State Of Emergency Announced In Bangkok

[Maxi101]

One hires paid thugs - the other pushes old ladys at the front.

well well ....

[Bryan in Isaan]

I am a firm supporter of PAD and the protest....

....

The most peaceful outcome would be for word from on High to come down for Samak to find life elsewhere. I thought it would after his visit to Hua Hin last week.

But that word DIDN'T come. After that meeting, Prime Minister Samak was even more resolute about staying but committed to use restraint in dealing with the pad. Something to consider.

[frankman]

Seen bkk in 1992, terrible,

looks like we are going in the same direction ...

Edited September 2, 2008 by frankman

[GungaDin]

I've just seen a video clip on the ABC news, plenty of slingshots and stakes in use.

Very violent stuff.

Sad for Thailand.

[britmaveric]

Dare say there won't be any backing down from PPP or Samak - to give in is to allow minority to rule which is unacceptable. You let this happen anytime a minority disagrees with the govt, this will happen over and over again.

PAD should go home for the sake of thailand and its people.

[JoeInSurin]

No my ignorant new comer friend...you are the one that is pathetic with your mis-information.

1. The PAD has used large numbers of people and old ladies to defeat the PPP

2. Break into Government buildings......they are public buildings....belonging to the people...

3. Nobody was detained or held hostage, all were free to leave.

4. People died because of paid holigans that were bought by the PPP

Get your facts straight!

You think that because they are public buildings you are free to break down the gates, break the doors down, keep the people that work in them from entering and then set up camp and live in them?? And you call other people ignorant!!!!

Edited September 2, 2008 by JoeInSurin

[popshirt]

Thai PM declares state of emergency in capital By MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 11 minutes ago

Thailand's prime minister declared a state of emergency in the capital Tuesday after street fighting overnight between supporters and opponents of the government left one man dead and dozens injured.

The developments followed a threat by state workers to cut off water, electricity and phone service at government offices and disrupt flights of the national airline in support of protesters trying to bring down Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.

An announcement broadcast on all Thai television stations at 7 a.m. said Samak had decreed a state of emergency in Bangkok and Army Gen. Anupong Paochinda was in charge of enforcing it.

In Thailand, a state of emergency allows the use of military forces in policing activities, and suspends some civil liberties.

A week of political tension exploded into violence early Tuesday morning between protesters seeking to topple Samak and mobs of his supporters.

About 500 Samak supporters marched through the streets proclaiming they were going to retake the prime minister's office compound, which has been occupied since Aug. 26 by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The mob scuffled with police about halfway to the Government House complex, then battled with alliance members, both sides wielding sticks and clubs.

Police were unable to stop the fighting, which eased up only after army troops with riot gear — but no guns — reached the scene.

Although the troops were able to keep the antagonists apart, few supporters of either side dispersed, keeping the area a flashpoint for further trouble.

One person died from severe head injuries and four others were in serious condition, two with gunshot wounds, Dr. Petchapon Kumtonkitjakarn of the Erawan Medical Center told The Associated Press. He said 37 people were being treated for injuries at several hospitals.

On Monday, a coalition of 43 unions representing workers at state companies including water, electric, phone and the national airline said they would cut off services to the government starting Wednesday in support of the anti-government protests. They already were disrupting rail service and planned to cut back public bus transportation.

"The government has beaten protesters, and that justifies our retaliating by stopping water, telephone service and electricity to some government agencies," Sawit Kaewwan, secretary-general of the State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation, or SERC, said at a news conference.

The labor federation said 200,000 members would stop work in support of the alliance of right-wing protesters that has occupied Samak's office for a week in its campaign to bring down the government.

The alliance claims the government is corrupt and too close to ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup and recently fled to Britain to escape an array of corruption charges. The same group organized the massive anti-Thaksin demonstrations in 2006 that helped spark the bloodless coup.

The alliance and their sympathizers — monarchists, the military and the urban elite — complain that Western-style democracy with one-man, one-vote gives too much weight to Thailand's rural majority, who protesters say are susceptible to vote buying that breeds corruption. They have proposed a system under which most lawmakers would be appointed rather than elected.

The prime minister has repeatedly insisted he will not bow to pressure by resigning or dissolving parliament to call new elections.

"I am sure that I love this country as much as anybody," Samak said at a joint session of the upper and lower houses of parliament convened to debate solutions to the deadlock. "But I love democracy much more, more than anyone who told me to resign."

Sawit and others laid out plans for the work stoppage by state employees but did not say how long the action would last.

Public bus workers will halt service on 80 percent of Bangkok's 3,800 buses, with the remainder running for free, he said.

Workers for state-owned Thai Airways plan to delay flights Wednesday, said Somsak Manop, deputy chief of Thai Airways International labor union.

Hundreds of employees from the State Railways of Thailand continued a strike Monday that has halted service on 93 train lines, cutting off most long-distance service between Bangkok and the far-northern and southern parts of the country, said spokesman Phairath Rojjaroenngam. More than half of the 76 cargo trains scheduled Monday were also not running.

There was no schedule for restoring service, which has been disrupted since the strike started Friday.

Three airports in southern Thailand were also forced to close by protesters this weekend.

"If they continue to defiantly hold on to power even after the general strike on Sept. 3, the alliance will have no choice but to step up the pressure on them," Suriyasai Katasila, one of the protest leaders, said of the government.

Protesters began occupying the prime minister's office on Aug. 26 and have tried block streets in the capital. The alliance has been able to call out as many as 30,000 supporters, according to an early government estimate, to besiege Samak's office and blockade other public areas.

Sondhi Limthongkul, the senior protest leader, said he liked the idea of shutting down public services even it might anger and inconvenience many Thais.

"I think it's one way of putting pressure on the government," Sondhi told reporters. "At the end of the day, they will see whether it's me who is the problem or Mr. Samak. All we want is Mr. Samak to go. When Samak goes, we stop."

At the prime minister's residence, several thousand protesters spread out across courtyards, gardens and park benches, cheering and clapping as speaker after speaker called for Samak to resign.

Flanked by the Thai national flag, huge photos of the king and queen and "most wanted" posters of Thaksin and his wife, protesters said they had no grand scheme to reinvent government. They just want the current government tossed out.

"The Cabinet must resign and they all must be imprisoned," said Thiwa Thongkaew, a 43-year-old officer worker from the tourist resort of Krabi.

[k1w1]

This series of events last night was definitely planned by the PPP. Same with the bomb in the Police Box. Like they didn't know it was planted and why wasn't anyone hurt?

Why were there only 2000 govt supporters and 35000 PAD supporters?

Seems like the numbers are not in the PPP's favor.

[Farma]

Samak speaking on NBT has been quoted by SKYNEWS as saying the SOE will not last more than a few days.

[poryai]

PAD is involved in Vendetta Politics, sour grapes, and is very dangerous for the people of Thailand. If you look at the heads of the movement, they all have had some fallout with the former Prime Minister, many of which were his cronies until some unknown incident we'll never know about, many of them are hired out to the highest bidder, and have changed affiliations many times over the years. Can they not see that what they are doing by seizing, buildings, government offices and threatening further escalation is anarchy? The exact opposite of what they proclaim is their platform? Roll it back to '73? .

Something in the water allright, these people have lost touch completely. They have offered no alternative, to Samak, nor will any of what they do inhibit corruption in any way shape or form. They are just as guilty as the people they accuse.

Granted this is Thailand so you can't compare apples and oranges, but this kind of a campaign of terror wouldn't have lasted 12 hours elsewhere. There is a difference between peaceful protest and occupation by force.

They've gotta let the Thaksin thing go. It doesn't fly anymore. They should focus on working through the system to make change, but mob rule isn't the way to do it. Not anywhere.

[george]

Emergency may be lifted in a few days after problems solved: Samak

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said he made the decision with caution to announce the state of emergency and would try to end the problems in a few days.

He said the announcement was made after consulting officials concerned.

He said the emergency would be lifted after he solved the problems.

He said he would try to solve the problems as soon as possible.

He said the problems would be ended in a few days and Bangkok governor election candidates would later be allowed to launch their election campaigns.

-- The Nation 2008-09-02

[tonydabbs]

I am very greatful to BBC for clearing up the confusion I had over what was happening last night. Why the sudden violence? It was caused by Samak supporters. I guess Samak got what he wanted. There is no hope for a peaceful compromise. There never has been. We are dealing with a battle of egos, supported by the simple people who follow them, for love or money. Who will finally be the winner? Certainly not the Thai people.

[scrabbleking]

I am a firm supporter of PAD and the protest....

It has always been a peaceful protest, in hopes of stopping further corruption and theft of the country to benefit a few at the top.

My wife bears the scars of the May 92 protest, when another corrupt government did the same thing to the people that were peacefully assembled. Many were killed and wounded.

The most peaceful outcome would be for word from on High to come down for Samak to find life elsewhere. I thought it would after his visit to Hua Hin last week.

RIGHT ON!!! I can't believe how many of the farangs posting on here have so little respect for the brave protesters who are standing up for a fair share of the pie, standing up to these elite few who steal from the common man. Does anybody remember the cival rights movement in America and MLK Jr. ???

[warriors]

Is it not sort of strange that all of a sudden all the New Bees ( new posters) all mainly seem to be pro P.P.P. supporters?

Does that mean we have now also been broken into ( this web site) by the so called invisable hand.

Watch what you say big brother is about.

[Bryan in Isaan]

Thai PM declares state of emergency in capital By MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 11 minutes ago

Sondhi Limthongkul, the senior protest leader, said he liked the idea of shutting down public services even (though) it might anger and inconvenience many Thais.

Nice guy!

"I think it's one way of putting pressure on the government," Sondhi told reporters. "At the end of the day, they will see whether it's me who is the problem or Mr. Samak. All we want is Mr. Samak to go. When Samak goes, we stop."

Bulls**t. sondhi won't go until Thailand has the form of government that he wants. From his own words, that does not include an electoral system.

[JoeInSurin]

I am a firm supporter of PAD and the protest....

It has always been a peaceful protest, in hopes of stopping further corruption and theft of the country to benefit a few at the top.

My wife bears the scars of the May 92 protest, when another corrupt government did the same thing to the people that were peacefully assembled. Many were killed and wounded.

The most peaceful outcome would be for word from on High to come down for Samak to find life elsewhere. I thought it would after his visit to Hua Hin last week.

RIGHT ON!!! I can't believe how many of the farangs posting on here have so little respect for the brave protesters who are standing up for a fair share of the pie, standing up to these elite few who steal from the common man. Does anybody remember the cival rights movement in America and MLK Jr. ???

You better hope it ends up better for the PAD than it did for MLK Jr..

[Zappo]

Do we want democrasy in Thailand?

The government is elected by the thai people. PAD is trying to overthrow a legitimate government with force and install a dictatorship, because that is what it will become when someone take the power by force.

I have no opinion whatsoever about any political party in Thailand and I do not mind a political party demonstrating and viewing their opinion about things they beleive is wrong.

But riots and entering official buildings, closing airports etc, is not democracy, it is a criminal act against the thai peoples will.

PAD should do as any other party in any democratic country. Wait for next election and take over then, if the people wants them. After this incident I doubt.

What they are doing today is not for the good of the thai people, it will only hurt them tremendously for long time to come. What right do PAD have to use force to inforce their ideas against an elected government and the thai people.

I will probably receive hundreds of angry answers. Like it or not, this is the only way to have a functioning democrasy.

[george]

Life will go on as usual: Samak

BANGKOK: -- Samak said "life will go on as usual" when answering a foreign reporter's question at a press conference at the Supreme Command.

He said the emergency decree was announced as a tool for ending the protest at Government House.

-- The Nation 2008-09-02

[anthonyu]

I am a firm supporter of PAD and the protest....

It has always been a peaceful protest, in hopes of stopping further corruption and theft of the country to benefit a few at the top.

My wife bears the scars of the May 92 protest, when another corrupt government did the same thing to the people that were peacefully assembled. Many were killed and wounded.

The most peaceful outcome would be for word from on High to come down for Samak to find life elsewhere. I thought it would after his visit to Hua Hin last week.

RIGHT ON!!! I can't believe how many of the farangs posting on here have so little respect for the brave protesters who are standing up for a fair share of the pie, standing up to these elite few who steal from the common man. Does anybody remember the cival rights movement in America and MLK Jr. ???

Don't see how the civil rights movement in America relates to this when they were trying to give everyone an equal share of the vote. The PAD wants a 70% appointed government which makes a person's vote value even less. If anything its going against the civil rights movement.

[LivinLOS]

Does a State of Emergency in anyway affect what can be posted on Thai Visa.

Sure would be a lot fewer posts if only gov't sanctioned posts were allowed!

The server is based in Singapore, but they do censor some things on here as if it were in Thailand. I always thought that was strange.

Simple really.. should ThaiVisa suffer an ICT block (with no recourse to unblock or right of appeal) the usefulness of the site drops enormously

[ukrules]

Sky news are reporting about the 'extreme violence' on the streets of Bangkok.

They then went on to show various people being beaten up and whacked with sticks by angry mobs.

If anything will put people off flying to Thailand this will. It's not pointed out in any way that this is limited to certain areas.

Edited September 2, 2008 by ukrules

[animatic]

In the history of Thailand, all leaders who, for one reason or another, lost that job,

either left and stayed gone, or left for a period, and later quietly came back and stayed retired.

At least for long periods enough for things to calm down and move on.

The big difference here, and one that makes all this predestined, is that Kuhn Thaksin

has not taken the 'go quietly and tend the garden for a few years' path.

He is fighting for his lost power, influence and money

and we are seeing that result round three now.

Nothing like this apparently has happened here before,

we are in an new game.

[george]

I'll take responsibility: Samak

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told the press conference at the Supreme Command that he would take responsibility "for what I've not done".

He was answering questions of reporters after he made announcement why he declared the state of emergency.

-- The Nation 2008-09-02

[Journalist]

I am a firm supporter of PAD and the protest....

It has always been a peaceful protest, in hopes of stopping further corruption and theft of the country to benefit a few at the top.

My wife bears the scars of the May 92 protest, when another corrupt government did the same thing to the people that were peacefully assembled. Many were killed and wounded.

The most peaceful outcome would be for word from on High to come down for Samak to find life elsewhere. I thought it would after his visit to Hua Hin last week.

RIGHT ON!!! I can't believe how many of the farangs posting on here have so little respect for the brave protesters who are standing up for a fair share of the pie, standing up to these elite few who steal from the common man. Does anybody remember the cival rights movement in America and MLK Jr. ???

....mindful that Gen. Chamlong says he wants to take away the voting rights of the 'common man' if he deems him to be under-educated!

Both 'sides' in this stand-off are unsavoury !

[anthonyu]

Is it not sort of strange that all of a sudden all the New Bees ( new posters) all mainly seem to be pro P.P.P. supporters?

Does that mean we have now also been broken into ( this web site) by the so called invisable hand.

Watch what you say big brother is about.

You might be onto something there mate. Or maybe the PPP has more silent support in Thailand than we all think. Either way better think twice before speaking once

[alstaxi]

The state of emergency also prohibits news publicity in a way that terrifies the public.

Doesn't that mean this order is in violation of itself? Obviously Samak has only concern for himself, and have no clue what a HUGE negative impact the declaration of a state of emergency means to the rest of the world, especially investors & tourists. Samak's short-sighted efforts to save his own neck will be at the expense of all of Thailand.

Samak obviously intended and wanted this to happen. He & the PPP paid for buses to bring their supporters in from the North so they could deliberately start a fight and cause violence.

The PAD have been demonstrating peacefully for weeks and continue to be peaceful.

100% of the trouble is due to Samak & the PPP who organized and deliberately intended their supporters to cause the recent violence that now gives them the excuse to attack the PAD.

Samak Ow Pai!

I agree.

[kenk3z]

Is there any clarification on who would "appoint" the 70% of the Members of Parliament that would be "appointed" under the PAD plan?

They kinda lost my sympathy when they proposed doing away with democracy. Definitely a wish for minority rule.

kenk3z

Edited September 2, 2008 by kenk3z

[warriors]

Sky news are reporting about the 'extreme violence' on the streets of Bangkok.

They then went on to show various people being beaten up and whacked with sticks by angry mobs.

If anything will put people off flying to Thailand this will. It's not pointed out in any way that this is limited to certain areas.

Half an hour till the SET opens, let us see if today is a good time to buy.

As they say when there is blood on the streets time to buy.

[poryai]

Newbies have as much right to articulate in this forum as you do warriors. No PPP affiliation, just a view different from yours. The notion that with an older join date at Thai Visa somehow begets you the only realistic POV is amazingly ignorant...I don't take sides particularly... but even at the surface, what PAD is doing and their method is not going to benefit anybody... step back and get some perspective

[old wanderer]

Emergency may be lifted in a few days after problems solved: Samak

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said he made the decision with caution to announce the state of emergency and would try to end the problems in a few days.

He said the announcement was made after consulting officials concerned.

He said the emergency would be lifted after he solved the problems.

He said he would try to solve the problems as soon as possible.

He said the problems would be ended in a few days and Bangkok governor election candidates would later be allowed to launch their election campaigns.

-- The Nation 2008-09-02

Samak sounds almost as honest and patronizing as Magunbee our beloved "President" of Zimbabwe.

How could anyone doubt such sincerity.