Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Wednesday

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Wednesday April 7 Red-shirt rally live updates

Here you can follow the live updates from the media, hour by hour.

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ANALYSIS

Abhisit red-faced

By Tulsathit Taptim

The Nation

Red shirts swarm Silom as premier's gentlemanly strategy looks to be on the verge of backfiring

BANGKOK: -- New tactics versus old policies, and the result was arguably the best day so far for the red shirts and definitely the worst for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The day started off with a reverse of that situation. Government troops surrounded the rally site and seemed in a good position to block the protesters from leaving the Rajprasong area to carry out their threats to roam 11 prohibited Bangkok roads. Then the red shirts announced the 11-road plan was cancelled and for some unknown reason the security forces pulled out from some key strategic positions.

The rest is history. The red shirts immediately revived their 11-road plan and within a couple of hours the Silom area was swarmed, to the embarrassment of Abhisit and his peacekeeping war room. Like predators smelling blood, the masses at Rajprasong, scattered in the morning, ballooned back to their roaring peak.

All of a sudden, Abhisit found himself in his most precarious state since the red-shirt rally began more than three weeks ago. Bangkokians' frustration was palpable - and so was the red shirts' renewed confidence. Also, for the first time, the prime minister must have started questioning the loyalty of the police and some in the military.

Conspiracy theorists, though, could not yet jump to the conclusion that yesterday's setback should be totally blamed on police and military commanders who might be looking the other way. Some reports suggested it was Abhisit himself who didn't want to go all out against the rally. Supple-menting this scenario was a comment by former Democrat Party leader and ex-prime minister Chuan Leekpai, who said the government must not experiment with security measures at the expense of people's lives.

Unprecedented happening

Experiment is somewhat the correct word. What's happening is unprecedented. The location is a tourist and business hub, so when it is crammed with tens of thousands of people, the use of force could easily result in the bloodiest tragedy. Rioting at Rajprasong could also cause far greater business damage than at the traditional political rally site of Rajdamnoen Avenue.

During a subdued TV address yesterday afternoon, Abhisit and top security officials admitted that the crowd was too big to use force against, although they insisted that protest leaders' "distortion and lies" about planned government cruelty had brought more red sympathisers to the area. Abhisit told Bangkokians he was as frustrated and dissatisfied as they were, but insisted that patience and prudence were the key to resolving the situation.

Abhisit will cut short his visit to Vietnam for an Asean summit later this week. He also said that if the political situation did not improve, he would cancel his official trip to attend the "World Nuclear Conference" to be held on April 12-13 in Washington DC.

While doomsayers may be quick to state that his days are numbered, Abhisit arguably had it worse a year ago, when the same red shirts ran amok amid similar rumours about police and some military officers backstabbing him. Sources at the National Peacekeeping Operations Centre confirmed there were some conflicts, but insisted the government's apparent inaction had more to do with Abhisit's and Army chief Anupong Paochinda's unwillingness to have their hands tainted with blood.

Morever, the red shirts came better prepared strategically this time and Abhisit's enemies also appeared more flexible, ready to experiment with new tactics.

The premier has been leaning against the ropes, letting the red shirts unleash blow after blow. His gentlemanly strategy has won some praise but is on the verge of backfiring, if it has not backfired already. For many days now, Abhisit has preached patience, respect for human rights and the need to follow internationally accepted norms on political protests step by step.

Yesterday though, his press conference failed to drive home the principles that he sought to emphasise. As a pro-government rally at Chatuchak Park let out a sigh of frustration, his dilemma was just about to get worse, because the red shirts were to announce their next move at 10 am today.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Rajprasong firms mull re-opening

BANGKOK: -- Malls and hotels decide today; Siam properties, CentralWorld remain closed

The Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association called a meeting for 7am today to evaluate the red-shirt demonstration at the Rajprasong intersection and to establish whether its members will open for business, said a source at one of its member companies.

The association comprises four shopping centres - Gaysorn, Amarin Plaza, Erawan Bangkok and CentralWorld - six hotels (the InterContinental, Holiday Inn, Grand Hyatt Erawan, Four Seasons, Centara Grand and Renaissance) as well as the Maneeya Centre and President Tower office buildings.

The management of Siam Discovery, Siam Centre and Siam Paragon on Monday decided to open their malls on Tuesday from 11pm to 6pm, but abruptly changed their decision yesterday morning.

The three malls in the Siam area are closed today, while the CentralWorld shopping mall also remains closed.

The Offices at CentralWorld - located next to CentralWorld - will be open tomorrow, but staff working in the building will mostly take the Skytrain instead of driving to work.

The building has adopted very tight security and everyone who enters has to show identification. Retail outlets such as Starbucks will be open for the staff.

Some companies in the building have encouraged staff to work from home. For example, Ogilvy & Mather told its workers the office would close at 1pm and staff could work from home if they wished.

Five-star hotels in the Rajprasong area have adopted tight security measures. The Four Seasons Hotel has stopped accepting guests for the time being.

Central Department Store's Chidlom branch opened on Monday but was closed yesterday. Its spokesperson told The Nation that there were only a few shoppers and "perhaps people feared for their safety".

As of press time, the store will open its doors at 11pm today.

Meanwhile, the Pathum Wan intersection is currently a livelier shopping spot, as MBK has opened its doors every day since the red shirts moved on the Rajprasong area last Saturday.

The nearby Jim Thompson House has remained opened for tourists. It is business as usual at the museum, which has recorded between 450 and 500 visitors a day.

Besides the premises, which are surrounded by a beautiful garden, Jim Thompson House features a silk shop and a library. Its current attraction is "The Tropics - View from the Middle of the Globe", being held at its art centre.

The Charoen Pokphand Food Group's head office - in the CP Building located on Silom Road - will be open today, even though the red shirts yesterday rallied on Silom, one of 11 routes proscribed by the government on Monday.

Meanwhile, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa remains optimistic that the red-shirt protest will not have much of an impact on overall tourism business.

"Tourist arrivals dropped 30,000 year on year in March, but have increased by 30,000 this month," he said.

He said the red-shirt rally in the Rajprasong area would affect domestic cash flow rather than foreign spending. However, he added that the ministry would be launching new tourism stimulus measures to make up for any lost ground.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Red-shirts to Go on Mobile Rally at 9 a.m.

The red-shirt group has prepared motorcycles to go on a mobile rally today.

The procession will leave the Panfah Bridge area at 9 a.m.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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TAN Network: PM: Cabinet to deliberate extending security act for BKK, Samut Prakan, and Nonthaburi to April 20 today

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Bomb Explosion at Police Kiosk in Nawamin Area

An M26 grenade was thrown into a police kiosk in the Nawamin area since early this morning.

The explosion injured 2 bystanders.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-07

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Internal Security Act to Be Extended Until Apr 20

The Cabinet will consider the proposal to extend the Internal Security Act to cover key risk areas in Bangkok, Nonthabri and Samutprakarn until April 20.

-- Tan Network 2010-06-07

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MCOT: PM attends Cabinet meeting at Parliament, mulling ISA extension until April 20; Suthep denies ordering military to crack down on protesters

THE NATION: Many Rajprasong office workers entered workplaces through backdoors. red leaders yet to announce today's plan.

THE NATION: PM said the Peacekeeping Operations Command recommended the extension of ISA enforcement by one week only.

THE NATION: Nation SMS: PM has left Parliament, where Cabinet's still going on, and is heading toward 11th Regiment.

THE NATION: Intresting: 1 of red speakers didn't close door on talks w/ 4 exPMs as mediators. But PM must back away from '9 months' 1st.

THE NATION: ISA extended to April 20: PM

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Chavalit suitable to broker peace: Sanan

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart on Wednesday floated his idea for brokering peace between the government and the red shirts by using Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh as a go-between.

"I think Chavalit can be a middleman to bring about peace," he said.

Sanan said he was still optimistic about the resumption of negotiations between the government and the red shirts.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Two injured from bomb at Tesco Lotus in Nawamin area

BANGKOK (TNA) -- A hand grenade, believed to be an M-26, hurled at the exit road of a Tesco Lotus hypermarket in the Nawamin area, left two persons wounded and damaged a vehicle of the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, a highway rescue organisation.

Two men were slightly injured by shrapnel from the explosive -- one police security volunteer, the other a store empoloyee. Both were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment.

After inspectingd the scene, police believed that the bomb was thrown from a small access road beside the store and that the incident may have been an attempt to create disorder by agitators.

Police also said that the conflict between Ruamkatanyu Foundation, a voluntary operation of search and rescue unit, and a rival foundation may be the cause of the attack.

The windows and tires of a Ruamkatanyu Foundation vehicle parked at the Tesco Lotus parking lot were damanged by the bomb.

Police were checking the closed circuit television record to gather evidence on the assailants. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-07

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Four ex-PMs roped to find way out of crisis

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Four former prime ministers have accepted a proposal by the National Human Rights Commission to sit together and find a solution for the ongoing political crisis, a rights commissioner said yesterday.

Former prime ministers Anand Panyarachun, Banharn Silapa-acha, Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Chuan Leekpai agreed to have a consultative meeting together, as well as with religious leaders and intellectuals, to end the crisis, said Dr Chuchai Supawong, secretary of the human rights commission. The form, forum, place and time for the talks would be decided later, he said.

The human rights commissioner has monitored the political situation closely and found that the actions of the government and the red-shirt protesters were within the legal framework, he said.

However, the siege of the Election Commission on Monday by some of the red shirts crossed the limits the group had promised the public, Dr Chuchai said.

The human rights commission will gather the views and demands of the protesters and all concerned parties and place them before the four former premiers, community and religious leaders and academics, he said.

The commission remained hopeful that the political conflict between the government and the red shirts could be resolved through peaceful ways.

Chamni Sakdiset, a senior |member of the ruling Democrat |Party who participated in two rounds of talks with the red shirts, said |the door for negotiations remained open.

But the daily violence by unknown groups might lead to an impasse, he warned.

The leader of the red-shirt Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, Veera Musigapong, is not the real leader of the red group and his demand for dissolution of Parliament is simply a decoy, Chamni said.

"The chance for talks remains, but I don't know what we could say if there was another round," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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TAN Network: red-shirt leaders welcome proposal for political reform talk by 4 former prime ministers

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All sides urged to uphold peace

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Political Development Council (PDC) has issued a declaration urging all sides to refrain from resorting to violent measures and to form strategies to reform the country upon the ongoing political upheaval.

Reading out the declaration, PDC Chairperson, Prof Suchit Bunbongkarn, encouraged all sides to find both short and long term solutions to the political crisis. The declaration was issued after the meeting of the council on Tuesday.

For short-term solutions, the PDC asks all sides not to use violent measures to solve problems, abide by laws, and make movements following the individual rights. The PDC also supports the negotiation session, but the decision to dissolve the house would depend on both sides.

The PDC has volunteered to coordinate with all sides to help find an exit by opening a discussion forum to formulate strategies for Thai society reform in the long-term, in order to drive the country forward in the desirable ways.

-- NNT 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Red shirts from Phan Fa are heading to Parliament to pressure PM who is holding Cabinet meeting there.

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No Gov't-Army rift: Suthep

BANGKOK: -- Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban on Wednesday dismissed the allegation that the government and the Army had differed on how to deal with the red shirts at Rajprasong.

"Army chief General Anupong Paochinda remains cooperative in trying to solve the problem and has no conflict with the government," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Reds have arrived at Parliament. Wonder if they know Abhisit has already left. Suthep is inside and all gates are all closed.

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Thailand extends security law as protests drag on

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand extended a tough security law Wednesday as protesters massed in Bangkok's main commercial district for a fifth day and vowed to march to parliament and the prime minister's house.

The red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have been emboldened after the police and army backed down on Tuesday after a tense standoff in the capital's tourist heartland.

The authorities have threatened to arrest the protesters, who are mostly from Thailand's poor and working class and see Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government as elitist and undemocratic.

But so far no arrests have been made and the security forces have refrained from using force to disperse the tens of thousands of protesters, who have disrupted traffic and caused major shopping centres to shut.

The government said it would act if needed to end the protests, but reiterated that it wanted a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

"If it is inevitable, we will act," said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security.

The cabinet extended a special security law -- which allows authorities to set up checkpoints, impose curfews and limit movement -- for another two weeks.

Suthep denied local media reports that it was the army chief who had refused Tuesday to use force to break up the mass demonstrations, which business leaders fear will damage the tourist industry and wider economy.

The Reds threatened to parade by truck, car and motorcycle to parliament and then Abhisit's house, which was targeted by protesters last month throwing bags of their own blood.

The Reds say the government is illegitimate because it came to power with army backing through a parliamentary vote in December 2008 after a court decision ousted Thaksin's allies from power.

Reds leader Nattawut Saikuar urged Abhisit to step down, saying he was unable to govern the country.

"Prime Minister Abhisit cannot carry on his work, so why does he still want to be in office?" he told the crowd from the rally stage.

British-born Abhisit, whose CV includes an expensive education at Britain's Eton College followed by Oxford University, does not have to go to the polls until the end of next year.

But observers say that when he does face the people, his failure to connect with the rural masses means he has dim prospects against the pro-Thaksin forces that have won every election for a decade.

The mainly poor and rural followers of Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon who lives abroad to avoid a jail term for corruption, fervently support the populist policies he introduced before his ouster in a 2006 coup.

They largely dismiss allegations that Thaksin's 2001-2006 reign was marked by corruption, cronyism and grave human rights abuses.

Thaksin sought to rally his supporters on Wednesday morning in a brief message through the micro-blogging service Twitter, praising their "courage, patience and unity."

On Tuesday protesters threw plastic bottles, pushed against police barricades and later took over the streets of central Bangkok on motorcycles and in pick-up trucks, pouring into the capital's financial district.

The military has mounted a heavy security response, deploying 50,000 personnel at one point to try to contain the protests, which drew as many as 100,000 people on the first day on March 14.

But the government wants to avoid a repeat of last April's clashes with Red Shirts that left two people dead, six months after riot police took on the rival Yellow Shirts in bloody scenes outside parliament.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-07

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Parliamentary and Cabinet Meeting Canceled, Red-shirts Won't Let Anyone Out

BANGKOK: -- House Speaker Chai Chidchob has called for an end to today's Parliamentary meeting after the a number of red-shirt protesters have announced their plan to surround Parliament to 'peacefully' force the Abhisit administration to call for House dissolution.

Security has been heightened at Parliament, especially at the gates to prevent the red-shirt protesters from storming inside the Parliamentary compound.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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Red shirts besiege Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt protesters started besieging the Parliament at 11 am Wednesday.

Following the arrival of the protesters, officials closed all gates.

Cabinet members and some officials who attended the weekly Cabinet meeting inside the Parliament compound could not leave the compound.

Parliament President Chai Chidchob informed the MPs during a House meeting that some 700 protesters were staging a blockade of Parliament and many more could join them.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Cabinet assigns ICT to take action against Dstation

BANGKOK: -- The Cabinet assigns on Wednesday Information and Communication Technology to talk to Thaicom satellite firm about a satellite television channel which broadcast distorted information about the government and the country.

Supachai Jaisamut, deputy government spokesman, said that Thaicom would be asked to take action with the television channel before noon.

He did not name the channel but it is understood that he was referring to Dstation or People Channel of the red shirts.

Supachai said Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban who chaired the cabinet meeting on Tuesday raised the matter in the meeting.

The Cabinet then agreed to assign the ICT ministry to talk to Thaicom.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: things getting heat up at Parliament. Hundreds of protesters outside/more r coming. Hundreds of police inside have moved close to the fence.

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Thaivisa: Reds besiege Parliament: Many protesters block MPs from leaving. Hundreds of police inside for protection.

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MCOT: PM cancels plan to go to US to attend Nuclear Summit in Washington DC April 10-15, concerned over political situation

THE NATION: Some MPs are said to have climbed over parliament fence to escape from the mobs.

THE NATION: Suthep and Satit reportedly still remain inside Parliament.

TAN Network: Most Cabinet mins & MPs have managed to find way out of Parliament after the red-shirt protesters have surrounded the compound

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THE NATION: Red leaders trying 2restrain some protesters trying to push or climb their way into parliament. "Don't u break the law", the leaders shout

THE NATION: Helicopter from 11th Regiment is coming to pick up ministers trapped inside Parliament.

TAN Network: PTV: Deputy PM Suthep and PM Abhisit believe to still be inside Parliament,waiting for helicopter transport to 11th Infantry

THE NATION: The first MP reported to have climbed over the fence to safety is Chumpol Silapa-archa.

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THE NATION: Reds at Parliament said to be moving to Thaicom station in Kae Rai following govt request that red station signals be cut.

THE NATION: A helicopter is coming to pick up DPM Suthep Thaugsuban who is stuck in the Parliament:NNA

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Pro-Thaksin protesters block Parliament entrance

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of red shirts protesters block the Parliament on Wednesday, forcing some ministers and MPs to climb up over fences of the Parliament to escape from the protesters.

A television channel showed Tourism Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa, 70, used a ladder to climb over the fences.

Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and some Democrat MPs were seen trapping inside the Parliament compound. It was reported that a helicopter would be sent in to lift him.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who chaired the Cabinet meeting abruptly left the Parliament reportedly after learning that the protesters would march to his residence.

The Parliament was used as a venue of the weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The MPs also met in parliamentary session there when the protesters who moved from Pan Fah Bridge to the Parliament, blocked the entrances.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Red protesters moving away from Parliament now, heading to Thaicom station.

THE NATION: Headline on manager website: (Translation) Honourables scramble over fence to flee lunatic reds

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Red shirts protesters heading to Thaicom satellite firm

Red shirts protesters left the Parliament and headed to Thaicom satellite firm in Nonthaburi province where their DStation is transmitted after learning that the government sought blocking of the transmission.

The protesters blocked the entrances of the Parliament at about 11am, forcing the Parliamentary session to abruptly finish.

They left the Parliament at about noon.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Chavalit among the four ex-PMs designated as peacemakers? I'll say bring back Dr Weng!!

THE NATION: Remnants of reds have entered Parliament, reportedly led by Arisman.

TAN Network: Red-shirt protesters breached Parliament gates, illegally entered compound.

MCOT: Arisman leads Red Shirt protesters breaking through fence to enter Parliament compound

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Red-shirt Protesters Breached Security Barriers, Enter Parliament Compound

BANGKOK: -- A number of red-shirt protesters have managed to get pass security officials who were acting as human barricades around the various gates of Parliament. They've now breached the entrances and entered the Parliamentary compound with Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban believed to still be inside.

Speaker on red-shirt makeshift stage in front of Parliament is now urging the protesters to leave the Parliamentary compound. The live broadcast by PTV shows a scene of chaos wiht protesters moving in different directions, some of them are getting rowdy and impatient.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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