella said:

Well I'm TT what are you?

I'm mr. T, love t-bones, wear t-shirts, but never drink tea..

[The Deerhunter]

13 hours ago, tbthailand said:

you don't seem to understand much about the events in 2010.

Or perhaps it is just you that doesn't understand.  Do the words "If a million of you bring a litre of petrol each......."  ring any bells to you?  Didn't think they would!  Selective memory.