4 Grenades Explode Near Thailand's Anti-government Tv Station

[werbs]

the unarmed police just shooted at a bus.

I just can't believe that the government is not doing anything after they had no problems killing people last time.

The police ended a hijacking with reasonable use of force and with no loss of life, and you seem to be implying that this is a bad thing . How much koolaid did you drink?

Maybe they should have given the bus a police escort through parliment.

OK, lets try again....

How can an unarmed policeman shoot?

Or is the police telling a lie, again?

<snip>

do you really expect ALL police in Bangkok to be unarmed? the police at the parlaiment are unarmed, the police elsewhere are not unarmed (and i am sure the criminals amonst the PAD are armed.

Do you think everyone should just give in to the criminals? do you think they shoulkd be given the freedom to continue with their criminal activities?

<snip>

I know it is none of my business (being a 'guest' resident) but I think you are wrong, Werbs, in branding the political protesters "criminals". I applaud their non-violent protesting and am surprised at how many posters here feel that the unarmed and very brave PAD supporters are the villains in this serious scenario. There is nothing "patriotic" about blind allegiance to bad governance. In fact, in a free society, it is a citizen's duty to protest when elections are stolen, bought, or misused. The current majority has made no attempts to hide their 'advise & consent' status with the banished billionaire that would be king...or god. "Toxin" and the similar super greedy, super rich, 'power elite' (elite only in their own perverted minds) in other countries of this world have absolutely no care or concern for the rest of the world's population or, indeed, for what happens to our world! Such people MUST be opposed by whatever means available. To not do so is like volunteering for slavery. IMHO

Good luck Thailand...fight the good fight (peacefully, of course)!

If someone was to break into your business are they are criminal? If someone was to break into a government compound and then trespass on that property for months afterwards are they criminals? if those people then broke into the buildings and stole property are they criminals? If those people committed criminal damage are they criminals?

they are criminals.

oops sorry i just read your post again, I didnt realise at first you were being sarcastic until I saw the part about the PAD leading a peaceful protest

[Jai Dee]

Protesters disperse from Parliament, move to Don Muang

Protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy dispersed from Parliament and scattered out to several areas, including the temporary government seat at the Don Muang Airport.

They dispersed from Parliament at 1 pm.

By 2 pm, they were setting up a stage at the Don Muang temporary government seat.

Source: The Nation - 24 November 2008

[hansnl]

the unarmed police just shooted at a bus.

I just can't believe that the government is not doing anything after they had no problems killing people last time.

The police ended a hijacking with reasonable use of force and with no loss of life, and you seem to be implying that this is a bad thing . How much koolaid did you drink?

Maybe they should have given the bus a police escort through parliment.

OK, lets try again....

How can an unarmed policeman shoot?

Or is the police telling a lie, again?

<snip>

do you really expect ALL police in Bangkok to be unarmed? the police at the parlaiment are unarmed, the police elsewhere are not unarmed (and i am sure the criminals amonst the PAD are armed.

Do you think everyone should just give in to the criminals? do you think they shoulkd be given the freedom to continue with their criminal activities?

<snip>

Well.....The Police and the government are the good one and PAD are criminals....is your opinion?

I can only hope you are still young and will learn when you are older.

i am a 41 year old ex policeman from the UK, I am well educated with a law degree, not much left to learn about idiots to be fair, at no point did i say the police and government are the good ones, the governmet are however elected and the police despite all their faults are stuck in the middle, the PAD however are criminals as can be seen by their actions and their pathetic attempts at fooling the public. the sad thing is that some people buy into their 'peaceful protest' propoganda whilst missing the bad they are doing to the country

The police is stuck in the middle????????

Really?

If you are an ex-policeman you should know that there are NO honest politicians, you cannot trust politicians, they always lie, are only in it for the money or for power, etcetera, etcetera ad infinitum.

The PAD are criminals?

OK, so the bomb-throwers are the good ones?

Yes, very logical indeed.

Unarmed and shooting at a bus?

Ah, right, there was some gun on the ground, picked it up, and it discharged, automatic like!

So sorry!

A Government is NOT elected, but formed of members or followers of a party or parties having had most votes.

However, a Government should be there for the good of all the people, not only for the people that voted for the parties that formed the Government.

Or for people that are working officials of those parties.

If a Government ignores a very big part of the voters, who did not vote for you, and are not governing the country in the way mentioned before, well, expect trouble.

If a government seems to be busy with only one thing, changing the charter, well expect more trouble.

Being a policeman or soldier makes you, by nature of the job, less critical of the ones who are in power.

And sometimes forget that policemen and soldiers are paid by ALL the taxpayers.

NOT only the taxpayers that voted for the politicians in power.

Not being critical about your own job, and how you do that job, is a mistake most make.

I know!

[DP25]

The current majority has made no attempts to hide their 'advise & consent' status with the banished billionaire that would be king...or god. "Toxin" and the similar super greedy, super rich, 'power elite' (elite only in their own perverted minds) in other countries of this world have absolutely no care or concern for the rest of the world's population or, indeed, for what happens to our world! Such people MUST be opposed by whatever means available. To not do so is like volunteering for slavery. IMHO

Good luck Thailand...fight the good fight (peacefully, of course)!

Agree, except that the current government is NOT a majority. The PPP recieved less than %40 percent of the vote, and in the proportional votes received fewer votes than the Democratic Party did. They continue to peddle the fiction that they are some how representative of the silent majority of Thai but it is simply a lie, the large majority of Thais were and are now anti PPP and anti Thaksin.

Good luck PAD.

[hardy1943]

Numbers anyone?

Just how many protesters are there actually on the streets of Bangkok?

The only estimates I've seen for yesterday were 40,000 in the Post (quoted in the last thread) and "from a half to a third of the expected number" from AP (also quoted in the last thread) which would give from 25 to 33 thousand from PAD's dream of having 100,000 turn out. Give them 40,000, or even 50,000 and that's still less people than turn out for a good English football match! Coupled with the other quote in the last thread that support at Gov Hse. was dwindling away to no more than 5000 hard core protesters on a day to day basis, makes me think that the vast mass of Thailand's population want nothing more to do with Sondhi and his bunch of clowns.

And then Jai Dee reports that "100 protesters have reached Don Muang"..........ONE HUNDRED, and they think this gives them a mandate to overthrow the Government (however inept this present one may be). I've been watching the live coverage on TV (not ASTV - I don't get the cartoon channel), and while there were certainly crowds, a good few thousand or so, it was nothing like the mass uprising that PAD have hyped it up to be.

PAD may well be right about one thing. This probably will be the final attempt, I don't think the next one would be big enough to even make the news!

40,000 is a joke, Taksin would draw a crowd several fold just to return to LOS

[JetsetBkk]

Sorry. just to add, I saw 4 high ranking police officers, who were off duty, wearing T shirts with pro PAD slogans on them....

Wow, thank you so much for that report.

[Plus]

They blocked the Parliament building, they blocked Metropolitan Police building - that takes a lot of people. So if only a hundred arrived at Don Muang - no big deal, the bulk will arrive later, if necessary.

The news about fully armed reds waiting for them is more worrying.

[tweezer]

Protesters disperse from Parliament, move to Don Muang

Argh!!! My daily commute home requires me to drive down Viphavadi-Rangsit past the old airport. I suppose the traffic this evening will be horrendous there (even the slightest hiccup on a normal day delays traffic badly around there.)

Any first hand accounts from people in the area? Is traffic getting backed up yet?

Cheers,

--T.

[MHM]

Splash out, use the expressway

[JetsetBkk]

... the sad thing is that some people buy into their 'peaceful protest' propoganda whilst missing the bad they are doing to the country

It's the "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" mentality, I'm afraid. I can't think of any other reason why people would support Sondhi and PAD.

[Insight]

Ex-Thai PM hits out at UK

source: www.arabianbusiness.com Sunday (late) 23 November 2008

LASHING OUT: Shinawatra said the British government was not respecting its own democratic values.

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lashed out at the UK for revoking his visa - and vowed to return to Thailand as prime minister.

In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, to be published next Sunday, Shinawatra said the UK would "feel sorrow" for revoking his visa and accused the British government of not respecting its own democratic values.

Shinawatra’s UK visa was cancelled earlier this month following his conviction for corruption in Thailand. He had fled to the UK in 2006 following a military coup that removed him from power.

"England must understand better, but unfortunately they are now busy with their own problems - so they forgot about democratic values," Shinawatra said during an interview in Dubai.

Good to see you posting Baht&Sold

Despite his comments being absolutely absurd, you've got to wonder what he's implying by this. My only guess, given his tendencies for revenge he constantly demonstrates, is that life could become harder for British expats in Thailand under the PPP. Is such a conclusion wide off the mark?

[bubba]

Protesters disperse from Parliament, move to Don Muang

Argh!!! My daily commute home requires me to drive down Viphavadi-Rangsit past the old airport. I suppose the traffic this evening will be horrendous there (even the slightest hiccup on a normal day delays traffic badly around there.)

Any first hand accounts from people in the area? Is traffic getting backed up yet?

Cheers,

--T.

At least according to the online traffic sites, doesn't look like a problem so far:

NECTEC real time traffic Google maps overlay

Another NECTEC real-time traffic site

(You can tick the English box at the bottom of the latter site.

[animatic]

Talking in absolutes in Thailand is less than irrelevant...

If someone breaks into your company to prevent an injury or worse damage, like shut off water

because pipes are broken, the damage to the broken door lock is less than leaving it an attended.

Or if they break in to rescue someone seen through a window unconscious and in distress.

They are not getting prosecuted as thieves.

Motive has a lot to do with a slap on the wrist or 20 years in the can.

Edited November 24, 2008 by animatic

[Jai Dee]

All roads around Parliament cleared

By 1:45 pm Monday, all roads around Parliament were passable after the People's Alliance for Democracy dispersed from Parliament at 1 pm.

Source: The Nation - 24 November 2008

[terrier123]

I know speaking nicely is very important in Thailand. I've just listened to a PAD spokesman and also to a Government spokewoman live, haven't got a clue what they are talking about. Don't usually comment on 'Thai Politics' as its drilled into us that its not falangs buisiness.

the wife translated for me and it would seem clear that the PAD guy ain't speaking nicely and that he is trying to rally his troops into a frenzy. Fighting frenzy I would say, using someone who we cannot mention as a weapon. He appears to be fanatical and ain't going nowhere until he gets his way. The goverment spokeswoman was speaking nicely, I don't think there's a cat in hells chance of a peaceful resolution unless someone influential steps in to prevent the impending bloodbath.

Fifteen minutes ago I watched the Asia News broadcast from Singapore via the Internet. Brief live interview from the Thai PM with English translation in subtitles. This is far better than trying to get the missus to explain what the h**l is going on down there in BKK. These truly are bad times in Thailand and I hope that all is resolved in the very near future.

[JetsetBkk]

...Despite his comments being absolutely absurd, you've got to wonder what he's implying by this. My only guess, given his tendencies for revenge he constantly demonstrates, is that life could become harder for British expats in Thailand under the PPP. Is such a conclusion wide off the mark?

Yes, I think it is "wide off the mark". But you won't see many UK companies winning big contracts over here for a long long time if Thaksin has anything to say about it.

[tweezer]

At least according to the online traffic sites, doesn't look like a problem so far:

NECTEC real time traffic Google maps overlay

Another NECTEC real-time traffic site

(You can tick the English box at the bottom of the latter site.

Thanks Bubba... I didn't know those sites existed! Very useful.

[werbs]

the unarmed police just shooted at a bus.

I just can't believe that the government is not doing anything after they had no problems killing people last time.

The police ended a hijacking with reasonable use of force and with no loss of life, and you seem to be implying that this is a bad thing . How much koolaid did you drink?

Maybe they should have given the bus a police escort through parliment.

OK, lets try again....

How can an unarmed policeman shoot?

Or is the police telling a lie, again?

<snip>

do you really expect ALL police in Bangkok to be unarmed? the police at the parlaiment are unarmed, the police elsewhere are not unarmed (and i am sure the criminals amonst the PAD are armed.

Do you think everyone should just give in to the criminals? do you think they shoulkd be given the freedom to continue with their criminal activities?

<snip>

Well.....The Police and the government are the good one and PAD are criminals....is your opinion?

I can only hope you are still young and will learn when you are older.

i am a 41 year old ex policeman from the UK, I am well educated with a law degree, not much left to learn about idiots to be fair, at no point did i say the police and government are the good ones, the governmet are however elected and the police despite all their faults are stuck in the middle, the PAD however are criminals as can be seen by their actions and their pathetic attempts at fooling the public. the sad thing is that some people buy into their 'peaceful protest' propoganda whilst missing the bad they are doing to the country

The police is stuck in the middle????????

Really?

If you are an ex-policeman you should know that there are NO honest politicians, you cannot trust politicians, they always lie, are only in it for the money or for power, etcetera, etcetera ad infinitum.

The PAD are criminals?

OK, so the bomb-throwers are the good ones?

Yes, very logical indeed.

Unarmed and shooting at a bus?

Ah, right, there was some gun on the ground, picked it up, and it discharged, automatic like!

So sorry!

A Government is NOT elected, but formed of members or followers of a party or parties having had most votes.

However, a Government should be there for the good of all the people, not only for the people that voted for the parties that formed the Government.

Or for people that are working officials of those parties.

If a Government ignores a very big part of the voters, who did not vote for you, and are not governing the country in the way mentioned before, well, expect trouble.

If a government seems to be busy with only one thing, changing the charter, well expect more trouble.

Being a policeman or soldier makes you, by nature of the job, less critical of the ones who are in power.

And sometimes forget that policemen and soldiers are paid by ALL the taxpayers.

NOT only the taxpayers that voted for the politicians in power.

Not being critical about your own job, and how you do that job, is a mistake most make.

I know!

sometimes its better to let people think that you are ignorant rather than open your mouth and prove it.

ok now to your points.

The police is stuck in the middle????????

Really? yes

If you are an ex-policeman you should know that there are NO honest politicians, you cannot trust politicians, they always lie, are only in it for the money or for power, etcetera, etcetera ad infinitum. Bit of a sweeping generalisation, but I can't really see the point you are trying to make here, if this is correct then whoever is appointed by the PAD will also be corrupt, however they hope these politicians will be corrupt in their favour.

The PAD are criminals? Yes, see my post above about the crimes they have committed.

OK, so the bomb-throwers are the good ones? I never said or intimated that, however if I was a criminal and involved in criminal activity, and then became a victim of crime that does not negate my criminality earlier, I would still be a criminal.

Yes, very logical indeed. Thanks

Unarmed and shooting at a bus?

Ah, right, there was some gun on the ground, picked it up, and it discharged, automatic like!

So sorry! It has already been established via numerous reports that the police at Parlaiment were unarmed, however Police elsewhere where ared as normal. Are you suggesting the Police do away with all their rights and weapons just because a bunch of criminals want to perform more disruptive activites?

A Government is NOT elected, but formed of members or followers of a party or parties having had most votes. A Government is elected

However, a Government should be there for the good of all the people, not only for the people that voted for the parties that formed the Government.

Or for people that are working officials of those parties.

If a Government ignores a very big part of the voters, who did not vote for you, and are not governing the country in the way mentioned before, well, expect trouble. When did the present government ignore the people who didnt vote for them, all i see is a government not being allowed to govern because certin people are not getting their own way. Also are the PAD not saying that the poor don't count, only the Bangkok elite should be looked after.

If a government seems to be busy with only one thing, changing the charter, well expect more trouble. Didnt the interim government do the same? they changed the constitution to make sure they would not be punished afterwards. even appointed governments act this way so who is to say an appointed government would be any different.

Being a policeman or soldier makes you, by nature of the job, less critical of the ones who are in power. Not true, a wrong perception and again stereotypical with no real knowledge on the subject, for the record I think the Thai police are a joke and the lack of respect shown to them during these times are of their own making.

And sometimes forget that policemen and soldiers are paid by ALL the taxpayers. When I was a policeman i also paid taxes, are you suggesting that because the public pay taxes the police must ignore all their wrongdoings, seems like corruption to me.

NOT only the taxpayers that voted for the politicians in power. and?

Not being critical about your own job, and how you do that job, is a mistake most make. ?

I know!

[koosdeboer]

the unarmed police just shooted at a bus.

I just can't believe that the government is not doing anything after they had no problems killing people last time.

The police ended a hijacking with reasonable use of force and with no loss of life, and you seem to be implying that this is a bad thing . How much koolaid did you drink?

Maybe they should have given the bus a police escort through parliment.

OK, lets try again....

How can an unarmed policeman shoot?

Or is the police telling a lie, again?

<snip>

do you really expect ALL police in Bangkok to be unarmed? the police at the parlaiment are unarmed, the police elsewhere are not unarmed (and i am sure the criminals amonst the PAD are armed.

Do you think everyone should just give in to the criminals? do you think they shoulkd be given the freedom to continue with their criminal activities?

<snip>

I know it is none of my business (being a 'guest' resident) but I think you are wrong, Werbs, in branding the political protesters "criminals". I applaud their non-violent protesting and am surprised at how many posters here feel that the unarmed and very brave PAD supporters are the villains in this serious scenario. There is nothing "patriotic" about blind allegiance to bad governance. In fact, in a free society, it is a citizen's duty to protest when elections are stolen, bought, or misused. The current majority has made no attempts to hide their 'advise & consent' status with the banished billionaire that would be king...or god. "Toxin" and the similar super greedy, super rich, 'power elite' (elite only in their own perverted minds) in other countries of this world have absolutely no care or concern for the rest of the world's population or, indeed, for what happens to our world! Such people MUST be opposed by whatever means available. To not do so is like volunteering for slavery. IMHO

Good luck Thailand...fight the good fight (peacefully, of course)!

I agree but the stubborn taksin and cronie government lovers are too blinded to see

[fsuthai]

Numbers anyone?

Just how many protesters are there actually on the streets of Bangkok?

The only estimates I've seen for yesterday were 40,000 in the Post (quoted in the last thread) and "from a half to a third of the expected number" from AP (also quoted in the last thread) which would give from 25 to 33 thousand from PAD's dream of having 100,000 turn out. Give them 40,000, or even 50,000 and that's still less people than turn out for a good English football match! Coupled with the other quote in the last thread that support at Gov Hse. was dwindling away to no more than 5000 hard core protesters on a day to day basis, makes me think that the vast mass of Thailand's population want nothing more to do with Sondhi and his bunch of clowns.

And then Jai Dee reports that "100 protesters have reached Don Muang"..........ONE HUNDRED, and they think this gives them a mandate to overthrow the Government (however inept this present one may be). I've been watching the live coverage on TV (not ASTV - I don't get the cartoon channel), and while there were certainly crowds, a good few thousand or so, it was nothing like the mass uprising that PAD have hyped it up to be.

PAD may well be right about one thing. This probably will be the final attempt, I don't think the next one would be big enough to even make the news!

&lt;deleted&gt;, catmac, are you just bouncing around and reading the posts that fit your preconceived opinions? There have been several posts that stated PAD's intention to send smaller protest groups to various areas of BKK (Finance Ministry, Don Muang, etc). Besides, part of the reason the world is in such a mess right now is that most of us have been either pre-occupied with sporting trivia or busy trying to make 'end's meet' to keep an eye on the crooked politicians that have been bleeding us dry. But, you are in good company here; lots of fascists that obviously work for the 'masters' and share your misguided views.

P.S. What's "a good English football match"...they're all boring as hel_l. (Now that should really hit a nerve...meant as a joke, however. Life's too frapping short to get all worked up over the Thai's political issues; especially since there are so many 'difficulties' occurring in our former parts of the world. Cheers!

[animatic]

Ex-Thai PM hits out at UK

source: www.arabianbusiness.com Sunday (late) 23 November 2008

LASHING OUT: Shinawatra said the British government was not respecting its own democratic values.

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has lashed out at the UK for revoking his visa - and vowed to return to Thailand as prime minister.

In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, to be published next Sunday, Shinawatra said the UK would "feel sorrow" for revoking his visa and accused the British government of not respecting its own democratic values.

Shinawatra’s UK visa was cancelled earlier this month following his conviction for corruption in Thailand. He had fled to the UK in 2006 following a military coup that removed him from power.

"England must understand better, but unfortunately they are now busy with their own problems - so they forgot about democratic values," Shinawatra said during an interview in Dubai.

Good to see you posting Baht&Sold

Despite his comments being absolutely absurd, you've got to wonder what he's implying by this. My only guess, given his tendencies for revenge he constantly demonstrates, is that life could become harder for British expats in Thailand under the PPP. Is such a conclusion wide off the mark?

Well there you have it he intends to change the laws so he can comeback as Prime Minister...

No TRT bannishment, cancelled, No conviction cancelled, or further convictions never happening.

And he will take it out on the only British targets around our him Brit Expats...

You Brit Anti-PAD guys still want to support him coming back as a by product of your convictions?

[Jai Dee]

Thai anti-govt protesters paralyse parliament

Thousands of Thai protesters marched on parliament and other key buildings Monday in what they called a final battle against the government, forcing lawmakers to cancel an important sitting.

Flag-waving demonstrators left from the prime minister's cabinet offices -- which they have been occupying since late August -- and fanned out through Bangkok's historic district in a bid to paralyse the legislature.

Two busloads of protesters also arrived at an abandoned air terminal where premier Somchai Wongsawat and his cabinet have set up a makeshift base, with security guards letting them through in an attempt to avoid a clash.

Police said about 18,000 people from the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took part across Bangkok. Some demonstrators wore goggles and masks as protection from tear gas.

House speaker Chai Chidchob called for calm and announced the postponement of a joint parliamentary session which was supposed to consider legislation on a major regional summit being held in Thailand in December.

"I ask for all sides to stop the movement now. If you love the king, please return home," he said on parliament radio, adding that the sitting was called off because elected MPs and senators could not enter the building.

The PAD has led a six-month campaign aiming to topple the government elected in December, accusing it of being a proxy of exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006.

Thaksin fled the country in August this year but a power battle is raging between those who support the billionaire and the old power elite in the military, palace and bureaucracy who want to purge Thailand of his influence.

A sea of protesters dressed in yellow shirts and headbands which symbolise loyalty to the monarchy marched through the government district Monday, many waving national flags and portraits of deeply-revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Black-clad volunteer PAD security guards wielding homemade batons protected the crowd.

About 2,000 police armed with shields were on duty to try to prevent a repeat of bloody street battles outside parliament on October 7 that left two protesters dead and nearly 500 people injured, officials have said.

One group of protesters moved from parliament to the finance ministry, while another group broke down a blockade on a road in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters, Thai television showed.

Most demonstrators later left parliament but dozens then drove in buses to Don Mueang airport on the outskirts of Bangkok, where premier Somchai -- Thaksin's brother-in-law -- has set up temporary offices, AFP reporters said

"The government are having a special cabinet meeting. Wherever they meet we will go," Somsak Kosaisuk, a key leader of the PAD, told the crowds outside parliament.

PAD co-founder Sondhi Limthongkul told AFP earlier that they could call on the crowds to besiege other locations including the stock exchange in their self-proclaimed "final battle" against the government.

Three small blasts hit near Sondhi's Bangkok offices early Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries.

The PAD occupied Government House after massive rallies in late August. It launched its anti-government campaign in May and has called for Thailand's electoral system to be changed to include non-elected members.

The alliance called for supporters to march on Monday to avenge the death of an activist in a grenade attack at the protest site last week.

PAD leaders accuse the government of being behind that attack, which also injured 29 protesters, as well as a similar explosion that killed one more protester and injured seven on Saturday.

Somchai, who is currently in Peru for the APEC meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, has denied any involvement and vowed an investigation into the violence.

Source: AFP - 24 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

Protesters let Plodprasop easily escape Don Muang besieging

Apparently not knowing Plodprasop Suraswadi, an advisor to the prime minister, protesters let him walk past them and escape their besieging of the Don Muang temporary government seat Monday afternoon.

Plodprasop took off his suit and walked down the temporary Government House building to the car park. He walked past the protesters at the canteen and smiled at them.

The protesters shook their hand clappers to greet him and he walked past them to the car park.

By 1:30 pm, the protesters blocked the U-turn bridge to the Don Muang Airport.

Source: The Nation - 24 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

Panya Siam Network Demands Army to Protect Nation

The Panya Siam Network gathers at Chulalongkorn University before marching to the Army Headquarters to make demands that the army protect the country and monarchy.

About 100 people from the Panya Siam Network Group, led by Dr.Tul Sittisomwong gathered at the King Rama II Monument in Chulalongkorn University earlier today before marching to the Army Headquarters.

They passed MBK Shopping Center, Urupong Intersection and continued to Lanluang Road to hand a letter to Army Chief General Anupong Paojinda, demanding that the army show their loyalty and protect the nation, religion and the monarchy as well as the people, without abusing their political power.

They also asked the army to consider using peaceful and appropriate means to address the source of the current problems. The march gathered a lot of attention from bystanders, and the group also handed out leaflets explaining the protest.

Source: Thailand Outlook - 24 November 2008

[CuttySark]

Protesters let Plodprasop easily escape Don Muang besieging

Apparently not knowing Plodprasop Suraswadi, an advisor to the prime minister, protesters let him walk past them and escape their besieging of the Don Muang temporary government seat Monday afternoon.

Plodprasop took off his suit and walked down the temporary Government House building to the car park. He walked past the protesters at the canteen and smiled at them.

The protesters shook their hand clappers to greet him and he walked past them to the car park.

By 1:30 pm, the protesters blocked the U-turn bridge to the Don Muang Airport.

Source: The Nation - 24 November 2008

See, the protesters are there is make up the number. They don't have a clue to what is happening, or who is who.

[Jai Dee]

PAD leader calls cancellation of Parliament meeting an initial triumph

A leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has called the cancellation of today's Parliament meeting an "initial triumph" but stated that rallying at newly seized sites would not continue beyond November 28th.

PAD leader Somsak Kosaisuk (สมศักดิ์ โกศัยสุข) traveled to the Chart Thai party headquarters this morning after members of the group converged on the area and spoke to members of the press. Mr. Somsak commented on House Speaker Chai Chidchob's cancellation of the Parliament meeting, calling the event an "initial triumph" for the PAD. He also responded to rumors that the meeting would be moved to a different location, stating that the PAD would follow the parliament meeting to any location until November 28th at which time the parliament ordinary session will have expired.

The PAD leader also commented that additional protesters may be sent to respond to an emergency meeting called at Don Mueang Airport currently used as an interim government house. After speaking with the press, Mr. Somsak returned to the main PAD gathering at the Government House.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 24 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

ASTV: Police Plans to Blame PAD for Fire at Govt House and Parliament

ASTV news, quoting an anonymous source, reports that police is planning to set fire to Government House and Parliament and blame it on the People's Alliance for Democracy.

It's also reported that 8,000 police officers are on standby to disperse the PAD protesters. Thousands of police officers are reportedly on a standby at various locations includng the basement of Parliament, behind the Metropolitan Police Bureau and the Don Muang Airport.

Source: Thailand Outlook - 24 November 2008

[Jai Dee]

Four-partite meeting to be held at 3 pm

The prime minister's representative, House speaker, Senate speaker and the opposition leader will hold a meeting at the King Prachatipok Institute at 3 pm Monday to discuss a way to end the on-going political crisis, opposition leader Abhsit Vejjajiva said.

Abhisit, House Speaker Chai Chidchob and Senate Speaker Prasopsook Boondej would attend the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, caretaker prime minister, would represent Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to attend the meeting.

Source: The Nation - 24 November 2008

[CuttySark]

I fear a civil war between north and south. The battleground will be Bangkok. This is s Buddhist country. How can all this happen? It's so sad.

I don't think someone from the North will fight unless paid.

I don't think so many yellow would turn up unless paid too.

no they are not, I sit alone in the office as all my staff is there....they don't receive 1 Satang, a lot of their friends and relatives from the south came, all without receiving money. All tell they are ready to die for the Monarchy.

I can name as many of my staff and their relative who get paid, not just to dress in yellow, but also to dress in red.

[CuttySark]

PAD Asks Finance Ministry Officials to Join Rally

Two PAD leaders have led a large number of PAD protesters to the Finance Ministry. They are calling for the Finance minister to step down from his post.

Meanwhile the 2 leaders are calling for Finance ministry officials to join the PAD rally and allow the PAD supporters to use the ministry's toilets.

PAD leaders Somkiat Pongpaiboon and second-generation leader Sirichai Mai-ngarm have led a group of PAD supporters to the Finance ministry at around 11 a.m. this morning.

The 2 leaders have requested the finance ministry officials' for permission to allow the PAD supporters to use the restrooms inside the ministry. However if the request isn't granted, the PAD may be forced to break down gate no. 4, located between the Budget Bureau and the Office of the Attorney General.

Source: Thailand Outlook - 24 November 2008

Protesters right to use toilet. New campain for NGOs worldwide. Thai government to debate about this and pass an appropriate law.