Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Wednesday

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Democrats not trembling about dissolution case

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Democrats do not panic over the resolution of the Election Commission (EC) to dissolve the party, Spokesperson to the Democrat Party Leader, Thepthai Senpong said.

Mr Thepthai stated that the Democrat MPs have spent Songkran holidays making provincial visits in order to create an understanding and inform all party members nationwide of facts about the dissolution case.

The EC voted in a majority or 4:1 on Monday to dissolve the ruling Democrat on grounds of receiving 258 million THB in donation which is banned by the constitution. The decision to dissolve the party for misusing supporting budget given by the EC was reportedly unanimous.

The spokesperson added that a majority of the party members do not feel anxious about the EC's resolution and will not make any movements against the EC as the cases must be processed in line with the judiciary system.

Nevertheless, Mr Thepthai believed that facts collected by the party and relevant documents would help the Democrat get away from the alleged cases.

The spokesperson said the party’s meeting had not yet discussed the idea to set up a new party, adding that a closed group of people might talk about the matter.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister overseeing security affairs and Democrat Party Secretary-General, Suthep Thaugsuban, on Tuesday admitted that a new name for the Democrat Party has been prepared in case the party is dissolved by the order of the court.

-- NNT 2010-04-14

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Black masked gunmen from weekend bloodshed identified

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Names of armed gunmen in black firing at authorities during the 10 April bloodshed have been identified by the Democrat party.

Democrat Party Spokesperson MD Buranaj Smutharaks stated that black clad gunmen spotted during the recent bloody clash between authorities and the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) have been given names.

Security officials have been tasked with making the apprehension of the gunmen a priority. The discovery of the interlopers has lended an increased sense of unease to the already tense situation.

MD Buranaj used footage of the gunmen to indicate that they were trained and sent in disguised to exacerbate the engagement of authorities and protesters.

The spokesperson has asked all sectors cooperate and inform authorities immediately if have any information as to the whereabouts of the gunmen.

-- NNT 2010-04-14

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BPbreakingnews: Puea Thai calls for press freedom

THE NATION: Central Chidlom opens till 10pm today.

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THE NATION: PAD will hold a meeting in the wake of current situation on Apr18 at Rangsit university at 9am onwards, said Suriyasai. Via Thairath

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Protesters becoming one group; Reject new negotiations with government

BANGKOK (TNA) -- After demonstrating for a month on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in a bid to oust the coalition government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand's ‘Red Shirt’ protesters plan to move all their activists from the site to join with their compatriots now occupying Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok’s prime business area later Wednesday.

Natthawut Saikua, a key leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told a press conference that the protesters will leave Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue later Wednesday and join their fellow protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection. They will rally again after Songkran, the traditional New Year, ends Thursday.

UDD protesters have occupied Phan Fah Bridge since March 14. The plan to move from this site comes after bloody clashes between combined government forces and the protesters last Saturday.

The number of protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection is expected to grow to as far as Lumpini Park or beyond that, traffic around Silom Road, considered as Thailand’s Wall Street.

Police are optimistic that protesters will completely vacate Ratchadamnoen Avenue by midnight and the authorities will inspect whether any dangerous material is left at the site.

Municipal cleanup teams will be assigned to clean the roads after the protesters leave, police said. Traffic is expected to return to normal Thursday evening.

Insisting that UDD key leaders will not negotiate with the government for a third time, Mr Natthawut said Prime Minister Abhisit must dissolve the House first. If and when that happens, he said, Red Shirt leaders with arrest warrants will surrender to police afterward.

Top UDD leaders held two rounds of talks with the government on March 28 and 29 without resolving the impasse. The Red Shirts insisted that Mr Abhisit must dissolve the House within 15 days while the prime minister proposed a nine month time frame. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-14

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Public urged to return army weapons seized during clashes

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Citizens holding army weapons taken from troops or abandoned during last weekend’s clashes between government security forces and anti-government protesters are urged to return them to the authorities or police, an army spokesman said Wednesday.

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, speaking for the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), told a press conference a number of weapons used by security forces during the clashes were missing while a certain amount of them was seized by the protesters, said Col Sansern.

Army officials are now conducting inventories of missing weapons and will then report the loss to police.

Those who now possess the weapons should return them because such possession is illegal, he said. The army is concerned that the weapons could be used by ill-intentioned people later for actions which could be mistakenly credited to the army.

The agency had ordered officials to provide adequate security for the public and protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) now rallying to oust the coalition government, said the spokesman.

Asked whether martial law should be imposed as suggested by the New Politics Party, Col Sansern said it is “still unnecessary as society still has confidence in the government.” (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-14

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THE NATION: Just went to Siam sq - the retail scene was quite. Many shops closed. BTS closed some exits at Siam station but so far service still on.

THE NATION: Phan Fa red shirts reach Rajprasong

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MCOT: People in multi shirt colours gather at Victory Monument, call on PM not to dissolve House, and Red Shirts to end protest

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THE NATION: Not in newsroom today, but from TV there's major development: The voluntary dispersal of Phan Fa reds who will now join Rajprasong reds.

THE NATION: This means Rajprasong blockade will intensify, piling more eco/political pressure on Gov, which aftr bloodshed will hesitate to crack down.

THE NATION: The arrival of more protesters prompted Siam Paragon, Siam Center and Siam Discovery to announce closures.

THE NATION: Death toll increases to 22 including 6 soldiers.

THE NATION: Some 400 Facebook fans gather at Victory Monument

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THE NATION: A Reuters big boss met senior police today to urge full probe into the cameraman's death.

THE NATION: Urgent: Yellow shirts to hold a caucus on April 18 at Rangsit University to define their directions.

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THE NATION: suriyasai said the yellow shirt convention on April 18 will involve only about 3,000 "core" members.

THE NATION: A red-shirt man punched Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut during a Songkran water-pouring ceremony in Nakhon Phanom. He was arrested.

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THE NATION: Cracks in Thai military? Anupong denies but BBC doubts it http://bit.ly/acPDU3

THE NATION: 6.08pm - NNA reported - Seh Daeng appeared at Ratchaprasong, being welcome and giving his autographs to red supporters.

THE NATION: 26 public bus lines have been rerouted to avoid the rally at Ratchaprasong.

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THE NATION: Two major developments: anti-red group submits a letter to govt (Apr16) and the meeting of yellow shirts (Apr18).