State Of Emergency Decree Imposed In Bangkok

[Crushdepth]

They're stripping down and have declared they will now be known as the 'white undies'.

They'll be the 'brown undies' after they start getting tear gassed and whacked with riot gear.

[jdinasia]

......what part is illegial - the illegal government in place or the reds who just claim equal justice and recognition -

Our government is perfactly legal under the Thai constitution (as would be the case in many western countries)!!

opalhort

Not only fully legal but also fully recognized by the other governments of the world. Aussimike's hyperbole is just that ....

[hammered]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

Disney Channel probably.

red tv for rachaprsong actually. if you follow it every night you will see for yourself

outisde bkk stuff just relayed from what locals are reporting. up to you if you want to believe it or not. I have no comment on the veracity as Im not there

[Sunderland]

Nuttawut is doing a bit of karaoke now.

Difficult to estimate how many red shirts there are there. Possible that some have moved to the edges of the area they have settled in to protect the main crowd. Don't see many of the younger guards in front of the stage.

[Redsunset]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

Disney Channel probably.

lols! CLASSIC!

[hammered]

earlier Jatuporn said the crackdown would begin at 9PM. Hasnt yet

[Sunderland]

More singing from Nuttawut and friends.

Might get a singing contract from Grammy after this all ends!

[leon9mm]

It's about time! Totally justified for all the world to see.

A message to the good people of Thailand.

I can tell you with confidence the vast majority of foreigners support your honorable PM Abhisit in his valiant effort to fight anarchic red shirt's illegal attempt at revolution and the rule of a violent mob. Good luck to and best hopes for a PEACEFUL resolution.

i dont think so ,,, the elected pm is on the run because of an army coup and i for one do not support military juntas....

[Jerrytheyoung]

I am an Aussie who subscribes to Thai Visa. I have been following this since it started, mostly on the "news only" topics. I am about to book flights from KL to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Krabi for May.

Do I book or not?? at the moment my only financial commitment to Thailand is $200, that will increase to $2000 if I book.Now a State of Emergency has been declared that voids travel insurance.

Ok folks - what do I do? Well me and probably thousands of other tourists.

My sister is coming in May too - her first overseas holiday - there are 18 in her group.

No problem, Thais people, Red or yellow shirts, are very polite and civilised- except when they discuss between themselves-.

But due to the exagerate fear of some Foreigners the price of your ticket may drop tomorrow? maybe...

Not necessarily true - if airline flies to a risk area, their insurance on the plane and the flight crew would dramatically increase, so the ticket price might go up or flight even cancelled.

NOTE:

To be considered as war zone, it must be a conflict recognised by United Nations. I remember the conflict with crew unions in France, when refusing to fly to Beyrouth where there was a bombing every hours (serious 100's kg of TNT, not Thai grenades), but the conflict has been long to be repertoried by UN... So Air france management obliging to fly there... particularly Cabin crew upset.

[Dodobird]

Will they block twitter?

No way, how else will Abhisit update his Twitter blog?

One of the reason to declare a state of emergency is to stop the spreading of distorted information which has led to social divisiveness. If distorted information is not allowed, will this apply also to TWIITER? I am thinking who will decide what is distorted info?

[Phuket1]

Will they block twitter?

No way, how else will Abhisit update his Twitter blog?

Reminds me of the effectiveness during the last coup. Remember when the tanks ousted the elected government. It was not just Thaksin they got out (thats for the Thaksin Anguish crowd) it was the ELECTED GOVERNMENT)

Anyway, on BBC news they were saying that the bbc had been taken off the air in Thailand. As we were watching it live at the time in a bar in Hua Hin, we didn't believe it.

Even the Iranians couldn't control the media and they really were killing and maining on a grand scale

What's all this shit about. All channels are still working. And how can you say while watching BBC that they (BBC) said that they are taken off.

Don't talk crap !!

[LuckyFive8888]

With Thaksin, Thailand will never be the same again.

The current government are trying their best for the benefit of all Thais not only for the Thais in the N and NE regions etc. Thaksin was very successful on brainwashing these

Regions with his populist policies, with hidden agenda, that he (his party) secure their votes and would be able to stay in power as long as he wants. If only he did not abuse his

power and be a real populist and served all Thais nothing like this would be happening now. Worst part of it is, he declared a class war that even widened the gap of the majority

poor and the middle/rich classes which he so called elites.

[Sunderland]

Rachaprsong crowd reportedly a lot smaller than previous nights. Reports are that no reds at Udon and 50 reds at Korat town halls.

Source?

Disney Channel probably.

lols! CLASSIC!

Didn't catch anything about protests outside Bangkok. Can only make out the crowd at Rajaprasong and it looks a wee bit smaller than the last 2 nights, although still a sizeable number. In the dark who can tell where they all are?

[animatic]

Having spent 2000-2009 working either directly or indirectly as a consultant for 4 ministries, in I can't remember how many governments and through 2 coups, my opinion is that - excluding the periods when Khun Anand was Prime Minister - Abhisit's government has been the most socially progressive and effective in addressing ministerial corruption.

I know a great deal about inner workings of Thaksin's various programs for Issan, less so the North. EVERY program had a spin.

Here's 1,000,000 baht for your village... Thaksin is giving it to you. Of course, the pho-yai baan would never think of taking a sanctioned commission on the disbursements. Of course, the subsequent house-by-house visits by various agents of mobile telephone services, automobile and motorcycle dealerships - not to mention the loan sharks - was merely a coincidence. Of course, the default rate on what was represented as "loans" is astronomical. Loan, what loan? Thaksin gave us this money.

Here's a paved road right through your village. And by the way, you won't have dust blowing into you house every time something passes. Of course, the paved road stops 500 meters on each side of the village, so going anywhere in a reasonable amount of time and in relative comfort is still impossible. Sorry that it doesn't give you better access to markets or schools, but after all, Thaksin gave you a paved road, didn't he? You didn't have to pay for it, did you? Of course, your road will need regular repair from a highly qualified local contractor, say every 6 months or so, and between repairs - well, even if there usually are 10 or 15 one meter wide holes 20 cm. deep between repairs - there is less dust then before, isn't there?

Me, I'm 63 years old so my "future" in Thailand is somewhat limited. But my wife and 3 children are Thai, and I care about their future in this country. I don't want it determined by demagogues of any persuasion, and the reds' leaders are a clear and present danger to rational, benevolent, and progressive governance.

Thank you Harold for a very lucid and informed post.

I agree with your conclusion.

[hammered]

More singing from Nuttawut and friends.

Might get a singing contract from Grammy after this all ends!

Maybe they can get Arisman up doing his greatest hits. May not look the pretty slim young boy anymore but no doubt can still sing

[Redsunset]

Okay... given what I see on TV right now, there must be at least 50K people clapping and cheering the red-shirt leaders at Rajprasong. This can end in only a couple of ways... (1) thousands of people driven away by riot gear - a lot of injuries, perhaps a few killed, or (2) the Army General declares a coup and all is well (?!), (3) nothing happens and we are still stuck in time...waiting for either (1) or (2) to happen....

[traderjm]

Your actually quite right REDS would win and then the Yellows would come out and taek over the airport again so

Maybe Thailand is not ready for democracy

Maybe its better just to let the Army run the country

Which my Thai wife and her friends and family have been saying for a while now... much more peaceful... don't know about the long term effects but they seem to prefer it to the current and past protests.

[lannarebirth]

More singing from Nuttawut and friends.

Might get a singing contract from Grammy after this all ends!

Actually it's a nice scene. It reminds me of how alike all Thai people really are, despite their political differences at present. Hey, there's Veera!

[webfact]

THE NATION: Our reporter at Rajprasong said tonite's crowd is noticeably smaller than two previous nites.

THE NATION: However, our reporter said reds on motorbikes were pouring into the venue. all kinds of vehicles being used as bunkers at entry points.

THE NATION: Thai red news - an official SMS news of Reds - sent last msg at 7pm, saying that the service has to stop thanks to SOE.

THE NATION: Reds leaders told the crowd to get peper and fire crackers ready just in case they encounter police guard dogs.//poor dogs.

THE NATION: The pepper and fire crackers strategy is from Nattawut, prolly not a pet lover!

[bulmercke]

I agree.. Arrest the bastards. Put them away for the rest of their lives.

Why so soft?

I'd personally have them hanged - drawn and quartered first.

I'm going to take a wild guess here, but you'd rather wear a yellow shirt in the morning than a red one, right?

Wrong. I might mosey on down there (Rajaprasong) sometime tomorrow and give the Reds a bit of moral support. They're nice people and I hear they don't bite!

Anyway - notice how virtually no-one - outside of the two main protest areas - is wearing red or yellow or pink nowadays.

Just greens - greys - blues and other mucky colours.

Edited April 7, 2010 by bulmercke

[moresomekl]

your are sure reading the wrong papers --- i cant recall ever reading that the present govt was duly elected -- they are there with the help of the army following a coup - u forget that part - and then the court banned all member of the present govt because they were taksins boys --- so if u are going to qoute facts - make sure the ones u quote are correct - and not pro yellow - sure sounds like it me and =- and the vast majority ahaaa

And if you wanna talk facts, no PM was ever elected by the people, MP's are elected by the people and then the MP's choose who will be the PM by parliamentary vote.

And just for your information, the coup ousted a caretaker PM who failed to call an election within the allotted time. They gave power back to the people and called a General Election about a year later, where PPP managed to cobble together a coalition government after failing to get a suitable majority to take power themselves. The Courts found the PPP leaders guilty of vote buying and banned them from politics, after which PTP was formed, but the Democrat party managed to get a big enough coalition together to take the government.

So maybe its you who are reading the wrong papers and need to check up on your facts

Wolfie, I'm sorry but I can't ake it anymore. Anyone who knows parlimentary HS (thats's highschool civics) understands how PM's are chosen. You just don't seem to understand that a duly elected government was thrown out (analogous to a Parliment voting no confidence of a sitting PM) which require disolving Parliment and holding a national referendum. Somehow it appears that to you stating the obvious is helpful.

Please tell me of any other case than a coup where a duly elected sitting goverment is removed.

Ah still the obvious is not seen.

The Government was not removed.

Show me the order to remove the Somchai government.

Only Somchai was disqualified and possibly another in the cabinet who was a PPP party leader.

The PM had to resign, but they had full powers to vote in yet a 3rd PPP Mp's choice of PM.

Even if PPP the party didn't exist, more than 95% of the PPP MP's STILL remained in Parliament.

In the pre-built PTP.

The difference is that at that point FEW OTHER MPs had confidence in them or their leadership.

Just like Samak could have been PM the NEXT day after he was disqualified, BUT

there was no confidence in him either... within his OWN team.

Try not to confuse lose of a few players with lose of confidence in a still numerically viable team.

Ok a court disolving a whole party ( in power or not) is not proper .

Do you understand this simple concept that while the judiciary has the power to impeach

a person it has not the power to remove a party . Well it has ... but then only in Thailand .

Or else when Nixon was impeached or about to be , then the supreme court could ban the republican

party ? With your logic seems ok right ?

This is a simple concept ... really

[Farfetched]

It's about time! Totally justified for all the world to see.

A message to the good people of Thailand.

I can tell you with confidence the vast majority of foreigners support your honorable PM Abhisit in his valiant effort to fight anarchic red shirt's illegal attempt at revolution and the rule of a violent mob. Good luck to and best hopes for a PEACEFUL resolution.

Based postings I have seen here, you may ant to take aheadcount before you speak for all of us Farang. I, for one, hope the Red Shirtd are able to get teh new Elections they so deserve. I just pray it all comes about peacefully.

[tigerfish]

for once i actually feel sorry for the mods!

having to go through all these posts.

[Sunderland]

Still looks a very decent sized crowd.

[traderjm]

The Farrang I know , like me, live and work in Bangkok and have done so for years. They think, like me, that the Abhisit Government is just a party made up of the rich establishment figures in Bangkok so therefore are the minority and are fated to lose in any election, so letting them lose sooner rather than later would be better for everyone concerned. Like me they want to get rid of the state of emergency ,get rid of the protesters on the streets and get Bangkok back to normal again. In response to your Thai friends comments it was interesting to see today the support that I witnessed that was being shown from people on the street to the redshirts as they were driving around Mo Chit and On Nut . Their support seems different to the lack of support for the red shirts that your Thai friends claim. Maybe the red shirts aren't as unpopular as many TV posters believe.

I have lived in BKK and owned a number of business here for quite a few years please don't mistake me for a tourist or monger, thanks.

You really honestly believe that if the gov't is toppled NOW and the elections are held and the REDS party is in power the Yellow shirts are just going to sit around and do nothing? goodness... I want some of whatever you are taking.. or I guess that is "normal" to you.

Or maybe the support isn't as great as OTHER TV posters believe? Did you happen to see the REDS parading up and down Thong Lor? Or what happened to them after the first parade when they ventured up to the top end of Bangkapi? I don't think your two minor examples or my two are enough to determine how much support they do or do not have... I can tell you among my employees (greater than 100 in all locations) the support has been dropping like a stone the more violent sounding and acting the leaders become.

[Redsunset]

THE NATION: Our reporter at Rajprasong said tonite's crowd is noticeably smaller than two previous nites.

THE NATION: However, our reporter said reds on motorbikes were pouring into the venue. all kinds of vehicles being used as bunkers at entry points.

THE NATION: Thai red news - an official SMS news of Reds - sent last msg at 7pm, saying that the service has to stop thanks to SOE.

THE NATION: Reds leaders told the crowd to get peper and fire crackers ready just in case they encounter police guard dogs.//poor dogs.

THE NATION: The pepper and fire crackers strategy is from Nattawut, prolly not a pet lover!

Dude.... Nattawut is a clown, a martyr and a loose cannon... he would spray his own mother just to get some milk and cookies between meals.

[Sunderland]

Veera and monks on stage now. Blessing being given.

[Redsunset]

The Farrang I know , like me, live and work in Bangkok and have done so for years. They think, like me, that the Abhisit Government is just a party made up of the rich establishment figures in Bangkok so therefore are the minority and are fated to lose in any election, so letting them lose sooner rather than later would be better for everyone concerned. Like me they want to get rid of the state of emergency ,get rid of the protesters on the streets and get Bangkok back to normal again. In response to your Thai friends comments it was interesting to see today the support that I witnessed that was being shown from people on the street to the redshirts as they were driving around Mo Chit and On Nut . Their support seems different to the lack of support for the red shirts that your Thai friends claim. Maybe the red shirts aren't as unpopular as many TV posters believe.

I have lived in BKK and owned a number of business here for quite a few years please don't mistake me for a tourist or monger, thanks.

You really honestly believe that if the gov't is toppled NOW and the elections are held and the REDS party is in power the Yellow shirts are just going to sit around and do nothing? goodness... I want some of whatever you are taking.. or I guess that is "normal" to you.

Or maybe the support isn't as great as OTHER TV posters believe? Did you happen to see the REDS parading up and down Thong Lor? Or what happened to them after the first parade when they ventured up to the top end of Bangkapi? I don't think your two minor examples or my two are enough to determine how much support they do or do not have... I can tell you among my employees (greater than 100 in all locations) the support has been dropping like a stone the more violent sounding and acting the leaders become.

Yes.. the yellow shirts are so paranoid of anything that smells like Thaksin, that they would immediately raise hel_l in their own dysfunctional way the moment the reds had any semblence of political power...

[Sunderland]

About 10 monks on stage now. One speaking.

Telling the people not to be scared.

[Paul888]

Mixed feelings. Just sent my wife to Nonthaburi but she's driving my new truck.

Our thoughts are with you in this difficult time mate.