Thai Junta Chief Calls For Emergency Rule In Bangkok

[Thai-Spy]

Full article

Thai junta chief calls for emergency rule in Bangkok

Thailand's junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Wednesday that he has asked the government to declare emergency rule in Bangkok to crack down on anti-coup protesters.

Anti-coup protesters have been holding weekly rallies against the junta, attracting a small but growing crowd that reached 2,000 people last Friday.

The protests have so far been peaceful, but Sonthi said he was afraid the protest movement could gather steam, much like the mass street demonstrations last year that eventually led to the coup against then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sonthi made the call just two months after martial law was lifted in Bangkok. He had imposed martial law on Thailand immediately after seizing power on September 19, but has now lifted it across half the country.

Declaring emergency rule would give authorities many of the same powers they had under martial law.

The government would be able to detain suspects without charge for 30 days, and would have the power to seize and destroy anything deemed a threat to national security or to impede the work of the authorities.

Emergency rule also gives the government tough censorship powers as well as the right to impose a curfew and to ban public gatherings, while giving security forces broad immunity from prosecution.

Agence France-Presse

[jasreeve17]

Democracy at it's finest...

[chownah]

Yeah, this gov't is MUCH better than the one Toxin was running.....sure glad they are protecting us from all that freedom of expression....I mean why would anyone be against the military dictatorship which is in power anyway?...nothing but a bunch of malcontents!!!! We should all wish that the dictatorship stay on as long as possible. I think that their record clearly demonstrates that this military dictatorship is much better than ANY democratically elected gov't that the idiot voters would vote in....LONG LIVE THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP!!!!

Edited March 28, 2007 by chownah

[Midnight Blue]

Thank goodness Thaksin did not do the same thing otherwise we would not have this wonderful government in office that we have now!

[roblin]

"The protests have so far been peaceful, but Sonthi said he was afraid the protest movement could gather steam, much like the mass street demonstrations last year that eventually led to the coup against then-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra."

good that he remember how he got there.

[LaoPo]

Yeah, this gov't is MUCH better than the one Toxin was running.....sure glad they are protecting us from all that freedom of expression....I mean why would anyone be against the military dictatorship which is in power anyway?...nothing but a bunch of malcontents!!!! We should all wish that the dictatorship stay on as long as possible. I think that their record clearly demonstrates that this military dictatorship is much better than ANY democratically elected gov't that the idiot voters would vote in....LONG LIVE THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP!!!!

Do you mean "DEMOCRACY-TATORSHIP" ?

From the same article:

"It's up to the prime minister" to decide on whether to declare emergency rule in the capital, he said."

Well, let's see what's up next in Thai democracy-tatorship...

ps: I'm surprised how little attention this article draws from other members...

LaoPo

[PeaceBlondie]

Here's to the new boss, worse than the old boss....and we won't be fooled again!???

[natra]

Hey maybe we'll get a new album from Carabao.

[bingobongo]

Edited March 28, 2007 by bingobongo

[John K]

TRT: We'll punish anyone who rallies

The Thai Rak Thai Party yesterday dismissed claims it was behind the planned PTV rally to oust the junta, saying any members who joined such movements would be punished.

Deputy party spokesman Kuthep Saikrajang said the party prohibited its former executives and MPs to take to the stage or help mobilise demonstrations against the coup-makers.

Offenders would face disciplinary measures, including withdrawal of House candidacy or loss of party membership in the worst case, he said.

Three PTV leaders - Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Phrompan and Jakrapob Penkair - recently resigned as party executives but still hold party membership.

Under the circumstances, the party could not control its members, who wanted to vent their opinions, as it had 14 million of them nationwide, Kuthep said.

Caretaker party leader Chaturon Chaisang said the junta should not issue any laws to control its opponents as it should respect freedom of expression.

PTV will hold the protest at Sanam Luang tomorrow.

The Nation

[John K]

Defiant PTV owners vow bigger protest tomorrow

Operators of the banned PTV cable TV station yesterday challenged the authorities to declare a state of emergency in a bid to block their public rally scheduled for tomorrow.

The organisers said they expected a strong turn out, with a larger number of participants

than last week's rally at Sanam Luang.

The PTV rally last Friday managed to attract about 1,200 people.

Jatuporn Prompan, a PTV executive, said yesterday that the authorities' move to declare a state of emergency in the city indicated they were "panicking".

"At the moment, all rallies take place without any fighting and violence, so there's no reason for the CNS to bring such a strict measure like declaring a state of emergency in Bangkok," said Jatuporn, referring to the Council for National Security.

"This strict measure is usually used when the city is at war or in an emergency situation. This implies the CNS now is afraid that their authority is challenged," he said.

"We just want to show our opinions peacefully, and at this time Thailand is looked down on by many countries. If you dare to

do it, it will be absolutely the end for the CNS and the Cabinet," he said.

"I expect more people will join the rally this Friday and I insist we are going to hold further rallies," Jatuporn added.

PTV co-founder Veera Musiga-pong also insisted yesterday that PTV will hold a rally at Sanam Luang tomorrow, and that it would be peaceful.

"We just want to inform the Thai people of what is really going on and issue a call to have our liberty back, but we never got fairness like the others got, so we have to gather and talk about it," Veera said.

He said he knew the CNS, the Cabinet and some people were worried about PTV's activities, but it was because they had never listened to PTV.

"They should all consider PTV from our perspective and the details we give on the rally stage," Veera said.

"I talked about politics, the economy and also the problems of the South, but General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said that what I said is 'nonsense', so should I talk

about his double marriage, which is illegal?

"I don't want to talk about

his private life, but I will at the

next rally if the general talks about me."

Pasara Puthamat

The Nation

[John K]

Let us not forget that PTV is the TRT. I trust that you can see past the facade of what is going on here. I for one would have to agree that putting emergency rule back into place is the right thing to do. You need to ask yourself who would be arrogant enough to do this self serving thing and you will find the only answer is the TRT. I would also say it fits what I am calling Thaksin’s plan “B”.

Punishing TRT members, well that’s one for the books. Again all meant to make the appearance it is not the TRT, and if you think about Thaksin and his opposites, it fits exactly his style and what he would say.

Slow? The issue about the constitution is for what I can see still more or less on track based on the initial time frame, and I certainly would be annoyed at someone who would be bitching and complaining about something that was still not done. Although I do agree putting the underlying infrastructure back together seems to be a impotent attempt at this point, we must not forget it is a two step process, undo what Thaksin did then rebuild. As far as I can see undoing has never been done before because noone has ever taken thing to this level. I have been watching demolition next to the Asok BTS station for a while now, obviously clearing the way for a new building, this is no different.

Remember the “under currents” talked about early on and mostly centered in Thaksin country, you are now seeing that was not a false statement. This has much bigger ramifications than the appearance of infringement of freedom, and only will serve to further divide the country. Emergency rule is the correct call.

[andook]

I wondered when they'd start shooting people...

[bingobongo]

Thailand: Screw-Tightening and a Draft Constitution

March 28, 2007 23 00 GMT

Summary

Thai military chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin asked the government March 28 to declare emergency rule in Bangkok in anticipation of a March 30 protest. With a draft constitution due in three weeks, the government is using short-term police measures and longer-term constitutional means to squash the opposition's ability to spark mass uprisings. The opposition likely will object to any proposed constitution. The real question, then, is whether the government can minimize the number of opposition supporters and maximize physical restraints on the remaining opposition.

Analysis

A few hundred people turned out for a small-scale peaceful rally in Sanam Luang, Thailand, on March 23 to protest the government's closure of a TV station affiliated with officials from the ousted Thai Rak Thai government. In response to plans for a second protest March 30, Thai military chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratglin asked the government March 28 to declare emergency rule in Bangkok.

While this might seem a drastic overreaction, other similar policy moves will follow as the April 19 publication date of Thailand's post-coup draft constitution approaches. In the run-up to the constitution deadline, the government will work to minimize the number of opposition supporters and maximize physical restraints on the remaining opposition.

Ultimately, the military government is most concerned with staying in power, or at the very least with installing a regime subservient to its concerns. Thailand is about to enter the last phase of the country's traditional political cycle that hews to the following pattern:

• The government is overthrown in a coup.
  
• The civilian government takes control.
  
• The civilian government fails to satisfy influential interest groups.
  
• The civilian government is overthrown in a military coup.
  
• An interim military government is established.
  
• The interim military government is replaced by a pseudo-civilian government that is subservient to military concerns -- which translates into the return of democratic rule.
  
• The cycle repeats.
  

From time to time during the cycle, the king will step in to prevent the country from falling into total chaos.

To ensure the military government is not ousted and a nonmilitary government re-inserted, the leadership must handle public expectations delicately. To date, it has been careless in maintaining perceptions that it has democratic intentions. Sonthi has pushed hard for the insertion of a "nonelected prime minister" clause into the draft constitution, leading to strong objections from both the public and draft committee members. The government has since been forced to back away from this ambition, with Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont even issuing a public denial March 20.

The government has chosen to increase the military and police's ability to crack down on dissent using legislative means; the military has proposed emergency rule and the police have proposed a crowd-control law. Surayud has been keen to emphasize his preference for stability over crackdowns to deal with political dissent. Still, the regime's ability to impose physical control remains absolute, and it will use a military crackdown if absolutely necessary.

Beyond physical control, the regime also is concerned with appeasing the potential dissenters, ranging from domestic and foreign investors to the average Thai voter. Now that suspicions about the military regime's commitment to deliver a democracy have been raised, even anti-coup groups previously opposed to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra could begin to align with the former Thaksin opposition. Thai politics tends to be fluid and opportunistic, so one common motivation could be all it takes for disaffected groups to unite into an anti-regime movement, if not a unified organization. To counter this, the government likely will try to insert more civilian-controlled checks and balances into the constitution. Whether such checks and balances could or would be implemented effectively is another question.

As April 19 approaches, confusing signals about the draft constitution will continue, while the incremental tightening of military and police control will speed up. Once the draft is out, protests by the main opposition groups are almost guaranteed -- although it will one to two weeks before the opposition crystallizes. With the main battle lines drawn by May, the expanded powers of the police to contain demonstrations might already have been tested, with the military standing by should things escalate out of control. A more significant test, however, will be how many interest groups the government has failed to appease with the proposed constitution -- and hence, how much potential support the opposition might be able to tap for generating a mass outbreak of anti-government sentiment.

Edited March 29, 2007 by bingobongo

[dominique355]

Full article

Thai junta chief calls for emergency rule in Bangkok

Thailand's junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Wednesday that he has asked the government to declare emergency rule in Bangkok to crack down on anti-coup protesters.

Anti-coup protesters have been holding weekly rallies against the junta, attracting a small but growing crowd that reached 2,000 people last Friday.

The protests have so far been peaceful,

Agence France-Presse

Crack down ... Don't you just love this word. Amazing all the things that are "cracked down" lately.

Now the mighty army is scared of 2000 peaceful protesters?

Perhaps doubling the budget was not enough, they are still scared sh.tless of people who have a different opinion. Scared they might have a point?

[eddie11]

Let us not forget that PTV is the TRT. I trust that you can see past the facade of what is going on here. I for one would have to agree that putting emergency rule back into place is the right thing to do. You need to ask yourself who would be arrogant enough to do this self serving thing and you will find the only answer is the TRT. I would also say it fits what I am calling Thaksin’s plan “B”.

Punishing TRT members, well that’s one for the books. Again all meant to make the appearance it is not the TRT, and if you think about Thaksin and his opposites, it fits exactly his style and what he would say.

Slow? The issue about the constitution is for what I can see still more or less on track based on the initial time frame, and I certainly would be annoyed at someone who would be bitching and complaining about something that was still not done. Although I do agree putting the underlying infrastructure back together seems to be a impotent attempt at this point, we must not forget it is a two step process, undo what Thaksin did then rebuild. As far as I can see undoing has never been done before because noone has ever taken thing to this level. I have been watching demolition next to the Asok BTS station for a while now, obviously clearing the way for a new building, this is no different.

Remember the “under currents” talked about early on and mostly centered in Thaksin country, you are now seeing that was not a false statement. This has much bigger ramifications than the appearance of infringement of freedom, and only will serve to further divide the country. Emergency rule is the correct call.

[farang prince]

Full article

Thai junta chief calls for emergency rule in Bangkok

Thailand's junta chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin said Wednesday that he has asked the government to declare emergency rule in Bangkok to crack down on anti-coup protesters.

Anti-coup protesters have been holding weekly rallies against the junta, attracting a small but growing crowd that reached 2,000 people last Friday.

The protests have so far been peaceful,

Agence France-Presse

Crack down ... Don't you just love this word. Amazing all the things that are "cracked down" lately.

Now the mighty army is scared of 2000 peaceful protesters?

Perhaps doubling the budget was not enough, they are still scared sh.tless of people who have a different opinion. Scared they might have a point?

Anyone know where the next rally is going to take place? I want to give it a wide berth. Somehow I think that will be a very dangerous place this week.

[PhilHarries]

Thaksin Rak Thaksin or the current lot, to the average John Doe in the street does it make a gnat's fart of a difference? Do the ordinary Thai people who'll readily sell their vote for a couple of hundred Baht really give a toss who is in the government? The only time they protest is when they are organised by some self interest group and paid for a day out in Bangkok. The rest of the time they are too busy trying to put food on the table.

There are two Thailands, Bangkok and the rest of Thailand and in general neither gives much of a thought for the other.

Question; How long before a curfew is imposed in Bangkok?

[cclub75]

ps: I'm surprised how little attention this article draws from other members...

Some of us have reacted in another thread.

2 points shocked me :

-the huge gap between the intention (to manage the risk of a small rally, last friday only 2000 people) and the solution proposed by Sonthi : emergency decree (the one that is valid in the south)

I mean it's baffling, ridiculous, scary, even sureal. On one hand a ridiculous rally, on the other hand daily bombings, shootings, an insurgency.

-the fact that Sonthi said that not to some young and inexperienced thai journalists, but to a western press agency (AFP) in an interview by phone. It means : this news was immediatly reported worldwide (i even saw it on.... Bloomberg TV).

The result ? Again, the image of Thailand hits the dirt.

There is, I believe, a limit to the famous and rather sweet "TIT" syndrom (This Is Thailand). Every day, the outside world can see how lunatic are the current thai authorities.

[John K]

Eddie11 I can see that your view is different, and I must admit I had my doubts how serious this was up until I saw what I posted in post #10. From there I had absolutely no doubt in my mind Thaksin was involved.

Edited March 29, 2007 by John K

[John K]

Cclub75 thanks for the reminder

To add to this, a point I did not consider, last week the police were unable to stop the rally. That a first struck me as a bit odd not to call for reinforcements to dismantle the stage. Now it is beginning to make more sense as I now remember just who’s pocket the police are still in. We all knew and suspected Thaksin still has some hidden power and he must make a showing of sorts to recapture the people who had doubts about his ability to overcome what is going on. Typically Thais don’t think that far ahead, however Thaksin does think things out and that is part of the reason he had such a following of greedy Thais known at the TRT riding on his coattails. Again this is much more serious than what it appears to be and the Junta knows this.

[jumnien]

I don't see why people are so surprised and shocked at Sondhi and the latest developments. It's a coup, an illegal military seizure of political power nationwide; they are supposed to be ruthless and crude. What shocks me is those who support them as the saviors of Thai democracy and the unbiased judge and jury in dealing with their elected predecessors. Now, that's pathetic.

Edited March 29, 2007 by mdeland

[Jai Dee]

Govt. and CNS to decide today whether to use Emergency Decree

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has not clearly stated whether he will authorize the use of Emergency Decree. The government and the Council for National Security (CNS) will hold a meeting today (March, 29th) to discuss the matter at the Government House.

The premier says the government has proposed the use of Emergency Decree as there are many groups staging rallies against the government during this period. After assessing the situation, the government has concluded that clashes between the protestors and the authority are possible.

The meeting today will consider CNS’s assessment of the situation and opinions voiced by many sides on the government’s measures to control the rallies. The meeting will also decide whether to impose Emergency Decree in Bangkok. If it has launched a resolution to use the Decree, the government might need some time to prepare the enforcement.

Gen.Surayud affirms that the enforcement of the Decree will not affect the drafting of the new charter or the public hearing of the charter.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 March 2007

[cclub75]

To add to this, a point I did not consider, last week the police were unable to stop the rally. That a first struck me as a bit odd not to call for reinforcements to dismantle the stage. Now it is beginning to make more sense as I now remember just who’s pocket the police are still in. We all knew and suspected Thaksin still has some hidden power and he must make a showing of sorts to recapture the people who had doubts about his ability to overcome what is going on. Typically Thais don’t think that far ahead, however Thaksin does think things out and that is part of the reason he had such a following of greedy Thais known at the TRT riding on his coattails. Again this is much more serious than what it appears to be and the Junta knows this.

Okay, but I'm still skeptical : thai police has a new boss, a man of the CNS. It would be strange that they were unable to align a few units with a few commanders, reliable, loyal to them and not to Thaksin, to contain a rally.

Again, let's not forget the scale : 2000 people last week.

I agree : last week the police was pathetic (on purpose or... naturally). They tried to dismantle the stage. And then they backed off.

The thing to do was to prevent Thaksin supporters to install it in the first place.

I believe that it's just another proof of their usual mai pen rai attitude. Now the situation is different : they know what to expect. And they can take proper actions to prevent the same thing.

My point : with the tool of an emergency decree, what they could achieve more ?

And again, there is a matter of relativity : if we need emergency decree in Bangkok to contain some supporters of Thaksin... what do we need... in the south ?

It makes no sense. Unless, Sonthi doesn't fear a rally (official explaination) but rather... a new bombing campaign in Bangkok.

Or a coup.

Edited March 29, 2007 by cclub75

[toptuan]

Where are all the Coup Cheerleaders who flooded this forum with nothing but praise for the Junta in September? Now the other shoe drops...

[John K]

I don't see why people are so surprised and shocked at Sondhi and the latest developments. It's a coup, an illegal military seizure of political power nationwide; they are supposed to be ruthless and crude. What shocks me is those who support them as the saviors of Thai democracy and the unbiased judge and jury in dealing with their elected predecessors. Now, that's pathetic.

I won’t comment more than to date I have not seen anything I would not have done myself if I was in Sonthi’s position, and by no means am I one of the bad guys. Sonthi also seems to have the ability to think things out more than one or two steps. Simply being in the top post in the military before the coup would support that. If the emergency rule comes to be I doubt he would want or need to use all the power, but just the elements necessary (post coup). I would be very surprised if he did use it all. Sonthi is not out looking for power or money, I truly feel he wants to do what is best for the country and is doing his best to follow what the King would like to see. ‘An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ would be the term best used here.

What will happen if the clamp down comes is there will be a lot of speculation if it was necessary, if it does not then in a few weeks there will be no doubt.

Edited March 29, 2007 by John K

[sriracha john]

PM puts off emergency declaration

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday stopped short of signing an order to invoke the decree for a national emergency in order to head off a mass anti-government rally looming tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters last night, he said the government would not rush to declare an emergency situation as advised by the Council for National Security.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Mar2007_news01.php

Edited March 29, 2007 by sriracha john

[toptuan]

Sounds like merely a warning shot over the ship's bow.

[Mid]

PM puts off emergency declaration

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont yesterday stopped short of signing an order to invoke the decree for a national emergency in order to head off a mass anti-government rally looming tomorrow.

Speaking to reporters last night, he said the government would not rush to declare an emergency situation as advised by the Council for National Security.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Mar2007_news01.php

[cclub75]

Ah... ah.... ah... Here comes the U or Z-turn parachute.

CNS links emergency law to polls

(BangkokPost.com) - The ruling military junta has advised the government to declare an emergency decree not only to control a small anti-government rally, but to prevent attempts to abolish the new constitution, spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Thursday.

Protesters may have the aim of slowing down the election scheduled for later this year.

"We are concerned not only about the rally, but also the situation of the country," said Col Sansarn, spokesman for the ruling Council for National Security.

"There are campaigns backing the abolition of the new charter even before it is conpleted, causing us to believe that this (the rally) might have an impact on the election.

"If any unrest arises, how can we hold an election?" he asked.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont is to meet with security agencies including the CNS this afternoon before deciding whether to impose the emergency decree in Bangkok.

"We advise the government what we think is best. But it is up to the government," said the spokesman.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=117742