Phuket Pad Assembling At Provincial Hall

[george]

Phuket PAD assembling at Provincial Hall

PHUKET CITY: -- People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters began gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall (Sala Klaang) at 8 am this morning, their numbers increasing all morning to reach about 500 by 11:30 am.

The protesters, taking cover from the sun under six tents, plan to board five tour buses to Bangkok to join fellow PAD protesters in the capital.

The coaches are expected to depart this afternoon.

The Phuket PAD travel plans come despite Bangkok being declared under a state of emergency following a clash between pro- and anti-government supporters there early this morning, at about 1:30 am.

Under the emergency decree, which applied only to the capital, gatherings of more than five people are prohibited.

Officials at Phuket Provincial Hall provided the PAD with electricity for their public address system, Gazette reporters at the scene noted.

Some 200 PAD protesters at Phuket International Airport have also been asked by the local PAD leaders to come and join the group at Provincial Hall, where they plan to present Governor Niran Kalyanamit or one of his deputies with an official letter explaining why Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej must resign.

Also at Sala Klaang this morning, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit held his weekly security meeting with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongtong and other officials.

However, by noon there was still no report that the Governor had met with the PAD protesters.

Employees of state enterprises and teachers are also joining the protest.

-- Phuket Gazette 2008-09-02

[george]

PAD supporters seize Phuket provincial hall

PHUKET: -- Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy have seized the Phuket provincial hall, Sondhi Limthongkul, a PAD leader, told the protesters at Government House at 12:20 pm.

Sondhi announced to the protesters in Phuket through his ASTV, urging them not to damage the government property.

-- The Nation 2008-09-02

[Jai Dee]

Phuket locks down Provincial Hall following gathering of more than 300 PAD demonstrators

The Governor of Phuket has instructed local police and officials to maintain tight security around the Phuket Provincial Hall following the gathering of more than 300 local People's Alliance for Democracy demonstrators.

Phuket Governor Niran Kanlayanamit (นิรันดร์ กัลยาณมิตร) has instructed Phuket Deputy Governor Three Akaradecha (ตรี อัครเดชา) to command security forces guarding the Phuket Provincial Hall. More than 100 police officers have been posted at the building to maintain order among an estimated 300 People's Alliance for Democracy demonstators who have gathered around the area.

Mr. Niran reports that demonstrators have set up rally stages and voice amplifiers with messages urging local residents to join their cause and to sign a petition calling on the government to revoke the Emergency Decree in Bangkok. The governor said that so far demonstrators have remained orderly.

The Phuket Public Relations Office has established a mobile post near the rally site in order to provide up-to-date reports on the demonstration.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 02 September 2008

[NBT TV Phuket]

Wednesday September 3rd 2008 10.30am:

Protesters continue their gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall with a clear message not to block the international airport again.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) today (3rd September) vowed to continue gathering at the Phuket provincial Hall. A large number gathered there yesterday, but about 15 bus loads travelled to Bangkok in the afternoon. One of their key members in Phuket said they will continue their protest at the provincial Hall today. At 9.45 am today the hall was still quiet and the barricades were put up to provide access for government officials to get in to work while members of the protesters began to arrive. The Phuket International airport is also operating as normal.

Situation resumes to normal in Krabi with no protesters at the Provincial Hall nor airport.

Things are quiet in Krabi now after protesters – supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy ( PAD ) - left for Bangkok yesterday. The international airport in Krabi is also operating with normal flights services.

Yesterday, September 2nd:

Supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) left for Bangkok yesterday, while some continued their protest at the Phuket Provincial Hall, with a clear message not to block the international airport.

After the clash between two sides, the supporters for People’s Alliance for Democracy ( PAD ) and the supporters for the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD), and following the government’s announcement of the State of Emergency in Bangkok, yesterday late morning members and supporters of the PAD started gathering at the Phuket Provincial Hall. The protesters insisted that they would stay with no limit on days until the Prime Minister resigns and suspends violence against the protesters. The members also set up a large screen with a live feed of ASTV with police officers present for security. Natjarong Aekpuemsap, chairman of the so-called ‘Phuket Watch Group’ emphasized that the protest will only be at the Provincial Hall to pressurize the government and that his group would not move to the airport as it is not their intention to cause inconvenience to passengers or tourists. At around 3 pm yesterday 15 bus loads of them went to Bangkok to join with the supporters. Around 4-500 members, mainly local hotel staff and students were still at the provincial hall yesterday evening and confirmed to continue the gathering peacefully.

Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps relays/repeats on local Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Wednesday 3rd, September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ (we will load MiniVDO photos & text later)

Send comments to [email protected]

Edited September 3, 2008 by NBT TV Phuket

[NBT TV Phuket]

MiniVDO: Lecturers from Rajaphat University in Phuket issued a statement against the State of Emergency Decree and called for parliament to be dissolved.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...php?news_id=609

<p> Around 100 students from Rajaphat University rallied to Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday afternoon to add to the PAD supporters who gathered there since late morning. They invited motorists to put headlights on with horn sounds to show support to anti-government groups and call for the government to resign, as well show their objection against the State of Emergency Decree for Bangkok metropolitan area plus condemning the violence. At the Provincial Hall the students read out a lecturers’ statement stating that the State of Emergency failed to put a stop to violence, instead it would lead to more confrontation and violence. The lecturers also called for the government to dissolve parliament.

At the same time the Network of the Poor for Phuket development issued their statement calling for a cessation of violence and efforts to dissolve the protest, and called for the prime minister to take responsibility for the decision.

At 4 pm. yesterday around 300 PAD supporters left the Provincial Hall, with most saying they would fly to Bangkok to join the group there.

A leader of the PAD supporters said if there are no factors or threats leading to violence at night, they would stop the protest and leave the Provincial Hall by midnight and just protest at Saphan Hin tip where they had been for the past _3_ months. This morning we checked with one of the key members who insisted that they would continue gathering at the provincial hall today and plan to issue another statement in the afternoon.

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Andaman News NBT (VHF dial) + FM90.5 Radio Thailand at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, & possibly FM108 Mazz Radio 7.30pm in Phuket, Thursday 4 September 2008 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/ Send comments to [email protected]