State Of Emergency Declared

[Wuffy]

Looks like things are starting now... PAD at ASTV and Don Muang attacked around 1:50AM.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...newsid=30089658

Something is not right...

We have posts saying this from 2:37 that it happened at 1:50am, and NOW at 3:00am we have people mentioning it again? The same way?

EDIT: Sorry I got confused dam_n being tired.

Where is a good place to watch the live stuff? That doesn't require Mediaplayer 11

Edited November 27, 2008 by Wuffy

[hudriwudri]

Where is a good place to watch the live stuff? That doesn't require Mediaplayer 11

mms://mms2.prd.go.th/nbttv

can watch with e.g VLC

hth

[cclub75]

Where is a good place to watch the live stuff? That doesn't require Mediaplayer 11

mms://mms2.prd.go.th/nbttv

can watch with e.g VLC

yes this one is working great ! Thanks.

With VLC, it's perfect.

[Nip]

I am happy to announce that I am moving away from this backward country as result of this joke. PAD's siege of the airport and the government's inability to forcibly extricate these mongrels is the last straw for me. I am taking my half thai kids and moving back to the democratic country I came from so that they don't have to be exposed to adults that act like children.

I am ashamed to be living in this country. My friends call me from home and ask, "So, exactly why are you living there?"

And for once, I have nothing to respond. It used to be "oh the people are so nice." "there is great convenience here" and "It's nice to have hired help" but I asked myself today. Why? And I could not come up with one good reason to stay in this place anymore.

I had hoped to stay here over December as I HAD a number of friends that were coming to visit, but they've all cancelled their plans.

Keep up the good work Thailand. There is not end to this problem. All of these mongrels at the airport could be mowed down by tanks a coup could take place and new elections could be held, but once again, Thaksin's proxies would win. This country is running in place. It's either continuing protests or having the greedy Thaksin in power who wants to reshape the country into another Singapore with a one party rule.

Good riddance and good luck to all you farangs that stay here and hold out hope for something that will never happen and that is Normalcy.

Of course I'll have to wait until these morons are cleared from the airport!

Dare I ask what part of Utopia you originate from? Maybe you could enlighten us and we could all follow you there? Guess your Utopian lifestyle at some juncture must not have met your high moral and social standards cos you moved here. I note you have half Thai kids ... Would you consider them to be mongrels? I think not. Your post is ill informed, uneducated, cheap and nasty. Cant imagine you will be missed!

[Nip]

I am happy to announce that I am moving away from this backward country as result of this joke. PAD's siege of the airport and the government's inability to forcibly extricate these mongrels is the last straw for me. I am taking my half thai kids and moving back to the democratic country I came from so that they don't have to be exposed to adults that act like children.

I am ashamed to be living in this country. My friends call me from home and ask, "So, exactly why are you living there?"

And for once, I have nothing to respond. It used to be "oh the people are so nice." "there is great convenience here" and "It's nice to have hired help" but I asked myself today. Why? And I could not come up with one good reason to stay in this place anymore.

I had hoped to stay here over December as I HAD a number of friends that were coming to visit, but they've all cancelled their plans.

Keep up the good work Thailand. There is not end to this problem. All of these mongrels at the airport could be mowed down by tanks a coup could take place and new elections could be held, but once again, Thaksin's proxies would win. This country is running in place. It's either continuing protests or having the greedy Thaksin in power who wants to reshape the country into another Singapore with a one party rule.

Good riddance and good luck to all you farangs that stay here and hold out hope for something that will never happen and that is Normalcy.

Of course I'll have to wait until these morons are cleared from the airport!

Dare I ask what part of Utopia you originate from? Maybe you could enlighten us and we could all follow you there? Guess your Utopian lifestyle at some juncture must not have met your high moral and social standards cos you moved here. I note you have half Thai kids ... Would you consider them to be mongrels? I think not. Your post is ill informed, uneducated, cheap and nasty. Cant imagine you will be missed!

[Lomsak]

Thaksin has made many mistakes, and certainly should be penalised.

Yet he is so popular in the regions that we should give him a chance to help solve this conflict.

We need to give him a chance

He has actually done great work reducing criminal gangs and drug barons, that benefit us all.

Certainly he is not perfect

But maybe he can ensure the country does not tear itself apart.

[phaethon]

Where is a good place to watch the live stuff? That doesn't require Mediaplayer 11

mms://mms2.prd.go.th/nbttv

can watch with e.g VLC

yes this one is working great ! Thanks.

With VLC, it's perfect.

Yes, thanks for that - works well even on my pathetic setup

K.

[rawnnie]

That mms nbt link is just broadcasting recorded stuff. Anyone know whats currently going on?

[rafval]

Thaksin has made many mistakes, and certainly should be penalised.

Yet he is so popular in the regions that we should give him a chance to help solve this conflict.

We need to give him a chance

He has actually done great work reducing criminal gangs and drug barons, that benefit us all.

Certainly he is not perfect

But maybe he can ensure the country does not tear itself apart.

what a shame he gave up politics, or pretended to, but I believe theres nothing stopping him coming back to Thailand, or making TV appearances and phone calls or even heading a proxy political party if returning to Thailand doesnt suit him

Edited November 27, 2008 by rafval

[ThaiPauly]

That mms nbt link is just broadcasting recorded stuff. Anyone know whats currently going on?

No news at all on TV

Edited November 27, 2008 by ThaiPauly

[Sabum]

Thaksin has made many mistakes, and certainly should be penalised.

Yet he is so popular in the regions that we should give him a chance to help solve this conflict.

We need to give him a chance

He has actually done great work reducing criminal gangs and drug barons, that benefit us all.

Certainly he is not perfect

But maybe he can ensure the country does not tear itself apart.

what a shame he gave up politics, or pretended to, but I believe theres nothing stopping him coming back to Thailand, or making TV appearances and phone calls or even heading a proxy political party if returning to Thailand doesnt suit him

Uhm... Thaksin never left.... <deleted>, he might have left the country but he has NEVER stepped down from power, not in truth, he is still running the country through his juniors that follow HIS WORD. This is the entire reason we have this problem right now. If you're out you should be OUT, not running the country from your Hong Kong apartment.

[dave9988]

This should do it ... if the military prevents this clash between the PPP/Government/Thaksin forces and the PAD (with many middle aged women and some kids) camped out at the airport then THIS gov't can never function here.

If the PPP/Government/Thaksin forces are allowed to attack the people camped out at the airports and ANY deaths occur I don't see the coalition government holding together and poof .... new elections with blood on the hands of the PPP.

Then there is the chance that the military just says "Time to go folks, we'll take care of running the country until we can have new elections again"

There seems to be nigh onto 0% chance that the PPP/Thaksin gov't can survive this.

Well said.

Also note, THERE CANNOT BE NEW ELECTIONS IN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM BECAUSE A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION WILL RESULT IN THE PPP-TRT WINNING AGAIN.

So, perhaps, Thailand gets a nice Myanmar style of appointed gentlemen.

[old wanderer]

With the tremendous amount of polarization in Thailand right now there is now really good solution.

Myself and my wife are certainly pro PAD, however, they are not trying to take control, only to have elections that for the 1st time in 50+ years might be corruption free..

Several days ago there was mention of one scenario that might work well, and avoid military involvement.

1. The court speed up it's Dec 15 time table to rule on the PPP

2. If the finding is as expected (Guilty of vote buying and corruption) then the core members will be banned for 5 years (hence the great urgency of the PPP to amend the constitution, and eliminate that clause, so it could bring back the TRT allies).

3. Since it would take 2 months for elections, who runs the country....one theory was the court could take control until it sets up a system to insure a fair election, or restructure the constitution..

One of the facts that no other country I am aware of has as a part of the constitution is the absolute requirement that everybody MUST[/b] vote. Hence the influence in the north of small villages being organized by the Puh Yai Bahn, to insure a uniform vote, as it affects the confidentiality of voting.

Tonight I watched the showing of pictures of a father of a radio station commentator in Chang Mai being killed. It was clear in many pictures uniformed police just stood to the side and took no action, even though some of the spectators were yelling at the police to shoot the men that were killing the father. He was dragged, kicked, shot and then attacked with machetes, then the ambulance crew was prevented from retrieving him and taking him to the hospital until he bled out and died. With this kind of fanatical attitudes being allowed, a major change is really necessary, along with a heavy hand.

Edited November 27, 2008 by old wanderer

[robbo1]

Can anyone tell me if all these problems are spilling out in to the country or is it staying in Bangkok my wife spoke to her mother on the phone last night and said everything was normal

[bargwaan]

I might as well get let some of my own steam off as well for what its worth.

I've been going to Thailand regularly for past 5 years and what I've seen in last 6 months, I've been there many times recently, is crazy.

So Thaksin is claimed to be corrupt well I cannot comment, he is a clever man, but whatever you say about him and he does have many enemies the country seemed relatively stable while he was in power. His government was elected to power twice and generally speaking this was because he had the vote of the common man which is most of the country. Unfortunately his abrupt direct talking and personal business concerns did not do him any favours particularly amongst the educated middle classes lucky enough to school their children in the Universities. From what i've seen the manipulation of a small number of protagonists leading this PAD organisation, who were the same people who ousted Thaksin two years ago, are causing havic and stoping the findamental mechanics of the country from working, not just the tourist industry but the whole economy. How can these people be allowed to get away with it? Everyone should have freedom of speech but to hold the country to ransom is simply not acceptable.

The authorities should have stepped in months ago, the PAD overstepped the mark by taking over the government buildings in August. I don't accept the PAD having the power of the people either, what does the power of the people mean. Most of the hard working population around Thailand could not give two hoots, they have work to do, they cannot afford to camp outside a government house all day all night with no food, no water, no toilets and no clean clothes. Why would normal working people want to do this? The country and its governers should be focusing their attention to the worldwide crisis a few months ago this was the price of oil, this has come down but now its banking and credit. Trouble makers like leaders of the PAD who just have an axe to grind with anything possibly related to Thaksin are just getting in the way of all this. If they had any responsibility for looking after Thailand then they would not be rallying in this way. Their cause is not in the same league as Tiananmen Square or fall of the Berlin Wall, they were real just causes. Leaders of the PAD are people of power with connections in high places, they hold no authority of their own however their actions are completely irrresponsible.

Why has this not already been sorted out? everyone knows who the leaders are, should they not be arrested on charge of causing unrest in the country? The reason is that there are too many Police Chiefs and Army Generals all jockying for power, like the world banks and insurance companies today who see the risk of lending to anyone too great in the credit crunch these officials are all afraid of losing their own face and backing the wrong guy and losing their positions of power.

Now we have a stalemate situation neither side want to step down this would be losing face! In the meantime the poor old Thai people are losing out! If the underlying security officials i.e. Police and Army Chiefs cannot back an elected government by doing their job and taking control of these people then they will have to take control themselves with a coup. Maybe this is why they are happy to sit by the sidelines all along! Whatever for god's sake someone do something and take action!!!!!!!

Someone told me a story last time I was in Thailand, they said the main leader of the PAD, I can never remember his name but the guy who owns the TV station I think, was billions of baht in debt. He used to be very co-Thaksin until he went to his old friend asking for a government loan. But Mr Thaksin rejected the request and since then he has had a vendetta against him. It could all be lies I don't know but it would not surprise me.

PS: I hope this is sorted out before I go back to Thailand in a few weeks time?

[tropo]

That mms nbt link is just broadcasting recorded stuff. Anyone know whats currently going on?

No news at all on TV

That's probably because the "State of emergency" gives the government special powers to restrict media coverage. It will definitely help the government's position if violent scenes are not shown on TV.

[old wanderer]

Well here is a little new to sate your thirst.....From The Nation

ASTV head office hit with bomb attacks

A news announcer was slightly injured when ASTV's head office was attacked with bombs.

An ASTV security guard, Pornchai Sanguanpoj, 41, told police that the assailants arrived on a white boat and threw two bombs against the head office on Phra Arthit Road at 2 am.

Pornchai said the assailants also fired an M79 at the building.

The explosions shattered the glass windows of ASTV, and Natthawut Mitmak, a TV announcer, suffered cuts over his hand while he was ducking for cover.

But ASTV officials would not allow police to enter the compound to investigate.

Pornchai himself was arrested when police found 6 rounds of 11-mm caliber pistol on him. He said he was shooting back at the assailants when police arrived at the scene so he threw his gun into the river.

Yep arrest the guard, so the next attack can succeed.......

[SomNamNah]

Can anyone tell me if all these problems are spilling out in to the country or is it staying in Bangkok my wife spoke to her mother on the phone last night and said everything was normal

Nothing much here in CM. But they are reds here. The yellows that were supposedly taking a train upto CM? if they get here this morning, will get an ass whoopin if they hang around. Very little support, apart from ever so naughty students. No match for labourers. Madness. And if the yellows win in BK, my fan is going to be so bloody grumpy.

Pornchai said the assailants also fired an M79 at the building

Edited November 27, 2008 by SomNamNah

[paulyturner]

this is a sad time for me....my fiance is due to have my son at the beginning of january. i fly new years day to be with her, and instead of being excited i am scared that i wont even be able to fly there into the country...this has HUGE repercussions for me being placed on birth certificates etc to ensure my future wife and son can return with me to england next year.

My point is the human cost and misery of that the PAD are causing is incalculable, im sure my own situation can be multiplied many times, and so yes i support any action against them, go back to government house, anything, but not the airport please.

I know everyone has there own agenda..i just pray that this in ended swiftly, yet i feel it simply will not be..this is a dark time for thailand and myself personally as I had fallen in love with that great nation.

[erobando]

^ IMO you don't have anything to worry about.

No matter who wins, the airport will be up and running by next week.

This will be a distant memory in early Jan.

[andie]

One of the facts that no other country I am aware of has as a part of the constitution is the absolute requirement that everybody MUST[/b] vote.

Voting is compulsory (and enforced) in Australia, Belgium and Singapore to name but a few places...

[erobando]

The authorities should have stepped in months ago, the PAD overstepped the mark by taking over the government buildings in August. I don't accept the PAD having the power of the people either, what does the power of the people mean. Most of the hard working population around Thailand could not give two hoots, they have work to do, they cannot afford to camp outside a government house all day all night with no food, no water, no toilets and no clean clothes. Why would normal working people want to do this?

They have mobile toilets.

And they definitely have food, including some rather tasty dishes cooked by Southerners who made the trip up to BKK.

[WAERTH]

^ IMO you don't have anything to worry about.

No matter who wins, the airport will be up and running by next week.

This will be a distant memory in early Jan.

Somehow I do not share your optimism. I am supposed to fly back to BKK on sunday .... but I foresee being stranded in NL

[rjk]

One of the facts that no other country I am aware of has as a part of the constitution is the absolute requirement that everybody MUST[/b] vote. Hence the influence in the north of small villages being organized by the Puh Yai Bahn, to insure a uniform vote, as it affects the confidentiality of voting.

It is compulsory to vote in Australia and there are fines if you fail to do so. Acually, you must register your attendance at the polling office, you could theoretically write John Howard Sucks on your Ballot Paper. But it is compulsory to attend and post a ballot paper.

[siam4ever]

Voting is not compulsory in Thailand; my wife sluffed it off last time as did a lot of Thais. No vote, not problem!

[LaoPo]

this is a sad time for me....my fiance is due to have my son at the beginning of january. i fly new years day to be with her, and instead of being excited i am scared that i wont even be able to fly there into the country...this has HUGE repercussions for me being placed on birth certificates etc to ensure my future wife and son can return with me to england next year.

My point is the human cost and misery of that the PAD are causing is incalculable, im sure my own situation can be multiplied many times, and so yes i support any action against them, go back to government house, anything, but not the airport please.

I know everyone has there own agenda..i just pray that this in ended swiftly, yet i feel it simply will not be..this is a dark time for thailand and myself personally as I had fallen in love with that great nation.

Excuse me...but this is the most self-pitying message I have read on Thaivisa.

What about the thousands of -present- stranded passengers who have loved ones at home; want to urgently visit a sick relative ?

YOU have still FIVE weeks from now to travel to your fiancee and son to be born. Don't complain and feel sorry for yourself; be a man.

And, if you want to have some advise from someone with experience: travel sooner than New Years' Day; rebook your ticket !!

Both my children were born as 8-months' children....

LaoPo

[henryalleman]

Any PAD supporters still holed up at the airport have ZERO sympathy from me if they get hurt or killed. They know what they did, they know what's coming. You can't just seize an international airport and expect to be greeted with flowers and cookies.

If they had seized the JFK or L.A. airport, it would have ended a long time ago, and probably much worse than the Thai police will hopefully end it tonight. As far as I'm concerned, if you run past security at the JFK or L.A. airport, protesting something or not, you get shot in the back before you get anywhere. This only proves that the US still have a OK coral cowboy mentality. The Thai government and police have been more than patient, but enough is enough.

[ArGu]

I find it difficult to cut through the retorics of both sides here...

Seems like there are fanatics with wildly different views here in this forum.

- Is there a chance for a third political and democratic alternative in Thailand in the years to come?

I found a couple of articles in international newspapers that gave me a better overview, and wanted to post the links, but was not allowed to post it!

Got the following error message:

"You are not allowed to post a URL."

Is this an example of the sensorship here that is frequently refered to?

ArGu

[LaoPo]

Coalition MPs call for tough action

Published on November 28, 2008;Fri, November 28, 2008 : Last updated 6:09 hours

Army chief under fire for failing to enforce the law

Coalition MPs yesterday called on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to take rigorous measures against the trouble-making protesters, including the possibility of declaring a state of emergency.

More than 60 MPs from the coalition parties were present at yesterday's press conference. They said the resolution was made by more than 200 government MPs.

The coalition MPs also agreed to mobilise supporters in their constituencies, at least 20,000 people for each MP, to oppose any coup attempt, Chart Thai MP Ekkapoj Wongnak told a press conference at Parliament yesterday.

The MPs agreed that when a state of emergency is declared, the PM must make sure that his subordinates comply with it strictly and anyone who fails to do so must be removed from his position, Ekkapoj said.

Army commander-in-chief General Anupong Paochinda on Wednesday said that even if a state of emergency is declared, he will not resort to use of force in dealing with protesters. He said he preferred to be removed from office than using force.

The coalition MPs were reacting to the People's Alliance for Democracy's seizure of the Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Suthin Klangsang told the press conference that citizens would be asked to obstruct any coup attempt, such as using their vehicles to block tanks taking part in a putsch.

When asked by a reporter how the MPs would take the responsibility for any loss of life, Suthin said the citizens would act voluntarily on their own.

When asked if such civil action could lead to bloodshed, many of the MPs present responded that it was an attempt to defend democracy.

In a related development, the pro-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship yesterday called on the government to take any decisive measure against the PAD protesters within a day or two, otherwise it would deal with the matter its own way.

Veera Musigapong, a group leader, said that a state of emergency should be declared."If the government doesn't take any action within today or tomorrow, the red-shirted people and other citizens will have to deal with this problem. If we allow it to continue, our country will suffer damage. I can assure that the people's power will come out soon," he said.

Meanwhile, Chaturon Chaisang, former executive of the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party, yesterday blamed the Army chief's inaction for the ongoing turmoil. He said what General Anupong Paochinda should have done was to strictly enforce the law by taking action against the People's Alliance for Democracy, instead of calling for the prime minister to dissolve the House of Representatives.

"The country has come to this point because the Army chief failed to enforce the law. His negligence has caused damage to the country, from the seizure of Government House, the Don Mueang Airport and the Suvarnabhumi Airport," Chaturon said at a press conference at the Radisson Hotel.

He said Anupong had failed to enforce the state of emergency which then-prime minister Samak Sundaravej had declared in August. He disagreed with the Army chief's concern that suppressing the PAD protesters would lead to violence.

"It appears the Army chief failed to see the violence caused by the PAD. He said political problems should be solved in a political way. But in fact the PAD's violation of law must be dealt with by enforcing the law," said the banned politician.

He warned that the Army chief's inaction would lead to "massive damage" to the country and his failure to enforce the law would bring about violence. He explained that people would try to protect themselves and their properties when authorities failed to do so.

-The Nation

LaoPo

[erobando]

^ Actually, the international news sources I've seen have done a poor job covering this.

They've over-simplified the situation by painting it in a in western-based political viewpoint that doesn't fit.

IMO you're better off finding books on recent Thai history. NIAS Press is a good source.

"The Thaksinization of Thailand" by Duncan McCargo & Ukrist Pathmanand is good. It's pre-PAD but provides a nice background.