Police Asked To Press Terrorism Charges Against Pad Leaders

[george]

Police asked to press terrorism charges against PAD leaders

BANGKOK: -- A progovernment group led by Dr Weng Tochirakarn Wednesday lodged a complaint with crime suppression police calling on them to press terrorism charges against the People's Alliance for Democracy for besieging Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, resulting in great damage to the country's economy.

Weng and Dr Sant Hattirat, and Prateep Ungsomtham Hata accused 12 PAD leaders of committing terrorism from November 25 to December 3. They named Sondhi Limthongkul, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Pipop Thongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Panthep Puapongpan, Samran Rodpet, Sirichai Maingarm, Sawit Kaewwan, Saranyoo Wongkrachang and Maleerat Kaewka.

Weng said the 12 committed a serious crime in breach of Article 135/1 (2) for causing grave damage to the public transport system and infrastructure, causing unrest and terror among the public.

-- The Nation 2008-12-03

[rainman]

I think this fairly easily qualifies as grave damage to the public transport system.

[hammered]

Doubt terrorist charges will ever stick or maybe even happen any time soon. That section of the law is all wrapped up in intent stuff.... with protection for demonstrations too. Probably other reasons why those kind of charges wont happen too.

[george]

'Democracy Confederation' files police complaint against PAD

BANGKOK: -- The Confederation for Democracy (CFD) filed a complaint with Thailand's police against the leaders of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), saying the protesters' airport siege was illegal and that the action was a form of terrorism.

Dr. Weng Tojirakarn and other members of the confederation filed the complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against 12 protest leaders for triggering a mass protest and a shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The group charged that the PAD leaders' actions in leading its followers to shut down Suvarnabhumi Airport was unlawful, and that is should be considered guilty of terrorism under the Criminal Law.

Dr. Weng said that although the PAD ended their siege at airport, their wrongdoing still exists.

The CFD leader said he didn't file a complaint earlier because he wanted the police to take action first. However, he complained, nothing was done after the emergency decree was imposed.

Inquiry officials accepted the complaint for further investigation.

Thousands of PAD protesters swamped Suvarnabhumi airport on November 25 and shut down the airport, demanding Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to resign, leaving thousands of travellers stranded. The other group of protesters laid siege to Don Mueang Airport.

They ended their siege on Wednesday after the Constitution Court handed down the verdict to dissolve the ruling party and two coalition parties and Prime Minister had to leave his post after the verdict.

-- TNA 2008-12-03

[flanker]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

[TAWP]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

Always amazed me what one could learn about some posters here.

Or how one could see the usual suspects rear their heads in support of an illegitimate regime (Yes, our resident neocons, I'm looking at you.).

Like clockwork...

[angiud]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

[Mai Krap]

Charged with terrorism? This dog is not going to hunt.

[bunnaag]

I dont think the police will take any action in this regard I think they made a deal with Chamlong.

[Ulysses G.]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

Always amazed me what one could learn about some posters here.

Or how one could see the usual suspects rear their heads in support of an illegitimate regime (Yes, our resident neocons, I'm looking at you.).

Like clockwork...

The government handled the PAD with kid gloves, but they wasted millions of dollars by illegally taking over the airport and set back Thailand's tourist industry by years. It is hard to believe that the PADophiles are still making up lame justifications for these criminals.

[nopainnobrain]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

So what do you suggest? How should the country be prevented from such incidents in the future? Is there a guarantee that something like that won't happen in next weeks/months/years? What would you tell to potential travellers asking you abut safety in Thailand if you were a travel agency worker?

[jdinasia]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

Always amazed me what one could learn about some posters here.

Or how one could see the usual suspects rear their heads in support of an illegitimate regime (Yes, our resident neocons, I'm looking at you.).

Like clockwork...

The government handled the PAD with kid gloves, but they wasted millions of dollars by illegally taking over the airport and set back Thailand's tourist industry by years. It is hard to believe that the PADophiles are still making up lame justifications for these criminals.

No UG,

After having screwed up in trying to politicize the police on October 7th and killing 2 and wounding 476, the Govt was then told "No More Violence" --- (so of course they reached out to Sae Daeng to get the violence done)

Then there was Sept 2nd --- when Samak had his red shirted thugs attack (killing one of the red shirted thugs) so he could call for a SoE (hey that failed too!)

[h90]

I dont think the police will take any action in this regard I think they made a deal with Chamlong.

And not to forget that Chamlong is the hero of 1992. Without him Thailand would have a Military Dictator!

[Gravelrash]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

Always amazed me what one could learn about some posters here.

Or how one could see the usual suspects rear their heads in support of an illegitimate regime (Yes, our resident neocons, I'm looking at you.).

Like clockwork...

Stupid useless comment alright. And yes it is a hillbilly recruitment poster.

However the PAD side here has managed to amply demonstrate (if I may use that term) a sheep like mentality of choreographed parrotted utterances without acknowledging the intellectual obligation to actually know what they are spouting or why.

And it is not an illegitimate regime despite your desire to spin it that way. If you want to criticize stupid posts as above then don't make your own in the same breath and ruin your own credibility. Corrupt, ok, but par for the course, inept, ok, likewise. But the real objection and what this is really all about is of course because Taksin.....

[Ulysses G.]

[After having screwed up in trying to politicize the police

Is that the same thing as asking them to do their job?

[erobando]

Don't understand this. This week turned out to be a "win-win" for everyone...

PAD: Enabled the courts to deliver their verdict without hasslen and got the Somchai government out of office.

DAAD: Got the new Peua Thai to look forward to.

Police: Didn't have to resort to violence and recent criticism like post-Oct 7.

Army: Showed they no longer play a role in Thai politics.

AOT: Got back the airport, much cleaner than it was pre-PAD.

Somchai: Got a much needed vacation.

Thaksin: More face-time on internatinal news stations and more motivation from his devoted followers.

[stingray]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

So in other words: When u using a Handy in your car while driving in traffic, it's againtst the law. But when you sut down a air port it isnt't???

[KireB]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

So what do you suggest? How should the country be prevented from such incidents in the future? Is there a guarantee that something like that won't happen in next weeks/months/years? What would you tell to potential travellers asking you abut safety in Thailand if you were a travel agency worker?

First of all, the safety concerns were already serious before the airport siege and second, the only way to prevent this from happening again is for the present government-mafia to back down and to be prosecuted according to the Thai law. I think that with Thaksin in jail, Bangkwan preferably, politician will think twice before robbing the country blind again.

[Gravelrash]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

So what do you suggest? How should the country be prevented from such incidents in the future? Is there a guarantee that something like that won't happen in next weeks/months/years? What would you tell to potential travellers asking you abut safety in Thailand if you were a travel agency worker?

First of all, the safety concerns were already serious before the airport siege and second, the only way to prevent this from happening again is for the present government-mafia to back down and to be prosecuted according to the Thai law. I think that with Thaksin in jail, Bangkwan preferably, politician will think twice before robbing the country blind again.

Your heart is in the right place, but Taksin is not being pursued for corruption, there is no message, re corruption, being sent to anyone.

[ronz28]

Thousands of people were terrorized by the images of the PAD shooting at people in the streets and then taking over the airports while threatening people’s lives if they tried to show up for their flights. Pictures of Pungi death stakes planted at the airport and reports of PAD with clubs, knives and guns were direct death threats to thousands of Thais and people worldwide that had a right to use the airport. Shutting down the airport directly threatened the lives of thousands of people and damaged their livelihood and well being by costing people huge sums of money in an already weak world economy. People have lost their livelihood over this and significant damage has been done to the finances of thousands of people the PAD threatened. The stress to many has been detrimental to their health and some have died on the highways of Thailand trying to get to an alternative way out of Thailand. This has been a permanent loss of face for the leadership of the PAD throughout the world and they deserve to be held accountable for terrorist acts they engaged in.

[Scott]

So how soon before the sequel, PAD II, comes out?

[Gravelrash]

Don't understand this. This week turned out to be a "win-win" for everyone...

PAD: Enabled the courts to deliver their verdict without hasslen and got the Somchai government out of office.

DAAD: Got the new Peua Thai to look forward to.

Police: Didn't have to resort to violence and recent criticism like post-Oct 7.

Army: Showed they no longer play a role in Thai politics.

AOT: Got back the airport, much cleaner than it was pre-PAD.

Somchai: Got a much needed vacation.

Thaksin: More face-time on internatinal news stations and more motivation from his devoted followers.

I won't go into all of this, but one comment is flashing like a siren. The army. Their inaction was a sign that they in fact play a very major role in Thai politics. Try and think it through.

[Gravelrash]

Thousands of people were terrorized by the images of the PAD shooting at people in the streets and then taking over the airports while threatening people's lives if they tried to show up for their flights. Pictures of Pungi death stakes planted at the airport and reports of PAD with clubs, knives and guns were direct death threats to thousands of Thais and people worldwide that had a right to use the airport. Shutting down the airport directly threatened the lives of thousands of people and damaged their livelihood and well being by costing people huge sums of money in an already weak world economy. People have lost their livelihood over this and significant damage has been done to the finances of thousands of people the PAD threatened. The stress to many has been detrimental to their health and some have died on the highways of Thailand trying to get to an alternative way out of Thailand. This has been a permanent loss of face for the leadership of the PAD throughout the world and they deserve to be held accountable for terrorist acts they engaged in.

Get that off your wish list, they will never be held accountable nor could they care less. No different to any cause based activist, the end always justifies the means.

[jdinasia]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

So what do you suggest? How should the country be prevented from such incidents in the future? Is there a guarantee that something like that won't happen in next weeks/months/years? What would you tell to potential travellers asking you abut safety in Thailand if you were a travel agency worker?

First of all, the safety concerns were already serious before the airport siege and second, the only way to prevent this from happening again is for the present government-mafia to back down and to be prosecuted according to the Thai law. I think that with Thaksin in jail, Bangkwan preferably, politician will think twice before robbing the country blind again.

Your heart is in the right place, but Taksin is not being pursued for corruption, there is no message, re corruption, being sent to anyone.

Sorry but that is not true Gravel.

He's already been convicted for one case AND he must be present in court at least once to be tried for any other cases. His Bro-in-law and Thaksin's proxy party have been protecting him. (In fact they may have even been successful in protecting him via changing the constitution if it were not for the PAD's pressure to prevent that!)

Hopefully the next government will revoke his passport!

[MyphuketLife]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

Always amazed me what one could learn about some posters here.

Or how one could see the usual suspects rear their heads in support of an illegitimate regime (Yes, our resident neocons, I'm looking at you.).

Like clockwork...

Who said he/she supports the "illegitimate" regime? Just because one does not agree with the actions of the PAD does not make them Thaksin supporters. I agree with the statement above 100% but I do not think Thaksin is a good man.

It was not OK for Thaksin to break laws just like it’s not OK for PAD to break laws... Difference from the two is Thaksin stole money, PAD brought the transportation system to its knees.

[G54]

"Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style."

SHAME ON YOU!

Cannot agree with the print in bold but, I do think security should be beefed up at the airports and other places with fully armed guards / army / police who would be willing to use force if needs be to prevent this sort of thing happening again. Thy could have those huge concrete blocks nearby and ready to be hoisted into place, along with other measures they could use.

OT

I hope that more action is taken against these protesters and that, even if terrorism charges cannot be brought, that they find some other linked charges they can use. The more pressure that is brought to bear on idiots like these, the better and will, hopefully, make them and others think again before taking such action.

Yet, deep down, I feel little will be done

typo

Edited December 3, 2008 by G54

[Ulysses G.]

Hopefully the next government will revoke his passport!

Do you really think that the opposition want him back in the country?

[AleG]

I won't go into all of this, but one comment is flashing like a siren. The army. Their inaction was a sign that they in fact play a very major role in Thai politics. Try and think it through.

No kidding, Sherlock.

The militars have been running this place from behind the curtain for a long, long time. All pretenses of democracy or what not are just window dressing to keep the rubes appeased.

[MyphuketLife]

I dont think the police will take any action in this regard I think they made a deal with Chamlong.

And not to forget that Chamlong is the hero of 1992. Without him Thailand would have a Military Dictator!

H90 I am going to ask, and since you have the logo maybe you know, but why does the PAD logo have fists if they are a "peacefull" group?

[erobando]

Trying to prosecute the PAD leaders will only inflame the situation--but what the Thai Authorities need to do now is make sure this does not happen again..on Dec 8 or whenever the PAD decides to protest again the airport or seaports, their convoys of protesters should be met by roadblocks armed with machine guns..and if they try to shut down vital economic arteries again, it's gonna be time to blow some of them away tienamen square style.

If they wanted to stop it, they would have.