2,000 Red-Shirts Biker To Protest In Bangkok Today

[webfact]

Red-shirt caravan to campaign for dissolution of Parliament

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt protesters will take to the streets of Bangkok today on 2,000 motorbikes in their campaign for a dissolution of Parliament rather than obstruct the Cabinet meeting at the Public Health Ministry.

The protesters will not fall for the government's trap, but rather will allow Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to conduct the Cabinet meeting freely, red-shirt Jatuporn Promphan said yesterday.

"But the next day, we'll play a cat-and-mouse game with him, chasing him everywhere he goes," he told red-shirt protesters on Rajdamnoen Avenue.

The motorbike caravan will begin at 9am. Participants will distribute 500,000 stickers printed with "Dissolve Parliament" to people around the capital, said another red-shirt leader, Weng Tojirakarn.

Red-shirt protesters nationwide will conduct the same campaign, he said.

Meanwhile, the government has beefed up security at the Public Health Ministry for today's Cabinet meeting. The weekly meeting was cancelled last week, because of the protests.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and some Cabinet members had been working from the 11th Infantry Regiment ever since.

A source said the prime minister might move from the military camp in Bang Khen district to a base at the Public Health Ministry.

Troops have deployed to the ministry, located in Nonthaburi province.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the government had prepared five alternative places for the Cabinet meeting in the event of protester blockades. Don Muang Airport, the 11th Infantry Regiment and Parliament are among the choices.

Jatuporn said he knew the government would use force to crack down on the protesters if they moved to disturb the Cabinet meeting.

The Cabinet and Abhisit have not used Government House since the red shirts began their protest on March 12.

The Army has deployed troops to the building, and it now looks like a military compound, one reporter said.

Suthep said the Cabinet would not use Government House, because it was too close to the protest site.

Then Cabinet today will consider a proposal from the Peacekeeping Operation Centre to extend enforcement of the Internal Security Act, which expires today, until the end of this month, he said.

Jatuporn said the red shirts would stage another huge march in Bangkok again for this Saturday after last Saturday's success.

Chaturon Chaisang, former leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, took to the red-shirts' stage for the first time last night to inform them the government had mulled a crackdown on them.

"If the protesters maintain their peaceful manner, the authorities cannot do anything to end this people's struggle," he said.

Chaturon, who was barred from politics after Thai Rak Thai's dissolution, said he would deliver a speech to the red shirts at their rally site this evening.

-- The Nation 2010-03-23

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[animatic]

Chaturon Chaisang, former leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, took to the red-shirts' stage for the first time last night to inform them the government had mulled a crackdown on them.

"If the protesters maintain their peaceful manner, the authorities cannot do anything to end this people's struggle," he said.

A leader of the,

banned for cheating the people of their actual vote choices,

money and power driven cartel of Ammant ridden business interests,

TRT,

talks of the 'peoples struggle'...

[Publicus]

Bugs and gnats swarming about.

Get out the roach spray.

Squishing them is hardly necesssary.

These are nuciance tactics which express and expose the Redshirst desperation.

Maybe the worst is yet to come, but if the Redshirts accuse the government of buying time, the same can be said of the Redshirts. Time is the critical factor.

[Ponbkk]

It causes LITTER. It should be banned.

[tonywebster]

Bugs and gnats swarming about.

Get out the roach spray.

Squishing them is hardly necesssary.

These are nuciance tactics which express and expose the Redshirst desperation.

Maybe the worst is yet to come, but if the Redshirts accuse the government of buying time, the same can be said of the Redshirts. Time is the critical factor.

Strange that you write this given your signature, or is free speech only allowed for the people you support?

[Siripon]

Chaturon Chaisang, former leader of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai Party, took to the red-shirts' stage for the first time last night to inform them the government had mulled a crackdown on them.

"If the protesters maintain their peaceful manner, the authorities cannot do anything to end this people's struggle," he said.

A leader of the,

banned for cheating the people of their actual vote choices,

money and power driven cartel of Ammant ridden business interests,

TRT,

talks of the 'peoples struggle'...

Chaturon is from a very wealthy family, he only got married a few years ago, his dowry if I remember correctly, was well over 100 million baht. I believe he married into the Cherdchai bus company family.

He's a nice man .but as one of the ammart he shouldn't be allowed on the red stage.

Seeing Big Jiew on the red stage reminded me of when his wife proudly boasted on TV years ago how the poor children of Issan loved her as she wound down her car window and handed out 20 baht notes!

Edited March 23, 2010 by Siripon

[Wolfie]

Oh give it a rest already, Aphisit is not going to dissolve parliament just because you put 2000 bikes on the roads and threaten to chase him 'cat and mouse' style - you guys need a new tactic (and new leaders).

If i were the police, i'd be stopping every red shirt they can find and asking to see their ID cards (licenses, insurance and helmets too). From what i have been told the red 'machine' has been holding onto their supporters ID cards to ensure the paid protesters do not take the money and run... this could be an interesting move and possibly generate a lot of $$$ for the Police force

[Publicus]

Bugs and gnats swarming about.

Get out the roach spray.

Squishing them is hardly necesssary.

These are nuciance tactics which express and expose the Redshirst desperation.

Maybe the worst is yet to come, but if the Redshirts accuse the government of buying time, the same can be said of the Redshirts. Time is the critical factor.

Strange that you write this given your signature, or is free speech only allowed for the people you support?

Free speech stops at the point of there being a "clear and present danger" which 2,000 motorcycles is not, so whatever you're on about, you're off.

The late Justice Douglas believed free speech to be absolute - to him falsely shouting fire in a packed theater is protected speech as is any and all speech. My view is that political speech is a highly priviliged and protected speech - near absolute but not absolute, a view consistent with the 'clear and present danger' doctrine established a century ago by the Court in the case of an anarchist handing out weapons in front of his Town Hall while loudly advocating violent destruction of the municipal government (Shenk v US, SCt 1919).

2000 motorcycles is hardly a clear and present danger (unless you're standing in front of a stampeding pack of them and they're dead set on grinding you into the paved road). No such thing is going on or anticipated.

Get real.

[hammered]

Oh give it a rest already, Aphisit is not going to dissolve parliament just because you put 2000 bikes on the roads and threaten to chase him 'cat and mouse' style - you guys need a new tactic (and new leaders).

If i were the police, i'd be stopping every red shirt they can find and asking to see their ID cards (licenses, insurance and helmets too). From what i have been told the red 'machine' has been holding onto their supporters ID cards to ensure the paid protesters do not take the money and run... this could be an interesting move and possibly generate a lot of $$$ for the Police force

Family upcountry say that is the common practice. The local MPs men sort it out although at the last moment before the previous "million man march" they stopped taking them as too many didnt like the idea of being in Bangkok without an ID card on a rally that a lot (well actually all the upcountry family) think will at some point turn violent. The moptorcyclists though are probbaly not upcountry but organised more through local networks and still in possession of ID cards.

[bulmercke]

In theory the 2000 Red-Shirt Biker thing seems like a good idea. But if their not careful it could end up possibly being their Achilles heel. By all accounts the Red-Shirts had an excellent day last Saturday - but if their not careful with these new tactics they may mess it up horribly for themselves.

We know some areas aren't particularly sympathetic to their cause - Yoawarat - Klong Tan etc. A minor provocation could easily develop into something much more serious and with the current political climate escalate out of control giving the government the opportunity to declare a state of emergency or a clear mandate to crack down hard on the remainder of the Red-Shirt protest movement.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Oh give it a rest already, Aphisit is not going to dissolve parliament just because you put 2000 bikes on the roads and threaten to chase him 'cat and mouse' style - you guys need a new tactic (and new leaders).

If i were the police, i'd be stopping every red shirt they can find and asking to see their ID cards (licenses, insurance and helmets too). From what i have been told the red 'machine' has been holding onto their supporters ID cards to ensure the paid protesters do not take the money and run... this could be an interesting move and possibly generate a lot of $$ for the Police force

Or maybe when stopping and checking 2000 motorbike drivers, it will just create a bigger traffic jam. .

[Wolfie]

Or maybe when stopping and checking 2000 motorbike drivers, it will just create a bigger traffic jam. .

Not if you set up the road block/check point 100mtrs from the Red's HQ/Base of ops

[BigC]

come on u reds !

seriously if i was PM i would just release buffalow into the crowd.

Edited March 23, 2010 by BigC

[granuaile]

In theory the 2000 Red-Shirt Biker thing seems like a good idea. But if their not careful it could end up possibly being their Achilles heel. By all accounts the Red-Shirts had an excellent day last Saturday - but if their not careful with these new tactics they may mess it up horribly for themselves.

We know some areas aren't particularly sympathetic to their cause - Yoawarat - Klong Tan etc. A minor provocation could easily develop into something much more serious and with the current political climate escalate out of control giving the government the opportunity to declare a state of emergency or a clear mandate to crack down hard on the remainder of the Red-Shirt protest movement.

I actually generally agree with you here. If they keep it peaceful and disruptions remain no more than what they were Saturday, I have no problems with their demonstrating. That said, the potential for something to happen increases the longer this goes on, something that will necessitate the government taking stronger action. I don't think though it will be done because of opportunity, but rather because on necessity.

[OzMick]

This crowd has enough buffaloes!

[otherstuff1957]

Does anyone know what route they are going to follow today? I won't be on the road again until after 6pm, but I'm wondering if they will be anywhere near Ratchada?

[brianb1944]

It causes LITTER. It should be banned.

Maybe the stickers would be suitable for use in the Hawng Nam?

[ballpoint]

It causes LITTER. It should be banned.

Maybe the stickers would be suitable for use in the Hawng Nam?

Nah. One side is too shiney, and the other would have the hairs off your arse (might go down okay with those of the Brazilian persuasion though). Besides, coming from the reds you'd end up with more shit on you than you started with.

[timi2546]

... 2000 motorbike......

....

2000 BIG BIKES might be great to see .... :D

[Wolfie]

Hehe - nah 2000 'wet dreams' isnt going to be much to look at

On the locked news topic for today, they reported only 500 bikes - seems the reds like to talk big and constantly fair to deliver, should we expect anything else?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

come on u reds !

seriously if i was PM i would just release buffalow into the crowd.

But who would then take over as Deputy Prime minister in charge of security affairs??

Edited March 23, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[Thai at Heart]

come on u reds !

seriously if i was PM i would just release buffalow into the crowd.

But who would then take over of Deputy Prime minister in charge of security affairs??

He has been quiet for the last few days hasn't he. He must champing at his muzzle to find a reporter to tell him that the reds are about to nuke Bangkok and that Thaksin was seen in Paragon.

Obviously someone forgot to pay his bill on his hotline to the news editors desk's nationwide.

Edited March 23, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[ovaltina]

If your crumbling support-base is quite tiny to begin with, sending them out on motorbikes in Bkk isn't going to help matters.

Its a waste of fossil fuels too, in my opinion.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

If your crumbling support-base is quite tiny to begin with, sending them out on motorbikes in Bkk isn't going to help matters.

Its a waste of fossil fuels too, in my opinion.

That's a bit rich, complaining to people who don't have that much money to be wasting fossil fuels.. Tell that to the average Bangkokian about his lifestyle!

[ovaltina]

If your crumbling support-base is quite tiny to begin with, sending them out on motorbikes in Bkk isn't going to help matters.

Its a waste of fossil fuels too, in my opinion.

That's a bit rich, complaining to people who don't have that much money to be wasting fossil fuels.. Tell that to the average Bangkokian about his lifestyle!

Sorry, I was voicing my opinion as a woman who was born and raised on a critically-poor sink estate in North England, where they used to mug you for the laces in your shoes. I realise that this makes me a 'rich elite' & so very different to poor people in other countries.

I'm 36 & have never owned a car. I get trains, I used to bicycle until I broke my hips. I try to not pollute the atmos.

[givenall]

Bugs and gnats swarming about.

Get out the roach spray.

Squishing them is hardly necesssary.

These are nuciance tactics which express and expose the Redshirst desperation.

Maybe the worst is yet to come, but if the Redshirts accuse the government of buying time, the same can be said of the Redshirts. Time is the critical factor.

Strange that you write this given your signature, or is free speech only allowed for the people you support?

Protesting everyday about the same thing especially when no one cares is no longer free speech is a fringing to other people freedom and should be against the law since it create problem for majority of people

[Thai at Heart]

Bugs and gnats swarming about.

Get out the roach spray.

Squishing them is hardly necesssary.

These are nuciance tactics which express and expose the Redshirst desperation.

Maybe the worst is yet to come, but if the Redshirts accuse the government of buying time, the same can be said of the Redshirts. Time is the critical factor.

Strange that you write this given your signature, or is free speech only allowed for the people you support?

Protesting everyday about the same thing especially when no one cares is no longer free speech is a fringing to other people freedom and should be against the law since it create problem for majority of people

Unfortunately someone decided that it was legitimate to protest and take over the government house for considerably longer than a few days.

This is definitely a case of the goose and the gander. We all knew that letting the PAD sit around as long as they did, in the places that they did would cause a very dangerous precedent to be set. Well know, you must live with it.

[Thai at Heart]

Unfortunately someone decided that it was legitimate to protest and take over the government house for considerably longer than a few days.

That would be the previous administration, which was basically the Reds, right?

Um. The legal system was proven to be an ass in handling that situation, and it will be an ass again if the reds decided to sit down and take over government house tomorrow, put up stages, satellite transmission equipment and plan to take it over for a month or two, whilst the legal system sits around issues writs, emergency decrees, and the country wrings its hands when people get hurt because the police carry out their job.

Lest we forget that some pretty senior coppers have been tried in court on the basis of evidence from that ridiculous GT2000 in the hands of a forensic scientist who loves to play political CSI.

The arguement that Thaksin should be barred from broadcasting is exactly the same. If ASTV had been shut down, the PAD wouldn't have succeeded. But, in the aim of even handedness and freedom of speech, Thaksin is being allowed to continue broadcasting because ASTV continued to broadcast. TIT after all.

Edited March 23, 2010 by Thai at Heart

[britmaveric]

Good idea - peaceful protests should always be welcomed! Go Reds!!!

[yoshiwara]

Good idea - peaceful protests should always be welcomed! Go Reds!!!

Except last Songkran.