Saturday Red Shirts Mass Rally To Be Biggest Ever

[Who, me ?]

Interior minister instructs governors to seek cooperation from red shirts not to join April 3 rally

BANGKOK: -- Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said Thursday that he had instructed provincial governors to seek cooperation from red-shirt people in their provinces not to join the planned mass rally in Bangkok on Saturday.

Chaovarat said the provincial people would be informed that their participation would contribute to traffic snarls and possible confusion, which could cause hardship to cit residents apart from causing their own inconvenience having to travel to Bangkok.

But the provincial administration would not make any attempt to block the people from travelling to Bangkok.

The governors would only try to seek their cooperation, Chaovarat said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-01

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

I wonder how that co-operation will be "funded"?

Not too difficult to guess!

[bkkjames]

I think the Red Shirts are gonna be in for a major surprise come Saturday.

If there is one thing I have learned in my time here is never ever get in the way of newly paid Bangkokians on the first Saturday following pay day - as they leave their houses en masse searching for all things aroi from 10am - 2pm.

Be warned.

[webfact]

Interior Minister: No Restrictions on Red-Shirts Joining Saturday's Rally

BANGKOK: -- The interior minister has affirmed there are no orders to stop red-shirt supporters in the provinces from joining the mass rally in Bangkok this Saturday. Meanwhile, he says he is ready for the upcoming censure debate.

Interior Minister and Bhum Jai Thai Party leader Chawarat Charnweerakul said he agrees with the nine-month time frame for House dissolution as proposed by the prime minister, adding that his party will support the government throughout the period.

He noted that to make it from 21 months to just nine months was a big cut.

Meanwhile, Chawarat affirmed that no restrictions will be imposed on those who will travel to join the red-shirt mass protest planned for this Saturday in Bangkok.

However, he said provincial governors have been urged to talk with their locals about the impact of the protest, such as people's welfare and traffic congestion.

Regarding the upcoming censure debate on April 19th, the interior minister said he is ready to take questions from the opposition, as the debate is a check-and-balance process.

However, he admitted that as his ministry might be a major target for censure, given the number of projects on hand.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-01

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[kutjebu]

I like the yellow shirts.Always good action and the foreigners forget so quick.Nobody talk anymore how they damaged the country with closing airports etc.

[webfact]

Suthep: No contact from UDD for 3rd talks yet

BANGKOK (NNT) -- There has been no contact from the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) for the third round of negotiation with the government, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban.

Mr Suthep, as the director of the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), stated that he did not know whether the negotiation of both sides would be able to take place before 3 April 2010 or not.

He noted that it was based on UDD core leaders.

The UDD plans to stage another major rally on 3 April 2010 to pressure the government to dissolve the house once again. The previous two mass rallies of the group took place on 20 and 27 April 2010.

The deputy prime minister said the demonstrations of the UDD should not last until the beginning of Songkran Festival on 13 April 2010.

Mr Suthep continued to say that all UDD demonstrators should spend the long holidays in their hometowns, celebrating the traditional New Year of Thailand.

The CAPO director added that he did not want to see chaos within the society similar with the one instigated during 2009 Songkran Festival.

There has been no report about possible violence during the mass gathering of the UDD supporters this Saturday.

-- NNT 2010-04-01

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[Garry]

I like the yellow shirts.Always good action and the foreigners forget so quick.Nobody talk anymore how they damaged the country with closing airports etc.

Not all foreigners forget, those %$*&'s cost me nearyl $2,000 dollars in lost wages. government compensation , yeah right.

[craigt3365]

I like the yellow shirts.Always good action and the foreigners forget so quick.Nobody talk anymore how they damaged the country with closing airports etc.

What they did was not a good thing...but I did like the outcome. With the current protests, if they did the EXACT same things the yellow shirts did, and the outcome was to have Thaksin back...forget it. It would mess this country up even more. I do agree with the reds, but get rid of Thaksin...and Jatuporn...

[zirc]

Suthep: No contact from UDD for 3rd talks yet

BANGKOK (NNT) -- There has been no contact from the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) for the third round of negotiation with the government, according to Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban.

They've been too busy threatening university staff and public television stations to consider the reasonable act of negotiating.

That and trying to figure out the logistics for their expected twenty million protesters takes a moment or two to ponder.

Edited April 1, 2010 by zirc

[webfact]

Police beef up security measures for new Red Shirt mass rally

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Police have stepped up security measures in preparation for the planned Red Shirt mobile protest on Saturday amid rumours about burning key government offices, said Metropolitan Police spokesman.

Police stationed at 100 checkpoints in central Bangkok near the protest venue have been ordered to provide foot patrols around nearby communities and main government offices to ensure more safety for residents, according to Pol Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo.

Following rumours about likely arson attacks on key government buildings, armed police are deployed to closely inspect the offices and homes of the country’s key figures and TV stations in order to prevent or block any possible violent attack, the senior police officer said.

Regarding the M-79 grenade attack on Tuesday night at the compound of the Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda Statesman Foundation, Pol Maj-Gen Piya said the police concerned were examining all recordings from closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) installed around the foundation.

Images of the suspect recorded by the CCTVs are unclear, the spokesman explained, adding that police are seeking witnesses to give useful information for the investigation. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-01

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[scorecard]

Can't they just find something interesting thing to do on Saturday like visit the museum.

How about making an outdoor wax museum featuring a bust of Thaksin?

It would melt very quickly, seems appropriate!

[traderjm]

Here's a lighthearted look at Dear Leader.

My wife really enjoys this one as well

[elcent]

A prelude to the Saturday Sunday event?

Red shirts protesters will go to Chulalongkorn University on Phaya Thai road where peace networks are scheduled to hold a peace campaign on Friday, a red shirt leader said Thursday.

Nuttawut Saikua said the protesters would march from Pan Pah Bridge to the university and expected to arrive there at about 1pm.

"We just want to ask the university's administrations why they allow the peace network to use the site. If they are allowed, we should be allowed as well, Nuttawut said.

Nuttawut claimed the protesters will send representatives to meet Chulalongkorn university's dean to ask the reason the university granted permission for the peace network to hold the campaign in the university compound.

He condemned the university as taking side with the Ammat and Abhisit government. "Their campaign is considered undemocratic while the red shirts protesters are fighting for democracy peacefully and bare hands.

Nuttawut also criticised a group of doctors who examined the bloods they collected and splashed on many places as violating medical etiquette. The doctors submitted a report to the premier, claiming that the bloods comprised many diseases including HIV virus as well as animals' bloods.

-- The Nation 01/04/2010

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[hammered]

So jatuporn is now a dictatoer and wont allow anyone to express themsleves. No surprise

[frodo]

A prelude to the Saturday Sunday event?

Red shirts protesters will go to Chulalongkorn University on Phaya Thai road where peace networks are scheduled to hold a peace campaign on Friday, a red shirt leader said Thursday.

Nuttawut Saikua said the protesters would march from Pan Pah Bridge to the university and expected to arrive there at about 1pm.

"We just want to ask the university's administrations why they allow the peace network to use the site. If they are allowed, we should be allowed as well, Nuttawut said.

Nuttawut claimed the protesters will send representatives to meet Chulalongkorn university's dean to ask the reason the university granted permission for the peace network to hold the campaign in the university compound.

He condemned the university as taking side with the Ammat and Abhisit government. "Their campaign is considered undemocratic while the red shirts protesters are fighting for democracy peacefully and bare hands.

Nuttawut also criticised a group of doctors who examined the bloods they collected and splashed on many places as violating medical etiquette. The doctors submitted a report to the premier, claiming that the bloods comprised many diseases including HIV virus as well as animals' bloods.

-- The Nation 01/04/2010

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Even though you're undemocratic, an Ammat, and we condemn you, can we use your facility?

From the looks of it the rest of the world is undemocratic if they don't support the red shirts, but 100% democratic if you support them. The worse part is that they actually believe that red-shirt blood could never be tainted or diseased from all the condemning and damning they're doing.

[frodo]

The bullies got their way unfortunately. Chula has shut down until Monday.

[Credo]

So let's see, the 'friends of the yellows'; I mean the pink shirts, are protesting about people protesting. They are protesting because it's bad for business. And there protest will help business? I think not.

As far as Bangkok is concerned, it's a capital city and the seat of the government, capital cities are subject to demonstrations. The fact that they have never bothered to set up zoning is the big problem. You have factories and traffic associated with businesses.

[anotherpeter]

So let's see, the 'friends of the yellows'; I mean the pink shirts, are protesting about people protesting. They are protesting because it's bad for business. And there protest will help business? I think not.

As far as Bangkok is concerned, it's a capital city and the seat of the government, capital cities are subject to demonstrations. The fact that they have never bothered to set up zoning is the big problem. You have factories and traffic associated with businesses.

The red shirts think that because there were people in the streets when they did their parade a couple of weeks ago, they have lots of urban support.

They need to be reminded that they don't really have all that much support in Bangkok.

[shawndoc]

So let's see, the 'friends of the yellows'; I mean the pink shirts, are protesting about people protesting. They are protesting because it's bad for business. And there protest will help business? I think not.

They were planning to hold their protest on the university campus. Not a lot of business to be disrupted there.

Big difference between that and intentionally tieing up traffic in Bangkok for several weeks.

[siampolee]

Interesting that the great proponents of DEMOCRACY are now going to demonstrate against those who it seems disagree with them and the Red Shirt brigade are going to demand a cessation of the anti red Shirt demonstration .

I was under the impression that the Red Shirt movement was all about empowering the people and the creatation of a more democratic society in Thailand.

'Tis indeed a strange form of democracy is it not ?

George Orwells Animal Farm exists in Thailand where the common people are unknowingly taking the part of the horse and the self elected Red Shirt puppet leaders led by their puppet master Thaksin (where ere he may be ) have indeed knowingly taken on the role of the pigs.

[PeaceBlondie]

Nobody talk anymore how they damaged the country with closing airports etc.

FALSE. The airports were closed by AOT and the ineffective government under Thaksin's puppets.

[mca]

OK. Change that to "damaged the country by occupying..."

[anotherpeter]

OK. Change that to "damaged the country by occupying..."

So, because the yellow shirts occupied the airport and did great damage to the Thai economy, then *No One* is allowed to protest against the red shirts doing damage the economy?

Not all the people that are anti-red are yellow shirts. The business people protesting aren't yellow shirts. They were probably saying exactly the same thing about the yellow shirt protests.

[mca]

Did I say that peter? Is that mentioned anywhere in my post? Is it inferred anywhere in my post that I consider no one should be allowed to protest against the reds? I didn't expect a strawman argument from your good self.

[scorecard]

OK. Change that to "damaged the country by occupying..."

So, because the yellow shirts occupied the airport and did great damage to the Thai economy, then *No One* is allowed to protest against the red shirts doing damage the economy?

Not all the people that are anti-red are yellow shirts. The business people protesting aren't yellow shirts. They were probably saying exactly the same thing about the yellow shirt protests.

Let's please adjust one point. My adult Thai son has just come back from jogging in Suan Lum. He says that there are already many people there from all walks of life and all age groups.

The group may well include business people who are protesting tabout damage to the economy but there's also a wider group.

[hammered]

Crispin has an interesting iece up at A-Times on the bombs etc. Not sure if we are allowed to link so I wont.

[siampolee]

I post a quote from the article that is mentioned by hammerd, indeed I think it sums up the matter succinctly as to the real aims of the Red Shirt puppet Brigade

"Everyone in the government and military, top-to-bottom, know that these are attempts to provoke a reaction and no-one is fooled," said one diplomat, on condition of anonymity. "The people behind these attacks are either deluded, thick or desperate, and Thaksin fits at least one of those categories." In his phone-in addresses to the protest site, Thaksin has advocated non-violence, but in a recent speech told his followers to prepare for "sacrifices".

Quote 2.

A series of photos making the email rounds among diplomats and others shows a fatigue-wearing Seh Daeng and Thaksin arm-in-arm and conferring in recent weeks at the exiled former leader's plush residence in Dubai. The final photo in the series shows Seh Daeng and UDD leader Veera Musikapong, sporting a pink polo shirt, in a state of embrace at the bottom of an elaborate staircase.

Edited April 3, 2010 by siampolee