Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Monday

[george]

THE NATION: If you're depressed from politics, don't turn on TV as govt has a replay of Apr 10 incidence on. Govt rerunning clips of soldiers trying to drag their wound out of harm's way, as gunshots rattled and explosions heard. The clips run on govt TV were said to be shot by "independent" photographers.

THE NATION: The clips had been shown before. But rerunning them on all TV pool followed PM's "terrorist infiltration" claims. Soldiers in the clips were heard yelling: "Ambulance. Ambulance. Enough! Enough!"

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PM Abhisit vows to stay on to solve country’s crisis

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday vowed to stay on to resolve the country’s political crisis through political means and distinguish innocent protesters from ‘terrorists’ after 21 people were killed in Saturday's violent clashes between security forces and Red Shirts.

Key United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leader Jatuporn Prompan on Monday morning rejected further talks and renewed the Red Shirt demand for the premier to dissolve the House immediately, step down and leave the country, saying it is Thailand's only way out of the current crisis.

Mr Abhisit said during a live broadcast on national television Monday afternoon that his government will stay on to solve the country’s political conflict in two stages.

The premier said the government will first separate ‘innocent protesters’, who joined the demonstration to demand democracy and the elimination of social injustice, from persons whom he branded “terrorists” and urged the public not become a tool of those terrorists.

Mr Abhisit described the so-called terrorists as persons who seized opportunities during the mass rally inciting unrest to culminate in a ‘big change.’

If the government can distinguish between innocent protesters and terrorists, it will be able to launch appropriate measures to solve the chaos, the premier said.

The Thai government on Sunday asserted that a group of unidentified persons in black outfits and masks mingled with the red-shirted crowd and opened fire with M79 grenade launchers, M67 hand grenades and machine guns including AK47 assault rifles during Saturday's clashes between army personnel and anti-government Red Shirt protesters.

The emegency services said 21 people were killed and 863 persons, including more than 200 soldiers, were wounded in the day-long confrontation.

At the same time, the prime minister said regarding the demands of the protesters about injustices in Thai society or issues of democracy, such problems must be resolved by political means.

“I and the coalition parties have regularly discussed about it,” said Mr Abhisit. “We will bring the issues which had been raised during the talks with Red Shirt leaders and adjust them as solutions to the crisis.”

The two-pronged approach must be carried out in parallel. Now every ministry and the coalition parties are working in unity to solve the conflict, according to the premier.

Mr Abhisit said that a probe committee will be set up to find the truth over Saturday's violent clash and the government is ready to co-operate with independent institutions such as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to conduct an investigation.

“Once the facts are established and things are clarified, there must be a responsibility,” reaffirmed Mr Abhisit.

The Red shirt leaders however immediately rejected the probe panel to be set up by the government, saying it is an attempt to prolong the

administration.

The UDD leaders insisted that the premier must dissolve the House and leave Thailand immediately. Otherwise the Red Shirts will follow the premier everywhere he goes.

Earlier UDD key leader Jatuporn said that members of parliament of the opposition Puea Thai Party are filing a complaint to police against Mr Abhisit, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep who oversees national security and Army chief Anupong for intentionally ordering the killing of people at Kok Wua intersection, leading to the deaths of Red Shirt protesters.

Mr Jatuporn said he believes the Red Shirt death toll is not just 21, but that more corpses were hidden.

The UDD leader accused the government of distorting information and insisted that no third party intervened to cause unrest.

There will be no more negotiation, reasserted Mr Jatuporn, the Red Shirts will continue their protests until Mr Abhisit dissolve the House, which is the only way out.

“Sixteen Red Shirts have died. Do they want 32 more lives before dissolving the House?” Mr Jatuporn asked.

Meanwhile, Army chief Anupong Paochinda confirmed the army has no plan to disperse the protesters, saying the ongoing conflict should be resolved through House dissolution.

He dismissed criticisms that the army did not put much effort into its operations in guarding the Thaicom Satellite TV ground station and trying

to clear the protest sites at Ratchaprasong intersection and at Phan Fa Bridge.

“If the army goes ahead with full operation (to crack down protesters), it will not be able to live in this society,” said Gen Anupong.

Speaking about the clash at the Khok Wua intersection, Gen Anupong said an unidentified armed group fired at soldiers and soldiers had to retreat because they could not fight back for fear of the safety of innocent people.

“I think that it should end with House dissolution and the timeframe should be discussed later during negotiation as it is related to constitutional amendment,” Gen Anupong said.

As some people blamed the army for the clashes, Gen Anupong said he believed the world community knew that an armed militant was involved in

the incident. He affirmed that soldiers did not hurt the people. The authorities are seeking evidence on that and he hoped foreign media can be

relied on.

The army chief also said that there was no rift in the army but perhaps about five to ten former military officers may work for someone else and have launched an attack on soldiers. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-12

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Thai PM running out of options after deadly clashes - Analysis

by Claire Truscott

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's failure to end political protests in Bangkok after deadly weekend clashes has left the Oxford-educated leader with few options to stay in power, experts say.

The eloquent head of the ruling Democrat Party tried to negotiate to end weeks of class-based rallies before turning to his army backers to restore order, but weekend violence that left 21 dead put Abhisit under heavy pressure.

Now faced with protesters who are unwilling to talk and the choice of either calling polls he is likely to lose or ordering another crackdown, Abhisit's main strength is that the establishment still backs him.

"He doesn't have many options left. He tried it the safe way, he tried it the hard way and neither worked," said William Case, Director of City University's Southeast Asia Research Centre in Hong Kong.

"I don't see what Abhisit can do next... he may be forced out."

"About the only thing that's going to placate the Reds at this stage is to hold elections, which he can't do because the Democrats will lose," Case said, referring to the red-shirted protesters defying the government.

Elections are due by the end of 2011. Abhisit has offered to call the vote a year early but protest leaders have demand he dissolve the lower house immediately, blaming him for the violent eruptions late on Saturday.

The premier stood firm Monday, insisting "terrorists" were to blame for the violence, which also wounded more than 800 people.

Despite the deadly clashes, the Reds have vowed to continue their campaign in the capital until they bring down Abhisit, accusing his government of being illegitimate and elitist.

Thailand is deeply riven between the mainly rural Red Shirts and their opponents in the country's establishment circles of the military, bureaucracy and palace, who backed Abhisit's rise to the top job.

Abhisit came to power on the back of a parliamentary vote in December 2008, rather than through a popular election, while the Red Shirts, the supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, remain the biggest electoral force.

The Reds consider telecoms tycoon-turned-politician Thaksin a champion of the masses, while Bangkok's powerful elite see him as corrupt and a threat to the monarchy.

On becoming prime minister with a fragile six-party coalition, Abhisit pledged to be a leader for all Thais, but he has failed to deliver on promises of national reconciliation.

Born in England, Abhisit -- whose name means "privilege" -- was schooled at Eton before reading politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford University and becoming Thailand's youngest ever MP at the age of 27.

Since then he has kept close to the country's elite powerbrokers, and his best chance of survival now is to remain so, said Thai academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun.

"Who else do they want in power apart from Abhisit? I think the military see it's in their interest to have Abhisit in power.

We are really at deadlock once again," said Pavin, a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

Another outcome would be for the country to once again abandon its fledgling democracy with a military intervention, in a country that has seen 18 coups or coup attempts since 1932.

The army took charge after the September 2006 coup that deposed Thaksin and remained in control until polls were held in December 2007.

But that ouster triggered the political turmoil that continues today and the military is desperate to avoid a repeat, said Case.

"I'm sure they're not keen to take power directly. They have got no appetite for another military coup, it just went so badly the last time," said Case.

Scores of academics put forward a petition on Monday calling for the government to resist using force after Saturday's unrest, calling on leaders to "govern in a democratic fashion".

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-12

Published with written approval from AFP.

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CAT Telecom CEO returns to head office

CAT Telecom CEO Jirayuth Rungsrithong, who was taken away by red-shirt motorcyclists at noon, returned the head office at 3 pm.

He ordered the staffs to return home immediately, saying the protesters might come to the CAT Telecom head office again.

-- The Nation 2010-04-12

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Exclusive FRANCE 24 footage shows soldiers firing directly at protesters

Exclusive FRANCE 24 footage contradicts the Thai government’s declaration that soldiers only fired live rounds into the air during Saturday night clashes with "Red Shirt" anti-government protesters in which at least 21 people were killed.

By Mehdi Chebil (text)

Cyril PAYEN / Rebecca BOWRING John LIN, Regis DESCONLOIS, reporting from Bangkok, Thailand. (video)

A FRANCE 24 team were reporting from the thick of the fighting on Saturday night when the Thai army launched its crackdown on the anti government “Red Shirts” protesters.

Our exclusive footage contradicts the Thai government’s declaration that soldiers only fired live rounds “into the air”. At least 20 people were killed and 800 wounded in the violence.

At 1’25 in the FRANCE 24 video above, Thai soldiers can be seen firing their automatic riffles directly at the protesters.

full story: france24.com

-- 2010-04-12

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THE NATION: Urgent: EC ruled with majority votes to seek Democrat Party dissolution.

THE NATION: EC will forward the Democrat case to the Attorney General's Office, which will then ask the Constitution Court to make final ruling.

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Urgent: EC resolves to dissolve Democrat

The Election Commission told a press conference that it voted 4:5 to request the Constitution Court's order to dissolve the Democrat Party.

The party was accused of having unlawfully obtained donations from TPI Polene.

In the next step, the EC will pass on the case to the Office of the Attorney-General to consider before sending the case to the Constitution Court.

-- The Nation 2010-04-12

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THE NATION: Recap: It'll take months, like TRT & PPP case, to reach Constitution Court & 4 the court to make a ruling.

THE NATION: Reds were delighted and clapped as they learned about the EC's annoucement - some broke into tears.

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Election Commission Rule to Recommend Dissolution of Democrats

The Election Commission has ruled to dissolve the Democrats party for Bt258 million baht donation made illegally by TPI Polene. The case will now be forwarded to the Attorney General's Office for its deliberation.

The Opposition claimed TPI Polene had siphoned the money from the capital market and donated it to the Democrats who then used the money to fund its election campaigns in the previous general elections.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-12

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TAN Network: Red-shirts in high spirits after hearing news about EC's decision to disband Democrats. Red-shirt leader Veera declares victory

Bangkokpundit: Actually, it is not the dissolution of political parties that is most retarded, it is banning of executives for 5 years. Will this happen?

THE NATION: The EC voted 4-1 to dissolve the Democrats. However, it needs the Constitution Court's ruling.

THE NATION: The EC ruling came over a week before April 20 schedule.

THE NATION: Red leaders Veera declared victory and the crowd responded with loud cheers which lasted over 5 mins, according to @noppachak.

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THE NATION: PM Abhisit and his party exec. could b banned fr politics fro 5 yrs if they found guilty as happened to Thaksin's TRT and Somchai's PPP

[george]

Thaivisa Forum member (UNCONFIRMED):

"A comment on UDD Thailand on Facebook is saying that ASTV have announced that the PAD will be rallying on the streets on 18th April (Sunday).

If that turns out to be true, then it could just be the start of something even messier. "

[george]

Tourists warned of violence in holiday paradise Thailand:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Asian-Touris...Th-t355699.html

Thai Election Commission Calls For Dissolution Of Democrat Party:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Electio...is-t355693.html

[george]

M79 was fired at the residence of deputy director of TV Ch.5 but it missed the target and fell at a singer home. (18.57) TT

[george]

MCOT: HM Queen attends bathing ceremony for Col Romklao Thuwatham who died on duty in Saturday clashes between troops and Red Shirts

THE NATION: Crown prince accompanied HM the Queen to col Romklao's funeral at the Thepsirin Temple.

[george]

Twitter: Thailand close to political anarchy as protesters parade their dead through Bangkok

Twitter: Coup? No. Political coup.

[george]

Urgent: Reuters story of killed Japanese reporter's last video shot of his life http://link.reuters.com/zem47j

[george]

THE NATION: Having watched the vid and just want to say this again. Rest in peace, Hiro Muramoto.

[george]

THE NATION: Recapping the day: Abhisit blames terrorist infiltration for the bloodbath (indicating he won't give in to pressure and will fight on)

- Red shirts carry out a peaceful coffin procession and will continue to encamp at Rajprasong. Big crowd today.

- EC decides to seek dissolution of Democrat Party.

- Coalition partners want dissolution in six months. but they are watching where the winds blow.

- Military is the unpredictable lot. We dn't knw what the genrals have in mind, though publicly they say let politicians handle their own mess

- Autopsy yields not much except most deaths were from high-power rifle bullets.

- There will be more acrimonious debate on who shot whom first and whether there were really "terrorists" involved in the nxt few days.

That's it for my recap. I wish all of u who are in Thailand a very good holiday break. All the best to those of u overseas as well.