10,000 Anti-coup Demonstrators Expected At Sanam Luang Rally

[Mid]

Veteran political activist, Pilot Officer Chalart Worachat (ฉลาด วรฉัตร), files a complaint with Caretaker Police Chief Pol.Gen.Seripisut Temiyavet against the Council for National Security (CNS) on grounds of undermining democracy.

and good luck with that ,

the big boss of the police just got the invite of a lifetime .............................

[quiksilva]

Have rules for quoting Bangkok Post articles changed?

Sri-j's right. You are only supposed to quote BKK Post articles in defense of the junta and anti-democracy! Doesn't anyone read the rules anymore?

no, he meant that you can only quote the first two or three sentences and provide a link to the rest from a BKKPost article.

Correct. The BKK Post feels that we are in violation of copyright if more is quoted.

The Nation and other Thai news sources do not have this problem.

Really? I never noticed that,may I suggest a sticky on this subject in this forum to prevent future misunderstandings?

[bangsue]

i think if you quote all the article then people aren't going to go the bkk post website, therefore they are losing hits.

[sriracha john]

Political activist calls for legal actions against CNS

Veteran political activist, Chalart Worachat, files a complaint with Caretaker Police Chief Pol.Gen.Seripisut Temiyavet against the Council for National Security (CNS) on grounds of undermining democracy.

Other government units Chalart wants the police to sue include the Constitution Tribunal, the Election Commission, the National Legislative Assembly, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, and the Auditor-General.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2007

Seems quite a repeater:

Activist Chalart Worachat filed a complaint last month against PAD leader Somkiart Pongpaiboon and other members of the PAD on suspicion of a conspiracy to undermine democracy.

- The Nation / April 18, 2006

=============

Chuan agrees to demand for televised public forum

Hunger strikers wary of fasting guru

The government has agreed to hold a televised public forum on the demands of the Assembly of the Poor on Aug 3, while political activists have vowed to close the road in front of Government House every evening until the House of Representatives is dissolved.

Chalard Worachat joined the hunger strike yesterday, which was his birthday.

However, protest leaders appeared to feel uneasy about his involvement, knowing he is a member of the New Aspiration Party. They tried unsuccess-fully to persuade him to stage his fast elsewhere. Mr Chalard's involvement came as 20 of the 40 hunger strikers were sent to hospital over the weekend. They were immediately replaced by another 20 volunteers.

Bangkok Post / August 1, 2000

[hammered]

Political activist calls for legal actions against CNS

Veteran political activist, Chalart Worachat, files a complaint with Caretaker Police Chief Pol.Gen.Seripisut Temiyavet against the Council for National Security (CNS) on grounds of undermining democracy.

Other government units Chalart wants the police to sue include the Constitution Tribunal, the Election Commission, the National Legislative Assembly, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, and the Auditor-General.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2007

Seems quite a repeater:

Activist Chalart Worachat filed a complaint last month against PAD leader Somkiart Pongpaiboon and other members of the PAD on suspicion of a conspiracy to undermine democracy.

- The Nation / April 18, 2006

=============

Chuan agrees to demand for televised public forum

Hunger strikers wary of fasting guru

The government has agreed to hold a televised public forum on the demands of the Assembly of the Poor on Aug 3, while political activists have vowed to close the road in front of Government House every evening until the House of Representatives is dissolved.

Chalard Worachat joined the hunger strike yesterday, which was his birthday.

However, protest leaders appeared to feel uneasy about his involvement, knowing he is a member of the New Aspiration Party. They tried unsuccess-fully to persuade him to stage his fast elsewhere. Mr Chalard's involvement came as 20 of the 40 hunger strikers were sent to hospital over the weekend. They were immediately replaced by another 20 volunteers.

Bangkok Post / August 1, 2000

I was joking with someone only the other day about it being time for one of this mavericks little hunger strikes. Truly amazing.

[Jai Dee]

CNS is not troubled over upcoming demonstration at Army HQ

The Council for National Security (CNS) is not concerned over the movements of demonstrators to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters this weekend due to the belief that citizens do understand the country's political situation.

The Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Army and CNS Deputy Secretary-General, Gen. Anupong Phaochinda, affirms that the CNS is not overly worried about the demonstrators' plans to march to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters on June 23rd due to the belief that the majority of citizens should understand the political situation and will not take action which contribute to disorder or violence.

Gen. Anupong reports that security preparations have been made to accommodate demonstrations, including surveillance and photographic records of hardcore and prominent members of demonstration groups. Gen Anupong has called on Thai citizens to work towards peace, and to replace violence with rational action.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 21 June 2007

[Tony Clifton]

Veteran political activist, Pilot Officer Chalart Worachat (ฉลาด วรฉัตร), files a complaint with Caretaker Police Chief Pol.Gen.Seripisut Temiyavet against the Council for National Security (CNS) on grounds of undermining democracy.

Other government units Pilot Officer Chalart wants the police to sue include the Constitution Tribunal, the Election Commission, the National Legislative Assembly, the National Counter Corruption Commission, the Constitution Drafting Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee, and the Auditor-General.

I picture a single tick trying to bleed an elephant dry.

[lukamar]

I picture a single tick trying to bleed an elephant dry.

Do you forget the pictures from the defense ministry? Anything is possible in Thailand, just not likely.

[Siripon]

A group of us were just saying the other day it's about time the VDO shop owner from Chantaburi reappeared. I remember him 'fasting' during the tenure of Chuan's government,he had a tent outside Parliament and a political opponent from the Right set up a table opposite and dressed as Chuchok,( a notoriously greedy character from Buddhist teachings) would proceed to mock him eating lavish meals.

Chalad means clever in Thai and we had to say his name was fitting because he never got any thinner despite weeks or even months of fasting.

He slept in a tent and rumours abounded he was on a drip at night!

[plachon]

A group of us were just saying the other day it's about time the VDO shop owner from Chantaburi reappeared. I remember him 'fasting' during the tenure of Chuan's government,he had a tent outside Parliament and a political opponent from the Right set up a table opposite and dressed as Chuchok,( a notoriously greedy character from Buddhist teachings) would proceed to mock him eating lavish meals.

Chalad means clever in Thai and we had to say his name was fitting because he never got any thinner despite weeks or even months of fasting.

He slept in a tent and rumours abounded he was on a drip at night!

Chalard has done more "fasts for democracy" than I've had hot dinners. I remember him doing a marathon fast near Democracy Monument during the Suchinda coup (over 40 days if I remember right), but he came out of that as fit as a fiddle and ready for the next hunger strike. Reckon he keeps a stack of hi-energy bars and gratin daeng up his sua mor hom and scoffs them when nobody's looking.

Still he adds some variety to protests and you've got to hand it to the guy, he's kept everyone fooled for donkey's years. TAT ought to take tourists round to see him after doing the Grand Palace as part of the "Amazing Thailand" promotion.

"And hear, radies and gentlemen, we have the world record breaking hunger striker, who has eaten less in 40 years than a mayfly eats in its lifetime, sitting out here for democracy. Stand in line Mr McWhirter, you'll get your photo in a second."

[sriracha john]

Chalard Worachat in a hunger strike outside Government House yesterday.

Bangkok Post / August 1, 2000

========================================

He looks so emaciated he's practically wasted away to nothing....

[sriracha john]

And now.... for the 2007 version...

Thai activist Chalard Vorachart stands in a mock jail during an anti-coup demonstration outside the parliament in Bangkok June 22, 2007. Chalard is calling for a return to democracy.

REUTERS

========================

seriously... can't he find a job on one of the soap operas? He seems like he'd be a great actor.

[Jai Dee]

1st Army Commander confident rally today will not escalate

The First Army Area Commander, Lt. Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, says he believes that the demonstration this afternoon (Jun 23) will not escalate. The army has prepared military officers and stepped up measures to deal with possible violence.

Lt. Gen. Prayuth says intelligence units have reported that there is still no movement to create violence incidents and the number of demonstrators stays around 3,000 to 5,000. Checkpoints on roads across the country have reported no suspicious group of people heading to Bangkok.

Demonstration leaders affirmed last night that they would not stir up the situation. The army’s assessment of today's rally shows that the number of the demonstrators will not be very large and a violent incident is not likely to occur if there is no third party to trigger it.

The army has set up checkpoints across Bangkok and requested all police stations and governors to thoroughly inspect those who are traveling to join the rally in the capital tonight. It has also requested owners of industrial factories in the vicinities of Bangkok to monitor their employees to prevent them from participating in the protest.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Khon Kaen explains current political situation to local people

The Deputy Governor of Khon Kaen, Mr. Songpol Champaphan, reinstructs the district chiefs village headmen in the province to oversee the local residents who are looking to join the demonstrations in Sanam Luang and to prevent vote-buying activities during the next general election.

Mr. Songpol speaks about the rumours of the group of people from Khon Kaen province who will travel to join the rallies in Bangkok, saying the state authority has reminded the district chiefs and village headmen to clarify the situation to the local people. He says the officials have explained to the people that the government is expediting the public hearing to finalize the new constitutional draft and then will organize the general election. The demonstrations would also delay the process of election and causing further difficulties.

The deputy governor affirms that the situation in Khon Kaen is normal, saying that there have been no reports of any movement at present.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 June 2007

[Mid]

Sonthi says rally growing, peaceful

Gen Sonthi's comments came after the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship leaders said they intend to lead a march to the Army headquarters from Sanam Luang in the afternoon to demand the resignation of the coup makers.

The group core leaders hoped to draw up to 100,000 people.

The Post Publishing Public Co

meanwhile organised and concerted efforts continue to restrict / bar people from making their way to the rallies .................

[Jai Dee]

Update: Anti-coup march begins

Around 10,000 anti-coup protesters began marching to Army Headquarter in central Bangkok on Saturday afternoon to demand the resignation of coup makers. The crowd was just one-tenth of what organisers of the anti-junta rally claimed they would attract.

The march from Saman Luang Plaza to the headquarters began at around 2.30pm under the banner of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship.

More from the Bangkok Post here.

[Jai Dee]

Policemen guard in front of the army headquarter on Rachadamnoen road on Saturday as pro-Thaksin rally start moving from Sanam Luang. The protesters vowed to enter the headquarter to demand for the military junta to step down.

Source: The Nation - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Anti-coup rally marches from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarter

Anti-coup rally has started marching from Sanam Luang to the Army headquarter on Rachadamnoen road at 2.40pm.

At about 3.35pm, the rally, which gathered about 6,500 protesters, reached Agriculture Ministry which is a few blocks away from the Army headquarter.

The march organisers said earlier that they wanted the answer from the army on their demand that the military junta stepped down and its chief, Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin resigned.

They marched under the banner of Democracy Alliance against Dictatorship.

However the march faced with dozens of policemen and soldiers as well as barricades to prevent them from entering the compound.

In a separate development, Metropolitan police chief, Pol Lt Gen Adisorn Nonsee said that the military junta will allow some 20 key organisers of the rally to enter the army compound and to talk with them.

Key organisers said earlier protesters would be peaceful and urged police to arrest ill-intentioned elements who might try to exploit the situation to incite violence.

Critics said the march, if happened, might be a last highlight of the anti-coup protests. They claimed that organisers were trying to find a face-saving way to wind down the rally which attracted little attention in the past 10 days.

Source: The Nation - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Strong measures to be used against violent protestors

The top police officer in the Thai capital warned Saturday that severe, but legal, measures will be used against anti-coup and anti-government demonstrators who use force against security personnel they encounter.

Led by the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), who were to march from the city's tradition political demonstration venue, Sanam Luang, to Royal Thai Army headquarters Saturday afternoon, the demonstrators, if they use force against security officials, they will be dealt with accordingly, but legally, Bangkok police chief Pol. Lt-Gen. Adisorn Nonsi said.

Gen. Adisorn said police have placed barriers in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives near the Army headquarters, and would allow only protester representatives to conduct negotiations.

The protesters themselves will not be allowed to camp overnight in front of the Army headquarters, and police will be vigilant for instigators ofany third party who might mingle with the demonstrators with the intention to create disturbances, he said.

More than 2,800 police officers have been deployed to keep order as the anti-coup rally, organised by People's Television (PTV), an alternative broadcast media organised by members of the now defunct Thai Rak Thai political party, founded by ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, are to march from Sanam Luang, the Thai capital's traditional venue for demonstrations, to Army headquarters.

The Bangkok police chief said police maintaining order in the area are carrying only walkie-talkie radios, cell phones and shields. They would refrain from using force against the demonstrators.

Several roads leading to the Army headquarters are now closed and motorists are advised avoid the area.

Source: TNA - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Metropol Police bans protestors from staying overnight in front of Army Headquarters

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen. Adisorn Nonsee, prohibits demonstrators from gathering in front of the Army Headquarters over night tonight (Jun 23) to prevent violence by a third party. He affirms the police will avoid using force with them as much as possible.

The commissioner requests the demonstrators to be clam and suggests that the demonstration leaders should make sure that the rally is carried out peacefully. The latest report says the demonstrators announced that they will not stay overnight in front of the Army Headquarters if they are satisfy with a negotiation.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau bans the protesters from staying overnight as they will obstruct the traffic and a third party might mingle among them to stir up the situation. Although police officers will avoid using force with the protestors, they will take legal action against those attacking them.

The police has set up four lines to hold back the demonstrators. The first line is at Sanam Luang and the rest three are in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative, the Army Headquarters, and the residence of President of the Privy Council Gen.Prem Tinsulanonda respectively. The police has instructed street vendors around the Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium to pack their goods before the demonstrators pass the area.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 June 2007

[Jai Dee]

Demonstrators arrive at Democracy Monument

Demonstrators have arrived at the Democracy Monument while police and military officers are blocking the Ratchadamnoen Road in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and the Ministry of Transport to prevent them from entering the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.

Many thousands of demonstrators are marching from Sanam Luang to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. The military and the police have provided full security at areas around the headquarters. The demonstrators are expected to gather in front of the headquarters but banned from staying overnight.

The rally is led by PTV executives and other groups of people opposing the coup makers.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 23 June 2007

[Mid]

Update: Protesters reach army headquarters

(BangkokPost.com) - Police allowed anti-coup protesters to walk pass a check-point in front of the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, situated within a short distance from the Army Headquarters, on Saturday afternoon in exchange that they must end a rally by 11pm.

Police decided not to block the mass rally from marching to the headquarters after its core leader of Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship Weng Tojirakan negotiated with the police.

The Post Publishing Public Co

Edited June 23, 2007 by Mid

[soundman]

Sanahm Luang today was paying 300B per peson, for anyone coming to support the protest & staying more or less until stumps. Two of my staff & their wives went & apparently this has been the going rate for the last few days.

The way it has been co-ordinated, as far as payment is concerned, is that you make yourself known to a small area orginiser, who will then watch you & make sure you stay for an appropriate amount of time, and then pay you in cash.

CNS is having a major headache. Apparently a group of nearly six thousand people from CM / CR were denied entry into Bkk today. On top of the motor bike taxi's (all with Taxin allegiance) that's a large number. Mobile phone service has apparently been switched off in Sanahm Luang area all say because of bomb scares.

I wonder who is footing the bill?

Soundman.

[hammered]

Sanahm Luang today was paying 300B per peson, for anyone coming to support the protest & staying more or less until stumps. Two of my staff & their wives went & apparently this has been the going rate for the last few days.

The way it has been co-ordinated, as far as payment is concerned, is that you make yourself known to a small area orginiser, who will then watch you & make sure you stay for an appropriate amount of time, and then pay you in cash.

CNS is having a major headache. Apparently a group of nearly six thousand people from CM / CR were denied entry into Bkk today. On top of the motor bike taxi's (all with Taxin allegiance) that's a large number. Mobile phone service has apparently been switched off in Sanahm Luang area all say because of bomb scares.

I wonder who is footing the bill?

Soundman.

Ask a Thai person who is footing thebill. You usually get the same answer even if the apologists on here dont want to believe it.

By the way I wonder why Khun Weng who not too long ago was filing complaints to the DSI against Thaksin is now leading (or we should say theoretically leading) a pro-Thaksin demonstration of mostly paid demonstrators?

[Old Man River]

Sanahm Luang today was paying 300B per peson, for anyone coming to support the protest & staying more or less until stumps. Two of my staff & their wives went & apparently this has been the going rate for the last few days.

The way it has been co-ordinated, as far as payment is concerned, is that you make yourself known to a small area orginiser, who will then watch you & make sure you stay for an appropriate amount of time, and then pay you in cash.

Soundman.

The going rate since the start of these demonstrations has been THB 500, with transportation being paid for separately. The person demonstrating gets THB 300, while the arranger pockets the other THB 200 per person.

[Mid]

Apparently a group of nearly six thousand people from CM / CR were denied entry into Bkk today

[bkkandrew]

Apparently a group of nearly six thousand people from CM / CR were denied entry into Bkk today

My thoughts exactly. There is only so long you can fill the holes in the dyke with fingers. You might have a suitable picture for this mid no?

[Mid]

Soundman.

you know your gonna get called on that one , no by me mind .

idea to keep an eye out for pics .

cheers

mid

[soundman]

Soundman.

you know your gonna get called on that one , no by me mind .

idea to keep an eye out for pics .

cheers

mid

Hey, don't shoot the messanger!!!

I'm just posting what was broadcast on the radio.... (Apparently a group of nearly six thousand .......)

Cheers,

Soundman.

[Insight]

Apparently a group of nearly six thousand people from CM / CR were denied entry into Bkk today

My thoughts exactly. There is only so long you can fill the holes in the dyke with fingers. You might have a suitable picture for this mid no?

"Apparently"

6,000 is a lot of people - about 120 busses perhaps? Did anybody witness this massive denial of entry/turnaround, or better still, was anybody on this forum personally involved?

Perfect rumour to discredit the CNS further IMO. People will believe anything for 200/300/500 baht.