HM The King Gets Briefing By Abhisit On Rally Plans By Reds

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King gets briefing on rally plans by reds

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- His Majesty the King will be giving a briefing by the prime minister on Monday on current affairs amid concern of a possible outbreak of violence at the upcoming red shirts' mass rally.

Abhisit Vejjajiva cancelled an afternoon appointment in order to attend the royal audience at Siriraj Hospital.

The authorities would seek to get updates on the situation in a bid to get an accurate picture of how the red shirts prepare for a mass rally next Sunday, government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

"The upcoming rally might last longer than past protests and its initial three to four days might take place without any problems because organisers have prepared well," he said, voicing concern that trouble might after stocks of supplies dry up and fatigue sets in.

The authorities would constantly adjust their plans in order to keep the peace in light of changes at the rally site, he said.

"Of utmost concern is if tempers flare up, paving way for mayhem triggerd by unidentified instigators," he said.

Volunteers and Bangkok residents living at or near the rally site had been encouraged to report any suspicious activities, he said.

Tomorrow, communities near Government House will undertake contingency moves to safeguard and restore peace should the crowds turn unruly.

At this point, there are no plans to declare a public holiday or to invoke the internal security law.

The prime minister's visit to Australia next week will proceed as scheduled but the trip may be cut short to enable him to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday week.

In regard to threats of sabotage, the government spokesman said authorities had detected attempts to convince protesters to arm themselves and prepare for arson attacks on government installations but the majority of the red shirts had no links to such moves.

Suan Dusit Poll said nearly half of all Bangkok residents did not want the rally to take place and one in three said they feared violence would erupt as past mass rallies had ended with bloodshed.

In a separate survey, Abac Poll indicated six in 10 people were stressed about the political situation.

In his weekly speech, Abhisit said the authorities would screen protesters in order to ensure they were unarmed.

The red shirts would also have to follow police instructions to avoid disrupting traffic and inconveniencing city residents.

"The government will decide whether to invoke special laws or additional measures after reviewing the security assessment report tomorrow."

He urged media outlets to check facts before reporting details about the reds' rally. The government was obligated to safeguard peace but had no plan to crack down on people protesting as alleged, he said.

"Regardless of the political differences, any attempts to burn down Government House will not be allowed nor condoned," he said.

He reminded his ousted predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra he would be held accountable for remarks if he encouraged violence when he phones in during the rally.

Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said protesters would drive E-taen farm tractors to the rally site in defiance of a ban on such vehicles entering the capital.

On arriving in Bangkok, the tractors would parked in an orderly manner so as not to disrupt traffic, Natthawut said.

Thaksin's legal adviser Noppadon Patama said the ex-premier wanted changes through peaceful means and did not condone violence as alleged by the government.

Noppadon urged the red shirts to participate in the mass rally without fear of violence.

Red-shirt supporter Nawin Boonseth said he would mobilise 150,000 red shirts from the North, with plans to bring 15,000 pick-ups to the capital.

-- The Nation 2010-03-08

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Before you post be reminded on forum rule #2

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Looks like a fairly balanced article, and a sensible assessment from Abhisit. If only he could control the hawks in his government better.

(I'm assuming the remarks were made by Abhisit, the grammar in the article doesn't make it 100% clear if Abhisit was giving or receiving a briefing. The topic says 'HM the King Gets Briefing by Abhisit' but then in the article grammar itself falls apart with the opening line "His Majesty the King will be giving a briefing by the prime minister on Monday". Correct grammar would either be "Giving to" or "Getting by (or from)". Again, I'm assuming it was Abhisit providing the briefing.)

Edited March 8, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Thai at Heart]

I think this shows just how high the stakes are. Is making such a public statement of this meeting equivalent to the jockey and the owner discussing race strategy vis a vis Prem's analogy?

Oh to be a fly on the wall in these meetings.

[webfact]

Warning

The topic is not about English grammar

Thank you

[CNF55]

quote

...in order to attend the royal audience at Siriraj Hospital

unquote

Did I miss something? I thought HM was released from hospital last week?

[NADTATIDA1]

quote

...in order to attend the royal audience at Siriraj Hospital

unquote

Did I miss something? I thought HM was released from hospital last week?

yes,just for a few hours.

[anotherpeter]

quote

...in order to attend the royal audience at Siriraj Hospital

unquote

Did I miss something? I thought HM was released from hospital last week?

Most newspapers reported that he had left hospital, and very few reported that he had returned.

Only one article that I saw said that he had left for one evening for a function at the palace and then was returning later that night.

[shawndoc]

I just hope the police do their job this time and can keep the situation under control. They've got such a history of tucking tail between legs and fleeing at the first sign of hostility, regardless of the color the protesters are wearing.

[MacWalen]

I think there will be violence if so many people are allowed to come to Bkk at the same time. Difficult situation, I live in Bangkok and I do not think the place is prepared for so many people coming. So any bets? Who thinks there will be violence and who thinks it will be peaceful? Later it will be easy to say that things 'just got out of hand'. I think last time just a lot less came and buses were burning, rocks thrown, somebody killed etc. I wish this country nothing but peace. I just observe things but all the slogans are war like, 'this is a war', bombs will be everywhere etc.

There must be a better way of going forward. I can just immagine that if some Bangkokians will get killed this time it will be hard to mend bridges, it is bad as it is.

Lets all pray for peace

[Tokay]

The Thais love their King, there is no question about that. Why doesn't someone with a brain come out and say all this fighting is putting a strain on HM's health? You know it is stressing him out, how could you be in his position and not worry about this? Stress causes ill health, that is a fact. Maybe, just maybe, if the Thais had that drilled into their heads, that their actions were causing him harm, maybe they would tone it down. Or maybe not, but there is no doubt, this is not good for his mental state of being and general health.

[Sunderland]

The Thais love their King, there is no question about that. Why doesn't someone with a brain come out and say all this fighting is putting a strain on HM's health? You know it is stressing him out, how could you be in his position and not worry about this? Stress causes ill health, that is a fact. Maybe, just maybe, if the Thais had that drilled into their heads, that their actions were causing him harm, maybe they would tone it down. Or maybe not, but there is no doubt, this is not good for his mental state of being and general health.

Most would agree with you. Sadly a growing minority do not.

[webfact]

UPDATE

RED SHIRTS MASS RALLY

Monarch gets briefing

By The Nation

Photo Royal Household Bureau

Govt to impose ISA as PM cancels trip to Australia

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday was granted an audience with His Majesty the King at Siriraj Hospital to report about the current situation.

There was no official word on the meeting, particularly what was discussed, but it was understood that the simmering political situation was included in Abhisit's routine briefing to the King.

His Majesty has stayed in hospital since he was admitted in September last year with a lung infection and fever. He left for the Chitralada Palace on the night of February 27 and returned to hospital a few hours later.

The audience took place just hours after the government announced Abhisit had postponed his trip to Australia. The government also decided to impose the Internal Security Act in a bid to contain the red shirts' mass rally in the capital this weekend.

The decision came after the Security-related Situation Monitoring Committee resolved earlier yesterday to propose to the Cabinet that the Act be imposed from this Thursday until March 23 in Bangkok and certain areas of Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan provinces.

When asked about the trip, Abhisit responded: "It has been cancelled." The prime minister was scheduled to make an official visit to Australia from Saturday till next Wednesday.

The prime minister told a meeting of ministry permanent secretaries yesterday that intelligence showed small groups of people would try to cause violence and chaos in a bid to effect political change, according to a Govern-ment House source.

At the meeting organised at the Thailand Cultural Centre, Abhisit instructed the top bureaucrats to step up security measures in their agencies.

The prime minister said the street protests would start this Friday, not on Sunday as had been announced by the red shirt leaders, according to the source.

"People called and told me a lot of military fatigues were bought at the Chatuchak Market and bullets at gun shops in the Phahurat area were sold out. Water pipes were also bought to make guns," Abhisit was quoted as saying.

"Intelligence shows that there are no exact plans for this upcoming rally. And there's no unity. There's even an idea to harm some fellow red-shirt leaders to create an incident. The government insists on enforcing the law and avoiding use of force," the prime minister told the top bureaucrats.

He said that the government would enforce three laws to keep order during the protest period: a law for the prevention and relief of public disasters, the Internal Security Act, and the emergency decree. "I hope we don't need to impose martial law," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who chaired the security monitoring panel's meeting at Army headquarters yesterday, told reporters up to 100,000 people were expected in Bangkok from Friday, with about 10,000 pickups and farm trucks being used to carry them.

He said the panel agreed that a worrying factor was the red shirts consisted of many groups with poor communication between each. "We are not sure if they can control their people. That is worrying for officials who have to deal with them. Our intelligence shows that many of the groups show a tendency to use violence," said Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs.

He said one of four grenade attacks on February 27 was supposedly linked to the reds.

He said some of the red shirts planned to besiege government offices and residences of important figures, like Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.

And while organisers had said protesters would gather at Sanam Luang and Rajdamnoen Avenue, many groups were likely to "operate" in other parts of Bangkok, which would threaten normal life and the welfare of city residents.

"So we decided that the ISA be invoked to protect people in Bangkok from unexpected incidents," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-03-09

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[WinnieTheKhwai]

That's a GREAT picture of His Majesty!! Thanks for posting. (and to the Nation, for printing it)

The Thais love their King, there is no question about that. Why doesn't someone with a brain come out and say all this fighting is putting a strain on HM's health? You know it is stressing him out, how could you be in his position and not worry about this? Stress causes ill health, that is a fact. Maybe, just maybe, if the Thais had that drilled into their heads, that their actions were causing him harm, maybe they would tone it down. Or maybe not, but there is no doubt, this is not good for his mental state of being and general health.

Most would agree with you. Sadly a growing minority do not.

Well, that line of thought assumes that people are protesting to cause trouble and aggravation. The protesters themselves see it as making their voices heard, and bring about a more democratic and fair society. They would contend that almost everyone would agree with those goals. If you don't make your voice heard then nothing will ever change for the better.

[NADTATIDA1]

"So we decided that the ISA be invoked to protect people in Bangkok from unexpected incidents," he said.

"People called and told me a lot of military fatigues were bought at the Chatuchak Market and bullets at gun shops in the Phahurat area were sold out. Water pipes were also bought to make guns," Abhisit was quoted as saying.

[webfact]

Just a friendly note

Before you post be reminded on forum rule #2

Thank you

2) Not to express disrespect of the King of Thailand or anyone else in the Thai royal family, whether living or deceased, nor to criticize the monarchy as an institution. Speculation, comments and discussion of either a political or personal nature are not allowed when discussing HM The King or the Royal family. Discussion of the lese majeste law or lese majeste cases is permitted on the forum, providing no comment or speculation is made referencing the royal family. To breach this rule will result in immediate ban.