Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Wednesday

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THE NATION: Btw, the "fake" reds are negotiating with deputy House speaker Apiwan inside parliament building.

TAN Network: Red-shirt leaders at Ratchaprasong deny storming of Parliament was part of plan sanctioned by red leaders.

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Red-shirt Leaders at Ratchaprasong Deny Storming of Parliament Part of Plan

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leaders at Ratchaprasong intersection have denied that the breach into Parliamentary compound was part of a plan sanctioned by core red-shirt leaders.

Core leaders are now believed to be attending a secret meeting in a remote location.

Arisman Pongruengrong is responsible for leading the protest at Parliament.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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TAN Network: Arisman holds up a bomb, claimed govt threw it at red-shirt protesters.Urged protesters to personally ask Dep PM Suthep abt it.

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Arisman Claims Govt Throws Bomb at Red-shirt at Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruengrong, leader of the red-shirt protest at Parliament, held up a bomb claimed to have been thrown at the red-shirt protesters by the government.

Arisman is calling for Pheu Thai Party MPs to ask Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban about the alleged bomb attack against the red-shirt demonstrators.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Two men in red with tear gas found at the Parliament in the sea of red. Reds leader Arisman was quick to pronounce them 'fake".

THE NATION: Wonder those who climb and try to bring down the gate are also fake. It seems genuine reds are very rare as seen on TV.

THE NATION: Apiwan, deputy house speaker, promised to investigate the bombs, which reportedly were not in a state to cause damage.

THE NATION: PBS reported the two men with tear gas had been 'arrested' by Arisman. So leave fake to real red & govt only has to take care of real ones.

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Apiwan asks red shirts not to break in into Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai, accompanied by Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul, negotiated with red-shirt protesters, telling them to calm down and refrain from breaking into Parliament.

The protesters demanded to go inside to see if Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was still inside.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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TAN Network: PTV:Red-shirts didn't mean to enter Parliamentary compound,enraged by 2 petrol bombs thrown at protesters.

THE NATION: One heck of a TV scene. Arisman on back of truck inside parliament gates, tear gas "bombs" in his hand. PheuThai MPs trying to calm him down

TAN network: Update:Arisman claimed 2 molotov bombs allegedly thrown at redss by govt.Authorities deny such bombs used by security agencies

THE NATION: Pheu thai MPs negotiating with Arisman, who furiously wants to show Suthep to "bombs".

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Anti-riot sound beam device deployed at Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Anti-riot sound-beam, known as Long-range acoustic device, was on standby to control the crowd in front of Parliament.

As the protesters were trying to break into the compound of Parliament, the anti-riot sound beam truck was sent to the scene, ready to blast the protesters with the riot control device.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Red-shirts Storm Pass Gates, Enter Parliamentary Compound

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt protesters, led by one of the red-shirt core leaders Arisman Pongruengrong, started their mobile rally at Parliament this morning by surrounding all gates and entrances in to the Parliamentary compound. The demonstration has prompted House Speaker Chai Chidchob to adjourn the Parliamentary meeting in session early while most Cabinet ministers and MPs have managed to slip pass the demonstrators and left the compound safely.

However, at around 12.30 p.m. a number of protesters have breached the barricades set up by security agencies outside of Parliament and entered onto the grounds of Parliament. Live broadcast of red-shirt PTV showed scene of chaos with protesters moving in all directions. Red-shirt leaders at Ratchaprasong intersection have denied they had sanctioned the move by the protesters to storm Parliament.

Shortly after the protesters entered the compound of Parliament, Arisman claimed he has in his possession a bomb that was meant to be thrown at the red-shirt protesters. The head of security at Parliament responded on a loud speaker, denying that the bomb belongs to the police force responsible for safeguarding Parliament.

Right now, Arisman is calling for 20 strong men to find Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, who's believed to still be inside the Parliamentary compound, and ask him about the alleged bomb attack.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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Red shirt protesters claim police inside Parliament armed with M16 rifle

Red-shirt guards displayed an M16 assault rifle they claimed they have found inside Parliament.

A guard walked outside from the Parliament at 1:06 pm.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: ow 20 men came out from Parliament with guns they found inside. Strange now that the seizure of arms is the police duty!

TAN Network: Red shows a piece of firearm,claimed to have been taken from security official at Parliament,to Thai and foreign media.

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Deputy PM Suthep Evacuated from Parliament by Helicopter

PTV reported that Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and his close associates have been evacuated from Parliament via a helicopter.

They are believed to be heading to the 11th Infantry Regiment.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: The red invaders finally retreated back but still gathered outside the gates.

THE NATION: Red TV claimed Suthep had run for his life to get to the rescue helicopter which had come to pick him up from Parliament.

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Nation: Suthep, Satit Panitan have arrived at 11th regiment. Tense meeting going on. Leaders are asking reds at Parliament to retreat to Phan Fa.

MCOT: Red Shirt's PTV: Deputy PM Suthep, govt spokesman Panitan, Democrat MPs flee parliament building by helicopter to 11th Infantry Regiment

Twitter user: Do we still have something called 'Police' or 'government'?

Nation: Deputy PM Suthep arrives 11th Infantry Regiment by helicopter; Red Shirts at Parliament return to main rally site at Phan Fa Bridge

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Apiwan tells his fellow red shirts military stop support govt

BANGKOK: -- Deputy House Speaker Apiwan Wiriyachai went up on the mobile sound truck of the red-shirt protesters in front of Parliament and told them the military was about to withdraw support for the government.

Calling the protesters his "fellow red shirts", Apiwan pleaded them not break into Parliament.

He said he received the phone call from the secretary of the defence minister that the military had stopped supporting the government.

Apiwan told the protesters that they were about to achieve the victory.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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Nation: Arisman has returned to Rajaprasong stage to deafening roars.

Twitter user: Govt should take note - Reds claim they're protected by sacred power & that's why no weapon can harm them.(refer to arms)

Bangkokpundit:Abhisit seems cool & calm unlike some ppl calling 4 crackdown. A crackdown has consequences & as PM he will be asked to take responsibility

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THE NATION: One report says the bombs were thrown from inside. Anothr says the bombs were seized from "fake reds" in the crowd.

THE NATION: Another report says reds pushed down a cop and seized the bombs from him.

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THE NATION: To those of you who are foreigners out there, this is one of Arisman's better days:

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THE NATION: Another key player emerged - Banharn will hold a press conference at 5pm. Interesting..what he has to say...

THE NATION: banharn to give a press conference at 5 pm. a potentially major development to watch.

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THE NATION: Security Act is now extended from April 8-20 and if needed, Suthep says govt will consider the emergency act.

THE NATION: Urgent for shopaholics-- Siam Discovery is opened today until 9pm but the entrance is from PhyaThai Rd and the BTS link on3rd Fl only.

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THE NATION :And now that we are at it, here's one fo the guys who led Suvanabhumi seizure:

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bangkokpundit: If true that military is issuing ultimatumst, Abhisit should fire Anupong (not going 2 happen & yes there is an element of Schadenfreude)

So what will Banharn say at 5pm? 1 Will he back Abhisit? 2 Will he abandon him? 3 Will he plead for talks? Doubt 3, more likely mix of 1 & 2

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Govt enforcement of emergency decree under talks

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The enforcement of the Emergency Decree has been discussed at the Cabinet meeting today to allow a crackdown on anti-government protestors.

The discussion follows the ruling of the civil court, which ruled that the ongoing rally was a violation of the ISA, causing damages to the public. The civil court has given the government full entitlement in handling the anti-government demonstrations.

The meeting today discussed plans to enforce the Emergency decree to counter the UDD’s announcement of stepping up demonstrations which might lead to violence. The recent crowd at the Ratchaprasong junction and the main rally site at Phan Fah Bridge provide an opportunity for third-parties to incite chaos.

However the decisions to enforce the Emergency Decree is yet to be concluded.

Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs, Suthep Thaugsuban this morning has required the coalition party representatives to attend a meeting held at the Center for the Administration for Peace and Order (CAPO) to seek exchanges of ideas to ensure mutual understanding. Discussions also included special laws that will be enforced to tackle the demonstrators ranging from soft to hard measures to maintain order.

Meanwhile a second meeting led by the deputy prime minister was attended by representatives of coalition parties. The representatives collectively confirmed their stance for house dissolution at the end of the year or next year. However the representatives have requested a charter amendment to be completed prior to house dissolution.

-- NNT 2010-04-07

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Democrats handing out 100,000 stickers opposing the red shirts

The Democrats have started on Wednesday to distribute 100,000 stickers to say no to the dissolution of Parliament, seen as an act of defiance to the demanded of the red shirts.

The campaign to counter the red shirts is spearheaded by three MPs, Boonyod Sukthinthai, Watchara Phetthong and Pojanat Kaewpaluek.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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ICT Ministry ordered to shut down “People Channel”

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been instructed to cooperate with its contract partner, Thaicom Plc, to shut down the “People Channel” of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban stated the order was made in line with a clause of the contract stating that the ministry is authorized to force the contract partner to cut TV signals of those stations which operate in a way that threatens national security.

Mr Suthep explained the UDD has been using the People Channel station to provoke its supporters by supplying them with distorted information affecting the national security.

However, the deputy prime minister noted that he has the next plan if the ministry could not do as assigned. He added that the plan has already been proposed to the cabinet, and the members have expressed their support in the closure of the channel.

The UDD recently announced to march to the Thaicom Plc located in the central province of Nonthaburi to prevent the company from disconnecting the signal for the channel broadcast. The UDD also threatened to gather at provincial city halls nationwide if its channel is really shut down.

Nevertheless, Mr Suthep warned UDD supporters against the action, saying they would be arrested and legal action would be taken against them immediately.

Meanwhile, UDD Secretary-General Nattawut Saikua warned the government against its attempt to close down the People Channel because the move would affect TV signals of other countries, causing those stations to sue the government. He said the government must declare clearly that it would use the money from the ruling Democrat Party in paying for the damage.

-- NNT 2010-04-07

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Pattaya News: [Pattaya One] Pattaya Red Shirts leave City Hall and move to protect their local radio station from closure

THE NATION: Suthep: "this is a drama series with many episodes" He said that when asked ab Rajprasong seizure.

THE NATION: The government will have a press cons in an hour. Stay tuned.

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TAN Network: police seek arrest warrant against Arisman and group for intrusion into Parliament; 19 summoned for for closing Ratchaprasong intersection

MCOT: Red Shirt leaders face arrest warrants after storming Parliament, court summons 19 Red Shirt leaders at Ratchaprasong to acknowledge charges

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THE NATION: Banharn press con

THE NATION: Banharn: "Impossible to dissolve House within 15 days. Constitution must b amendmend first. End of yr is reasonale timeframe"

THE NATION: Banharn: "Govt must move ahead and implement its policies."

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THE NATION: Weng on the Reds raid Parliament "It is Arisman's own act and decision without consent of other leaders."

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Sathit says govt will make announcement soon

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey posted a message on his Twitter page at 4:15 pm that the government will make an announcement in about an hour.

Satit posted the message at 4:15 pm.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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THE NATION: Banharn said he would be worried if govt wanted to use force to disperse reds.

THE NATION: Banharn: "govt and reds must take one step back each."

THE NATION: Banharn: "If it will have to come to use of force, let's pray it won't be the same as Oct 7, 2008."

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Weng says Arisaman should not have stormed inside Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Weng Tojirakarn, a red-shirt leader, said Arisaman Pongruangrong, another leader, should not have led protesters to storm inside Parliament Wednesday afternoon.

Weng said storming inside Parliament was a nonviolence way.

But he said Arisaman made the decision on his own without consulting the red-shirt movement so the action was Arisman's personal action, not related to the group's decision.

-- The Nation 2010-04-07

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