Thai Protesters Target Bangkok's Tourist Centre

[TheOldWolf]

Announced on Thai TV by some military looking people that protesters have until tomorrow to leave otherwise face 40000TB fine and 2 years in prison.

I know a few PAD protesters were fined 500TB for occupying the Airport but no Jail sentences, double standards or what??

[/quote

I am so tired of people always come back and refers to the airport. I don´t know if people get the message in advance what could happen if they don´t leave the airport

[bulmercke]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

[Sunderland]

As said before ... the government and courts should focus on quickly:

1. Finishing Thaksin off once and for all.

2. Throwing the PAD leaders in jail.

3. Throwing the red leaders in jail.

4. Cutting off further payments to the army before fresh elections.

5. Setting up international monitored elections by the end of the current government's term.

Will most of this happen?

Nope ...

Moving forward

[frodo]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

If so, it will rest on the shoulders of the red shirt and their leaders. They are in total violation of the laws and are fully aware of this. If they wish to remain defiant, so be it. They are allowed to protest peacefully at a designated location. Anything else rests squarely on them.

[jdinasia]

As said before ... the government and courts should focus on quickly:

1. Finishing Thaksin off once and for all.

2. Throwing the PAD leaders in jail.

3. Throwing the red leaders in jail.

4. Cutting off further payments to the army before fresh elections.

5. Setting up international monitored elections by the end of the current government's term.

Will most of this happen?

Nope ...

Moving forward

Finish off Thaksin --- can pretty well be done if they can (and choose to) extradite him.

Throw the PAD leaders in jail -- not a function of the government

Throw the RED leaders in jail -- not a function of the government

Cutting off payments to the military (can't be done anywhere)

Setting up elections -- could be done in weeks --- keeping TRT3 from cheating and getting disbanded, not a chance

[Sunderland]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

If it kicks off tonight, I don't think the red shirts will slope off home without a fight first. Today could be a very interesting day.

Will the army eventually bring out guns? Will the police back up the army? Will any of the army revolt?

Anyone who thinks the government has the situation completely under control is mistaken.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but if the authorities wade in to break up what is a biggish group of people blocking roads, then it will add further fuel to the reds' claims of double standards.

Without a shadow of doubt the yellow shirts should never have been allowed to occupy Government House or the airport. However, this cycle of civil disobedience has to end at some point or we will have the green shirts or cream shirts out next blocking somewhere else. Why don't they employ some of these unhappy people to unblock Bangkok's normal traffic jams or the blocked canals

l

[jdinasia]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

You were calling for insurrection just a day or so ago --- and with today's speeches you certainly got sedition. If they refuse to move after this legal order then that could constitute insurrection. --- looks like you get your "bring it on" complete with the violence

[monkfish]

Announced on Thai TV by some military looking people that protesters have until tomorrow to leave otherwise face 40000TB fine and 2 years in prison.

I know a few PAD protesters were fined 500TB for occupying the Airport but no Jail sentences, double standards or what??

Hmmmm OK .. I have to say that I just don't believe you.

OK no problem, it was on channel 9 but I believe it was on all national TV channels.

Sorry I made a typo its 1 year Jail not two.

[jdinasia]

If it kicks off tonight, I don't think the red shirts will slope off home without a fight first. Today could be a very interesting day.

Will the army eventually bring out guns? Will the police back up the army? Will any of the army revolt?

Anyone who thinks the government has the situation completely under control is mistaken.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but if the authorities wade in to break up what is a biggish group of people blocking roads, then it will add further fuel to the reds' claims of double standards.

Without a shadow of doubt the yellow shirts should never have been allowed to occupy Government House or the airport. However, this cycle of civil disobedience has to end at some point or we will have the green shirts or cream shirts out next blocking somewhere else. Why don't they employ some of these unhappy people to unblock Bangkok's normal traffic jams or the blocked canals

l

Two wrongs don't make a right, but if the authorities wade in to break up what is a biggish group of people blocking roads, then it will add further fuel to the reds' claims of double standards.

Oct 7th ring a bell for you?

[Insight]

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

But it's also obvious now that - unless the govt bent to their ridiculous 16 day dissolution demand - it wasn't going to end any other way.

Sad.

[Sunderland]

As said before ... the government and courts should focus on quickly:

1. Finishing Thaksin off once and for all.

2. Throwing the PAD leaders in jail.

3. Throwing the red leaders in jail.

4. Cutting off further payments to the army before fresh elections.

5. Setting up international monitored elections by the end of the current government's term.

Will most of this happen?

Nope ...

Moving forward

Finish off Thaksin --- can pretty well be done if they can (and choose to) extradite him.

Throw the PAD leaders in jail -- not a function of the government

Throw the RED leaders in jail -- not a function of the government

Cutting off payments to the military (can't be done anywhere)

Setting up elections -- could be done in weeks --- keeping TRT3 from cheating and getting disbanded, not a chance

Fair points. If you reread the post you will see that I said the government and the courts.

[mommysboy]

Mate, if you are going off the minimum police estimates then you are a fool.

Even those have varied from 20 000 to 60 000. But as a rule, conservative yet realistic estimates are twice those. I'm hearing from neutral internationals on the ground that the rally tonight rivals the biggest protest ever held in the US.

Nonsense, you seem to have a clear lack of grasp of the reality. This is no-where near any larger demonstration in the US or Europe.

this from the poster who thinks human blood mixed with pig blood would give reliable HIV results. Think I'll watch the muppet show tonight, now that I'm in the mood for a laugh!

Would you care to educate all the muppets, who do not know how exactly pigs blood mixed with human blood would lead to false HIV positive results? I really am at a loss here and do not know where to start looking for an answer, so please...

Basically any sample that is tainted would be completely unusable to detect HIV, and the sample would not so much be tainted as absolutely polluted.

HIV is an antibody test, it is not a pure test to detect a virus.

The blood antibodies in a pig could quite easily react to produce a false HIV test, those in dogs do!

That's before we start looking at the vaguaries on the test in itsef, which many claim are manifold.

But I agree I don't know so lets here what an expert says.

Meanwhile . What a joke!

[TAWP]

mommysboy posting lies again.

There are several ways to look for HIV, everything from the fast and easy to the more advanced way that require proper analysis in a laboratory.

For one overview: http://www.avert.org/testing.htm

[bulmercke]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

You were calling for insurrection just a day or so ago --- and with today's speeches you certainly got sedition. If they refuse to move after this legal order then that could constitute insurrection. --- looks like you get your "bring it on" complete with the violence

Hey - thanks for remembering me.

Yes - it was a very interesting day today.

Must have hit a nerve with a couple of my postings.

If the Red-Shirt leadership want to escalate things - as they patently do - then so be it upon their shoulders.

And all I can say is bring it on AND so be it.

Get it?

No - you probably still don't.

[mommysboy]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

In any violent protest, it's a surprisingly small amount that actually conduct the violence, and yes usually young and male. So lower numbers actually mean just a thinning out of those not willing to fight.

I personally am once again surprised at what a bad hand the reds have played throughout, I think there chance has come and gone.

So it looks to me like Thailand is stuck with the junta for the duration.

[jdinasia]

Fair points. If you reread the post you will see that I said the government and the courts.

Courts don't have the luxury of doing what they want to do. they are stuck doing what the law requires (most of the time)!

I can see ways that the cases of the PAD leaders might get thrown out of court or the leaders handed just a slap on the wrist. (I actually expect this) However, I do expect that they will lose a BUNCH of $$ in the civil suits.

The Red leaders all are very likely guilty of sedition at this point and of inciting insurrection. Sae daeng's public grenade comments, Arisman's bring a bottle and burn BKK down comments, Jatuporn's comments oon violence and Veera's just today .... yeah they could be done. Though Jatuporn's case will have to wait until he is impeached or parliament is dissolved.

[Sunderland]

If it kicks off tonight, I don't think the red shirts will slope off home without a fight first. Today could be a very interesting day.

Will the army eventually bring out guns? Will the police back up the army? Will any of the army revolt?

Anyone who thinks the government has the situation completely under control is mistaken.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but if the authorities wade in to break up what is a biggish group of people blocking roads, then it will add further fuel to the reds' claims of double standards.

Without a shadow of doubt the yellow shirts should never have been allowed to occupy Government House or the airport. However, this cycle of civil disobedience has to end at some point or we will have the green shirts or cream shirts out next blocking somewhere else. Why don't they employ some of these unhappy people to unblock Bangkok's normal traffic jams or the blocked canals

l

Two wrongs don't make a right, but if the authorities wade in to break up what is a biggish group of people blocking roads, then it will add further fuel to the reds' claims of double standards.

Oct 7th ring a bell for you?

Absolutely. Terrible day. Remember it well.

I have a great deal of sympathy for those reds who are protesting for a brighter future. Not much sympathy for Thaksin and his supporters though. Therein lies the problem with this particular series of protests.

If the reds were to retreat now and divorce themselves from Thaksin, they could actually win the next election comfortably with mounting interest having been raised in some of the issues regarding the poor. Sadly, can't see that happening.

Thailand is now suffering from a poor political harvest, but it is all levels of society here who sowed the seeds which led to the harvest that is unfolding. Nobody else to blame but society as a whole.

Many people, of all backgrounds, have made their own choices to a certain degree, while a good many have been equally passive. Hopefully lessons will be learned from the fallout and the future will be a brighter one. Sometimes you need unfortunate circumstances to occur to provoke radical changes in the future.

[jdinasia]

I have just returned from the protest site.

Still a lot of Red-Shirts there - particularly at the Ratchaprasong and Phetburi Road junctions but in between thinning out a little. This was around 10.30 PM.

Get the feeling that a lot of them are still pretty buoyed up from the events of the day and tomorrow isn't a working day.

Noticed a lot of younger people - predominately males - very spirited - in groups moving into the area - all Red-Shirts.

My reckoning is that if the police make their move anytime soon (like tonight) then there will ineviatably - and unfortunately - be much violence.

Guaranteed.

You were calling for insurrection just a day or so ago --- and with today's speeches you certainly got sedition. If they refuse to move after this legal order then that could constitute insurrection. --- looks like you get your "bring it on" complete with the violence

Hey - thanks for remembering me.

Yes - it was a very interesting day today.

Must have hit a nerve with a couple of my postings.

If the Red-Shirt leadership want to escalate things - as they patently do - then so be it upon their shoulders.

And all I can say is bring it on AND so be it.

Get it?

No - you probably still don't.

Yes, you are clearly calling for blood on the streets. Pathetic

[Sunderland]

Fair points. If you reread the post you will see that I said the government and the courts.

Courts don't have the luxury of doing what they want to do. they are stuck doing what the law requires (most of the time)!

I can see ways that the cases of the PAD leaders might get thrown out of court or the leaders handed just a slap on the wrist. (I actually expect this) However, I do expect that they will lose a BUNCH of $$ in the civil suits.

The Red leaders all are very likely guilty of sedition at this point and of inciting insurrection. Sae daeng's public grenade comments, Arisman's bring a bottle and burn BKK down comments, Jatuporn's comments oon violence and Veera's just today .... yeah they could be done. Though Jatuporn's case will have to wait until he is impeached or parliament is dissolved.

Perhaps he will be back on the streets after Songkran in a new shirt colour demanding Parliament is not dissolved

[MiG16]

Im going to ask everyone to only discuss the topic at hand - ie. the protest, rather than turn this into a personal attack against each other, or each other's views.

by the way - the pics I posted....I cant say how many those make (my eye estimate is terrible!), but they were slowly arriving, and I presume about an hour later all of rajdamri road was filled with people

Rama I on the other hand, were a mix of people and lots of pick up trucks

[mommysboy]

mommysboy posting lies again.

There are several ways to look for HIV, everything from the fast and easy to the more advanced way that require proper analysis in a laboratory.

For one overview: http://www.avert.org/testing.htm

Absolute nuts!!

The problem is you detect one HIV lie, you are bound to start thinking what the heck else is passing out there as the truth!

Bonkers! How an earth could a broad sword test non specific test on antibodies ever detect something like the very hard to detect HIV virus?

[TAWP]

mommysboy posting lies again.

There are several ways to look for HIV, everything from the fast and easy to the more advanced way that require proper analysis in a laboratory.

For one overview: http://www.avert.org/testing.htm

Absolute nuts!!

The problem is you detect one HIV lie, you are bound to start thinking what the heck else is passing out there as the truth!

Bonkers! How an earth could a broad sword test non specific test on antibodies ever detect something like the very hard to detect HIV virus?

I see you did not even read the link, fine.

[Sunderland]

Thailand the hub of ultimatums and strict deadlines.

[snorkelador]

Absolute nuts!!

The problem is you detect one HIV lie, you are bound to start thinking what the heck else is passing out there as the truth!

Bonkers! How an earth could a broad sword test non specific test on antibodies ever detect something like the very hard to detect HIV virus?

Well, that seems like quite some harsh statements coming from someone who admits to not really knowing what he is talking about. But really, it does not really matter if the blood tested positive for HIV, Hepatitis or whatever anyway, since that is what you would just assume anyway! Ask anyone working in the medical field what the procedure for a needle stick injury are for example. Anyone who claims to be a medical professional and condones this kind of handling of human blood, should be disbanded from ever working in his profession again at the least!!!

[bulmercke]

I think some time soon - the Ratchaprasong - Phetburi Road - protest area is going to be sealed off by police and/or army.

Protesters will be allowed to leave the area BUT no-one will be allowed inside or to re-enter - including water - food etc.

QUOTE(Wiki): "Kettling, also known as containment or corralling is a police tactic for the management of large crowds during demonstrations or protests. It involves the formation of large cordons of police officers who then move to contain a crowd within a limited area. Protesters are prevented from leaving the area for several hours; as a result, detainees can be denied access to food, water and toilet facilities for a long period."

I guess the authorities will approach from all directions simultaneously:

Sukhumvit (from Phloenchit)

Rama 1 (National Stadium)

Rajadamri (Lumpini)

Phetburi Road (from both directions)

Rajadamri (from Din Daeng)

[bubblegum]

So far nothing is happening?

[bulmercke]

So far nothing is happening?

Looks that way.

I think we have to look to the early hours (3.00-4.00 AM) of Monday morning before the police/army make their move.

Least number of protesters then and lightest traffic in CBD.

Just my thoughts.

[Sunderland]

Too many drunk foreigners on the streets at this time of night ... probably 4-5 am is the likely time.

[jfchandler]

Especially in unpredictable times like this, I think it's unfortunate the BKK Post no longer has a presence here on ThaiVisa....

With the government announcement Sat. night and such, I wanted to keep up with the latest English language news and try to get a feel for how things might be headed for tomorrow..

Unfortunately, The Nation's reporting and updates, at least as presented here on the forum, are at times barely coherent and pretty scattered. So I went to The Nation's web site and its breaking news page tonight, and found almost nothing of any practical use.

So then went to the breaking news page of the BKK Post -- info that I would have read here on ThaiVisa in the past -- and found a string of pretty clear update reports from Saturday night detailing the different statements and responses as the evening progressed....

The last few times of public strife, I happily was able to get all the English language news I needed, from all the different sources, aggregated here on TV... This time, with the unfortunate loss of the BKK Post from the mix, I think anyone trying to really keep up with what's going on is going to have a hard time getting a clear read on ThaiVisa...

That, I think, is a very unfortunate change for the worse.

[Jingthing]

Oy vey, nobody is stopping anyone from going to any website, including the Bangkok Post.