Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Friday

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Friday April 9 Red-shirt rally live updates

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

To make it easy to follow, this thread is read-only.

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Thai capital braced for more protests

BANGKOK (AFP) -- The Thai capital Bangkok was braced for more protests Friday as anti-government Red Shirts vowed to defy a state of emergency and again take to the streets.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was due to be representing Thailand at a Southeast Asian summit but instead apparently spent another night holed up at an army barracks.

Abhisit cancelled his attendance at the ASEAN summit in Hanoi, where fellow premiers expressed concern about Thailand's deep political rift, which pits Bangkok's ruling elite against the mainly poor and rural Reds.

It is almost a year to the day since a previous ASEAN gathering in the Thai resort of Pattaya was cancelled after protesters broke into the summit venue, illustrating just how long the country has been politically unstable.

The government announced emergency rule on Wednesday after protesters briefly forced their way into the parliament compound. Lawmakers fled and several senior government figures were airlifted to safety.

It is the fourth time since 2008 emergency law has been declared in the capital due to political turmoil.

Thai authorities moved on Thursday to arrest Red Shirt protest leaders involved in the storming of parliament, while pulling the plug on dozens of websites and a television station loyal to their cause.

A court issued arrest warrants for seven Red Shirts, including Arisman Pongreungrong, who was also involved in storming last year's Pattaya summit.

"Once leaders who prefer violence are arrested, we believe we can persuade other protesters to leave the protest site," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told reporters Thursday, referring to a rally in Bangkok's commercial hub.

Abhisit's government has banned public gatherings of more than five people and given broad powers to police and military under emergency rule in the capital and surrounding areas.

The Thai government shut down dozens of websites and a television channel loyal to Red Shirt supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who have occupied Bangkok's commercial hub.

Leaders of the tens of thousands of supporters of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 military coup, have refused to halt their protests. The authorities have so far avoided using force to break up the rallies.

Instead, they targeted media loyal to the red-clad movement, shutting down its satellite TV channel showing rolling coverage of the demonstrations, along with 36 websites, and vowing to clamp down on pro-Red radio stations.

The army said the number of demonstrators in the commercial district had dwindled after the TV channel was pulled.

"With a small number of protesters, it will be more acceptable for the public in the case of the government enforcing harsher measures," military spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said Thursday.

One protest leader, Natthawut Saikua told the Bangkok Post that a major rally would begin on Friday at 9am (0200GMT).

The rally would be prolonged and draw a huge crowd, he added, and protest activities would be at a higher level than before.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-09

Published with written approval from AFP.

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BMA cancels all its Songkran events

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has cancelled all of its Songkran activities in the wake of intensifying redshirt rallies and the state of emergency.

"All festivities including religious rituals will not be held this year," Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra announced yesterday.

The BMA initially planned to organise the procession of a sacred Buddha statue, hold a Miss Songkran beauty contest, prepare festivities at Santi Chai Prakarn Park and conduct many more events.

All these activities will no longer take place despite the fact that the Songkran festival is one of the biggest events in Thailand.

However, operators on touristcrowded Khao San Road have vowed to keep the festive mood alive there.

"The Maha Songkran celebration at Khao San will run from April 12 to April 15 as scheduled," Khao San Operators Association president Surat Wongchansilp said yesterday.

He said the number of security guards around Khao San Road during the festival would be 200 a day.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand insisted that it would continue to promote "Celebrate Songkran with Pilgrimages to Nine Royal Monasteries in the Capital".

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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DSTATION

Govt cracks down on red media

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The government yesterday effectively ended transmission of the People Channel (PTV) satellite broadcaster, which it said had incited public unrest.

Under the state of emergency declared on Wednesday, the government also shut down PTV and its related websites, as well as another 10,000 pornographic and other websites deemed "inappropriate".

In addition, community radio stations inciting public unrest will be the next targets.

The Information and Communi-cations Technology (ICT) Ministry said Thaicom, the satellite operator, had cooperated so both C- and Ku-band transmissions were suspended as of yesterday.

Regarding C-band transmission, Thaicom has asked its counterpart in Israel to stop uplinking PTV's signals. In addition, the PTV station at Imperial Department Store in the Lat Phrao area was barred from transmitting its signals to another satellite operated by the Netherlands, and so the Ku-band transmission was also suspended.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said: "The demonstrators are trying to have the on-air link resumed. I'd like to inform you that the authorities needed to suspend the broadcasts because the content contained distorted facts and was aimed at inciting unrest."

He said the authorities would later deal with community radio stations that broadcast such messages from the protest sites at the Rajprasong intersection and the Phan Fa Bridge. He said authorities would also target the Voice of Thaksin magazine.

Satit said the actions taken by the authorities were not aimed at persecuting anyone, or any group of people. He explained they were lawful under the emergency decree declared on Wednesday, which was aimed at maintaining internal security and peace.

Satit said the government earlier had no intention of taking any action against PTV as the damaged parties could have sued for defamation.

Veteran politician Chaturon Chaisaeng, who is a protest leader, denounced the government decision to declare a state of emergency. He said in a Twitter message that the government had violated the Constitution by limiting the right of public gathering without sufficient reason.

In a related development, the Thai Journalists' Association and the Thailand Cable Television Association yesterday issued a joint statement denouncing the government's discontinuation of PTV's broadcast and blockade of related websites.

Meanwhile, an ICT source said websites deemed to have broadcast content insulting the monarchy had also been shut down under the emergency rule. Earlier, the government sought court orders to close more than 9,000 different URLs.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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Pheu Thai to challenge emergency in court

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Pheu Thai Party has appointed a legal team to petition for judicial intervention to repeal the State of Emergency declared on Wednesday by the government, its MP Surapong Towijakchaikul said yesterday.

"Pheu Thai cannot stand on the sidelines anymore," he said.

Surapong said his party's legal team was expected to submit the petition to the Central Administrative Court, seeking an injunction against the emergency rule.

The legal team will also seek a Constitution-Court ruling on the legality of the state of emergency, he said.

In a related development, the legal team filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division demanding a police investigation into the deployment of more than 2,000 troops at the ThaiCom uplink station.

The complaint named Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and a number of military leaders as suspects for abusing emergency rule to seize control of the satellite station without a court-approved warrant.

In a related development, Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul said yesterday that the red shirts were rallying in 17 provinces in the North and the Northeast to support their fellow protesters in Bangkok.

"Although protests are sprouting up, there are no reports of any danger," he said, reaffirming the authorities could control the situation.

Provincial governors are under instruction to enforce the highest-level security to protect government installations in their respective provinces, he said.

Security forces in the provinces have been tasked with guarding provincial halls but not to clash with protesters if they stage a raid, he said, explaining that security cameras would record each incident for the prosecution.

He also said under emergency rule, provincial authorities had to stop the red shirts from travelling to reinforce the protests in the capital.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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Foreigners joining the rally

By PierLuc Gagnon

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A few foreigners were spotted among the red crowds at Rajprasong intersection, joining the antigovernment movement regardless of the degree of their knowledge of Thai politics.

An American appeared on the stage yesterday, despite the government's enforcement of the emergency decree.

He said he had read the news and was puzzled by the rumour that some protesters were paid to show their support. Seemingly in Thailand for some time due to his slight knowledge of the Thai language, he had been encouraged to come to the scene to see it with his own eyes.

While on stage, he addressed the crowd in English, saying that the United States took a long time to establish democracy.

"What you're doing is amazing and I hope you achieve it," he said.

As the protest ran into its fourth day on Tuesday, some foreigners were also seen in their red shirts. Having been living here for some time, they were cheered up by the popular movement "in defence of democracy".

"This is becoming a people's movement. The country has been divided in the last month and I am worried about the direction it is heading in," said Frank Klose, a German who has been living in Thailand for the past 20 years.

Klose, a resident of Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani, added that it was his third time at the protests and he was hoping a dissolution of Parliament would help resolve the current chasm.

However, he admitted he was not too knowledgeable about Thai politics, and mainly came in support of his Thai wife, who is a strong activist.

A desire to see the dissolution of Parliament was shared by other foreigners present.

"A love for freedom," answered another foreigner wearing a "Yubsapha" (House dissolution) scarf when asked about his motivation for joining the protests. He was there with a Thai friend.

"I am here to support freedom of speech, freedom of protest and corruptionfree elections. We should have a democracy without interference like in the US," added the dual American and Canadian citizen, who has been living in Bangkok for 15 years and asked to remain anonymous.

"The current government was not voted in, and I want to have a vote," he said.

He added that it was his first time at the protests as he was too busy with his business, but that he watched and followed the situation every day.

Exprime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's assetsseizure case did not seem to be a factor for the foreigners when asked about their motivation for joining the red shirts' protests.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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Arrest warrants issued for seven red shirts leaders over House raid

BANGKOK: -- Court has agreed to issue arrest warrants for seven red shirts who led raid into the Parliament on Wednesday.

They are

1. Yodsawarait Chuklom

2. Suporn Attawong

3. Siriwan Nimitsilp

4. Arisamun Pongruengrong

5. Payap Panket

6. Pol Lt Col Sangiam Samranrat

7. Wanchana Kerddee

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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OPINION

Prepare for a showdown: clashes seem inevitable now

By Thanong Khanthong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Just as he was about to be dumped by the military and coalition partners, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva staged a comeback. He invoked the emergency decree, equivalent to martial law, to deal with the red shirts. Earlier, the military and coalition partners signalled that he must dissolve Parliament in 48 hours, otherwise they would withdraw support.

Both Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban and General Anupong Paochinda were taken off guard. The PM assigned Suthep as head of the security panel formed to enforce the emergency decree, which authorises the security forces to quash the red shirts decisively. Abhisit promised to restore normalcy to Bangkok as soon as possible. The emergency rule covers Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom.

Since March 12, the police and security forces have made little effort to subdue the crowds at the Phan Fah Leela Bridge and the Rajprasong Intersection. The red-shirt leaders have demanded the government dissolve Parliament in 15 days. Talks between both sides have broken down.

The emergency decree is a response to the red shirts' storming of Parliament. Their occupation of the Rajprasong Intersection has already raised the temperature almost to the boiling point. But more than 24 hours after the announcement of the decree, the security forces still had not acted. Anupong and General Prawit Wongsuwan made known their stance: they would not use force to disperse the protestors.

At the same time, the red shirts continue to spread out to different parts of Bangkok in defiance. The state apparatus is in neutral gear. The independent state within the state has rebelled.

The red shirts are also mobilising supporters in 17 provinces to further challenge the emergency decree. They will gather in front of provincial halls. Many also plan to go to Bangkok to boost the rally.

Abhisit was scheduled to travel to Hanoi yesterday at noon to participate in the Asean Summit and return to Bangkok today, during which time he expected Suthep, Anupong and security personnel to quash the red shirts. But since Suthep and Anupong did not move, the PM cancelled his trip and assigned Deputy PM Trairong Suwankhiri to go on his behalf. He would stay in Bangkok to take over command.

There are no signs the protestors will budge. On the contrary, they have raised their level of aggressiveness and resistance by storming the Parliament premise on Wednesday to disrupt the Cabinet meeting. They will not leave Bangkok until they achieve victory.

After the storming into Parliament, some analysts viewed that Arisman Phongruengrong and his group were shooting themselves in the feet. But the red shirts are using exactly the same strategy employed by the yellow shirts - doing everything to weaken the government and create the image that the prime minister is no longer in charge.

The red shirts are broadly divided into three groups, with former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra as a symbolic head. The hardcore group is led by the likes of Sae Daeng, Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol and General Pallop Pinmanee. The academic group is represented by Dr weng Tojirakarn. Within this group, there are Maoists, socialists and those who want to uproot the Thai regime. The hit-and-run group is represented by people like Arisman. The three hard-headed buddies - Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Phomphan and Natthawut Saikua - are the face of the rally.

Arisman, who stormed the Asean Summit in Pattaya last March, is replaying his role. On Tuesday, his group was quite effective in provoking violence without creating violence. Security personnel yielded to red-shirt pressure by allowing them to break into Parliament. Some of the red shirts even took weapons from the security personnel by force. The security personnel adopted a neutral mode.

The red shirts accomplished what they wanted. The parliamentarians and staff had to escape over the fence of the rear exit. Suthep and other ministers had climbed ladders before being taken away via helicopter. The script could not have been written better. The TV footage spoke a thousand words. It showed the whole world that Abhisit had lost control of the country. This was reminiscent of the yellow-shirt rallies. The red shirts then reprimanded Arisman for overstepping the boundary of a decent rally. But it was an orchestrated scheme.

We can expect to see a military reshuffle if they defy orders to end the rally and remove protestors. A new team would be brought in to do the necessary job. Abhisit still hopes that by Songkran the situation will have cooled down. But before that, the red shirts are expected to intensify their efforts over the weekend.

Physical clashes between security forces and demonstrators now look inevitable.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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TAN Network: Reds expected to march to residences of premier and DepPM Suthep, ASTV,NBT &11th Infantry,extremely tight security on route to Suvarnabhumi.

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Red-shirts Prepare for Major Rally at 9 A.M.

BANGKOK: Red-shirt leader Nutthawut Saigua has told protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection to take refuge in nearby hotels or department stores in case the government attempt to disperse the protest. He's also said the plan for the mobile rallies at approximately 10 locations will be revealed at 9 A.M.

The protesters are expected to march to key locations such as the private residences of the premier and deputy PM Suthep, ASTV HQ, NBT station and the 11th Infantry.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: As of 9.10 am Reds remain at Rajprasong, where all stores remain closed. Central Chidlom opening.

THE NATION: Everyone's awaiting reds' announcement of today's "destinations". Nuttawut looked so tense, talking on the phone all time via @Neaw_NBC

Bangkok POst: Tight security at PM’s home, military camp

THE NATION: Nation reporters out there, anyone knows where/how foreign reporters can get green armband?

THE NATION: I've been down filming at the protests almost everyday and never felt safer. everyone has been very welcoming.

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THE NATION: "Today Abhisit will see that hel_l exists," one leader said on Rajprasong staged.

THE NATION: Btw, a high-ranking govt source told us last night that efforts to resume talks were being made behind-the-scenes btw Korbsak, Veera

THE NATION: Arisman (or someone who looked like him???) under Red stage at Rajprasong last nite

THE NATION: It seems reds plan to move primarily on vehicles (not on foot) today

THE NATION: To some of u who may wonder, green armbands are for reporters.

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THE NATION: PTV can resume broadcast Friday morning although programme is frequently interrupted due to jamming of signal, Pheu Thai MP Waipoj said.

THE NATION: Nuttawut to protesters latest: "Take it easy folks. You can keep singing and dancing. Let them wreck their brains figuring us out."

THE NATION: Earlier this monring, Jatuporn told protesters: "If troops move in, run into hotels or stores"

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PTV resuming broadcast

PTV can resume its satellite broadcast by today's morning although its programme is frequently interrupted due to the jamming of signal, Pheu Thai MP Waipoj Apornrat said on Friday.

Wipoj said Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen had permitted PTV to use the satellite uplink service.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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Public assembly banned but red shirts going ahead with Friday's procession

BANGKOK: -- The Emergency Operations Command on Thursday's night issued a ban for public assembly in a preemptive move against today's procession by the red shirts to rally at 10 targets in Bangkok.

The targets include the home of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sukhumvit 31.

In defiance of the ban, the red shirts have insisted to go ahead with their planned procession. They also refused to disclose the details for their targets.

As of 8.30 am, the crowds at Rajprasong have started to surge while those at Phan Fa Bridge are sparse.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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Agitation lessened on first day under emergency rule: PM

BANGKOK: -- Even though the protests still persist, the enforcement of emergency rule has curtailed the agitation caused by the protests, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his televised speech late Thursday's night to sum up the first day after declaring the state of emergency.

"I believe a lot of people are feeling less stressful in comparison to anxiety before the emergency rule," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: At long last, Arisman has surfaced on Rajprasong stage. "Come and get me," he dared Govt.

THE NATION: About destinations of red mobs today, Arisman said: "It won't be exciting if I tell u know."

THE NATION: Nuttawut on destinations: "I won't tell u now" he told reds. "But i won't take u where it's no fun."

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THE NATION: Three possibilities: 1. Reds undecided. 2. Reds not wanting to alert Govt. 3. Big big plan in store.

THE NATION: TV report shows reds in all types of small vehicles. Crowds apparently not as massive as their previous "biggest rally" days.

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THE NATION: Meanwhile, speculation has begun to amount about "bad news from Dubai". (ASTV said.)

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PAD backs state of emergency enforcement

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has called for the government to curb the mass demonstration of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) strictly under the declaration of the state of emergency.

PAD core leaders Major General Chamlong Srimuang, Pipob Thongchai and Suriyasai Katasila on Thursday read a declaration urging the government to exercise its full authority under the state of emergency to control the mass rally of the UDD.

PAD core leaders reasoned that the demonstration has been violent and disturbing people in Bangkok. They added that the government would be deemed weak if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is not brave enough to proceed according to the authority given under the state of emergency.

PAD core leaders however voiced their confidence that the prime minister would not let the situation prolong until Songkran festival. They believed that Thailand would come to its turning point in the next three to four days.

PAD core leaders then asked all their supporters to wait for the stance of the PAD after the group convenes its network across the country very soon.

-- NNT 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Another red on stage: "Let's keep them guessing. We are doing Cristiano Ronaldo's leg tricks today."

MCOT: Red Shirts gather at Pratunam before moving in caravan to undisclosed locations; Paragon opens, but CentralWorld remains closed

THE NATION: Deputy police chief Phanuparp said 1,800 policemen will be deployed to alleviate expected traffic congestion due to red-shirt march.

THE NATION: Red leaders on Phan Fa stage awaiting decisions from Rjprasong reds.

TAN Network: Red shirts begin to march out of Pan Fah area for major mobile rallies at 10 key locations in Bkk.

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Police bracing for red procession; motorists warned to avoid routes

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Police have warned motorists to avoid routes which the red shirts are expected today to parade around the capital, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj General Panu Kerdlapphol said on Friday.

The destinations for the red-shirt march are likely to include Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's home on Sukhumvit 31 Road, the home of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban on Buddha Monthol 2 Road, NBT station on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, ASTV station on Phra Arthit Road and the 11th Infantry Regiment on Phaholyothin Road.

Some 2,000 policemen have been mobilised to direct traffic during the march.

As of 10.15 am, the red shirts have started to form vehicles convoys at Rajprasong and Phan Fa Bridge. Their leaders have yet to announce the destinations.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: It seems convoy moving out of Rajprasong intersection now.

THE NATION: UAE has virtually banned its tourists from coming to Thailand, TNN said.

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Here are a few photos of march down Rajaprarop:

Courtesy by member tomazbodner

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THE NATION: Nuttawut telling frontline of convoy to wait for him at Pratunam, "then we'll move together."

THE NATION: Nuttawut: "Ok, brothers, we have only one destination today. Let's go to Thaicom station in Pathum Thani and stay thre till v get PTV back."

MACOT: Police detain two Red Shirt guards, carrying weapons including 6 Molotov cocktails in Phayathai

THE NATION: Reds went to the Pathum Thani station yesterday but were outnumbered by troops.

TAN Network: Ratchaprasong red-shrits are moving out, heading to Thaicom office at Lad Lum Gaew, Patum Thani, to demand back PTV broadcast

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THE NATION: Recapping: All red leaders, if not trying to lead govt the wrong way, have announced Thaicom station in Pathum is their only destination.

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Ratchaprasong Red-shirts Leaving for Thaicom

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leaders took the stage at Ratchaprasong intersection and announced the plan for the protesters to march to Thaicom building at Lad Lum Gaew in Patum Thani Province. The core red-shirt leaders said they'll free PTV from the control of military dictatorship.

Key leader Weng Tojirakarn has also reiterated the importance of the protesters who remain at Ratchaprasong to do whatever they can to ensure the authorities cannot disperse the protesters from the area.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-09

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Red shirts start marching

BANGKOK: -- As of 10.30 am, the red shirts started their two-pronged procession from Rajprason and Phan Fa Bridge.

The march from Phan Fa Bridge is being led by five leaders, Suporn Atthawong, Kwanchai Praipana, Nisit Sinthuprai, Payap Panket and Prasaeng Mongkolsiri.

The procession started from Yomaraj travelling along New Phetchaburi Road.

Suporn said the Phan Fa procession will hunt for the prime minister, triggering speculation that it might head to either the prime minister's home or the 11th Infantry Regiment.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Reds take Paholyodhin Rd to ThaiCom in Ladlumkaew - avoid the route.

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MCOT: Court issues arrest warrant for 17 Red Shirt core leaders including Veera, Jatuporn, Natthawut for defying Emergency Decree, blocking Ratchaprasong