Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Tuesday

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Arrest warrants for red-shirts core leaders approved

Arrest warrants for the 10 co-leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been approved by the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) this Tuesday afternoon, according to acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

-- The Nation 2010-04-06

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Related topic/summary

Thai protesters skirmish with police in tourist hub

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Protest...-T-t353766.html

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Red-shirt Leader Claims PTV Will be Shut Down, Intensify Gathering Tomorrow

The red-shirt leaders have announced on the stage that PTV is facing the threat of being shut down by the government.

They also plan to intensify the degree of demonstration tomorrow.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-06

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[george]

ThaiPBS Evening News:

Evening News lead story is the reds confronting the police on road close to Silom. Able to push through police line due to numbers (via Bangkokpundit)

There was no mention at the UDD presser about further talks with the government. Nattawut says they will ignore the regulations issued pursuant to Internal Security Act.

Is it is noticeable the lack of ppl at stores around Rajaprasong. Foreigners mostly still coming, but fewer Thais (via Bangkokpundit).

Deputy PM Suthep states if red leaders are on stage they can arrest immediately. Once they leave, need to seek warrant.

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Red Shirts vow to intensify protest Wednesday

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand's anti-government ‘Red Shirt’ United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) movement on Tuesday announced their intention to intensify the group's protest on Wednesday if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva remains adamant and ignores their demand for House dissolution, while four former prime ministers agree to meet to try to find a solution to the country’s current political crisis.

After paralysing the capital's main shopping and luxury hotel district for the fourth day, UDD key leaders Nattawut Saikua, Jatuporn Prompan and Weng Tojirakarn told a news conference Tuesday evening after a tense day-long campaign against the government across the capital they will stay put at Ratchaprasong intersection and will intensify their moves Wednesday.

Mr Nattawut however refused to disclose what and how the protesters will do as part of their so-called daily intensified campaign.

The protest leader reiterated that the incidents which occurred throughout Tuesday with red-shirted protesters at the Ratchaprasong area proved that the government has prepared the combined forces of military personnel and police for dispersing the crowd, not for persuading them to leave the capital’s prime commercial area as the premier earlier said.

Insisting that the UDD protests are peaceful and unarmed, Mr Nattawut said that the Red Shirt protesters have successfully convinced the military personnel at their posts to return to their barracks and that the state's regulations mean nothing to them.

“The prime minister’s orders are useless since the protesters have defied the ban and marched to all 11 streets and the protest leaders have not been arrested yet,” the UDD leader said. “That demonstrates that the government has lost its legitimacy to run the country.”

“The regulations are just pieces of paper that can be easily torn up anytime. Why is the premier still holding on to power?," he asked.

Regarding possible summons for the protest leaders, Mr Nattawut shrugged off the threat, saying the Red Shirt legal team has been assigned to deal with the matter.

The UDD leader accused the government of possibly readying to order closure of the Reds’ television station, PTV (People’s Television), while another Red Shirt leader Mr Jatuporn said that Red Shirt supporters upcountry will gather at city halls nationwide Tuesday night.

Prime Minister Abhisit spoke on national television Tuesday afternoon saying that he and security-concerned officials have closely monitored the Red Shirt protests and considered the UDD rallies as violating the Constitution.

The premier said the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) Tuesday morning deployed security personnel near Ratchaprasong intersection to carry out their operation persuading the crowd to leave the area and informing them about their unlawful protest.

"The Red Shirt leaders gave distorted information to their supporters, saying that their protest is legal," said Mr Abhisit. "They also announced that state officials will crack down on the public and used their television station to publicise incorrect information."

The Red Shirt leaders could mobilise a large number of people who misunderstood about the incident. Security officials eventually decided to retreat to ease the tension and avoid any loss, according to the prime minister.

Mr Abhisit pledged that the government is trying to restore normalcy as soon as possible, saying he will adjust his planned visit to Vietnam to attend the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) Summit scheduled April 7-10 and will cancel his trip next week trip to Washington, D.C. for the Nuclear Security Summit if the situation does not return to normal by Saturday.

In other related developments, Dr Chuchai Supawong, secretary-general of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) revealed that four former prime ministers--Chavalit Yongchaiyuth, Banharn Silapa-archa, Chuan Leekpai and Anand Panyarachun--have agreed to attend a NHRC forum to map out a solution for the country‘s political crisis.

Dr Chuchai said that the event will be held after the Thai traditional new year or Songkran festival and that the agency planned to call a meeting among religious leaders, former prime ministers, social activists, academics and community leaders to brainstorm ideas to address social problems and injustice in social structures. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-06

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Related topic:

Bank Of Thailand Expresses Concern Over Damages From Red-Shirt Protest

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bank-Thailan...-D-t353802.html

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PM deems UDD rallies unconstitutional

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva pointed out that the ongoing rallies of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) were unacceptable following the group’s defiance to the law and the government's orders.

Prime Minister Abhisit told the press that the UDD’s anti-government protests were unlawful, especially the besiegement of Ratchaprasong Junction in the heart of Bangkok. He elaborated that the demonstration had reached a critical point after the government's orders and the restriction by the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) on 11 roads in the capital were ignored by the group.

At the same time, the Prime Minister assured that the government and CAPO would enforce security laws and conduct legal procedures in a cautious manner in compliance with universal principles. He stressed his intention to restore peace and orderliness in the country as soon as possible.

The Civil Court recently dismissed a request from the Office of the Prime Minister to evict UDD demonstrators from Ratchaprasong Junction, clarifying that the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) was already fully empowered to suppress the demonstrators and handle the situation. According to the Prime Minister, CAPO has assigned police and legal officers to take legal action against UDD leaders and any individuals found violating the law and committing criminal offenses.

PM Abhisit added that his plan to attend the International Conference on Nuclear in New York City, United States of America, on 10 April 2010 might need to be cancelled if the chaotic situation in the country had not been settled.

-- NNT 2010-04-06

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Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjjajiva Vows to Promptly Restore Peace and Order to the Thai Society

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva states his disappointment with the solving of the political rally impasse and vows to work devotedly to restore peace and order to the Thai society as soon as possible.

Speaking from the 11th Infantry Regiment, flanked by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan this afternoon, the Prime Minister confirmed that he and all responsible persons in the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order, CAPO, had been closely following up on the situation and had worked tirelessly to seek the way out and restore peace and order to the Thai society.

He pointed out that the Government had worked to clearly show that the rallies were held beyond the demonstrators’ constitutional rights, and had propagated the fact to the demonstrators to a certain extent.

With the verdict made by the Civil Court, CAPO had sent in military and police officers to enforce the law, according to the defined steps and international practices. The reinforcement was made to start the information campaign for demonstrators to realize the unlawfulness of the rally. At the same time, arrest warrants had been requested from the court for the speakers on stage, as the inciters of an unlawful rally. In this case, police officers were told that they could arrest law violators on the spot, without arrest warrants. Only when they wanted to arrest those people afterwards, that the court procedure would be required, thus the arrest warrants were not issued. Police were told to summon those violators instead, except when it was possible to arrest them on the spot.

The Prime Minister cited that core leaders of protesters had distorted the court verdict to mislead demonstrators that the rallies were lawful, and that authorities were prepared to break up the rally with force. These were repeated by the UDD television network, inciting more demonstrators to join the rally, making law enforcement difficult.

The Prime Minister confirmed that CAPO, the Government and himself remained committed to enforce the law and solve the problems. He was well aware of the dissatisfaction on the part of the general public who wanted to see the end to the illegal protest. He admitted that he was also disappointed with the solving of the tense situation, but was not discouraged in working towards the goal of restoring normalcy to the country as soon as possible.

On his part, the Prime Minister would curtail his visit to Vietnam, in order to stay in touch with the situation at home. Should the problem remain up to 10 April, he would cancel his trip to Washington D.C. to take part in the Nuclear Security Summit.

The Prime Minister said he remained hopeful that the Thai people would be able to celebrate Songkran normally. He and all officials would do their best to restore peace and order to the Thai society.

-- NNT 2010-04-06

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Wednesday April 7 Red-shirt rally live updates

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...dn-t353867.html