Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Friday

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Some 10 red-shirt protesters injured

BANGKOK: -- Nation Channel reported that some 10 protesters were injured when they were trying to break into the building of ThaiCom uplink station in Lat Lum Kaeo Pathum Thani.

They were injured when troops fired teargases trying to deter their invasion.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THAICOM STATION

Red shirts storm into station, seizing police trucks

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts protesters broke soldiers' barricades and entered ThaiCom uplink station's compound and were trying to enter the staton's buildings in Lat Lum Kaew, Pathum Thani province at about 2.40pm.

The protesters managed to raid the site although the soldiers shot tear gas and fire bombs to stop them.

The protesters threw objects at soldiers and the buildings, trying to break into the building.

They reportedly seized police trucks parking inside the compound and forced open and seized weapons from the trucks.

Earlier thousands of red shirts pushed through the riot forces at the outer perimeter to get to the gate of ThaiCom uplink station in Lat Lum Kaew, Pathum Thani.

The Emergency Operations Command deploy about 7,000 riot forces to guard the satellite uplink station.

Around 2.00 pm, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan, speaking from a mobile platform atop a truck, urged the red shirts to stay calm and not to raid the satellite uplink station.

The military made repeated announcement warning the crowds not to cross the double security perimeters.

Around 2.30 pm, the riot forces began preparations for crowd control. Forces were seen deployment the water canon to deter the crowds after devices emitting heave smoke were thrown from the crowds.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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MCOT: 15:04 Red Shirts occupy lawn of Thaicom satellite ground station at Ladlumkaew; security forces withdraw into building

THE NATION: The situation's improved as @satien_nna reports on NationChanel. Leaders told protesters to form a line in front bldg - no plan to break in.

THE NATION: REporters say tension remains but eases a bit with reds not attempting to storm the building. No property damage has been reported.

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Riot forces retreat from ThaiCom station

BANGKOK: -- About 2.45 pm, hundreds of red shirts were seen within the compound of the uplink station.

The riot forces are regrouping while airing the warning for the red shirts to leave the compound.

The red shirts are milling outside the station's office building. The riot forces line up to protect the building.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Confusion as some soldiers seen moving out of Thaicom building to cheers of protesters.

THE NATION: But protest leaders still strongly urge reds not to enter the building, while things seem to b calming down.

THE NATION: My friend from CentralWorld office walked through the Ratchaprasong mob and heard a red leader claiming victory at ThaiCom.

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TAN Network: Nutthawut gives soldiers until 4 P.M. to leave Thai Com, threatened rally could turn violent if they failed to do so.

TAN Network: Red-shirt guards act as human barrier to prevent more red-shirts from entering Thaicom building.

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Veera warns of consequences if arrested

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong on Friday warns about consequences if police will arrest him and other leaders.

"If police arrest red-shirt leaders, then I am certain the people will not go home to celebrate Songkran," he said, hinting at protests to escalate.

In two batches of warrants issued, police are preparing to round up seven red-shirt leaders for involving the raid of Parliament and the other 17 leaders for involving in the Rajprasong rally.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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TAN Network: Tension eased at Thai Com, red-shirts sing and dance to music. Soldiers mingling with reds, given water and coffee.

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THE NATION: Nattawut gave 4pm deadline and demanded the military force out of ThaiCom otherwise the situation would get worse. via INN

THE NATION: Fr our nws meeting: 1. Thaksin's conditions still subject of speculation. 2. Close watch on Rajprasong. Troops may move in soon.

THE NATION: 3. Govt standing firm against allowing PTV to get back on air.

TAN Network: Arisman promises to inject Bt80 billion baht into Village Fund project when red-shirt leaders get to form government.

TAN Network: CORRECTION:Arisman promises to inject Bt80 million baht into Village Fund project when red-shirt leaders get to form government.

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THE NATION: Eight red-shirt demonstrators and three troops were injured during their clash at ThaiCom Lat Lum Kaew.

THE NATION: CentralWorld (closed today) has started asking staff to leave, a sign that everyone keeps an eye on. via Charn Porndilok #fb

THE NATION: Meanwhile at Siam Paragon (opened today),shoppers and staff are also asked to leave and police and military are deployed. More obvious sign.

THE NATION: At Rajprasong, red leaders calling on protesters scattered under shades to gather near the stage

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Anti-riot planned at Rajprasong

Around 4.00 pm, customers and workers were asked to leave shopping malls around Rajprasong.

Police are reportedly preparing six locations to detain suspects.

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: id be very surprised if the govt tries to forcefully move everyone at Raj. so many children and older people.

THE NATION: latest from nation channel: Reds may have PTV back on air but they will have to move out. this is probably egg in face of govt .

THE NATION: Update on malls, Siam Paragon, Siam Discover and Siam Centre are now closed. Central Chidlom is still opened.

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THE NATION: Urgent, Thaicom director conceding to reds, agreeing to reconnect PTV. //But govt just said no way.

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THE NATION: Urgent!! (4.35pm) - govt may change its plan at Ratchaprasong.//that what v heard. will keep u informed.

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THE NATION: Bad bad day for govt. Abhisit in particular. Now the plan to retake Rajprasong is off. Reason? The plan was leaked.

THE NATION: Put it in writing: Nattawut is not afraid of arrested warrant. "Military has no right to arrest me and police don't want to." via @Noppatjak

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TAN Network: Soldiers give in, PTV signal reconnected, broadcast resumed. Threaten to rally again if signal suspended

THE NATION: Weng at Rajprasong stage: "Our Thaicom mission nearly complete."

THE NATION: Some reds seen moving away fr Thaicom station. But @noppatjak on NationChannel said it's not 100% confirmed govt will concede

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Soldiers Give in, PTV Signal Resumed

BANGKOK: -- Soldiers have given in to the demand of the red-shirt protesters at Thaicom headquarters.

They've been allowed to reconnect PTV signal, allowing the broadcast of the red-shirt TV to resume.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Happy ending for Reds but possible countdown for Abhisit as Jatuporn is about to leave ThaiCom after reclaiming PTV signal.

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MCOT: Natthawut: Thaicom will reconnect PTV signal in one hour; Red Shirt protesters are ready to withdraw

THE NATION: Red leaders telling protesters to pull out now.

THE NATION: Meanwhile, Weng reorganising crowds at Rajprasong, which have increased to thousands.

THE NATION: Protesters at Rajprasong have been given masks and told to soak them with water.

THE NATION: A lot of police forces seen inside the nearby police HQ

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Red shirts to reach agreement on PTV, move back to Rajprasong

BANGKOK: -- Following hours-long negotiations, red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said the red shirts had succeeded to force Thaicom uplink station to resume its satellite service to PTV.

The negotiations was brokered by Provincial Police Region 1 chief Lt General Krisada Pankongchuen.

In exchange for the resumption of PTV broadcast, the red shirts agreed to disperse from the uplink station and allow police to gain control of the area.

The resumption of broadcast is expected to take an hour and complete by Friday's evening.

By 5:15 pm, the red-shirt protesters moved back to Rajprasong

-- The Nation 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Tense situation seen on TV in front of Police Hopsital. Anti-riot police pushing protesters away as they tried to push them.

THE NATION: Riot police guarding Police Hospital were seen confronting protesters. The situation is clam now.

THE NATION: Oh dear, anti-red people plan to gather and block Rajthewi intersection to protest "state failure." (via ASTV)

THE NATION: Yellow leader Suriyasai: "Govt days are numbered. Reconnecting PTV is trampling on its own orders."

THE NATION: Good Quote from Suriyasai: PM & Army chief should start counting down - unblocking PTV signal means they broke their own order #ASTV

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THE NATION: Interesting development at Ratchaprasong as Reds use monks as a shield and police got female police to encounter them.

THE NATION: Just wonder who will prevail - the monks or police women???

THE NATION: Monk protesters facing female police at at Rajprasong. At least we can smile a little today.

THE NATION: I'm still in Paragon, we've not been asked to leave, just announcement over PA confirming closing at 6pm a minute ago

THE NATION: Panitan on TV: PTV must not distort. If not, similar measures (blockade of signals) will be implemented again.

THE NATION: Panitan means govt can still block PTV again./// and will that commanders at scene be fired for breaking the order.

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Nation: Panitan interviewed on tV again. No hint of attempt to clear Rajprasong any time soon.

Nation: Rectors of Chula, Thammasat and Mahidol have called for a new round of talks to end political conflict.

Nation editor: My take on today situation: If what happened at Thaicom stemmed from over-tolerance, govt still has breathing space.

Nation: Panitan interviewed on TV again. No hint of attempt to clear Rajprasong any time soon.

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'Red Shirt' television PTV back on the air after 24 hours off

BANGKOK (TNA) -- The Red Shirt’s People Channel Television (PTV) returned to the air Friday evening after police and Thaicom satellite ground station executives agreed to the demand of the anti-government Red Shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to reconnect the broadcast signal of PTV.

PTV is the primary communication channel between the Red Shirt leaders and their supporters in the provinces. The government pulled the plug on the satellite-based station on Thursday under emergency rule, citing that it aired distorted information which negatively affected national security and incited chaos.

The Red Shirt protesters had earlier Friday afternoon stormed into the ground station compound after a brief clash with police and military who defended the site briefly with water cannon and tear gas.

After successfully invading the compound, UDD leaders Natthawut Saikua, Jatuporn Prompan and the opposition Puea Thai MP Karun Hosakul negotiated with Provincial Police Region 1 chief Lt-Gen, Krisada Pankongchuen and Thaicom satellite ground station executives for 20 minutes.

Mr Natthawut later announced that the senior police officer mediating agreed with the UDD demand to reconnect the PTV signal immediately and the protesters would disperse.

The protesters then returned to their main protest sites at Ratchaprasong intersection and Phan Fa Bridge.

Hours later there was a minor scuffle during a stand-off at Police General Hospital between 10 companies of riot police who moved from the nearby National Police Headquarters and the Reds at the hospital gate.

The forces later retreated after 15-minute push in which some 20 Buddhist monks lined up against female anti-riot police on the front line.

Metropolitan Police Bureau Division 1 Commander Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai later told the protesters that the police had been informed that a group of ill-intended persons planned to seize the hospital, so police had accordingly been stationed to prevent it from happening.

However, he said, the police opted to retreat after learning that there was no such attempt.

The riot police retreated amid the cheers of the protesters. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: 15 reds, 4 soldiers and 1 police were injured in Thaicom incident.

THE NATION: About the Thaicom injuries report, there's no serious case.

THE NATION: About 300 anti-red, bored with govt demonstrators have gathered at Phya Thai BTS station to oppose House dissolution.

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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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22 injured in Thaicom clash

PATHUM THANI: -- A total of 22 people were injured following the recent clash between the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the security officials at the Thaicom satellite station in Pathum Thani province.

According to MD Saengchai Thirapakorn, Director of Lat Lum Kaeo Hospital, 15 patients are receiving medical treatment at the hospital after being wounded in the violent confrontation between the security personnel and the anti-government UDD. Among them are 11 UDD protesters, 3 military personnel and 1 police officer. One of them is reportedly in critical condition.

Meanwhile, MD Songphol Chawaltanpipat, Director of Pathum Thani Hospital, disclosed that there were totally 7 people sent in for treatment at the hospital after the clash. The patients include 5 UDD protesters and 2 military personnel.

The UDD occupied the Thaicom satellite station in Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district on Friday afternoon, calling for the resumption of the People Channel’s broadcast.

The blackout of the anti-government television channel resulted from the government’s order, alleging the channel of airing false information that affected national security and inciting unrest.

-- NNT 2010-04-09

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THE NATION: Urgent: Nuttawut said Thaksin video link at 10 pm.

THE NATION: Some amount of Thaksin's seized money kept in bank accounts is being transferred 2 the govt coffer:DG of Comptroller General's Dept:

THE NATION: So looks like you've got to choose btw Mr. PM and Mr Former PM - Abhisit is going on TV at 10pm too. will confirm.

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THE NATION: Abhisit is on TV now.

THE NATION: He sits with suthep, anupong and pravit

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Bangkokpundit: So Abhisit is flanked by Def Min Prawit, Dep PM Suthep, and Army C-in-C Anupong

Bangkokpundit: It is just a repeat of what he said yesterday. It is almost a message to soldiers and the police and not to the public.