50,000-Strong Military And Police Forces To Be Deployed In Bangkok

[webfact]

50,000-strong military and police forces to be deployed in Bangkok during UDD rally

BANGKOK: -- The police and the military have carefully planned joint operations in taking care of the rally to be staged in Bangkok by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) during 12-14 March.

Army Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said in a televised program on the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, Channel 11, Wednesday night that the Internal Security Act which is to be imposed from 11-23 March has enabled the military to operate alongside with the police in maintaining peace and order throughout the country.

In the Bangkok Metropolitan area, the situation will be under the control of the Security Maintaining Center while that in the provinces will be handled under an integrated operation of the military, police and civilian units.

Colonel Sansern affirmed that in the upcoming operation, all the forces to maintain peace and order will be armed only with batons and shields as well as mob-controlling equipment recognized internationally, except for military police and SWAT teams which will be assigned only to stop violence.

According to him, about 50,000 officers will be deployed during the rally, divided into 30,000 from the millitary, 20,000 police and a few thousands of metropolitan security personnel.

-- NNT 2010-03-11

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

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[neverdie]

So with a claimed million protestors, thats 1 police officer per 20.

It probably more likely the Police may end up outnumbering the protestors.

[britmaveric]

Nah I have a feeling the reds will turn out for this one. BIB always run, military deployed is what truly matters.

[Carib]

whatever, but the food vendors will have a good day !!

[Curt1591]

It also includes a few thousand BMA cops. Better not litter!

[bubba]

I'm not inferring that this is well-sourced or entirely accurate, but here is a list of "33 dangerous spots" that was posted by a member in the 2bangkok.com forum who frequently seems to have political insight. It really does seem a bit extreme, but just out of general interest:

1 Supreme Court

2 Criminal Court in Ratchadaphisek ring

3 Bangkok Bank HQ at Silom

4 Bangkok Bank - Nana Branch

5 Kasikorn Thai Bank - Nana Branch

6 Siam Commercial Bank - Ratchayothin HQ and Phetburi HQ

7 Grand Place - Now UDD men are going to burn down Grand Palace to pacve the way to turn Thailand to Republcian regime!

8 Siriraj Hospital to Commit Regicide against His majesty.

9 Major Ratchayothin

10 Big C rat Boorana - Southern terminal of Chao Phraya express

11 Central World - Main target for looting

12 Central Lad Phrao - Main target for looting

13 Phrannok Market

14 Minburi Market

15 Dao Khanong Market

16 Patthmawikorn Intersection

17 Arun Amarin Intersection

18 Rom Klao intrersection - clowed to Motorway and SUvannabhum

19 Kaset - Nawamin

20 Kaset - Nawamin - Crossing Lad Pla Khao

21 Kaset - Nawamin - Crossing Pradit Manootham road.

22 Nawamin Intesection

23 Sathon Intersection (Narathiwat crossing Siom) - Chong Nonsee

24 Saladaeng Intersection to storm Chulalongkorn Hospital

25 Saphan Kwai Intersection

26 Klogn Toei Intersection

27 Ram Khamhaeng road - form Lam Salee to Suwinthawongse

28 Minburi Intersection (Ram Indra road crossign Suwinthawongse)

29 BMA Office at Giant Swing and Dindaeng

30 Lumphini Park

31 Pathumwan Princess Hotel - MBK

32 Pathumwan Vocation School - MBK

33 Uthenthawai Vocation school - certainly cstormgin Chulalongkorn U. and holdign lots of hostages

[bubba]

Oh, and this which he quoted from Prachachat Turakij and translated (not very well) into English:

http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?...00&catid=00

7 Dangerous Spots if UDD are goign to block the trafic to encircle Bangkokians as theri hostages:

Prachachat Thurakij 11 March 2010

1. If UDD blocking the traffic aroudn Thai - Japan Stadium, Govemtn would block all the traccigf alogn Mit Maitri road. The option is goign go alogn the shortcuts. The park and ride would be at Army Stadium (near Voice TV)

2. If UDD men are goign bloc k the tracc at Thug SOng Hong Polcie station - Kamphaengphet 6 Road at Miracle Grand hotel and Soi Vibhavadee 25 would be block by police - with mobile crane ... Better head to Bang Khen or Lak Si interseciton since the traffic at NBorht Park Gold Club Circle would be closed. The alternative shortcut would be at Soi Shinnakhet 1-2-3. Acccess form Vibhavadee Rangsit to North Park will be closed.

3. If there Lak Si circle is black, the alternative route is at RTAF Quatermaster to Vinbhavadee ... Those form Ram Indra beter use Lad Plakhao road to Pradit Manootham road to vibhavadee Highway with the risk to being shot or Ngam Wongwan ... Thsoe who are usign Phaholyothin road .. beter uturn and use Tunnel near 11th Inf. reg. to Lad Plakhjao or Ngam Wongwan.

4. If UDd men are blocing Bang Na Intesection ... the traddic on Sukhunvit would be close at Udomsuk Road (Sukhumvit 103), Soi Bearing (Sukhumvit 107), BITEC, and Sanphawut ... along the expressway gate at Bang Na ... better use Udomsuk Road (Sukhumvit 103), Sukhumvit 62, Old Railway road, Thepharak road and Poochao Samingphrai road and Sri Nakharin road.

5. If UDD are going to block Lumphinee Park - Clossing the tracc in front of Lumphini Polcie station - better use Sarasin road, Rajdamri road, Rama 4 road ...

6. If UDD are goign to blcok Wongwian Yai, closing the traffic from Taksi nintersection to WEongwian Yai - Intaraphithak road woudl be closed from Bang Yeeruea Intersection to Wongwian Yai, while Prajadhipok road will be closedfrom Ban Khaek intersection to Wongwian Yai, and closign Lad Ya road from Lad Ya 12 to Wongwian Yai.

For thsoe who are goign to cross chao Phra from BKK side to Thonburi form, Memorial bridge and Phapokklao bridge - tuying ledt Somdej Chao Phraya, Charoen nakhon, to Taksin road to Suksawat ... or going up north by goign to New issaraphab road ro Lad Yai triangle to Charoen Nakhon ... or heading to Idssarrap[ba road to Pho Samton amd using te shortcut at Wat Sankhajai to Phetkasem or heading ot Arun Amarin road to Siriraj to head to Charan Sanitwongse.

FOr thsoe from Thonburi to BKK, better use Taksin bridge or those from peht kasem can use Toedthai road to ratchasa, Kalapraprue road . The shortcut at Wat Snagkhajai aos work

Charoeng Nakhon road & SOmdej Chao Phraya road can be an alternative.

If Ratchadome noe avenut to Sanam Luang have been flooded by UDD men, the alterantive ate

1. Rama 8 Bridge

2. Those who go across Pinkalo bridge better U turn to use other route

3. Use Krung thon bridge

4. Thsoe who wnet out of the express at Yommajra better use eithere Rama 8 bridge or Krugn Thon bridge via Phitsanuloke and rama 5 road

[slapout]

To send forces who are assigned to keep peace and order out into the streets, with shields and batons only, would appear to be 19th century tactics where 20th century technology may be available to the other side. But then the mob control equipment???? which was mentioned, is probably quite effective. The military police and swat team numbers may have grown substantially in the past day or so. Think I will pass on any excursion to observe the festivities.

[bendejo]

whatever, but the food vendors will have a good day !!

While the food lasts! If the hillbillies form a successful blockade, there will be problems getting vittles into the city. This would really lose them a lot of sympathy in Bangkok. On the other hand, there will probably be a lot less soi dogs, stray cats, and rats when this is all over.

That folly at Victory Monument last year ticked off a lot of city folk. Now that the pro-Taksin goons are sporting bags of excrement it doesn't take a genius to surmise how well-loved they'll be.

I'm hoping this will be the last gasp of this nonsense. Taksin sounds more like Kim Jung Il every day.

[webfact]

Thailand deploys 50,000-strong force ahead of protests

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai authorities Thursday began deploying 50,000 troops on the streets of Bangkok ahead of rallies by anti-government protesters that they fear could turn violent, the deputy prime minister said.

The demonstrations by the so-called "Red Shirts", who support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, begins Friday -- two weeks after the kingdom's top court confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of the tycoon's assets.

Deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is overseeing the security operation, said "full deployment" began Thursday of 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 police and 10,000 civilian volunteer forces.

"If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists," he told reporters.

The government has invoked a tough internal security act that allows it to call out troops, impose curfews and ban gatherings.

Checkpoints are being set up in and around Bangkok to search protesters for weapons as they arrive from the provinces, mainly their strongholds in the rural north.

The Reds, who resent what they see as an elitist and undemocratic government, say they expect up to 600,000 people to attend the main rally on Sunday but insist it will be peaceful.

The government estimates that nearer 100,000 will turn up.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned Wednesday there could be "sabotage", while Thailand's main airport, which was besieged by protesters in 2008, said Wednesday it had made contingency plans for the rallies.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) said it too had prepared measures to ensure that trading was not affected between March 12 and 15.

Thaksin, who made his fortune in telecommunications, has been egging on his supporters via text message, videolink and his Twitter page from his self-imposed exile in Dubai, where he is living to avoid a jail term for graft.

The Reds have held a string of protests since another court decision removed Thaksin's allies from government and brought Abhisit to power in December 2008, after a blockade of Bangkok's airports by rival, royalist "Yellow Shirts".

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-11

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand deploys 50,000-strong force ahead of protests

"If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists," he told reporters.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Ummmmm. What happened to no plan to use violence? Does this guy ever follow the "party" line.

Problem is, just about every where else in Bangkok is fair game since the precedent set a few years ago. Being a political hypocrite complicates things so badly.

[frodo]

Thailand deploys 50,000-strong force ahead of protests

"If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists," he told reporters.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Ummmmm. What happened to no plan to use violence? Does this guy ever follow the "party" line.

Problem is, just about every where else in Bangkok is fair game since the precedent set a few years ago. Being a political hypocrite complicates things so badly.

You're saying it's okay that protesters intrude into military bases with no consequences? Intruding into military bases should not be taken lightly and should be dealt with accordingly as they will be considered terrorists by government. The solution is rather simple, stay the heck out and nobody needs to worry.

[Thai at Heart]

Thailand deploys 50,000-strong force ahead of protests

"If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists," he told reporters.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Ummmmm. What happened to no plan to use violence? Does this guy ever follow the "party" line.

Problem is, just about every where else in Bangkok is fair game since the precedent set a few years ago. Being a political hypocrite complicates things so badly.

You're saying it's okay that protesters intrude into military bases with no consequences? Intruding into military bases should not be taken lightly and should be dealt with accordingly as they will be considered terrorists by government. The solution is rather simple, stay the heck out and nobody needs to worry.

No I am not saying it is ok at all, it is just that the events from a year or so ago complicate the issue today massively. One would like to think that invading places like government buildings and airports would be treated with similarly harsh language (terrorist)and responses, but alas the water passed under that bridge a long time ago.

Saying to me "to stay the heck out", isn't going to have much pull with the Red protesters unfortunately.