Security agencies set up checkpoints in provinces ahead of Bangkok rally

[snoop1130]

Security agencies set up checkpoints in provinces ahead of Bangkok rally

By The Nation

 

 

Security agencies on Monday set up checkpoints in some provinces, especially in the Northeast, reportedly in order to block villagers and key local-rights figures from joining a pro-election demonstration in Bangkok.

 

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, had announced plans to assemble at Thammasat University at 5pm on Monday and remain there overnight, before marching to Government House on Tuesday morning. 

 

They plan to deliver an ultimatum to the prime minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to hold a general election this year, instead of next February as promised by the premier.

 

Reports said academics, political activists and local-rights activists in some provinces had been called by security agencies to ask whether they would join the demonstration.

 

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University, told The Nation that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the Internal Security Operations Command had called him on Monday to ask if he was planning to attend the event at Thammasat University, and to ascertain if he was aware whether any other university staff and students were planning to go.

 

The NCPO has already tried to stop the red shirts and political activists from going to the assembly, the dean posted on his Facebook page. 

 

Indeed, it has visited political activists in order to pressure them not to go to Bangkok, he added.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30345932

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-5-21

[Enoon]

 

A great step forward for the struggle if the regime succeeds in provoking clashes in the provinces.

 

 

[observer90210]

What if they took the train ? If any available of course in their areas ?

[webfact]

Tight security in Bangkok and Northeast ahead of pro-election rally today

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION

 

 

AUTHORITIES HAVE tightened security in the capital and Northeast provinces today as pro-election activists gather to march to Government House with an ultimatum to hold a general election by late this year, not next year as the junta plans.

 

A few hundreds activists led by the Democratic Restoration Group gathered yesterday at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus less than 5 kilometres from the country’s administrative hub. 

 

Their plan to stay overnight at the campus was prohibited by police. “The assembly is a political protest, which violates an order of the National Council for Peace and Order. We will take legal action if there is any violation,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul.

 

 

Protest leader Sirawith Seritiwat said the group had planned to camp on the campus football field overnight before the march. 

However, the university yesterday erected placards around the field, saying it was off-limits for “pest control”.

 

While the university’s management did not eject protesters but shut the front gates at 4pm citing traffic concerns. The move obstructed some demonstrators from getting inside, but they remained in high spirits and decided to camp outside the gates.

The authorities deployed hundreds of security officials in a |50-metre radius around the government office. 

 

In a press briefing, protest leader Nuttha Mahat-tana said that a number of protesters had been visited and harassed by police officers in an attempt to stop them from joining the pro-election demonstration.

 

Suthep Thaugsuban, who mobilised huge rallies to call for the 2014 coup, yesterday dismissed a rumour that his group would hold an anti-election protest on Sunday to counter the pro-democracy groups. 

 

Meanwhile, security agencies yesterday set up checkpoints in some provinces, especially in the Northeast, reportedly in order to block villagers and local leaders from joining today’s march in Bangkok. 

 

Reports said academics, political activists and local rights activists upcountry had been called by security agencies to ask whether they would join the demonstration.

 

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University, told The Nation that NCPO and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) called him yesterday to ask if he was planning to attend the event at Thammasat University and whether he was aware if any other university staff and students were planning to go.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30345958

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-22

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

university yesterday erected placards around the field, saying it was off-limits for “pest control”.

 

While the university’s management did not eject protesters but shut the front gates at 4pm citing traffic concerns.

haha,  their inner politician is coming out ; what , no 'national security'  foolspeach ?

[DoctorG]

Most TVF members here will see these tactics for what they are and, quite sensibly, feel that to comment further would be pointless.

[orang37]

13 minutes ago, DoctorG said:

Most TVF members here will see these tactics for what they are and, quite sensibly, feel that to comment further would be pointless.

As pointless as your post ?

 

~o:37;

[Juan B Tong]

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

activists gather to march to Government House with an ultimatum to hold a general election by late this year,

New on me, the kidnapped giving the kidnapper am ultimatum. Probably as likely as Fiji winning the next football world cup.

[TKDfella]

Well, I read the news this morning, and apart from 'barriers' erected, there is nothing yet to really comment on.

[watcharacters]

 

Another vote for freedom..

[holy cow cm]

And we know who the pests are in reference to. Was the University threatened? 

[moe666]

This government has the full force of the army and the police at any time what are they so afraid of from a few protesters

[spidermike007]

They should be paranoid. The people are getting restless, for good reason. The level of incompetency, and corruption at the highest levels is disappointing, and astonishing.

 

Little P. You have overextended your welcome. Get out. Leave now. You are no longer welcome. You are a parasite. You are a leech sucking the blood of the nation. Hopefully, at some point in the future, you and Prawit and several of the top guys will be locked up for a long, long time. 

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

A few hundreds activists

Student activists are "force multipliers."

They have families, friends and armchair supporters who show their activism through the ballot box.

They have social media platforms to magnify the audience for their campaigns.

Throughout modern world history they have been the "tip of the sword" for freedom to lead the sharp edges of democracy forward.

They are the "pinprick" before the "slice and dice."

 

[high plane drifter]

well said spidermike007

[high plane drifter]

well said spidermike007

[4evermaat]

33 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

And we know who the pests are in reference to. Was the University threatened? 

 

 

[high plane drifter]

well said spidermike007

[high plane drifter]

well said spidermike007

[anon789561]

1 hour ago, high plane drifter said:

well said spidermike007

post it one more time so i get it, loud and clear

[anon789561]

i heard it's raining in BKK. that's the march screwed then. they'll all be taking cover

[anon789561]

the current situation reminds me of a snippet from oscar wildes ballad of reading gaol. “For Man's grim Justice goes its way, And will not swerve aside: It slays the weak, it slays the strong, It has a deadly stride: With iron heel it slays the strong, The monstrous parricide!”

[maxcorrigan]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

They should be paranoid. The people are getting restless, for good reason. The level of incompetency, and corruption at the highest levels is disappointing, and astonishing.

 

Little P. You have overextended your welcome. Get out. Leave now. You are no longer welcome. You are a parasite. You are a leech sucking the blood of the nation. Hopefully, at some point in the future, you and Prawit and several of the top guys will be locked up for a long, long time. 

You seem to have forgotten Mike the little fellow has cloaked himself in a blanket amnesty (worthless in my opinion) which means he is totally untouchable in his little childlike brain, but time will tell, should be interesting! 

[watcharacters]

2 hours ago, moe666 said:

This government has the full force of the army and the police at any time what are they so afraid of from a few protesters

 

Loss of control?

[eliotness]

There will be a rush for delivery of some Chinese tanks very soon.

[realenglish1]

This is the calm before the storm

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, maxcorrigan said:

You seem to have forgotten Mike the little fellow has cloaked himself in a blanket amnesty (worthless in my opinion) which means he is totally untouchable in his little childlike brain, but time will tell, should be interesting! 

Who knows? Maybe he will be forced into exile, once the billions he and his top guys have stolen are revealed. Imagine him being forced to surrender his Thai passport? Or being forced into exile? How sweet would that be?

[wvavin]

Thais seem to enjoy protest and demonstration a lot. This could be due to the pathetic 500 baht + Wai penalty!

[shan777]

I read these so knowing comments , by so called experts ,and as I live in the northeast in a village and had been here before the army took over, when the roads were shit and drainage, in street and  lights didn't exist and  very little was done to help the local people , and people talk about corruption these people need to get there heads out off there ass . The army has done more to held the people of Thailand ,that any civil government ever did , here we now have better roads , street lighting drains and many, more service to help the poor advance , training courses on growing better crops and the government pays for trees for the poor landless who have been given land to use,  durian and other fruits trees , and rubber trees , Dams have been built  . people on the whole are fare better off .Pryor to this the corrupt government officers pocked most of ,the money  ,for these civil works . now the expensive are checked the work is checked , if not done correctly the work has to be redone ,at the contractors cost.  The corrupt  fear jail so they play the game , only the corrupt , want things changed . Been out of pocket too long . The government have said that elections will be held next year .