Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Updates - Thursday

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Thursday March 25 Red-shirt rally live updates

Here you can follow the live updates from the media, hour by hour. To make it easy to follow, this thread is read-only.

See discussion topics in the post below.

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Related topics:

Updates March 23

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t349830.html

Updates March 20

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t349041.html

Updates March 19

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t348916.html

Updates March 17

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t348232.html

Updates March 16

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t347906.html

Updates March 15

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

Updates March 14

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t347258.html

Updates March 13

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t346948.html

Updates March 12

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...da-t346680.html

Like Red Shirts plan intensified protest in Bangkok : Saturday

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Red-Shirts-P...st-t350214.html

Like Them Or hate them, but Thai Red Shirts do have a point

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Hate-Them-Th...-P-t350324.html

Red Shirts To March On Bangkok Streets Again, Saturday, March 27

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Red-Shirts-M...ts-t349522.html

Thai Red Shirts declare 'class war'

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Red-Shi...ar-t348629.html

PHOTOS:

Lots of Red Shirts Photo Impressions - And please add your own!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Photo-Impres...-M-t347298.html

Current weather in Bangkok, plus forecasts:

http://weather.thaivisa.com/bangkok/bangkok/

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Head shaving as an act of defiance

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong on Thursday called on the red shirts to shave their heads en masse as an act of defiance to press for the dissolution of Parliament.

The head-shaving ceremony is scheduled to take place around 2.00 pm at Phan Fa Bridge.

-- The Nation 2010-03-25

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Red-shirts Scheduled to Shave Head at 2pm

A group of red-shirt supporters, led by 'Rambo Isaan,' has announced they will shave their heads in protest of the government at 2 pm today.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Deputy PM Suthep Promises to Remove Soldiers

BANGKOK: -- Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban has promised to relocate soldiers from around Parliament after today's House session ends.

However, he said a small force will have to be kept there to prevent any possible invasion from the red-shirts.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Security at Parliament increased

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban ensures heightened security measures at Parliament following grenade blasts in various locations.

Mr Suthep said the security was increased to prevent a violent crackdown on protesters like the incident on 7 October 2008 which claimed two lives.

He added that currently, the government was reviewing security plans around Parliament to bar the protesters from surrounding the compound.

The deputy premier also commented on the grenade blasts last night, saying that they were done to incite violence and undermine the capacity of the government.

Last night at 20.00 hrs, two additional bomb blasts were reported. The first blast occurred in front of a government office in Nonthaburi province while the second blast went off at the Legal Execution Department in Bang Khun Non in Bangkok. No injuries have been reported.

The deputy prime minister of security affairs confirmed that the Emergency Decree would not be invoked as the government had the situation under control.

-- NNT 2010-03-25

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PM Attends House Meeting Today Amid Absence of Pheu Thai MPs

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attended a Lower House meeting in the absence of Pheu Thai MPs.

PM Abhisit Vejjajiva attended the meeting today amid speculation that the opposition may question his administration's credibility and the legitimacy in invocating the Internal Security Act.

The prime minister's comments on last night's bomb attacks at Nonthaburi City Pillar Shrine and the office of Legal Execution Department in Bang Khun Non were highly anticipated.

The two new incidents adds to a series of bomb attacks which have taken place despite the fact that the Internal Security Act is in effect.

Opposition whip and Pheu Thai MP for Ayutthaya, Wittaya Boonranasiri confirmed his fellow MPs will not attend today's meeting so long as the government keeps security forces and barricades around the Parliament compound. He revealed that Pheu Thai MPs will have a meeting today at the party's headquarters on Rama IV Road to discuss the government's stance.

As for the effort to impeach Abhisit Vejjajiva, he said no effort will be made on this matter, as the Democrats will delay it indefinitely.

Regarding the submission of a petition to the United Nations, Pheu Thai MPs who are members of the Inter-Parliamentary Union or IPU, or the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly or AIPA will be tasked with pursuing this possibility.

He added that the Pheu Thai Party will ask the Senate speaker to consider the passage of three acts yesterday, because their passage transpired without a debate.

Regarding two Pheu Thai MPs; Natee Sutinphuak, better known by his stage name Krung Sriwilai, and Prayuth Siripanit who went against the general consensus of the party, he said they are a minority in the party.

Meanwhile, eight Pheu Thai parties have reportedly been spotted attending the Parliamentary meeting this morning.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Related topic

Two More Blasts Hit Thailand Amid Protests

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Blasts-Hit-T...ts-t350344.html

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Troops to be removed at parliament

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban announced on Thursday that army troops currently deployed around the parliament compound will be removed after the House session meeting ends later this Thursday.

-- The Nation 2010-03-25

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Pheu Thai MP shedding tears over tight security

Pheu Thai MP Thanusak Lek-uthai on Thursday broke down on the House floor after hearing the prime minister's explanation on the necessity to impose tight security at Parliament.

"I just want everything in order..don't want to see us bickering," he said, sobbing.

Thanusak appeared strained when he took the floor to question Abhisit Vejjajiva about security measures.

He said he was deeply distressed by the large presence of soldiers and road barricades around Parliament.

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Govt overreacting trying to protect Parliament buildings : senate speaker

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet said the government had gone overboard in trying to protect the legislative building.

Security checkpoints and road barricades stifled the work of the Senate, he said, adding that a large number of senators felt the atmosphere too strained.

"The security is too tight and deemed disruptive for senators to carry on their job," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-03-25

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PARLIAMENT'S BLOCKING

Soldiers and road barricades to disappear this evening : Suthep

BANGKOK: -- Deployment of soldiers and road barricades would be removed by this evening, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban said Thursday.

Chief coalition whip Witthaya Kaewparadai said Suthep informed him of the decision on Thursday.

Witthaya said a whips meeting will be convened next Tuesday to assess and review the security measures ahead of the convening of House meetings for Wednesday and Thursday.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondet said the government had gone overboard in trying to protect the legislative building.

Security checkpoints and road barricades stifled the work of the Senate, he said, adding that a large number of senators felt the atmosphere too strained.

"The security is too tight and deemed disruptive for senators to carry on their job," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-03-25

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Troops to be withdrawn from Parliament

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday pledged he would order the withdrawal of security personnel deployed at and around Parliament as part of heavy security measures Thursday afternoon after the House session ends, according to government chief whip Witthaya Kaewparadai.

Mr Suthep's decision followed an outcry by many senators and members of parliament over the deployment of troop and setup of concrete and barbed wire cordons around the Parliament, which the opposition said created an atmosphere rather like a new form of military coup.

Opposition MPs boycotted Thursday's House session, claiming that the heightened security measures obstructed MPs ability to enter Parliament to do their duty.

Government chief whip Witthaya said after the whips' meeting that Mr Suthep was invited to discuss the stringent measures and was asked by government members of parliament to ease some of the measures.

Mr Witthaya said the deputy premier agreed to withdraw police and military from the parliament compound in the afternoon after the House session ends.

"For next week's session, the whip will coordinate with the government and will evaluate the situation," Mr Witthaya explained.

The deputy premier asserted Thursday morning that the heavy security measures at Parliament is aimed at preventing any reoccurrence of violence and allow the MPs to enter and leave the compound safely without any obstruction by protesters.

The red-clad protesters led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been camped at Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamneon Avenue, not far from Parliament, for almost two weeks demanding the dissolution of Parliament and calling for a fresh election.

Mr Suthep added that the military deployment at the parliament will also prevent any possible blockade by the protesters and the lawmakers will be allowed to enter Parliament's facilities as usual, but persons who are suspected as being likely to incite chaos will be barred from entering the area.

The deputy prime minister said that he will review the measures when the situation improves, asserting that the operation will not last long.

"I have overseen the situation and given instructions as you (the public) have heard the Red Shirt leaders announced to follow the prime minister wherever he goes and they did it several times," said Mr Suthep.

"What I have done is to issue preventive measures. When the measures are efficiently implemented, we will consider how to ease them."

The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) on Tuesday closed roads around Parliament as part of the security measures taken under the Internal Security Act, with signs reading "Restricted Area, only Cabinet members, Members of Parliament Senate will be allowed."

The measures were boosted in fear that the Red Shirt protesters might lay siege to the compound and lead to a repetition of the October 7, 2008 confrontation at which anti-riot police clashed with anti-government protesters blockading Parliament. Two people were killed and hundreds were injured.

Meanwhile, Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej and a number of senators jointly hold a news conference Thursday blaming the government for not informing them about implementing major security measures at and around the parliament.

The Senate Speaker said the Senate was not informed by the government and most of senators have been affected by the measures.

"The Senate agreed that the government should inform us in advance because the Senate is an independent legislative body," said Mr Prasopsuk,

"So we want to say that any such security measures to be taken should be informed to the Senate in advance," he said. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-03-25

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Troops and barricades enclosing parliament to be removed this afternoon

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The government prepares to remove troops and barricades deployed around Parliament as soon as the House meeting ends this afternoon, says the Government chief whip Withaya Kaewparadai.

Announcing after this morning’s talk with government whips and Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban, Mr Withaya said the military forces and the barbed wire fence will be removed this afternoon while the protestors will be asked not to blockade the compound.

The chief whip confirmed that next week’s House meeting will be convened as usual.

Security at the parliament has been heightened due to the ongoing rally of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) demonstrators.

A majority of the opposition Puea Thai Party MPs yesterday decided to bolt the meeting, claiming that the troops were causing inconvenience.

They also refused to join today’s meeting and demanded the troops to be withdrawn from the parliament.

-- NNT 2010-03-25

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THE NATION: About 20 red shirt protesters have shaved their heads as part of "peaceful" protest against Govt.

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Bangkok residents want speedy end to protests

A network of 1,283 civic groups representing Bangkok communities on Thursday issued a statement calling for the government and the red shirts to seek a speedy resolution via negotiations.

The statement highlights four points:

1. All sides should resolve their differences through peaceful negotiations.

2. All sides should respect the rights and safety of Bangkok residents and their communities as sanctioned by the Constitution.

3. The government and protesters should cooperate with the communities in safeguarding lives and property.

4. The National Human Rights Commission should issue the guidelines designed to protect the peaceful assembly as well as ensuring the communities safety.

-- The Nation 2010-03-25

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BKK Removes House Dissolution Stickers

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is removing House dissolution stickers of the red-shirt group, saying it is illegal.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-25

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Democrats Launch Impeachment of Deputy House Speaker

The Democrats have launched an impeachment of Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai for showing non-neutrality when he addressed the red-shirts on their stage.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-25

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Red-shirts Threaten to Take over Ratchaprasong Intersection

The red-shirt group threatened to take over the Ratchaprasong intersection, in front of Central World shopping mall, if they are ordered out of the Panfah Bridge area by the Central Administrative Court.

Centara Hotel at Central World will be hosting the Inter-Paraliamentary Union, bringing parliamentarians from many countries

-- Tan Network 2010-05-25

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400 Red-shirt Supporters Shave Heads

Around 400 red-shirt supporters, led by Suporn Attawong, shaved their heads in protest of the government.

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Thousands of BKK Communities Call for Negotiatons

Thousands of Bangkok communities announced the need to protect their rights from the red-shirt protest.

They called on the government to negotiate with the red-shirt group to end the political conflict.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-25

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MCOT: Red Shirt protesters shave heads to protest Government; Democrats ask House Speaker to probe his deputy for joining Red Shirt rally

MCOT: Security personnel remove concrete barriers, barbed wire cordons at Parliament after Parliament session ends; Ratchavithee Road reopens

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CAPO Increases 68 Checkpoints for Expressway

The Center for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has increased 68 checkpoints for the expressway.

The agency believes the recent bombings are not related to politics.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Defense Minister Affirms No Use of Force against Protesters

BANGKOK: -- The defense minister has affirmed that military forces will not be used to disband anti-government protests and also expressed concern about possible unrest after two latest bomb attacks last night.

Defense minister General Prawit Wongsuwan stated that deployment of military forces under the Internal Security Act is part of the government's objective to maintain peace and order.

The heightened security around the Parliament House is a measure to protect MPs and officials and the number of the soldiers will be minimized if the House is not in session.

General Prawit said security forces will not resort to violence or means that could damage the country's reputation and he has asked military attaches to inform various countries of the ongoing situation in Thailand.

The defense minister also expressed concern about possible unrest in light of the latest bomb attacks at government establishments, adding negotiations should be used instead of violence.

General Prawit would not comment on possible violence during the mobile red-shirt protests across Bangkok this Saturday but affirmed that security forces monitoring the activities will not be armed.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Pheu Thai Files Complaint against Govt with UN

The opposition Pheu Thai Party has filed a complaint against the government's strict security and the military presence at Parliament with the UN.

Meanwhile, police have opened Rajvithi Road to traffic.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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Red-shirts Not to Hold Procession around Town on Saturday

The red-shirt group held a press conference this evening, affirming it will not go to Centara Hotel to disrupt the Inter Parliamentary Union meeting there.

The group will be rallying around town tomorrow for Bangkok residents to come out and join their gathering at Panfah Bridge on Saturday.

They affirmed they will not go out in a procession around Bangkok this Saturday, the same way they did last Saturday.

They said they will disclose later what activities they will conduct on Saturday, which is another day of major activity for the group.

The group's leader Jatuporn Prompan also slammed the unveiling of a video clip that showed red-shirt protesters attacking a woman on a pedestrian bridge, saying the footage was from last year and seem as though it was staged.

-- Tan Network 2010-03-25

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