Thai Pm Rejects Protesters' Demand Amid March On Barracks

[webfact]

Thai PM rejects protesters' demand amid march on barracks

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday rejected an ultimatum by tens of thousands of protesters to dissolve parliament as they marched on a military barracks sheltering the government.

The demonstrators, loyal to ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, demanded Abhisit call new elections or face mounting protests, prompting military officials to boost troop numbers and put in place evacuation plans.

"The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the house before midday (0500 GMT) today, but the coalition parties agree the demand cannot be met," Abhisit said on national television, from the barracks.

"Elections must be held under common rules and genuine calm. We have to listen to other people's voices, not just the protesters," he said.

Abhisit left the army base by helicopter immediately after his announcement, saying he wanted to inspect the city traffic, snarled up by the moving rally.

The first group of red-clad protesters had earlier arrived at the barracks where Abhisit had been staying along with key ministers and military top brass.

At least 86,000 so-called Red Shirts had been gathered since Saturday at a rally ground close to government offices in Bangkok's historic quarter, where soldiers and riot police have been deployed under a strict security law.

The Red Shirts travelled in convoy to the barracks on the capital's northern outskirts in trucks, buses, cars and pick-up trucks, promising non-violence and vowing to return to the main rally after their doorstep.

"We will come back here. We'll keep fighting," Nattawut told the cheering red-clad crowd before it departed.

Thai army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said about 2,000 soldiers were manning the 11th infantry army barracks, with three helicopters on standby to whisk leaders away if needed.

"We will push out the protesters if they trespass into the base. The final step is that rubber bullets would be fired at them, but the army has no wish to disperse the demonstration," Sunsern insisted.

The Red Shirts had dubbed their rally a "million man march" but police estimated their numbers reached only 86,000. Protest leaders gave various figures all far higher than 100,000.

Authorities have deployed a 50,000-strong security force including soldiers and riot police across Bangkok and surrounding provinces for the rally, under a strict law that allows authorities to ban gatherings and impose curfews.

The Red Shirts are loyal to populist former prime minister Thaksin, who was ousted in a coup in 2006 and is living abroad, mostly in Dubai, to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Twice-elected Thaksin is loathed by Bangkok's establishment, which accuses him of corruption and disloyalty to the revered royal family.

Last month Thailand's top court confiscated 1.4 billion dollars of the telecoms tycoon's wealth and he addressed the crowd by video link late Sunday, urging his supporters to press on.

"I ask all Red Shirts not to give up. Don't worry about me. This is not a one-person issue, we all fight for justice. I am the victim of bullies among the elites," Thaksin said from an unspecified location in Europe.

Since the coup in 2006, Thailand has been wracked by a string of protests by the Red Shirts and their rival Yellow Shirts, whose campaign in 2008 led to a crippling nine-day blockade of the country's airports.

The current rally is the largest in Bangkok since the Reds rioted in April last year, leaving two dead and scores injured.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-03-15

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Live updates

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t347530.html

[anon467367354]

did anybody really think Abhisit would give into the demands of these people? It will all go away when a more aggressive campaign as to the real nature of the fugitive they are supporting comes to light. To me it's just so weird that they let this cowardly behavior continue from abroad and just a simple campaign with education as the focus might be the best defense. Butwho knows,, everything i thought was normal is, just not here.

[Asa]

Of Course he turns down the demand, for his teammates are still haven't had their fill of wealth and power. Politicians, regardles of political camp seems to be power addict. Once he is up there he cannot see plights of the people. Four years in power is too long for any Thai government.

[thaibkk]

he better face his luxery 2 year jail at home sentence

i am sure they can figure something out...

this sxxx will never end... red not happy... yellow not happy...

in the meantime, the economy goes further in the drain...

[granuaile]

did anybody really think Abhisit would give into the demands of these people? It will all go away when a more aggressive campaign as to the real nature of the fugitive they are supporting comes to light. To me it's just so weird that they let this cowardly behavior continue from abroad and just a simple campaign with education as the focus might be the best defense. Butwho knows,, everything i thought was normal is, just not here.

I could not see him doing that, and I am glad he stood his ground.

[anotherpeter]

Of Course he turns down the demand, for his teammates are still haven't had their fill of wealth and power. Politicians, regardles of political camp seems to be power addict. Once he is up there he cannot see plights of the people. Four years in power is too long for any Thai government.

Yes ... look what happened to Thaksin. He was there for 5 years.

Lets have elections every year. That's a great way to improve the economy.

[luangtom]

Where were the million-men for the Million-Man-March? If the majority of the 65-million citizens is upset with this government, how come it was so hard to garner the advertised one-million? It was headline news when they announced it.

Edited March 15, 2010 by luangtom

[ovaltina]

I think Abhisit looks really cute when he stands his ground.^^

I just hope he can find a balanced compromise that lets the Reds march off home feeling they've made their point re; the need for further rural infrastructure investment, without anybody from either side of the discussion being injured or worse. I bet he feels like a trapeze walker right now. Looking at this from abroad & as a foreigner, it is obvious that all this money & energy being wasted in marching and waving photos of a fallen dictator around, and on the other side, the wasted resources of trying to securely monitor it all, it is a huge waste of resources and energy in a poor country which is having serious drought problems. All this energy,on both sides, could have been better spent trying to minimise the damage the drought is & will cause.

Edited March 15, 2010 by ovaltina

[bangkokrick]

So now the tricky bit. They asked him to stand down and he of course refused, so now do they all go home? I think not. This will go on for many more than four days and could get nasty. They must have a plan B knowing that the PM would not dissolve the house.

Cheers, Rick

[givenall]

did anybody really think Abhisit would give into the demands of these people? It will all go away when a more aggressive campaign as to the real nature of the fugitive they are supporting comes to light. To me it's just so weird that they let this cowardly behavior continue from abroad and just a simple campaign with education as the focus might be the best defense. Butwho knows,, everything i thought was normal is, just not here.

I could not see him doing that, and I am glad he stood his ground.

Does anyone really thinks, the RED Shirts Thugs can oust the PM

[frodo]

Where were the million-men for the Million-Man-March?

To paraphrase Nutthawat...This is not a dream, this is reality...1,000,000 will be here Sunday.

To answer your question, they are still in Nathhawut's dream...albeit wet.

[mythBuster]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years. It is is quite bizarre that Abhisit is lecturing Thai people about the way elections should be held. He is not elected at all and refuses to let the people decide if he is suitable as a PM. The people are angry because they voted for PPP and not for the DP or Bhumjaithai. The votes were simply stolen under pressure of the military.

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power. On the other hand must I admit that i do not really understand Thaksin either. He must have numerous contacts in the IT world, for a few million dollar he could paralyze the computer systems of the Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Charoen Pokhand and those of numerous ministries. Russian hackers are for sale and it will lead to a bloodless counter coup.

The people do have the right to elections, whatever Abhisit may claim. Comparing the UK system of government with that in Thailand is an insult to the people of the Great Britain. True Brown was not elected either, but his party members were and never switched party under pressure of the elite.

[Brewsta]

Where were the million-men for the Million-Man-March? If the majority of the 65-million citizens is upset with this government, how come it was so hard to garner the advertised one-million? It was headline news when they announced it.

Agreed - even reports of 100,000 protestors are less than an aggrieved 2% of the population ; However, we mostly agree Change is needed, both to address grievances and raise the lot of the Common Man and Woman in Thailand.

Talking Needed & Now, Brewsta

[SomTumTiger]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years. It is is quite bizarre that Abhisit is lecturing Thai people about the way elections should be held. He is not elected at all and refuses to let the people decide if he is suitable as a PM. The people are angry because they voted for PPP and not for the DP or Bhumjaithai. The votes were simply stolen under pressure of the military.

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power. On the other hand must I admit that i do not really understand Thaksin either. He must have numerous contacts in the IT world, for a few million dollar he could paralyze the computer systems of the Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Charoen Pokhand and those of numerous ministries. Russian hackers are for sale and it will lead to a bloodless counter coup.

The people do have the right to elections, whatever Abhisit may claim. Comparing the UK system of government with that in Thailand is an insult to the people of the Great Britain. True Brown was not elected either, but his party members were and never switched party under pressure of the elite.

They said 100,000. That is not the greatest gathering in 30 years. Its not even the greatest gathering in the past 1 year. There were at least 500,000 downtown on Dec. 5. The rest of your post is recycled talking points that have been proved wrong time and time again. Thanks for regurgitating them up again, for public consumption.

[BigBikeBKK]

So now the tricky bit. They asked him to stand down and he of course refused, so now do they all go home? I think not. This will go on for many more than four days and could get nasty. They must have a plan B knowing that the PM would not dissolve the house.

Cheers, Rick

They don't have the resources for a prolonged protest- once their sticky rice and stinky fish runs out they'll tuck tail and go home. This protest was their last opportunity to show their strength- with such a poor turnout it's a clear signal to everyone that they do not have the mandate of the people.

Anyone who suggests that every time there are 100,000 or so protesters in the streets the government should call new elections is naive.

Let Taksin serve his time for the crimes he has committed and let Thailand move forward with a stable government and elections next year.

Peace!

[Ricardo]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years.

BBC.co.uk says "About 100,000 of the demonstrators held rallies in Bangkok on Sunday" ? Is your source BBC World News, which I don't have, or their news-reports in the UK ?

[granuaile]

I think Abhisit looks really cute when he stands his ground.^^

I just hope he can find a balanced compromise that lets the Reds march off home feeling they've made their point re; the need for further rural infrastructure investment, without anybody from either side of the discussion being injured or worse. I bet he feels like a trapeze walker right now. Looking at this from abroad & as a foreigner, it is obvious that all this money & energy being wasted in marching and waving photos of a fallen dictator around, and on the other side, the wasted resources of trying to securely monitor it all, it is a huge waste of resources and energy in a poor country which is having serious drought problems. All this energy,on both sides, could have been better spent trying to minimise the damage the drought is & will cause.

I hope so too. Those concerns are legitimate ones, and ones which I support. Meanwhile Thaksin is safely in another country instigating the mob and at the same time acting as if he is still the P.M. I would not agree with their current tactics, but I would be able more to support them sans Thaksin and some of their current leadership.

[anotherpeter]

I think Abhisit looks really cute when he stands his ground.^^

I just hope he can find a balanced compromise that lets the Reds march off home feeling they've made their point re; the need for further rural infrastructure investment, without anybody from either side of the discussion being injured or worse. I bet he feels like a trapeze walker right now. Looking at this from abroad & as a foreigner, it is obvious that all this money & energy being wasted in marching and waving photos of a fallen dictator around, and on the other side, the wasted resources of trying to securely monitor it all, it is a huge waste of resources and energy in a poor country which is having serious drought problems. All this energy,on both sides, could have been better spent trying to minimise the damage the drought is & will cause.

The reds haven't made their point. Their point isn't about rural infrastructure. Their point is about getting the government to step down.

Their next step, according to their statements yesterday, is to bring Bangkok to a stand still, by blocking all the major intersections.

[Jonathanpattaya]

did anybody really think Abhisit would give into the demands of these people? It will all go away when a more aggressive campaign as to the real nature of the fugitive they are supporting comes to light. To me it's just so weird that they let this cowardly behavior continue from abroad and just a simple campaign with education as the focus might be the best defense. Butwho knows,, everything i thought was normal is, just not here.

I could not see him doing that, and I am glad he stood his ground.

Does anyone really thinks, the RED Shirts Thugs can oust the PM

Yes I do, and I think they will.

Abhisit never won a popular election but was installed by a Parliamentary vote.

Why not accept the gauntlet and stand for election?

[ovaltina]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years. It is is quite bizarre that Abhisit is lecturing Thai people about the way elections should be held. He is not elected at all and refuses to let the people decide if he is suitable as a PM. The people are angry because they voted for PPP and not for the DP or Bhumjaithai. The votes were simply stolen under pressure of the military.

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power. On the other hand must I admit that i do not really understand Thaksin either. He must have numerous contacts in the IT world, for a few million dollar he could paralyze the computer systems of the Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Charoen Pokhand and those of numerous ministries. Russian hackers are for sale and it will lead to a bloodless counter coup.

The people do have the right to elections, whatever Abhisit may claim. Comparing the UK system of government with that in Thailand is an insult to the people of the Great Britain. True Brown was not elected either, but his party members were and never switched party under pressure of the elite.

The BBC also said that the riots in Thailand 2009 were the worst violence the country has seen in 'several decades'. It was ugly last year but I think that may have been a little ott. I still watch the Bbc but I take them with a pinch of salt.

Regarding 'new-labour', I personally see that they were never voted 'in', Uk were voting the tories 'out' in a landslide. Tony Blair was never especially popular with traditional labour voters & unions, who considered him a 'slippery little suit' as one socialist said to me in 2000, but he was nonetheless voted in because the country wanted the tories out.

Which is fair enough, and ironic because since then new-labour have had 30-something ministerial resignations from their own ranks (many because they couldn't stand the rotten core of new-labour) and as their party went down in flames as the single most corrupt, deceptive & financially idiotic gang in living memory.

My point was that that people vote unpopular parties out, be they in Thailand or Uk or anywhere, they don't know anything about the 'new guy' they're voting for, they just want the previous one 'out' for real or percieved reasons.

[froglegisgood]

I think Abhisit looks really cute when he stands his ground.^^

.... it is a huge waste of resources and energy in a poor country which is having serious drought problems.

Thailand is NOT a poor country! Thailand is a rich country with lots of poor people and a few VERY rich ones. If Thailand was a poor country, not so many corrupt people could have amassed so much wealth.

Once Thailand is rid of corruption with an apt government, it will take care of its own people and the number of poor will dramatically decrease and average revenue will increase and quality of life for average Thai will improve.

This is when most of us will move to another paradise where we can still get services very cheap and all the rest that goes with it... which is making our life currently so easy here...

[hammered]

The government sound a lot more confident today and coalition allies seem to be falling to Abhisit's side. Be interesting to see how things develop but hopefully not violently

[granuaile]

So now the tricky bit. They asked him to stand down and he of course refused, so now do they all go home? I think not. This will go on for many more than four days and could get nasty. They must have a plan B knowing that the PM would not dissolve the house.

Cheers, Rick

They don't have the resources for a prolonged protest- once their sticky rice and stinky fish runs out they'll tuck tail and go home. This protest was their last opportunity to show their strength- with such a poor turnout it's a clear signal to everyone that they do not have the mandate of the people.

Anyone who suggests that every time there are 100,000 or so protesters in the streets the government should call new elections is naive.

Let Taksin serve his time for the crimes he has committed and let Thailand move forward with a stable government and elections next year.

Peace!

I hope they expend their energy and fizzle. I think Rick is right, though, they might have hoped but I am sure did not really expect it. I am afraid plan B is the violent tactics they tried last year...

[granuaile]

Yes I do, and I think they will.

Abhisit never won a popular election but was installed by a Parliamentary vote.

Why not accept the gauntlet and stand for election?

It isn't gonna happen. Why don't the redshirts just wait for the 2011 elections instead of further discrediting themselves?

[BigBikeBKK]

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power.

Nothing has to give- the government only has to ignore this small group of protesters funded by a convicted criminal and they will go home defeated and life will go on. As much as some Reds leaders have made outrageous calls for violence the protests thus far have been peaceful. Even last April when Reds mobs were attacking people in the streets of Bangkok and threatening to blow up LPG tankers trucks the government acted with amazing restraint. So as much as you might like to see blood in the streets, the people in power HAVE shown themselves to be amazingly patient, compassionate and restrained.

[topsecret]

Does anyone really thinks, the RED Shirts Thugs can oust the PM

The yellow shirt thugs managed it by blocking the airport for 9 days!

[Arkady]

Nothing original here. They are just aping the tactics of the yellow shirts when they demanded that Thaksin's brother-in-law should step down. They know Abhisit will not dissolve parliament but they need an excuse to escalate things by going for some kind of symbolic physical target. They could keep Ratchadamnoen Nok filled with reds for up to a week but that would not achieve anything or disrupt Bangkokians too badly. They could also let their people disburse throughout Bangkok in groups to cause chaos but that was tried in April and didn't work because there is no coordinated chain of command over the groups once they break up. There may also be a violent reaction from Bangkokians and attacks on small groups of reds by urban vigilantes this time, if they try that again. The yellows went for Government House which is difficult to defend and ultimately took the airports which also proved surprisingly difficult to defend without help from the military. The differences are that the reds are going for a military base which the army is likely to defend or risk a massive loss of face. So on the one hand the govt has the support of the military which is now going to be under seige along with the government and it should be hard for the reds to overrun the base. On the other hand this might suit the reds because Thaksin is unwilling to fund a lengthy operation in Bangkok. The strategy of the red leaders will probably be to try to get their naive cannon fodder to provoke violent incidents that might force the army to overreact. Otherwise they may just decide to block traffic in Bangkhen for a few and think up a formula to declare victory and return home. The wild card is that the leaders don't have much control over the disparate groups with their own local leaders from different parts of the country. Let's just hope that Thaksin's budget runs out before violence breaks out.

[blazes]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years. It is is quite bizarre that Abhisit is lecturing Thai people about the way elections should be held. He is not elected at all and refuses to let the people decide if he is suitable as a PM. The people are angry because they voted for PPP and not for the DP or Bhumjaithai. The votes were simply stolen under pressure of the military.

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power. On the other hand must I admit that i do not really understand Thaksin either. He must have numerous contacts in the IT world, for a few million dollar he could paralyze the computer systems of the Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Charoen Pokhand and those of numerous ministries. Russian hackers are for sale and it will lead to a bloodless counter coup.

The people do have the right to elections, whatever Abhisit may claim. Comparing the UK system of government with that in Thailand is an insult to the people of the Great Britain. True Brown was not elected either, but his party members were and never switched party under pressure of the elite.

This is an excellent post...says it all...one of the most clear-sighted I have seen on this thread.

[bkkjames]

According the BBC which I trust significantly more than the Thai media or police the numbers were far greater. The greatest gathering in 30 years. It is is quite bizarre that Abhisit is lecturing Thai people about the way elections should be held. He is not elected at all and refuses to let the people decide if he is suitable as a PM. The people are angry because they voted for PPP and not for the DP or Bhumjaithai. The votes were simply stolen under pressure of the military.

Something has to give. If it means that the army will start shooting, so it be. At least the world can see what kind of people are in power. On the other hand must I admit that i do not really understand Thaksin either. He must have numerous contacts in the IT world, for a few million dollar he could paralyze the computer systems of the Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn and Charoen Pokhand and those of numerous ministries. Russian hackers are for sale and it will lead to a bloodless counter coup.

The people do have the right to elections, whatever Abhisit may claim. Comparing the UK system of government with that in Thailand is an insult to the people of the Great Britain. True Brown was not elected either, but his party members were and never switched party under pressure of the elite.

This is an excellent post...says it all...one of the most clear-sighted I have seen on this thread.

Words to the wise - be careful about falling for "breaking news" that only serves to inflate the ratings. Nothing says 'advertise here' more than a big protest or Britania Spears sinking to new lows.