Redshirts leaders surrender to police

[george]

Troops tighten noose around protesters at Government House

BANGKOK: -- More troops were deployed to surround red-shirted protesters outside the Government House Tuesday morning in what seen as final preparations before a crackdown.

At 8:30 am, about 450 troops armed with batons, shields or teargas launchers and armoured personnel carriers were deployed to the Yommaraj Intersection nearly at the same time when troops were deployed to other intersections, which are Metropolitan Police intersection, Royal Plaza, and Chor Por Ror intersection.

The troops formed lines and advanced from the Yommaraj Intersection at 8:54 am.

At 9:09 am, at least one company of troops were deployed to the Yommaraj Intersection and water trucks were also deployed.

Sources said troops inside the Government House also prepared to fire teargases to prevent protesters from climbing in.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14

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[george]

Armoured carriers move towards protesters in front of Mission Hospital

BANGKOK: -- Thai PBS reported at 10:16 am that armoured personnel carriers were moving towards the protesters in front of the Mission Hospital near the Yommaraj Intersection.

The carriers led troops to advance to the protesters.

Troops told local residents to move into safe places as they were about to launch an operation to clear the protesters.

-- The Nation 2008-04-14

[george]

Tension heightens as troops advance closer to protesters

BANGKOK: -- Thai PBS reported live at 10:11 am that troops were advancing closer to the protesters at the Government House, heightening the tension in the area.

The station said troops were apparently prepared to disperse the protesters soon.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14

[george]

Authorties help red shirts return home

BANGKOK: -- A number of red shirt protesters at Government House have decided to return home and authorities have assisted them, Government spokeman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on Tuesday morning.

Mr Panitan said that authorities have set up check points around the Government House area when the main body of protestors remain encamped. United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters who would like to leave were assisted by authorities, he said, adding that the number of protestors remaining had reduced in number.

The spokesman said the situation around the city had improved compared to the past tow days adding that security forces will today ensure that roads remain open and traffic flowed.

He expressed concern about reports that protestors had brought in gas cylinders and placed them in front of Government House. The government has not yet started talks with the protest leaders.

Mr Panitan admitted that the government was considering a proposal to extend the Songkran holidays to include Thursday 16 April and Friday 17 April.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-14

[george]

Red shirted leaders ready to surrender : Chatuporn

BANGKOK: -- Leaders of red shirted protesters announced on rally stage at Government House on Tuesday at 10.30am that they all are ready to surrender to face charges.

One of the leaders; Chatuporn Promphan, said they welcomed police and soldiers to arrest them.

The announcement came as soldiers were moving towards the rally site on Tuesday. The leaders included Jakrapob Penkair, Veera Musikapong, Nuttawut Saikua.

-- The Nation 2009-04-16

[george]

Channel 11 says Veera told protesters to disperse

bangkok: -- Channel 11 reported at 11:04 am Tuesday quoting Veera Musigapong, a red-shirted leader, as telling the protesters at the Government House to disperse.

Weng Tojitrakan, another red-shirted leader, asked soldiers to move back by 20 metres so that the protesters could pick up their belongings and disperse.

Veera told the crowd that the voluntarily dispersing was not a defeat of the red-shirted movement but was aimed at protecting the life of the protesters.

-- The Nation 2009-04-16

POLITICAL TURMOIL

Red protesters told to disperse; "arson" plots unveiled

Veera tells demonstrators at Government House to go home; Deputy PM Suthep alleges key arson plots against BKK Bank and CP

BANGKOK: -- Channel 11 reported that at 11:04 am Tuesday, Veera Musigapong, a red-shirted leader, told the protesters at the Government House to disperse.

Weng Tojitrakan, another red-shirted leader, asked soldiers to move back by 20 metres so that the protesters could pick up their belongings and disperse.

Veera told the crowd that the voluntarily dispersing was not a defeat of the red-shirted movement but was aimed at protecting the life of the protesters.

The leaders were also reportedly saying they were willing to surrender to the police following rioting over the past few days leading to many injuries and at least two persons killed.

No immediate movement of the crowd at Government House has been reported.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has announced during a TV Pool programme at 11.30 am that police arrested three suspects Monday night who allegedly were involved in arson plots against key places including Bangkok Bank headquarters and a CP building.

One of the suspects made confession. Senior officers accompanying Suthep at the press announcement said the three were arrested with pistols, bullets and a lot of petrol. The "evidence" was shown at the TV pool press announcement.

-- The Nation 2009-04-16

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[george]

Veera, other red-shirted leaders head to Metropolitan Police head office

BANGKOK: -- Veera Musigapong and Suporn Atthawong led other red-shirted leaders to surrender at 11:18 am.

They walked in line, heading to the Metropolitan Police head office but they had to stop shortly because some guards and demonstrators were angry and did not wanted them to surrender.

-- The Nation 2009-04-16

[george]

National police chief meet Veera

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan received Veera Musigapong and another red-shirted leader outside the rally site at the Government House.

The police chief came out to meet Veera on Rajdamnone Road outside the rally site and near the Royal Plaza at about 11:50 am.

-- The Nation 2009-04-16

[george]

Veera tells red-shirts to take buses to provincial bus terminals

BANGKOK: -- Before entering the Metropolitan Police head office to surrender, Veera Musigapong told red-shirted protesters to ride official buses to provincial bus terminals and go home.

He urged the protesters to take care of themselves during their trips home.

He said the four buses provided by the authorities would not be enough to accommodate them.

He told the remaining protesters to group on the road island waiting to be picked up and transported to Morchit, Northern, and Southern Bus terminals.

He directed protester to get up two buses to Morchit bus terminal.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14

[george]

Foreign Ministry explains clashes to envoys, consuls

BANGKOK: -- As clashes between government troops and anti-government protesters in the Thai capital eased early Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened a centre to inform Thai envoys abroad so that they can more fully understand and explain the situation to foreign governments.

Permanent Secretary Veerasak Futrakul said the centre will supply information on the real situation occurring in Thailand to Thai embassies, consulates and commercial offices to enable them to explain to foreign governments and Thais living in those countries as well as prospective tourists and business travellers.

The Thai envoys have been instructed to convey what the Thai government is doing in its bid to quell the unrest is carried out under international and Thai legal frameworks, Mr. Veerasak said.

The permanent secretary said the Thai government is confident of providing adequate safety measures at airports and to foreigners living in the kingdom.

The ministry has also translated the orders given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and telecast earlier to Thai embassies so that they would understand the situation.

The decision to establish the special centre to supply information to embassies came after a number of foreign governments had issued travel advisory warnings instructed their citizens to avoid or reconsider travelling to this country due to violent clashes between army and police personnel against anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) which began before dawn Monday.

According to Dr. Chatri Charoenchivakul, secretary-general of the official Erawan Emergency Coordination Centre, two persons had died and 123 others were wounded or injured since the clashes began.

Meanwhile, Veera Musikapong, a top UDD leader, reportedly told anti-government protesters now at Government House to return home.

Mr. Veera reportedly told the red-shirted protesters that the rally should end for the time being after he learned that members of a third party had mingled in the crowd to create violence with an aim to deteriorate the situation.

-- TNA 2009-04-14

[george]

123 injured, 2 killed in political violence Monday

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry announced Tuesday that 123 people were injured and two were killed in political violence throughout Monday.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai told a press conference that 71 injured people had been treated and discharged from hospitals and 50 others were still being treated inside 9 hospitals.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14

[george]

60 buses take up protesters from Royal Plaza

BANGKOK: -- To speed up the process of sending protesters back home, the authorities sent 60 buses to pick them up at the Royal Plaza.

Earlier, the authorities used 4 busses to send them to provincial bus terminals but the process was too slow.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14

[george]

300 troops move into the rally ground outside Government House

BANGKOK: -- After protesters left the rally site to board buses to return home, some 300 soldiers moved in to check the area behind the main stage in front of Government House.

-- The Nation 2009-04-14