PAD Lay Siege On Government House, NBT TV Station

[jfchandler]

It's an interesting comment on Thai television news coverage...

The government sets a supposed 6 pm ultimatum for protesters to move out of Govt. House...and then there's no live TV coverage from there of what if anything is ensuing as the 6-7 pm hour ensues...

[thaigene2]

PAD isn't exactly a part of the Thai Establishment,

What have you been smoking? You can't possibly think this is some kind of spontaneous romantic movement by the weak and oppressed majority against tyranny?

I suppose you're now going to tell me that the old-family bureaucratic types, curiously rich army figures, Prem, aristocracts, and many, many of the other mysteriously yet fantastically wealthy closed-shop families in Thailand are not supporters of PAD? Thaksin and democracy was raining on their vain little parade. It was the first time in their life that someone wasn't holding an umbrella for them - and they're going to make sure populism and democracy never rain on them again.

The new country will be called Thayanmar. Sondhi will be Prime Minister and Baldy, his side-kick, will become Interior Minister. Then all their rich little kids will go shopping at Paragon until the stores all close a year or so later and the US and EU sanctions begin to bite.

The estasblishment and the PAD are not exactly the same thing. the PAD which includes a few members of the establishment (not many) have their own agenda and are sometimes used by the bureaucratic establishment who have a seprate agenda. This is complicated by the fact that the TRT and the PPP even more so are stuffed full of establishment figures. This is not about poor oppressed people. It is a plain old fashioned power struggle between members of the establishment. The establishment figures in the bureaucracy and establishment figures in the PPP will in the end probably find a way to work out a deal and get back to business as usual. It is quite likley that there will be a very few establishment casualties in this including Thaksin and extended family and the PAD and of course the UDD which also includes a few establishment figures.

Oh - yes..I agree more or less with that. This is definitely (and always has been) a struggle between the rich and powerful. I'm just trying to make the point that there's much more to PAD than some sense of moral outrage over a crooked politician. There are most certainly behind the scenes 'hands' as the PPP like to call them working to dismantle once and for all 'populist' politics because that would mean those pulling the strings behind the PAD would lose control of their little feudal patronage society. That's all.

Edited August 26, 2008 by thaigene2

[Sunderland]

It's an interesting comment on Thai television news coverage...

The government sets a supposed 6 pm ultimatum for protesters to move out of Govt. House...and then there's no live TV coverage from there of what if anything is ensuing as the 6-7 pm hour ensues...

It's dinner time ...

[jumnien]

The PAD scum are showing themselves to be the right-wing ultra-nationalist goons that they have always been. Nothing new here!

[Mobi]

(BangkokPost.com) - People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) core leader Sondhi Limthongkul announced victory on Tuesday evening after PAD supporters broke into the Government House.

Mr Sondhi also vowed to rally at the government compound until Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet are toppled.

"I will not leave the Government House until there is any political change," he spoke to about 30,000 supporters. "If they want to take me out, they will have to kill me and drag my body out of here."

He vowed to stay with his supporters, and said they will continue to stay on as long as it takes until the government steps down.

He, however, declared that the protesters will not enter the Thai Khu Fah building (the name of Government House building) nor will they damage the government property

[christcourt]

The PAD denied any involvement in the raid on the television station by the group, who were wearing black and had their faces covered. NBT initially reported the group was about 40 strong.

"This is nothing to do with us," PAD leader Pibob Thongchai told Reuters. "We will have to wait for the results of the police investigation to find out who these people are." Quoted from Reuters

"Chamlong demands police to release 80 men rounded up for raiding NBT station

Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Tuesday threatened to lead protesters to besiege the Royal Thai Police head quarters if police do not release some 80 men who were rounded up for raiding the NBT head office early Tuesday.

The men were taken to the Klong Luang police station for questioning.

The Nation"

Make your mind up guys, are these your men or not, or does Chamlong want to rescue them because they are "nice people" furthering his objective but of course with no connection to the PAD.

As my grandmother once said, "never tell a lie" because if you do you will have to tell a thousand others to cover it up, and to do that you better have a darn good memory.

Chamlong must be a liar then!! and his thugs the PAD are paid Hooligans intent on causing total unrest in the Country. Where ever did he get his Brains from if he has any !!

[Bangyai]

In the next day or two we will see if Sondhi gets what he has been planning all along. Military intervention. Todays activities are designed to put the govournment in a no win situation. If it does nothing, there will be massive disruption and it will become difficult for it to function. If it trys to use force it will be condemned. The coup if it comes will be promoted as ' necessary intervention for the stability of the country.' The Royalists will have won and the country will slide further away from democracy again. Perhaps we will see such stupid political statements as flowers being given to soldiers again. Sad days for Thailand ahead unless Samak can find a way out. What a choice for the people. Samak and his cronies or the usual ' old guard.' Poor Thailand.

[animatic]

GrantBkk

it would be a caretaker government...

put together by....hmm let's see

PPP still has the elected majority.

A new colalition brokered by the

Gang of Four, behind the scenes.

Military maybe, speaker of the senate

asking for someone to stand in..

Lots of possibilities of course.

Samak's day likely is done because

his usefulness as expired,

he couldn't protect the boss's assets.

He was an old school political brawler

with a certain appeal to those loyal to

local kamnan's in every village up north.

But likely lacking a critical finesse.

But as the Cambodian imbroglio made clear

on the world stage, he was a bull in a china shop.

if he couldn't bull through protection for the boss,

well time for a new frontman. If at SAME TIME

you can get rid of PAD, a double win for the Gang Of Four!

The real question isn't 'will the broom sweep clean',

but into how many corners, before the skeletons come

out to protests fiercely.

I observe and as the ancient chinese curse goes

we are 'living in interesting times'...

Edited August 26, 2008 by animatic

[Gary A]

I really didn't take this too seriously until today. Those people were right on the edge of getting VERY violent. My Thai wife is very laid back and rarely mentions politics. I made the mistake of telling her that Thailand wants to be a democracy or it doesn't. I told her that Samak was elected and the people must wait for another election to put in someone different. She became VERY excited and said that anyone with any brains at all can see that this government needs to be replaced NOW. I got quite an earful from her. She said that only the ignorant Thai farmers support Samak and they have no idea what he is and what he has done in the past. I finally told her that it's none of my business and the door to my computer room is closed with me in it.

When my normally laid back wife is that excited I can imagine how the hot heads are thinking. I predict the lid will soon blow off and it's anybody's guess what is going to happen. We are in a very scary situation.

[FreedomDude]

Word of warning: Don't plan on going anywhere near central Bangkok right now.

I just got off the Victory Monument BTS station and there were no cars on the road below the North-South line. Just thousands and thousands of marchers headed South as far as I could see in both directions.

[jumnien]

The head of the PAD should have been cut off long ago. Now it slithers through Bangkok blindly!

[bkkjai]

I'm amazed at the sheer ignorance of so many people on here. Do any of you speak Thai? Do you understand Thai politics? Have you bothered to inform yourself about what's really going on in the Thai government or are you just spouting off bullsh*t as usual?

I work for an international company in Bangkok where most of the employees graduated from Chula and Thammasat - from middle class and wealthy families with everything going for them. A good QUARTER of my office have family members involved in the PAD demonstrations today and no, they're not getting paid to be there - they don't need the money. Surprisingly, they actually care about their country and know that Samak is just another Thaksin-like corrupt politician who will continue to shove Thailand down the path to ruin.

Next time before you rant on about things you know nothing about, maybe learn a little bit about what's going on. Attend a PAD demonstration (I've attended several), talk to Thais who are involved in this (from poor to middle class to wealthy -everyone is represented) and, if you're going to stay here long-term, maybe get off your ass and learn a bit of Thai. Then you might understand what's happening here.

Geez, sometimes it's bloody embarrassing to be farang and mixed up with such a group of freakin' ill-informed know-it-all tossers.

[thaigene2]

It's an interesting comment on Thai television news coverage...

The government sets a supposed 6 pm ultimatum for protesters to move out of Govt. House...and then there's no live TV coverage from there of what if anything is ensuing as the 6-7 pm hour ensues...

That's because all Thai television by design, is a parrot of the Government and/or the Army...a situation never changed by the Democrats in all their enlightening Governments by the way.

In any event, if it's just shots of police sitting outside waiting for the yellow-shirt brigade to get hungry and come outside to Ghin Khow then who wants to wathc that? Samak said they'll wait for them to come out. Mayby that's true maybe not. He also said there would be no armed foce used. So - at best - what we'll see eventually is the type of protest-removal where police go in with rubber gloves and carry them out.

Show over. Then they should dismantle the stage on Rajadamnoen using the same tactic.

However, I think (although you won't like my reasoning) that you are right and there should be cameras EVERYWHERE. Send in the police, unarmed, in their masses to end the protest and return the streets and government buildings to normal. That way we can all see what really happens, and the Army will be thwarted in their attmepts to find an excuse to throw the Coup that their friends in the PAD are hoping for.

[mrtoad]

Samak wasn't offended when the journalist asked if he was a proxy, he just didn't seem to fully understand and went round in circles talking about carrying the flag and someone having to rally.

Between the lines of what he said, his plan is clearly to surround the protesters until they get hungry ... then he's going to cook dinner for them and send them all home with a pat on the back and a 'mai pen rai' in their ear. No harm done ...

Whilst I hope that this all remains peacful and is dispersed orderly, I have a nagging suspicion that it may get really out of hand. It wont take much too much at this point 'to kick things off', with the emotions already running high, and probably the police feeling the strain.

Can Samak break the habit of a lifetime, and show some restraint?

[bkkjai]

I really didn't take this too seriously until today. Those people were right on the edge of getting VERY violent. My Thai wife is very laid back and rarely mentions politics. I made the mistake of telling her that Thailand wants to be a democracy or it doesn't. I told her that Samak was elected and the people must wait for another election to put in someone different. She became VERY excited and said that anyone with any brains at all can see that this government needs to be replaced NOW. I got quite an earful from her. She said that only the ignorant Thai farmers support Samak and they have no idea what he is and what he has done in the past. I finally told her that it's none of my business and the door to my computer room is closed with me in it.

When my normally laid back wife is that excited I can imagine how the hot heads are thinking. I predict the lid will soon blow off and it's anybody's guess what is going to happen. We are in a very scary situation.

And yes Gary, your wife is correct. The ONLY people that want this government in are the poor farmers who have been fed a line of PAID bullsh*t for years. They don't know any better. Anyone with any education does NOT want this government in - they didn't win in Bangkok in the last election and that was for a good reason.

[bulmercke]

The PAD scum are showing themselves to be the right-wing ultra-nationalist goons that they have always been. Nothing new here!

I find your remarks highly offensive. My wife and her sister are active supporters of the PAD.

[gymshark]

Attend a PAD demonstration (I've attended several)

You don't say. What a hero. Well done.

[sjaak327]

I'm amazed at the sheer ignorance of so many people on here. Do any of you speak Thai? Do you understand Thai politics? Have you bothered to inform yourself about what's really going on in the Thai government or are you just spouting off bullsh*t as usual?

I work for an international company in Bangkok where most of the employees graduated from Chula and Thammasat - from middle class and wealthy families with everything going for them. A good QUARTER of my office have family members involved in the PAD demonstrations today and no, they're not getting paid to be there - they don't need the money. Surprisingly, they actually care about their country and know that Samak is just another Thaksin-like corrupt politician who will continue to shove Thailand down the path to ruin.

Next time before you rant on about things you know nothing about, maybe learn a little bit about what's going on. Attend a PAD demonstration (I've attended several), talk to Thais who are involved in this (from poor to middle class to wealthy -everyone is represented) and, if you're going to stay here long-term, maybe get off your ass and learn a bit of Thai. Then you might understand what's happening here.

Geez, sometimes it's bloody embarrassing to be farang and mixed up with such a group of freakin' ill-informed know-it-all tossers.

Hmm, I wonder if the same narrow minded view would be supported by other Thai people that you might know. Good for you that you actually attended PAD rallies, That maybe makes you a less reliable scource. Make no mistake, the PAD do nothing to earn the last initial in their ancronym.

Samak has an obligation to the Thai People (yes the ones that took the trouble to vote. ) that these people will never get their way. Sometimes I wonder who is uneducated.

Edited August 26, 2008 by sjaak327

[jumnien]

The PAD scum are showing themselves to be the right-wing ultra-nationalist goons that they have always been. Nothing new here!

I find your remarks highly offensive. My wife and her sister are active supporters of the PAD.

Don't worry; they'll come to see the light. Patience and tolerance in the meantime!

[blaze]

PAD isn't exactly a part of the Thai Establishment,

What have you been smoking? You can't possibly think this is some kind of spontaneous romantic movement by the weak and oppressed majority against tyranny?

I suppose you're now going to tell me that the old-family bureaucratic types, curiously rich army figures, Prem, aristocracts, and many, many of the other mysteriously yet fantastically wealthy closed-shop families in Thailand are not supporters of PAD? Thaksin and democracy was raining on their vain little parade. It was the first time in their life that someone wasn't holding an umbrella for them - and they're going to make sure populism and democracy never rain on them again.

The new country will be called Thayanmar. Sondhi will be Prime Minister and Baldy, his side-kick, will become Interior Minister. Then all their rich little kids will go shopping at Paragon until the stores all close a year or so later and the US and EU sanctions begin to bite.

The estasblishment and the PAD are not exactly the same thing. the PAD which includes a few members of the establishment (not many) have their own agenda and are sometimes used by the bureaucratic establishment who have a seprate agenda. This is complicated by the fact that the TRT and the PPP even more so are stuffed full of establishment figures. This is not about poor oppressed people. It is a plain old fashioned power struggle between members of the establishment. The establishment figures in the bureaucracy and establishment figures in the PPP will in the end probably find a way to work out a deal and get back to business as usual. It is quite likley that there will be a very few establishment casualties in this including Thaksin and extended family and the PAD and of course the UDD which also includes a few establishment figures.

Oh - yes..I agree more or less with that. This is definitely (and always has been) a struggle between the rich and powerful. I'm just trying to make the point that there's much more to PAD than some sense of moral outrage over a crooked politician. There are most certainly behind the scenes 'hands' as the PPP like to call them working to dismantle once and for all 'populist' politics because that would mean those pulling the strings behind the PAD would lose control of their little feudal patronage society. That's all.

And that is the bottom line- when history judges this event, I'm confident that it will be regarded as the inevitable effort in a developing nation of the aristorcracy attempting to hang on to power in the face of a modernizing political system. Those supporting the PAD who actually are naive enough to believe that their movement is about ridding the country of corruption (though you don't see them demanding an audit of the various and notoriously corrupt beaurocracies) are, I think, being, duped. Sondhi knows what he is doing. He is a mad meglomaniac fueled by little more than an all consuming hatred for Thaksin. So in a sense even he is a pawn. The middle class- those 'People of Chinese Descent Saving the Nation' have alligned themselves with this movement because a government that truly represents the poor majority of this country will probably initiate populist/popular/socialist/welfare state programs that have to be funded by the only class that really pays taxes.

The notion that this is really about corruption- I think, while appealing to foreigners, is a bit hard to swallow given that most Thais have been more than willing to turn a blind eye to corruption even when it was hurting their own pocket books.

Edited August 26, 2008 by blaze

[bkkjai]

Attend a PAD demonstration (I've attended several)

You don't say. What a hero. Well done.

Like I said, ill-informed know-it-all tossers. Oh and that would be "heroine". Get your English correct if you must give another smart alec, sarcastic response.

[JetsetBkk]

...Geez, sometimes it's bloody embarrassing to be farang and mixed up with such a group of freakin' ill-informed know-it-all tossers.

You joined a year and a half ago and this is your only post? Can't wait for the next one.

Edit: Woo-hoo! 3 posts now. Hang on while I go back and read them.

Edited August 26, 2008 by JetsetBkk

[jfchandler]

No food.... threats of fire hoses.... and police posing as protesters.....

PM Samak Threatens to Starve the Protesters

During a press conference PM Samak Sundaravej told foreign reporters that the government will not use force to disperse the PAD protesters.

PM Samak claims the PAD is unreasonable in its demands. He adds that the PAD's hatred for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been transferred to him.

In addition, he also reveals that no one will be allowed to enter the Government House, cutting off the PAD's access to food and drinks.

Chamlong Claims PM Samak Will Deploy Forces against Protesters

Key PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang, citing a source with a general rank, claims that PM Samak Sundaravej has plans to use force to disperse the PAD protesters who are camping out inside Government House.

He says he has received informations that the police will spray the protesters with high-pressured hosts from fire fighting trucks.

The PAD leaders have moved the makeshift stage inside the Government House for safety reasons.

Chamlong believes the PAD will be able to achieve its victory if it manages to maintain its hold on the Government House until tomorrow morning.

Undercover Special Branch Police among PAD Protesters

Around 200 members of the Special Branch Police undercover agents have donned yellow t-shirts and mingled with the PAD protesters at Government House.

It's been reported that most of the undercover officers are loitering around gate no. 4 of the Government House, where there are only a small number of PAD supporters gathering.

-- Thailand Outlook Channel 2008-08-26

[thaigene2]

The PAD scum are showing themselves to be the right-wing ultra-nationalist goons that they have always been. Nothing new here!

I find your remarks highly offensive. My wife and her sister are active supporters of the PAD.

Well if they support Sondhi's claim as reported on BBC today that the PAD are now in favour of an end to democracy repalced with an appointed government and military oversight, and they also foam at the mouth with constant allegations of lese majeste aimed at everyone and anyone who doesn't share their views, then they are definitely right-wing, ultra-nationalists. Is there some part of that definition that you don't understand?

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps they agree with some parts of the PAD's campaign, but not others (like the above bits)? If so, then I can see your reason for taking offence - I'm sure not all PAD supporters are as I just described - otherwise if the shoe fits wear it. Don't go away mad. Just go away.

[h90]

I really didn't take this too seriously until today. Those people were right on the edge of getting VERY violent. My Thai wife is very laid back and rarely mentions politics. I made the mistake of telling her that Thailand wants to be a democracy or it doesn't. I told her that Samak was elected and the people must wait for another election to put in someone different. She became VERY excited and said that anyone with any brains at all can see that this government needs to be replaced NOW. I got quite an earful from her. She said that only the ignorant Thai farmers support Samak and they have no idea what he is and what he has done in the past. I finally told her that it's none of my business and the door to my computer room is closed with me in it.

When my normally laid back wife is that excited I can imagine how the hot heads are thinking. I predict the lid will soon blow off and it's anybody's guess what is going to happen. We are in a very scary situation.

Samak was NOT elected, fraud, vote buying etc....

[Samuian]

Only hope ALL keep their cool and that the PAD will not let themselves get provoked!

unless.... it turns out like in the north the other day...hopefully not, enough bloodshed!

[StevieH]

You don't say. What a hero. Well done.

you'd go in with guns though, wouldn't you? like a proper hero?

[gymshark]

Attend a PAD demonstration (I've attended several)

You don't say. What a hero. Well done.

Like I said, ill-informed know-it-all tossers. Oh and that would be "heroine". Get your English correct if you must give another smart alec, sarcastic response.

Sorry, didn't know you were a bird. Get me a cup of tea will you love?

[thaigene2]

Undercover Special Branch Police among PAD Protesters

Around 200 members of the Special Branch Police undercover agents have donned yellow t-shirts and mingled with the PAD protesters at Government House.

It's been reported that most of the undercover officers are loitering around gate no. 4 of the Government House, where there are only a small number of PAD supporters gathering.

[/size]

Oh good stuff. Then they are smarter than I once thought. I guess all those internationally sponsored police-capacity-building courses have paid off, then?

[jumnien]

The PAD desperately want some heads bashed, preferably their own. Sacrificing some more pawns for Sondhi's megalomaniacal glory!