Security At Government House Tightens As Protesters Ready To Rally

[george]

Security at Government House tightens as protesters ready to rally

BANGKOK: -- Only one traffic lane in front of Government House was open to traffic as more than 6,000 police and military personnel tighten security in the area in preparation of a rally by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Saturday afternoon.

Despite the government’s current enforcement of the Internal Security Act in the Thai capital’s Dusit district which expires on October 25, the United Front ‘Red Shirts’ are installing loudspeakers and a lighting system at their rally site as they plan to start the demonstration at 1pm and stay on site until midnight.

The UDD leaders said they are demonstrating to mark the passage of 60 days since the they presented a petition calling for royal clemency to be granted to ousted, fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The rally aims at pressuring the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to accelerate quickly process the petition.

While they collected signatures calling for the royal pardon, the UDD leaders vowed that it would not pressure the government after submitting them.

More than 6,000 police and military personnel are guarding Government House and the nearby Parliament, as well as the residence of Chief Privy Councilor Gen Prem Tinsulanonda and the Office of the National Counter Corruption Commission.

Bomb detection and electronics experts are on standby due to fears that a ‘third-hand’ would mingle with the demonstrators and create a disturbance following orders given by acting national police chief Pol Gen Patheep Tanprasert and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security affairs.

So far no untoward incident has happened. The UDD began arriving at their meeting point, in front of the Government House, Saturday mid day.

-- TNA 2009-10-17

[Insight]

Well Bangkok shouldn't have any drought issues over the next few months....

[h90]

Probably about 30,000 to 35,000 at the Democracy Rally in BKK at this moment (5:30 PM Bkk Time, Sat./17th).

There is usually a major surge in early evening, as the BKK people begin to arrive.

With a total of around 60,000 when full attendance is achieved, will be quite the spectacle. But that may be under-estimating.

Your domestic media will report something like this (if they report at all) "In excess of 10,000 attended the Rally"

FYI

Allright Anti-Thaksin brigade - I will step aside. Over to you!

Which Democracy Rally???

[Insight]

Allright Anti-Thaksin brigade - I will step aside. Over to you!

Three contributors to this thread since 1pm should say enough...

[Insight]

Yawn.

[webfact]

Police allow red-shirt protesters to occupy road beside Government House's fence

Police allowed red-shirt protesters to move in to occupy a road beside the Government House's fence along the Prem Prachakorn Cannl at 4:30 pm.

Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai said he allowed the protesters to move further closer to the Government House compound because the number of demonstrators grew higher than the police's initial assessment of 6,000.

Wichai said police would not further give ground to protesters to besiege the Government House compound.

-- The Nation 2009/10/17

[webfact]

Thaksin to make phone-in at 8:30 pm

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will make a phone-in to address the red-shirt people at their rally outside the Government House at 8:30 pm Saturday.

Jatuporn Promphan, a red-shirt leader, said he did not know what topic Thaksin would address during the phone-in.

Jatuporn said the rally would disperse at midnight.

-- The Nation 2009/10/17

[PeaceBlondie]

I noticed this, "The rally aims at pressuring the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to accelerate quickly process the petition.While they collected signatures calling for the royal pardon, the UDD leaders vowed that it would not pressure the government after submitting them."

[webfact]

Justice Minister: Government not delaying royal pardon process for Thaksin

BANGKOK, Oct 17 (TNA) -- Thai Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga on Saturday denied charges by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that the government delayed the petition process calling for a royal clemency for ousted, fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Pirapan's denial came as UDD began their activities on a stage set up near the Chamaimaruchet Bridge near Government House and its leading members have appeared on stage taking turns delivering speech to attack the government.

Saturday's rally marks 60 days since the UDD leadership submitted the movement's petition to the Prime Minister's Office calling for royal pardon for Mr Thaksin, convicted of charges of corruption, and who is now living in self-imposed exile overseas.

The 'Red Shirt' UDD should have submitted its petition to the Corrections Department which is responsible for considering the issue instead of the Prime Minister's Office, said Mr. Pirapan. The office was forced to send the petition later to the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Justice which then forwarded it to the Corrections Department, causing a waste of time.

He said "considerable progress" had been made, but the delay was caused by the UDD submitting the petition to wrong office in the first instance.

Tight security by six thousand police and military personnel were providing security for Government House and nearby government buildings. Barbed wire has been installed in front of the gates at Government House where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has his offices.

Police equipped with batons and shields stood in line near the platform of UDD while placards saying: "Rally in peace, No weapons and under a legal framework" were seen erected by officials around the rally site.

Bangkok Metropolitan Police Chief Pol Lt-Gen Worapong Chewpreecha inspected police preparations to deal with the demonstration and later said he had not yet received any report that a "third-hand party" would create any disturbance during the demonstration.

Gen Worapong said strategy plans had been mapped out if the rally extended beond its scheduled timeframe. (TNA)

-- TNA 2009/10/17

[animatic]

Well it's now easy to see who are new member is working for.

Though it's as likely a older 'member' returned from involuntary purgatory.

Always more activity from the reddened side as a rally approaches,

and the muted umber hues give way to fire engine red as the day commences.

Sigh, it's wearing thin. So predictable and so repetitive.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Reds up pressure on govt

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AGENCIES

Published on October 18, 2009

Thousands join rally, questioning inaction over their petition for royal pardon for Thaksin

About 10,000 red-shirt supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra rallied yesterday to pressure the government over their petition seeking a royal pardon for the fugitive ex-premier.

The red shirts last night blocked all roads around Government House as they surrounded the compound to protest against the government's delay in processing their petition.

Phitsanulok Road was blocked from Nang Lerng junction and Rajdamnoen Nok Road was blocked from the Royal Plaza. The red shirts gathered in huge numbers on Phitsanulok Road between Chamai Maruchet Bridge and the Misakawan intersection.

Thaksin phoned in last night to tell his supporters not to place too much hope on this government, which he said "has done a lot of bad things" that his administration had avoided.

"This government is afraid of my return and of fighting against me politically. So they have done nothing" to speed up the process for a royal pardon, he said. Thaksin also urged the red shirts "to fight on and not to give up".

He said he was travelling, so he had opted to phone in rather than broadcast his speech in a video link-up.

The protesters want the government to speed up the processing of their petition, which they say at least 3.5 million people signed in support of Thaksin, who fled the country in August last year to escape a two-year jail term for corruption.

"Red-shirt people are rallying today to ask about the progress of our petition," protest leader Jatuporn Promphan told reporters, accusing the government of trying to delay the process. "We are here to send a signal to the government ... We will come back by the end of the month. The protest will not end quickly," said Jatuporn, who is also an MP of the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

"We are here to ask for justice, to correct what was wrong," said Nattawut Saikua, another leader of the pro-Thaksin demonstrators. "He [Thaksin] did not receive justice and we are here on his behalf."

The red-shirt leaders announced on stage that they were asking police to allow them 30 metres closer to the Government House compound by removing concrete blocks because more protesters had turned up.

Police Maj-General Wichai Sangprapai, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Region 1, said police had decided to give the protesters more room to avoid clashes with security officials.

He said they would not be allowed to go closer to the Government House compound because the area had been declared off limits under the Internal Security Act. The protesters will definitely not be allowed to go inside and must hold a peaceful rally, he added.

Police threw a blanket of security around the area. The red-shirt leaders took to the stage to address the crowd, alternating with music performances.

More than 6,000 police and military officers were deployed in and around Government House as part of the tightened security measures implemented under the Internal Security Act imposed by the Cabinet earlier.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was in Sa Kaew doing a TV commercial shoot for the government's Thai Khemkhaeng scheme, showed his concern over the protest in Bangkok by asking about the developments in the capital.

He asked caretaker Government Spokesman Panitan Watanayagorn if he would be able to enter his office inside Government House when he returns to work tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party Bangkok MP Kowit Tharana yesterday attacked the red shirts for staging a protest by blocking roads, damaging the confidence in the country, creating an atmosphere of terror and scaring away investors.

"Have they not hurt the country enough? The leaders and those pulling the strings behind the protests from abroad have given orders to destroy the country,'' he said.

He said the red shirts had picked a bad time to stage their protests, as this is the time that all Thais should be demonstrating their loyalty to His Majesty the King and pray that he recover from his illness. "The red shirts have staged the protest with the intention of seeking financial backing from their big boss, but without any moral conscience,'' he added.

-- The Nation 2009/10/18

[Meridian007]

I agree with Insight. Yawn.

I guess the reds and yellows have lost their ability to inflame, now they only annoy.

About time...

[animatic]

No point in responding further,

smaller numbers general annoyance value, not powerplay,

same old same old lack of real or effective message,

and a new name on an old face. Back for another round.

Adjust the dosage and move on.

[Ricardo]

I noticed this, "The rally aims at pressuring the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to accelerate quickly process the petition.While they collected signatures calling for the royal pardon, the UDD leaders vowed that it would not pressure the government after submitting them."

I dont remember that, but it could be correct.

I guess there is a limit to procrastination and delays,

So those aren't foot-clappers, the Red-Shirts like to wave, but flip/flop clappers ?

[rixalex]

Perhaps the Democracy Movement <snip>

Why do you continue to italicize "Democracy Movement"? Any reason?

Inverted commas would be more appropriate.

[Plus]

So the rally was all about the petition. Fine, but why does Mr Dirk call it "democratic"?

There's nothing democratic about that petition.

[gardener2]

Have the folks of the Red Terrorist Movement gone home yet?

[Rumfoord]

Well it's now easy to see who are new member is working for.

...

classic case of "Shooting the messenger".

[h90]

Probably about 30,000 to 35,000 at the Democracy Rally in BKK at this moment (5:30 PM Bkk Time, Sat./17th).

There is usually a major surge in early evening, as the BKK people begin to arrive.

With a total of around 60,000 when full attendance is achieved, will be quite the spectacle. But that may be under-estimating.

Your domestic media will report something like this (if they report at all) "In excess of 10,000 attended the Rally"

FYI

Allright Anti-Thaksin brigade - I will step aside. Over to you!

Yup media is reporting 10.000 people who went home at midnight (or were brought home).

10.000 people meet on the evening hear the a criminal call in and than they go home.

Not very impressive....

[h90]

Have the folks of the Red Terrorist Movement gone home yet?

It was raining...raining was not included in the fee so they went home.

[otherstuff1957]

The future looks bleak

I suspect that this is true enough. Thaksin's insatiable hunger for money & power won't end until he is back in Thailand pulling the strings again. Unless he runs out of money and cannot fund the red movement further, there will probably be more blood on the streets of Bangkok. A civil war would suit Thaksin's purposes very well.

[animatic]

So the rally was all about the petition. Fine, but why does Mr Dirk call it "democratic"?

There's nothing democratic about that petition.

Precicely.

Repetetively throwing the overlay of democracy onto a blatant attempt to grab back power

and absolve their convicted leader of his crimes, even before some reach court,

has nothing to do with democracy in the actual sense of democracy.

This petition has absolutely NOTHING to do with democracy in Thailand, or anywhere else.

All those people complaining had their vote,

and the people they voted for were not good at their jobs, or keeping their jobs.

And because of THEIR incompetence, or immorality, are now NOT in their jobs.

Democracy has worked under the Thai System. We farangs didn't design the Thai System,

but that doesn't mean we can't clearly observe it and make valid comments.

[animatic]

Well it's now easy to see who our new member is working for.

...

classic case of "Shooting the messenger".

Nice try, doesn't scan.

It isn't an indictment it is only pointing out the obviousness

of the position, style and timing of posts and their monochromatic subject.

I didn't call him a blithering idiot or half wit, did I? No I didn't.

Just pointed out the similarities to OTHER previous and now departed posters

with very, very similar styles and views. If that is then character assassination

it is only so if those stated positions held are untenable or indefensible in function and aims.

In which case pointing that out isn't a flame anyway.

Edited October 18, 2009 by animatic

[chevykanteve]

Have the folks of the Red Terrorist Movement gone home yet?

A couple grey haired old ladies from down the street returned from the Red Terrorist Movement early this morning.

I bet those stupid women have no idea they are terrorists.

I will tell them for you Gardener2

Some people are so dumb....they will know Gardener2......rest assured!

They tell me they are fighting to protect their democratic voting rights.....idiots!

Typical North Easterners.......What the hel_l do they know.

Provincials such as those do not of course have political opinions of any consequence. After all, such simple folk only represent a geographical area (=Northeast Thailand) of about 160,000 square kilometers, or 1/3rd of the entire country.

[rixalex]

A couple grey haired old ladies from down the street returned from the Red Terrorist Movement early this morning.

They tell me they are fighting to protect their democratic voting rights.

Be honest now Mr Dirk. The two old ladies from down your street exist only in your head don't they.

If you want to dream people up why not at least make them young and sexy?

[h90]

A couple grey haired old ladies from down the street returned from the Red Terrorist Movement early this morning.

They tell me they are fighting to protect their democratic voting rights.

Be honest now Mr Dirk. The two old ladies from down your street exist only in your head don't they.

If you want to dream people up why not at least make them young and sexy?

2! (not 4 or 5) sounds possible. I guess payment wasn't good this time......

[animatic]

Well believability would be strained,

not too many young an sexy redshirt ladies seen in many pictures.

There is on the Sunday Nation a Mask of Thaksin

wearing a Mao style Communist Red Star hat...

A world wide recognized insignia of the the

Great Leap Forward, er, BACKWARD in Chinese history.

This is for sale to the Reddened Mini-Masses at the rally to support Thaksin...

This certainly brings into stark relief the dislocation in the Reddened minds

about what Thaksin really is, and really represents.

To err is human, to forget dividing...

Without H2O there is no life.

Edited October 18, 2009 by animatic

[Rumfoord]

classic case of "Shooting the messenger".

Nice try, doesn't scan.

It isn't an indictment it is only pointing out the obviousness

of the position, style and timing of posts and their monochromatic subject.

yep, you don't like people with another opinion or that they report about some red protest day at all. you wish they would get banned.

[gardener2]

Have the folks of the Red Terrorist Movement gone home yet?

A couple grey haired old ladies from down the street returned from the Red Terrorist Movement early this morning.

I bet those stupid women have no idea they are terrorists.

I will tell them for you Gardener2

Some people are so dumb....they will know Gardener2......rest assured!

They tell me they are fighting to protect their democratic voting rights.....idiots!

Typical North Easterners.......What the hel_l do they know.

Provincials such as those do not of course have political opinions of any consequence. After all, such simple folk only represent a geographical area (=Northeast Thailand) of about 160,000 square kilometers, or 1/3rd of the entire country.

Was MrDirk's post that was quoted above, deleted?

I don't see it standing on it's own in the list of posts.

Since it was apparently killed, I won't bother responding to it.

Also, my post as quoted above was altered in that it was made today and not yesterday as the quote timeline above shows.

Edited October 18, 2009 by gardener2

[chevykanteve]

So the rally was all about the petition. Fine, but why does Mr Dirk call it "democratic"?

There's nothing democratic about that petition.

"Democracy" is a relative term: to wit, the so-called PAD; the "People's Democratic Republic of...", etc.