Police Fire Tear Gas At Protesters In Front Of Parliament

[hammered]

House Speaker convened joint session

House Speaker Chai Chidchob convened the joint session of parliament on Tuesday morning after the quorum was achieved. At least 311 senators and MPs from the government side attended the meeting. However, no MPs from the Democrat party, or the Opposition side, were present. A group of 40 Senators who opposed the constitutional amendments also refused to attend the session, reasoning that they could not accept the police’s effort to disperse the protesters in front of the parliament by

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=131161

We are goping to have our little policy debate on our own whatever it takes and we wont listen to or talk with anyone else and we wont even notice the condemnatuion from a variety of places for our ordering the police, now entirely senior officered by our implants, to become more aggresive. Looks like all that talk of reconcilliation by that nice quielty spoken Mr. Somchai was just talk. Then again did anyone really expect anything different? The vicious littel power struggle between members fo the elite just got a little more vicious and nasty. Now where is that Chavalit character? Is he still talking to the PAD and not following supreme PPP command orders?

Oh what fun.....

[MHM]

Tragic developments in a seemingly intractable situation. Possibly things need to get worse before they get better

[younghusband]

Democrats boycott policy debate and suspend agreement on reforms

The reform process will be put on hold until the government bring culprits in charge of crowd control to justice, the party said.

The Nation

On this rather grim morning I suppose this ludicrous comment represents a little light relief.In no other country in the world would the responsible part of the opposition come up with this given the specific circumstances.

[sriracha john]

Now where is that Chavalit character? Is he still talking to the PAD and not following supreme PPP command orders?

Cabinet empowers Chavalit in charge of PAD’s protest

A special Cabinet’s meeting last night empowered Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, with police’s cooperation, to be in charge of People’s Alliance for Democracy’s protest at the Parliament’s compound since last evening to try to block the Government’s policy declaration. While Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat insisted the Government would go ahead with the policy declaration today (October 7).

People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has blocked Parliament’s gate since last evening (October 6) to obstruct Government’s declaration of policy statement today (October 7).

The PAD’s move has resulted in heavy traffic congestion on Uthong Nai road in front of the Parliament and Rajvithi road beside the Parliament.

As a result, the incident prompted Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat to call an urgent Cabinet’s meeting at 11.15 pm last night (October 6).

The meeting was attended by Cabinet’s members and other relevant parties, including Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Royal Thai Police Chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan, to assess PAD’s demonstrations both at the Parliament’s compound and in the Government House.

Somchai and Chavalit told reporters after emerging from the two-hour meeting that the Government would go ahead with its policy declaration today.

Somchai declined to disclose whether the police would disperse PAD’s protest at the Parliament’s compound and whether the emergency decree would be implemented.

Chavalit said that last night’s meeting was a briefing of PAD’s demonstration situation to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet also ruled to empower Chavalit to be in charge of taking care of all relevant situations during the Government’s policy declaration today as well as the PAD’s demonstration situation. He was also assigned to work with police.

- ThaiNews / 2008-10-07

[clausewitz]

Democrats boycott policy debate and suspend agreement on reforms

The reform process will be put on hold until the government bring culprits in charge of crowd control to justice, the party said.

The Nation

On this rather grim morning I suppose this ludicrous comment represents a little light relief.In no other country in the world would the responsible part of the opposition come up with this given the specific circumstances.

Well when you have democrat senators appearing on the PAD stage, where core leaders regularly meet at the houses of democrate MPs is there actual difference between PAD and the democrats? It is like the sein Fein and IRA.

[coalminer]

He had called an urgent cabinet meeting late Monday night after PAD human shields ringed parliament to prevent the meeting.

PAD supporters screamed at police through the loudspeaker system as officers moved in, but the actual PAD core leaders were not seen.

PAD founder and leader Sondhi Limthongkul could be heard deploring the "police attack on children in our midst" but he also did not come to the foreground of the action.

No doubt about the brave PAD or their coward leader Sondhi Limthongkul anymore.

(Ab)Using of people as human shields to avoid that the would be arrested for his crimes and scream trough loudspeakers that the "police attack children". A tactic that he is learning from the Muslim insurgents.

What are they waiting for to take this guy by the balls (oooops, he has no balls) and hang him high and dry before more people gets hurt by his actions?

Sondhi, if you BELIEVE in your actions and your party, come forward where EVERYBODY can see you and repeat your Bu...it there. Don't use your fellow citizens and their children as human shields.

[britmaveric]

The army should uphold the law and clear out the protesters if the police can't do it. No other country in the world would let a group of protesters take over public buildings and disrupt the government. I can't believe anyone would think the PAD have been dealt with a "heavy hand".

[Samuian]

Condolences to the man who lost his leg. That was not meant to happen...

Nope.....until we know for sure that the gas containers weren't made of Glass!

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat believed Thai police have used "soft approach" on protesters...as the man in Power, he "believes" that things are done a certain way or was this a very bland excuse..?

I thought that tear/CS gas containers are to be shot upwards into the air and not horizontally (could be wrong here) ...could be another explanation for the many injured!

If the core blame must be placed anywhere for this debacle, it HAS to be

at the feet of Thaksin Shinawatra and his quest for control of all of Thailand.

Hubris, arrogance, and amorality in a mono-maniacle quest to regain his ill gotten gains.

76 billion baht and huge loss of face are driving him round the twist. What are his limits?

Where will he draw the line and say enough, too much damage, I give up.

But I watched him in the 2 months prior to his being deposed,

and he was saying pretty paranoid sounding things

and looking pretty much a darned nutter...

This is all from the man who professed to be through with politics.

We must pray for peace for sure.

But also pray he doesn't go for broke.

Looks like his signature, as in the "war on drugs"! Sure is this man mad, mad about the "thieves" who "took his money", unless this man is brought to justice, there will be no peace in Thailand!

But this action, as legitimate it may ever have been to clear the House of Parliament, the injuries of the protesters won't calm the situation, certainly will not bring peace about and will not bring in any progress!

People will feel betrayed after Chamlongs arrest, Chavalit kept saying "the negotiations will continue"!

So far about trusting the words of the people in power.

The the now apparent mock set up of parliament at Don Muang...won't go down well either!

Somchai may believe at this very moment that he is advancing with his move, wait what is going to happen in the next hours, days to come.....

This move has forced the PAD to go the "whole nine yards" think we are going to see a massive stand off and/or another coup to follow soon....!

Edited October 7, 2008 by Samuian

[LoongJohn]

Does any of this strike anyone as a very handy diversion?

A certain gentleman in England has lodged or is about to lodge an application for Political Asylum.

To claim that it would be dangerous for him to return to a country where the people are holding peaceful protests against a corrupt government lacks a certain something.

However, he can now point to the violence and bloodshed in the streets and squeal that he might be torn limb from limb if he has to return to such an awful place. He would have a point, too!

:D

[sriracha john]

Parliament hits snag on quorum legality

Parliament President Chai Chidchob checked quorum and had to call a 10-minute break due to a technical legality on how to proceed with the debate.

Although 320 lawmakers reported to the meeting chamber to achieve a quorum, which requires the simple majority of 311, only 307 voted to hold the policy debate which falls short of the quorum.

Chai allowed lawmakers to take off their suites during the policy debate because of lack of air conditioning due to power outage.

Electricity supplies have been cut and Parliament has to rely on emergency lighting which will last seven hours.

- The Nation / 2008-10-07

Edited October 7, 2008 by sriracha john

[jasreeve17]

Clearly I'm out of kilter with the majority of opinions being expressed in this thread, but...

I don't consider a group of unarmed police using tear gas to disperse an unruly mob who were blocking elected members of Parliament from reaching their debating chamber an 'act of violence' as described by previous contributors, critical of Somchai.

One Aussie said Somchai's behaviour would never occur in Australia... neither would PAD's... The police would quickly and forcibly move a bunch of protestors on if they surround Parliament, erected barricades and prevented the government from going about its business. They'd use water canons, police with riot shields and batons and - as a last resort - tear gas, I'm sure. They'd also arrest the protestors, bundle them into buses and cart them off for processing. We saw them prepared to do this in Sydney during Apec last year.

The police should have acted in Bangkok sooner. Surely there is security around Parliament 24-seven, so why did no-one raise the alert and prevent the barricades being erected in the first place.

PPP is no white knight, but PAD is doing immeasurable damage to Thailand's economy by its lawlessness, illegal occupations and trespassing (airports, included). There are 800 international journalists and travel agents in Bangkok this week, all flown there by TAT and THAI - part of a Herculian effort to restore flagging tourism numbers to the country. No doubt they all turned on their hotel TVs this morning to scenes of anarchy and a strong - but justified - response by the police to restore law and order...

This sums Thailand up, to me. Add in the irrational one-eyed views of your average PAD / PPP supporter (H90...) and I don't see any hope for the immediate future. Just because the buffalos and elephants have recently left Bangkok streets don't be confused into believing that this place has other than an seventeenth century mindset / intellectual-social development.

The PAD are an absolute disgrace (not the majority of their naive supporters, but the cheating and manipulating leaders).

The PPP are a disgrace. (curruption, lack of governance...)

The so called democratic party are a disgrace ('getting into bed' with with coups leaders, 'supporting' undemocratic mobs, blatantly using ignorant nationalism to gain advantage via LM claims agaist opposition mp's ).

Politically this place is an absolute joke, and whilst the standard selfish (especially Bangkokian) attitude holds sway then nothing will change. Perhaps a slow evolution towards a democracy is all one can hope for. I'd reckon on another fifty years at a minimum before we see significant (if any) improvement.

I first came here nearly twenty years ago and remember thinking it was a great place because 'it's like the whole place is on acid'. Having matured it's sad to see that 'the whole place is still on acid'.

[clausewitz]

Looks like his signature, as in the "war on drugs"! Sure is this man mad, mad about the "thieves" who "took his money", unless this man is brought to justice, there will be no peace in Thailand!

You refer to Thaksin about the war on drugs.

Were you studying the Manager media (owned by Sondhi - leader of PAD). He devoted his media to rabble rousing saying that drug dealers were worse than scum. His voice had more to do with inflamming police actions against drug pople than Thaksin. The police felt they could come down hard, as Sondhi and his papers made them out to be heroes for every dealer they off.

That was of course beofre Sondhi got refused when trying to steal a few hundred million from teh banks (refused by thaksin).

[Samuian]

Does any of this strike anyone as a very handy diversion?

A certain gentleman in England has lodged or is about to lodge an application for Political Asylum.

To claim that it would be dangerous for him to return to a country where the people are holding peaceful protests against a corrupt government lacks a certain something.

However, he can now point to the violence and bloodshed in the streets and squeal that he might be torn limb from limb if he has to return to such an awful place. He would have a point, too!

:D

However, which way ever, he has a hand in all this!

[toptuan]

Chai allowed lawmakers to take off their suites [sic] during the policy debate because of lack of air conditioning due to power outage.

Maybe they were really concerned about remnants of tear gas wafting through the austere council chambers?

Edited October 7, 2008 by toptuan

[sriracha john]

There is quite a bit of video footage from a variety of sources of numerous people suffering severe burns or large lacerations (including the traumatic amputation of a leg posted earlier). These don't seem entirely consistent with the use of "tear-gas."

although now they are conceding that in addition to tear-gas, rubber bullets were utilized... even those don't explain the above... what will the police concede to next?

Queen donates 100,000 baht to help the injured

Her Majesty the Queen has donated 100,000 baht to aid protestors injured early this morning when police dispersed their barrice of the Parliament.

Director of Vajira Hospital Chaiwan Charoenchoktawee revealed in an interview this morning (October 7) that so far, there were a total of 47 injuries from the police dispersal of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally at the Parliament building.

He stated that six people were seriously injured, including four men and two women. Two of them had to go into surgery. A protester was the most severe injury with one of his legs being amputated due to an irreparable bone fracture.

Chaiwan also revealed that Her Majesty the Queen has shown great concern over the incident which saw police using tear gas and rubber bullets dissolving the demonstration.

As a result, Her Majesty the Queen has donated 100,000 baht to Vajira Hospital to be used in the care of those injured. The Queen also suggested that the costs of the medical care be submitted to the Office of Her Majesty's Principal Private Secretary.

- ThaiNews / 2008-10-07

[Samuian]

Looks like his signature, as in the "war on drugs"! Sure is this man mad, mad about the "thieves" who "took his money", unless this man is brought to justice, there will be no peace in Thailand!

You refer to Thaksin about the war on drugs.

Were you studying the Manager media (owned by Sondhi - leader of PAD). He devoted his media to rabble rousing saying that drug dealers were worse than scum. His voice had more to do with inflamming police actions against drug pople than Thaksin. The police felt they could come down hard, as Sondhi and his papers made them out to be heroes for every dealer they off.

That was of course beofre Sondhi got refused when trying to steal a few hundred million from teh banks (refused by thaksin).

Sorry, who was the leader or CEO of this country then Sondhi or Taksin?

the rest is squabble, sorry, stick to the facts!

[csolgosz]

I think PAD is over reaching,

but I can understand their being MORE than a little upset.

No coincidense that Chamlong was arrested on the eve of

the policy speech meeting, a prefect time to make PAD mad as hel_l.

And or Chamlong decided to get out before it went down counter to

his wihes, but that is PURELY speculation. What is clear is that Thaksin

hardliners are controling the police at the moment.

Another power shift at the moment?

Another clear thing, if the PPP, about to be banned, is going to try and

redo the constitution there will be madness going on to stop them.

Without the eminent PPP Party dissolution suspending like Damocles sword,

there might be less intention to stop them, but too many feel they have

no legitimacy to rewrite the constitution during their limited month or two

of future existence. The dissolution is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

If a retro-active Thaksin and/or PPP saving amendment sees the light of day,

The streets WILL go mad. Regardless of legalistic issues, PPP is playing with fire.

It shows THEIR desperation as much as Thaksin's and PAD's to stop them.

If they try to continue to stop the street with force, to back up saving their OWN ASSES.

it will go very very bad. Graft the people would accept up to a point, stupidity of decisions,

they seem to except as S.O.P., but width, depth and breadth of PAD support is showing

that the limits of what they will tolerate is very, very close to the edge right now.

PPP is playing with fire, and not just from PAD, this is only the spearhead.

May you live in interesting times, Somchai...

Don't listen to the man behind the curtain,

he may be family, but he ain't your friend.

PAD is not overreacting....Think for the amendment move of the constitution which is in Parliament today. that might be a surprise move by the PPP to quickly change the constitution.

I think some people are forgetting (or oblivious to some important facts here).

1. PAD are not a democratic opposition party. They are a elitist group of people who want to alter the constitution themselves to deny many common people equal rights to vote.

2. Most people in Bangkok know that they are paying people money to be involved in the demonstration. Many of these people have no idea of what they are doing, they only want the money.

3. They are disrupting government from proceeding in an anarchial way that would not be tolerated in any Western country. Why should the government here allow it??? Blockade Parliament in England, Australia or America etc and see what the response would be. I think they have tolerated this lot for too long.

[animatic]

Looks like his signature, as in the "war on drugs"! Sure is this man mad, mad about the "thieves" who "took his money", unless this man is brought to justice, there will be no peace in Thailand!

You refer to Thaksin about the war on drugs.

Were you studying the Manager media (owned by Sondhi - leader of PAD). He devoted his media to rabble rousing saying that drug dealers were worse than scum. His voice had more to do with inflamming police actions against drug pople than Thaksin. The police felt they could come down hard, as Sondhi and his papers made them out to be heroes for every dealer they off.

That was of course beofre Sondhi got refused when trying to steal a few hundred million from teh banks (refused by thaksin).

Coming down on dealers is not the same as killing innocents

just cause they are close buy or related to dealers.

Or shooting up homes based on misinformation.

Sondhi never said go do that. Thaksin gave them carte blanche

and SPECIFIC instructions to run up big numbers...

The buck stops at the top, not in the press editors office.

[Roachiebkk]

Yes we heard the bombs going off at 6 this morning and I was faced with lines of riot police and traffic chaos at Phichia on my motorbike on the way to work. The surrounding streets are now filling with reinforcements from the PAD as the police are also reinforcing. We'll be watching things closely today, could go either way.

Roachie

[h90]

I think PAD is over reaching,

but I can understand their being MORE than a little upset.

No coincidense that Chamlong was arrested on the eve of

the policy speech meeting, a prefect time to make PAD mad as hel_l.

And or Chamlong decided to get out before it went down counter to

his wihes, but that is PURELY speculation. What is clear is that Thaksin

hardliners are controling the police at the moment.

Another power shift at the moment?

Another clear thing, if the PPP, about to be banned, is going to try and

redo the constitution there will be madness going on to stop them.

Without the eminent PPP Party dissolution suspending like Damocles sword,

there might be less intention to stop them, but too many feel they have

no legitimacy to rewrite the constitution during their limited month or two

of future existence. The dissolution is pretty much a foregone conclusion.

If a retro-active Thaksin and/or PPP saving amendment sees the light of day,

The streets WILL go mad. Regardless of legalistic issues, PPP is playing with fire.

It shows THEIR desperation as much as Thaksin's and PAD's to stop them.

If they try to continue to stop the street with force, to back up saving their OWN ASSES.

it will go very very bad. Graft the people would accept up to a point, stupidity of decisions,

they seem to except as S.O.P., but width, depth and breadth of PAD support is showing

that the limits of what they will tolerate is very, very close to the edge right now.

PPP is playing with fire, and not just from PAD, this is only the spearhead.

May you live in interesting times, Somchai...

Don't listen to the man behind the curtain,

he may be family, but he ain't your friend.

PAD is not overreacting....Think for the amendment move of the constitution which is in Parliament today. that might be a surprise move by the PPP to quickly change the constitution.

I think some people are forgetting (or oblivious to some important facts here).

1. PAD are not a democratic opposition party. They are a elitist group of people who want to alter the constitution themselves to deny many common people equal rights to vote.

2. Most people in Bangkok know that they are paying people money to be involved in the demonstration. Many of these people have no idea of what they are doing, they only want the money.

3. They are disrupting government from proceeding in an anarchial way that would not be tolerated in any Western country. Why should the government here allow it??? Blockade Parliament in England, Australia or America etc and see what the response would be. I think they have tolerated this lot for too long.

Complete nonsense!

1. PPP did a lot vote buying and is on the way to be dissolved. Never heard that the PAD want to exclude someone from their right to vote.

2. Wrong. All my staff and my wife are there every day, they beg you to tell where they could collect any money. It is a rumor made by PPP

3. In any western country this government would be in jail. In any western country the police would jail the PPP a long time already.

[ataloss]

I've witnessed two tear-gas attacks where there were no serious injuries (Berkeley, CA in the 1960's and WTO riots in Seattle). This is the first time I've become aware of the possibility of serious injuries under such an attack. After all, the purpose of tear-gas use is to disperse crowds without serious bodily injury.

Is this a different sort of ammunition being used, from that commonly used in western riot-control? Anyone know?

There certainly does seem to be an inordinate amount of blood-letting with this, Somchai's "soft approach", compared to other tear-gassing episodes...

From the picture it would appear that those shooting gas cannisters are aiming low, possibly directly at the crowd; not at spaces between segments of the crowd. One would think that they should be 'lobbing' the cannisters using a high-angle approach to avoid directly striking anyone.

[sriracha john]

House Speaker Chai Chidchob

Recently (last week) resigned People Power Party Spokesman and current People Power Party MP Kuthep Saikrajang

House Speaker extends time to achieve quorum

House Speaker Chai Chidchob has extended the time duration for MPs' meeting at the Parliament to achieve quorum with many MPs criticizing those who failed to show up, including the opposition Democrat party whose members abstained from the meeting.

The Parliament's began its meeting today (October 7) at 9.30 am. as earlier scheduled despite the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s activity seeking to deter it.

House Speaker Chai Chidchob decided to extend time waiting for the meeting to reach quorum by an hour in light of the events.

However, MPs who showed up at the meeting's hall in the Parliament were allowed to conduct the meeting nonetheless with discussion mainly calling on MPs who have not yet made their ways to the meeting to be aware of the importance of the government's policy declaration. They also heavily criticized the opposition Democrat Party which has chosen to abstain from the meeting.

People Power Party MP Kuthep Saikrajang commented that he would not point to who was responsible for the turmoil at this juncture, adding the international community was closely watching Thailand.

He stated that he would only express sympathy with police who were trying to uphold order of the Parliament, regarded as the sacred building. He also criticized MPs who have not attended the meeting this morning.

- ThaiNews / 2008-10-07

[younghusband]

Does any of this strike anyone as a very handy diversion?

A certain gentleman in England has lodged or is about to lodge an application for Political Asylum.

To claim that it would be dangerous for him to return to a country where the people are holding peaceful protests against a corrupt government lacks a certain something.

However, he can now point to the violence and bloodshed in the streets and squeal that he might be torn limb from limb if he has to return to such an awful place. He would have a point, too!

:D

However, which way ever, he has a hand in all this!

The Snowball syndrome again as readers of Orwell will recognise.

[jayjayjayjay]

Dear mister Somchai is showing his true face very fast. He asks for peace with one hand and with the other hand he commits violence. Shows what kind of a person he is.

Waerth

What a load of rot! He was acting exactly as any gov should under law when gov land has been taken seige. When will you guys supporting PAD stop this rot that they have a right to occupy this land. As a father of 2 Thai citizens it disgusts me.

"One man appeared to have been hit by a tear-gas grenade as he he ran, breaking or tearing off part of his leg."

Edited October 7, 2008 by sbk
no flaming!--sbk

[sriracha john]

Clash erupts between protesters and police

Around 11 am, police fired a new round of tear gas at protesters rallying at the Royal Plaza near the Metropolitan Police Bureau. Sound of explosions were heard behind the police line.

It remains unclear whether police also lobbed smoke bombs at the protesters.

- The Nation / 2008-10-07

[Morch]

There is quite a bit of video footage from a variety of sources of numerous people suffering severe burns or large lacerations (including the traumatic amputation of a leg posted earlier). These don't seem entirely consistent with the use of "tear-gas."

Shooting AT someone would do that and worse.

[warmwater7]

Urgent: Police fire tear gas at protesters in front of Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Police fire dozens of tear gases at protesters, who staged a blockade outside Parliament at 6:20 am.

The firing of tear gases managed to open an access to Parliament at the gate on Phichai Road.

Leading members of the People's Alliance for Democracy urged the protesters to remain protesting there.

-- The Nation 2008-10-07

just spoke to my wife, professor suan dusit, protesters on campus w/ golf clubs. fairly nasty.

something about somebody loosing a leg to tear gas attack, " the police are not very well trained" her response. democracy ar work. ( at least there is no patriot act in los.)

Edited October 7, 2008 by warmwater7

[sriracha john]

Army Chief monitors the anti-riot measures

Army Chief General Anupong Paochinda has called an urgent meeting of the five top Army generals to closely monitor the anti-riot operations. He is also meeting with top commanders of three wings of the armed forces.

Anupong is assessing the situation, but has not drawn conclusion on the police action.

It is expected that the military will issue a statement in the afternoon.

The Nation / 2008-10-07

[jayjayjayjay]

They aren't his kids that are in harm's way. Why should Sondhi care?

Chai YO, the megomanic was seen running the other way, jumped into his Maybeck with bullet proof glass and made for the underground bunkers at ASTV. His group of minders(thugs, as per NBT viewing) were close behind bringing up the rear. Children and women used extensively as shield were used to clear a smooth path for the legendary enlightened one!! Only 4 children remain stuck in the drive shaft of the getaway car. RIP

Edited October 7, 2008 by jayjayjayjay

[h90]

Dear mister Somchai is showing his true face very fast. He asks for peace with one hand and with the other hand he commits violence. Shows what kind of a person he is.

Waerth

What a load of rot! He was acting exactly as any gov should under law when gov land has been taken seige. When will you guys supporting PAD stop this rot that they have a right to occupy this land. As a father of 2 Thai citizens it disgusts me.

"One man appeared to have been hit by a tear-gas grenade as he he ran, breaking or tearing off part of his leg."

As father of 2 Thai citizens, you should stay there and fight for their good future.....