Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Thursday

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Thursday April 15 Red-shirt rally live updates

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Anger and agony remain as old protest site abandoned

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts abandoned protest sites on Phan Fa bridge and along Rajdamnoen Avenue late yesterday after their leaders decided to have them join the Rajprasong intersection site for strategic reasons.

Leaders said it would be easier to guard one site rather than two - but Rajprasong is definitely more strategic in terms of its effect on the economy.

By 5.30pm, the last anti-government song was played on the main stage while staff were removing chairs, floors, electric lines and began disassembling the stage itself.

The smell of urine wafted through the summer heat as some remained to converse about politics.

"This is just the beginning," said a 60-something red-shirt sympathiser to another man at Phan Fa bridge. "The yearning for justice is in Thais' blood."

"Who [condemned] manipulating the media while in power? And look at it now," said another man, in his thirties, referring to the shutting down of red-shirt media under an emergency decree.

"That's just the excuse of a dictator," said the older man.

A sad air remains in the place where barely five days ago clashes to "request for a return of the space" by the military left 22 dead and more than 850 hurt.

Some abandoned red-shirt signs, such as Pitsanulok Red Shirts, are found on nearby Lan Luang Street along with the litter, while Bangkok Metropolitan Administration cleaning staff and police take back the place, along with a handful of homeless people.

At Democracy Monument and the adjoining Din Sor Road, where wreckage of 10 armoured vehicles remains, some 200 red shirts refuse to go and hang on to chat well into the evening.

They mostly talk about the deadly clashes on Saturday night and they're all convinced soldiers killed the protesters.

"If they want to clear us out of [Rajprasong intersection] too then we'll bring the whole country to ruin - end of story," said a woman, anger in her eyes.

"I don't know who [the men in black] are but I thank them for without them, many red shirts would have been killed," she said.

The Democracy Monument has turned into a blank canvas for hate messages against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the military, with all imaginable words of abuse written on it.

More muted words are to be found on one wall of the monument, however. "Rest in peace brave martyrs. We red shirts will make sure that justice is served."

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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Red Shirts converge on Bangkok commercial hub

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's "Red Shirt" protesters poured into Bangkok's commercial heart on Wednesday, saying they were ready for the "final round" in their fight to overthrow the embattled government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva won some respite as his coalition partners said they would remain loyal to the ruling party, after the death toll from the country's deadliest civil violence in almost two decades rose to 22.

The mainly poor and rural Reds began consolidating in one area in the capital's commercial hub as they braced for a showdown with the authorities.

"We believe the government will try to disperse us again in the next couple of days," said a Reds leader, Nattawut Saikuar.

"We're organising our movement to fight. We hope it will be the final round between us and this government," he said.

The authorities have said they will not try to put down peaceful rallies but have urged the Reds to leave the commercial district, where they have disrupted traffic and caused major shopping centres to shutter their doors.

The demonstrators began moving out of the capital's historic quarter, scene of Saturday's bloody clashes, leaving behind abandoned military armoured vehicles, cars tipped on their sides and rubbish-strewn streets.

Thousands of Reds have been occupying two sites in central Bangkok in their bid to topple the government, which they accuse of being elitist and undemocratic.

The Reds' rally in the commercial district has alarmed business leaders who warn of a heavy blow to the Thai economy, but there has been no violence in the area, in stark contrast to the bloodshed in the historic quarter.

The army defended its use of guns during the crackdown, after video footage on the news website France24.com showed soldiers pointing assault rifles straight ahead and firing.

Military spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said single live shots were fired by troops providing cover for soldiers who were themselves under fire.

"In that situation soldiers have to defend themselves," he said.

The violence erupted when troops tried to clear the site in Bangkok's old city occupied by the protesters, who had earlier stormed parliament and tried to force their way into an army base in the capital.

Both sides have accused the other of using live ammunition.

The government, which imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas a week ago, has accused ousted ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra of stoking the unrest, which has prompted growing international alarm.

Abhisit's future looks precarious after an election body called for the abolition of his Democrat Party over allegations of illegal political donations -- a move that could trigger the government's collapse.

But in a boost to Abhisit, the head of one of the five minority parties in the ruling coalition said they would unite behind the premier and resist calls for snap elections.

"We support them in staying put to resolve the crisis," said Chumpol Silpa-archa, whose Chart Thai Pattana party holds 25 seats in the 475-seat lower house.

Speculation has grown over whether the government will call early elections in a bid to defuse the stand-off, but the Reds have insisted they will accept nothing less than immediate polls, saying the time for negotiations is over.

Abhisit has blamed "terrorists" for Saturday's violence, while his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban said the Reds could continue their rallies in Bangkok for months as long as they are peaceful.

Sixteen civilians, including a Japanese cameraman, and six soldiers died as a result of the clashes, according to a new toll from the government's Erawan emergency centre.

Another man died of a gunshot wound suffered a few kilometres away from the protest site but it was not clear whether it was linked to the civil unrest, the centre said.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-15

Published with written approval from AFP.

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BURNING ISSUE

Another coup would be a disaster

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is now in such a precarious situation that people must try to handle the crisis in a mature manner in order not to lose what little democracy and liberty we have gained over the decades.

Twenty-two people on both sides have already died and more than 800 have been wounded as the deadlock continues.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, now regarded as a "tyrant" by the red shirts, talked tough on Monday and along with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban claimed that some elements within the red shirts wanted to bring about a "major change" far greater than that of unseating the current administration.

The Post Today newspaper, a sister publication of the Bangkok Post and popular among the Bangkok middle class, yesterday stated in its front-page headline, "Turning the Country Upside Down: Suthep reveals a plan to change the country ".

This is a dangerous game that could set the stage for yet another coup and drag Thailand deeper into the political abyss and hatred.

The calls for a coup are mounting. On Tuesday night, this writer watched a popular political discussion programme on TV Thai (formerly TPBS) where a member of the Senate committee on military affairs demanded that soldiers quickly stage a coup.

It was another speaker, a former deputy Army chief, who warned that another coup would turn Thailand into a pariah state. The sad twist, however, is that this general believes a coup is "imminent".

We must remind ourselves at this critical juncture that an immature society cannot become democratic. A society that cannot deal with political conflict without resorting to a military coup every now and then is cursed and cannot hope to become democratic.

The September 2006 coup not only failed to genuinely restore peace but also failed to heal the social division. It might be fair to say that the red-shirt movement is an unintended by-product of the 2006 coup.

Now, if the red shirts refuse to surrender to yet another military coup, which might be in the making as you read these words, then civil war will break out and much more blood will be shed that would make Saturday's clashes seem like a walk in the park.

Even if a coup managed to send most red shirts back home without much violence and fatalities, does anyone truly believe that this will bring long-term peace and stability to Thailand and heal the political divide?

If the answer is no, another coup attempt must then be resisted. People must say no and NEVER, EVER be tempted to go down that slippery road to instant gratification and despotism again.

It's time for Thais to try their utmost to sail through this crisis with maturity. This not only means saying "no" to military intervention, but also requires a willingness to allow people to hold differing political views and enjoy access to their media or political mouthpiece of choice.

The government's clampdown on the red-shirt media and media sympathetic to the red shirts since last week has so far generated more hatred and anger among the movement.

Again, this immature way of handling the conflict by the government can never bring about democracy. It will bring about more social division, however.

And yesterday, the government even went further by trying to block all politically "divisive" comments and pictures online related to the bloody clashes of April 10.

This is most immature and will backfire. People can think for themselves. The fact that a week after the censorship started, more red shirts joined its rallies, is proof of this.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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REDSHIRT PROTEST

Pictured man clarifies his position

By The Nation

Abhisit accused of inciting hatred, planning to model operations on October 1976 crackdown

BANGKOK: -- Redshirt leaders brought along the 47yearold redshirt guard that the media showed carrying war weapons and mixing with redshirt protesters during last Saturday's clash, to the stage at Rajprasong intersection yesterday.

On stage, the leaders insisted that Manop Charnchangthong had never undergone military training and that the photos published had been taken at the Phan Fa protest site, not at Khok Wua - the clash site - as reported.

At a press conference, redshirt leader Natthawut Saikua also accused Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of planning an operation like the one used on October 6, 1976, when protesters were surrounded and killed.

He said Abhisit claimed there were terrorists among the protesters and was inciting hatred between the red shirts and the public by accusing the movement of wanting to overthrow the country's highest institution.

Natthawut added that the spirits of dictators like Field Marshal Thanom Kittikhajorn and Field Marshal Prapas Charusathien had probably possessed Abhisit.

The redshirt leader then presented Manop to members of the media, saying that the redshirt guard had seized weapons from soldiers and was taking them over to display on the Phan Fa stage - not the Khok Wua intersection or the Satri Witthaya School intersection as alleged.

Manop told the press that on Saturday he was guarding the protest site at Rajprasong intersection when Natthawut and Arisman Pongreungrong decided that all the red shirts' strong men should move to the Phan Fa site. So, he joined them in the evening and was stationed at the school.

He added that he did odd jobs for a living and had never been trained in the military. He also said that since there were no other guards at the Satri Wittaya School, he singlehandedly unarmed the soldiers marching past.

Natthawut also displayed the photograph of a man in red, riding a motorcycle and armed with a rifle. He said this man was not a real redshirt demonstrator and that he was seen handing the weapon over to soldiers posted by the Phadungkrungkasem Canal near Parliament.

He also warned TV executives not to be complacent with the belief that this government would stay to protect them, and instead they should report "nothing but the truth" to the public.

Meanwhile, the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations yesterday presented five video clips, showing redshirt protesters reportedly attacking soldiers.

At a meeting yesterday, the centre's spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government's move to reclaim the Phan Fa area last Saturday had been criticised even though the operation, which was set to run between 3pm and 4pm, was concluded at 6pm.

He explained that clashes had only erupted because some protesters had moved and pushed the troops.

During the meeting, which was chaired by Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban, Sansern said he had brought along the clips so that the public could judge for itself which side had the more credible information. He added that the centre was ready to be investigated by the public and the justice system.

The first clip showed a redshirt protester being hit by a gunshot that appeared to come from the red shirts, while in the second clip a redshirt demonstrator was heard saying that grenades were being lobbed by another group, not the soldiers.

In the third clip, a redshirt protester was heard asking if MajGeneral Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol was on their side.

The fourth clip showed soldiers shooting to cover for the injured being moved out of the clash site, while the fifth showed some protesters blocking the removal of injured people and trying to attack the officials.

All clips were reportedly taken from websites such as www.youtube.com, www.cbnpress.com, www.thailandmirror.com and www.combatcamera.com.

Sansern said that since these clips were shot at the redshirt protest area, it was very unlikely that the redshirt leaders did not know about them.

"Many of the images show men in black jackets, displaying the symbol of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship, carrying AKA assault rifles in the front lines. There were no calls among the crowd for these blackclad men to be arrested, so the redshirt leaders' claim of not knowing about them is impossible," he said.

Meanwhile, five Reuters reporters went to deputy city police chief Pol MajGeneral Amnuay Nimmano yesterday to ask that the death of Reuters cameraman Hiro Muramoto be investigated.

Amnuay later said the journalists had sought confirmation that Muramoto was indeed killed while covering the Saturday clashes, and asked for the autopsy report, which could not be released because that would go against the request of Muramoto's family.

He also urged members of the public to submit photographs or video clips taken on the fateful day to help identify the armed assailants. Though police already had some pictures of the masked men in black, new visual evidence taken from different angles could help with the identification process, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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'Strategic move' by red shirts

By THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt protesters yesterday abandoned Phan Fa Bridge, shifting their main protest site to the Rajprasong area in what their leaders described as a strategic move in preparation for a second crackdown.

The government, however, views it as a need for the crowd to merge as the number of red-shirt supporters declines.

Jatuporn Promphan, a red-shirt leader, said it was easier to maintain security at the Rajprasong intersection and there was sufficient road space to accommodate more protesters.

He said the government appeared more concerned about the buildings in the Rajprasong area than at Phan Fa.

"This is a good strategic location for our fight against the government," he told reporters.

The red shirts began consolidating their protesters at the city centre after the leaders ordered those at Phan Fa to move to Rajprasong, with the first groups arriving at around 4pm.

More tents were set up on roads adjoining the Rajprasong intersection. Shopping malls in the area such as Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery, were open in the morning but closed early in the afternoon.

ECONOMIC IMPACT 'MEANINGLESS'

Jatuporn, who is also an MP of the opposition Pheu Thai Party, said he thought the economic impact of the lingering protests on businesses in the Rajprasong area was "meaningless when compared to human lives".

He was referring to the deaths of 15 red-shirt protesters during Saturday's clashes with soldiers.

The government denied troops had opened fire on protesters, blaming the 22 deaths - including those of six soldiers and a Japanese cameraman - on a group of mysterious hooded men armed with rifles and grenades.

Jatuporn yesterday insisted the red-shirt protesters were unarmed, adding it was the Army's duty to find out about the heavily armed men.

He called on four major business associations - the Thai Bankers Association, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Tourism Council of Thailand - to be responsible for what happened.

He said the ongoing crisis stemmed from those groups' moves against the governments of Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat while supporting the Democrat Party's rise to power.

The short-lived governments of Samak and Somchai were favoured by the red shirts and described as proxies for fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Natthawut Saikua, another red-shirt leader, said the protest leaders agreed that protesters from both sites had to consolidate "for maximum strength and efficiency" to prepare for a possible government crackdown.

"We will prepare our big army in preparation to fight with the Abhisit government after the Songkran festival. The major reason is we don't want to see more clashes and losses.

The government wants the Phan Fa area back, so we have returned it to them. The government has not asked for the Rajprasong area to be returned. If they want it back, they will have to kill again," Natthawut said.

He said the government was planning a crackdown similar to the incident of October 6, 1976, in which protesting students at Thammasat University were lynched by an angry mob and shot by security forces after being described by government radio as communists.

Natthawut said the government was creating public hatred towards the red shirts by branding them as terrorists and accusing them of trying to overthrow the highest institution.

Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said yesterday the protest leaders decided to move their protesters out of the Phan Fa Bridge because the number of protesters had declined.

"They need to get together in one place," he said.

Panitan said the government would continue to enforce the law while keeping communication channels with red-shirt leaders open.

A security expert said there were two major reasons the red-shirt leaders had decided to merge their protest site at Rajprasong: fear of a reprisal by some angry soldiers at Phan Fa due to a small number of protesters, and Rajprasong would be a more effective site for pressuring the government.

The source, who declined to be identified, said with Rajprasong's significant location at the city's economic centre, the government would be more careful in launching a second crackdown on the protesters.

"Some protest leaders may respond by setting fire to nearby buildings, which would cause much damage," said the source.

Red-shirt leaders said they expected a second crackdown in a few days.

NO IDEA WHEN RALLY WILL END

Chai Srivikorn, president of the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association, said yesterday that nobody could predict when the red shirts' rally at the Rajprasong intersection would end.

By consolidating all their forces at the intersection, the red shirts would have a much wider impact on the area.

Previously, Siam Paragon, Siam Centre and Siam Discovery might stay open or suspend operations depending on the scale of the rally, said Chai, whose family owns the Gaysorn shopping centre.

Now with the red shirts using the intersection alone as their rally site, all of the shopping centres in the vicinity will have to close for security reasons because the protesters will occupy the road all the way down to Siam Square, he said.

The shopping malls and office towers will have to seal themselves off to prevent anybody from using them for fighting.

Gaysorn, which is located right beside the rally site, has been shuttered since the red shirts took over the area almost two weeks ago.

The damage to the Rajprasong shopping district runs at about Bt1 billion a day, he added.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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Keeper shot dead at zoo believed a victim of political violence

By Chularat Saengpassa

The Nation

Slain late Saturday by gunman firing into zoo, which houses Army camp

BANGKOK: -- Mana Arjran, a Dusit Zoo employee, was shot dead at 11pm of the Saturday night, believed to be a casualty of political violence that has claimed over 20 lives so far.

"He was shot in the head and many bullets were found in the trees around the place where his body was found. All staffs are terrified, but we don't know what to do. To our disappointment, the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation has not yet recognised that Mana is one of the victims, and this leaves him out of any available state assistance," said the zoo's director Sophon Damnui.

If he is recognised as a clash victim, he will be the first innocent as the list of 23 deaths are either soldiers or the red shirt demonstrators.

According to preliminary investigation by the zoo, a few gun shots briefly erupted outside the zoo near the parliament exit. Then, sound of a machine gun exploded inside the zoo, after the screeching of a pickup outside, according to the recollection of Mana's buddy. Now, staff are working in pair to watch over each other.

Mana, 21, was one of about 20 employees on night duty, who completed his shift at the time. He just completed the night feed to rare turtles and left the cage to stamp his work ballot at the machine, near the parking space and a temporary military camp. His buddy remained in the cage, nearby, and found the dead body about 20 metres away.

Like it has always been, the zoo is now a temporary military camp, where soldiers are stationed for duty in the inner Rattanakosin area.

The zoo promptly reported the death to the Dusit Police Station and the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation as well as the Vajira Hospital's casualty centre. Today, the zoo will notify the death to the Royal Household Bureau, which is extending His Majesty the King's assistance to all victims.

The body was sent to the Ramathibodi Hospital for autopsy and now it is stored at Sukhanthawas Temple, waiting for incineration after the cause of death is available.

"If there is no acknowledgement at all, we may reconsider our decision to allow the establishment of the military camp here. It's necessary that we have to protect all employees. We follow the government's order (in providing the base). Now, the staff does not want to take night shift," he said.

In a separate interview, Bangkok Erawan Centre Dr.Pongphet Kamjornkitjakarn said Mana appeared on the fatality list, but the cause of death is pending the Dusit Police Station's investigation.

A source at the centre noted that the identification process is quite complicated. Among casualties believed to be the red-shirt demonstrators were soldiers in disguise. For a reason, they were identified as protesters. Meanwhile, some protesters do not carry the identification cards.

Pol Lt Col Tinnakorn Somwandee, deputy chief of the Dusit Police Station as chief of the investigation, said the investigation is underway but the result is not available now as more witnesses are to be interrogated.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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Thai coalition partners back embattled PM

BANGKOK (AFP) -- The Thai government's coalition partners said Wednesday they would remain loyal to the ruling party, which is facing a crippling political crisis and the threat of abolition.

The head of Chart Thai Pattana, one of the five minority parties in the ruling coalition, told AFP on behalf of the grouping that they would unite behind Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and resist calls for snap elections.

"The coalition parties are supporting the government. We support them in staying put to resolve the crisis," said Chumpol Silpa-archa, whose party holds 25 seats in the 475-seat lower house.

"Resignation and house dissolution are irresponsible," he added.

Red Shirt protesters have promised to step up their campaign against Abhisit's government after violent clashes at the weekend left 22 people dead and more than 800 injured.

Abhisit's future has become more fragile after an election body called this week for the dissolution of his Democrat Party over allegations of illegal political donations -- a move that could trigger the government's collapse.

Thailand has been riven by years of political tensions pitting the ruling elite against the mainly working-class Reds who oppose Abhisit and seek the return of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-15

Published with written approval from AFP.

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MCOT: Erawan emergency center reports one more death from Saturday’s clashes, raising total number to 24 and 216 injured

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Major malls to negotiate with the UDD protestors

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Major malls in the Ratchaprasong area are prepared to negotiate with the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship protestors after the rallies at the junction have resulted in closure of the malls and significant financial losses.

Sources say that the management of the major luxury mall, Siam Paragon and Central World are concerned about the prolonged situation, however the management will have to be cautious about any implemented action plans as it may cause adverse effects.

Central World department store, directly situated in front of the rally site has been closed for 12 consecutive days. Sources from Central World say that currently an operational team is set up to monitor the current situation, and is ready to take immediate action. Meanwhile, Central Chitlom will monitor the situation day-by-day as the opening days are difficult to determine beforehand.

Currently major luxury mall Siam Paragon is monitoring the situation on a daily basis. Siam Paragon had opened on 13 April 2010, where only 30% of customers were present out of an average of more than one thousand customers per day. The major mall had to close down on 14 April 2010 at 14.00 hrs after opening in the morning as protestors have decided to converge, moving from their main rally site Phan Fah Bridge to the Ratchaprasong junction. Siam Paragon will have to evaluate to see which direction the protests will go, adding that they are hopeful the situation will subside soon.

Sources say that for each day of closure, Siam Paragon has reported to lose an average of 70 million THB on weekends and 40 million THB on weekdays.

-- NNT 2010-04-15

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UDD continue to press for Parliament dissolution

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) group has pressed their request for the Democrat-led government to dissolve the parliament after converging at the Ratchaprasong junction.

UDD core leader, Nattawut Saikua added that the movement of protestors will be decided in two to three days. Other core leaders taking turns to make a speech have confirmed that the UDD will not return the use of public space to the government.

At the Ratchaprasong junction, protestors have started to set up tents and main utilities after a group of protestors at the former main rally site at Phan Fah Bridge had converged to the junction yesterday.

Meanwhile, cleaning operations have started at the Phan Fah Bridge, where Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officials have moved the destroyed trucks from the area. Approximately 500 people will be cleaning Rachadamnoen road, after the area was occupied by anti-government protestors since 12 March. The cleaning is set to be completed after 12.00 hrs today.

-- NNT 2010-04-15

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THE NATION: Natthawut announced red shirts to occupy roads up to National Stadium, Silom or Soi Sukhumvit 31 after Songkran holidays.

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Natthawut says more red shirts will join rally after Songkran holidays

BANGKOK: -- Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, said more protesters from provinces will join the demonstration at the Rajprasong Intersection after the long Songkran holidays.

He said the arrival of more protesters would require the protesters to occupy roads up to in front of the National Stadium beyond the Phathumwan Intersection or until Soi Sukhumvit 31 or Silom Road.

He said the rally will go on until the government dissolves the House.

They will not stop the rally even the prime minister resigns.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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THE NATION: Lone woman challenged red shirts behind Rajprasong rally stage criticizing them for causing trouble.

THE NATION: She turned at 9 am and was later 'escorted' away by guards to the area in front of President Hotel while other protesters booed her.

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Lone woman defies red shirts

BANGKOK: -- An unidentified lone woman turned up behind the Rajprasong rally stage of the red-shirts at 9 am Thursday and criticised the leaders for causing trouble to the public.

Worachai Hemma met her and tried to explain the causes of the red shirts while other protesters starting to boo her.

Eventually, red-shirt guards had to escort her out of the area to a spot in front of the President Hotel.

Reporters saw some protesters with sticks in hands running after her and shouted that the woman once tried to slam her car against them.

-- The Nation 2010-04-15

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MCOT: Bangkok governor: Ratchadamnoen Avenue open to traffic Thursday evening; to ask Fine Arts Department to help restore Democracy Monument

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THE NATION: PM Abhisit should dissolve The House in 6 months as recommended by reconciliation committee, Chartthai Pattana leader Chumpol Silpa-archa said

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THE NATION: just wanna remind you all that Thai red cross is short of blood supply and still open for donation. Call 02-256-4300.

THE NATION: If you live in Thon Buri side, a mobile unit of Thai Red Cross is at The Mall Bang Khae on P floor. - Please help if you can.

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Thai Tourism stimulus measures extended

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has extended tourism stimulus measures for one year until 31 March 2011 to assist tourism related entrepreneurs who were affected from the demonstration of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa announced on Thursday that the ministry has resolved to extend the assistance measures to help tourism related entrepreneurs while road show activities must be organized on a continuous basis to further stimulate tourism.

The stimulus measures include the exemption of visa fees for foreign tourists, travel insurance for foreign tourists of not more than 10,000 USD, low interest rate loans, and extension of loan payment periods.

However, Mr Chumpol voiced concerns with the target of 15.5 million international tourists for this year. He said more incentives must be made with cooperation from airlines and tourism related entrepreneurs to boost the number of tourists in exchange with public relations assistance.

The minister added that the number of tourists travelling into Thailand at airports in general have not decreased, but on the other hand, is more than the number in the same period last year because the figure last year was very low.

Mr Chumpol admitted that tour bookings in Bangkok would be affected from the mass rally of the UDD now taking place at Ratchaprasong Intersection. However, those in other areas, especially in the southern islands of Phuket and Samui would not be affected.

-- NNT 2010-04-15

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THE NATION: mall update: Siam Discovery, Siam Center and Siam Paragon are closed until further notice.

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MCOT: 2,700 police deployed in Ratchaprasong area for security; more checkpoints set up around protest site to prevent 3rd parties from creating unrest

THE NATION: Deputy PM's Sec-Gen Panithan denied govt planned to use force to break up rally at Ratjprasong on April 19 as alleged by red-shirt leaders.

THE NATION: Panithan said govt estimated number of protesters at Rajprasong Wednesday night at 30,000, Thursday morning at 3,000.

THE NATION: Panithan said PM Abhisit declined to give interview and had to lie low in 11th Infantry Regiment for safety reason.

MCOT: PM Abhisit won't appear in public for a time for safety reasons; still following situation, solving problems: government spokesman

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MCOT: CRES: Ratchaprasong unsafe; urges people not to join protest there as terrorists mixing among protesters

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Thai government ready for more talks with Red Shirts

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's government urged "Red Shirt" protesters Thursday to return to negotiations as the army cleared abandoned armoured vehicles from Bangkok's streets after deadly weekend clashes.

The red-clad demonstrators hunkered down in Bangkok's commercial heart, preparing for a final showdown with the authorities in their effort to force immediate elections to replace Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government.

"If the government still wants to retake this area, we can do nothing except wait. We have overcome fear. Nothing can scare us anymore," said a Reds leader, Nattawut Saikuar.

The death toll from Thailand's worst political violence in almost two decades rose to at least 23 people, 18 of whom died from gunshot wounds, emergency services said as the government called for the fresh talks.

"The government is ready to talk whenever the Reds want, but the Reds said they don't want to," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

"All political conflicts end at the negotiating table," he told AFP.

Saturday's clashes erupted as the army tried unsuccessfully to clear an area in Bangkok's old city, sparking street battles involving soldiers, red-clad protesters and unidentified gunmen described as "terrorists" by the government.

Leaders of the red-clad movement have said there is no point in further talks, demanding immediate elections.

Negotiations last month between the two sides ended in stalemate after the Reds rejected the government's compromise offer to hold polls at the end of the year.

The Reds charge that the government is illegitimate because it came to power in 2008 after a court ousted allies of former prime minister and telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra from power.

Officials said Thursday a bomb attack on three electricity towers nearly plunged a suburb of the Thai capital into darkness last weekend although they were still investigating whether it was linked to the wider unrest.

Four bombs exploded and three others malfunctioned, they said.

Had all the explosives detonated, power would have been cut to the northern Bangkok suburb of Rangsit, Ayutthaya governor Wittaya Phewpong said.

"Whoever planted them wanted to cause huge damage," he told AFP.

In central Bangkok, the mostly poor and rural Reds have moved out of the capital's historic district into the commercial district.

As they left, the authorities moved in to clean up. Cranes hoisted the hulks of armoured personnel carriers splashed with anti-government slogans onto trailers, while cleaners hosed down the blood-stained streets.

The authorities have said they will not try to put down peaceful rallies but have urged the Reds to leave the commercial district, where they have disrupted traffic and caused major shopping centres to close.

Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said the rally was in "an unsafe area," urging protesters to stay away.

"Terrorists with weapons of war are ready to attack officials and protesters," he said.

A crackdown in the area is seen as unlikely because of the risk that children, elderly demonstrators and tourists might get caught up in clashes, as well as the possibility of damage to shopping malls and hotels.

The Reds have challenged the government's assertion that there were M16 and AK47 assault rifles among the protesters.

"If they can prove those terrorists are related to us, we will take responsibility," said Nattawut. "But can the army deny that those killed during the clashes died from army bullets?"

The army has said live shots were only fired in the air or by troops providing cover for soldiers who were themselves under fire.

The government, which imposed a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas a week ago, has accused Thaksin of stoking the unrest.

Eighteen civilians, including a Japanese cameraman, and five soldiers were killed in the clashes, with more than 800 injured, according to the Erawan emergency centre.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-15

Published with written approval from AFP.

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