Thai Red-Shirts Leaders Will Surrender To Police May 15: Nattawut

[webfact]

Thai protest leaders will surrender to police May 15: leader

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Leaders of Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters who have been rallying in Bangkok for more than a month will turn themselves over to police on May 15, one of them said Saturday.

"On May 15, 24 of us will surrender. All of the leaders," protest leader Nattawut Saikuar told AFP. "We'll surrender and ask for bail," he added.

The Red Shirts have so far ignored repeated calls by authorities to disperse from the capital's commercial heartland, despite arrest warrants outstanding against the core leaders.

"For now the 24 of us will keep rallying to show sincerely that we won't run away," Nattawut said, without explaining the reason for the planned timing of the leaders' surrender.

A week ago demonstrators at another Bangkok rally point in Bangkok's historic quarter clashed with security forces in the country's worst civil unrest in 18 years, leaving 23 people dead and more than 800 injured.

Late Friday embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva put his army chief, Anupong Paojinda, in charge of security, after a bungled operation to arrest some protest leaders at a Bangkok hotel.

The military has said it will make a renewed attempt to disperse the protesters, who have crippled the capital's shopping and luxury hotel district, but has given no further details of its plans.

"I'm sure the order to suppress us will come out soon," Nattawut later told reporters.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-17

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[anotherpeter]

Didn't Arisman say he was going to surrender to police a couple of weeks ago?

[webfact]

MCOT: Red Shirt lawyer informing police that 24 leaders with arrest warrants will turn themselves in on May 15

[bendejo]

What if they're still blocking the streets on May 15?

This statement is just more bs.

Edited April 17, 2010 by bendejo

[slapout]

If 24 of these illustrious folks can come to any type of agreement, without some kind of pork barrel reward, it will be amazing Thailand alright. He did not note what year and where they will surrender at.

Travel documents up to date?

Legal and expense fees in hand?

Luggage packed and stored at airport (bypass x ray etc)?

Boss has given plan and approval?

OK we are good to go unless plans change?

[Mosha]

I don't think the people of Bangkok are prepared to give them another month, never mind the army.

[webfact]

UPDATE

Thai protest leaders to surrender, but the rally goes on

by Apilaporn Vechakij

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Leaders of Thailand's anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters said Saturday they would surrender to police next month, but refused to end their rally in the capital's commercial heartland.

One week on from deadly clashes between the Red Shirts and security forces, the protesters said they expected a new push by the army to disperse them after its chief was put in charge of security in the strife-torn capital.

"On May 15, 24 of us will surrender. All of the leaders," said one of the top Red Shirts, Nattawut Saikuar. "For now the 24 of us will keep rallying to show sincerely that we won't run away," he said.

"I'm sure the order to suppress us will come out soon."

The Red Shirts, who are seeking immediate elections, have so far ignored repeated calls by authorities to disperse from the capital's commercial heartland, despite arrest warrants outstanding against core leaders.

They support fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and accuse the government of elitism and being undemocratic as it came to power after a parliamentary vote that followed a court verdict ousting Thaksin's allies.

Late Friday embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva put his army chief Anupong Paojinda in charge of security, after a bungled operation to arrest some protest leaders at a hotel in Bangkok's northern outskirts.

Key Red Shirts gave alms to monks on their rally stage Saturday, in memory of last weekend's violence that left 23 people dead and more than 800 injured.

The mostly poor and rural-based red-clad movement has since abandoned its rally spot close to where the violence took place to instead reinforce numbers in a Bangkok district home to luxury hotels and shopping malls.

The military has said it will make a renewed attempt to disperse the protesters but has given no further details of its plans.

"There will be an effort to retake the area. We can't allow protests there because it damages the country," army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told reporters late Friday.

Abhisit said that he was replacing his deputy as head of security operations in the capital, giving Anupong broader powers to tackle "terrorism".

"The government reassures you that we will restore normalcy," he said in a nationally televised address.

The decision came after commandos earlier Friday stormed a hotel where leaders of the Red Shirt protest movement were hiding, but the mission ended in dramatic failure after the suspects managed to flee.

One Red Shirt leader climbed down an electric cable from the third floor of the hotel in Bangkok's northern outskirts before being rushed away by jubilant supporters, despite the presence of dozens of riot police nearby.

The operation "was not a success but the government will carry on", Abhisit said.

The setback to the authorities came almost a week after the army tried in vain to clear an area of the capital of anti-government demonstrators, triggering the country's deadliest civil unrest in 18 years.

The Reds, who began their mass rallies on March 12, say their Siam Square rally spot will be the scene of the "final round" in their fight to overthrow the government.

Abhisit has blamed "terrorists" for inciting last weekend's violent street clashes, which sparked bloody gun battles in the heart of the capital.

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

A legal aide announced Thaksin is to sue Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya after the politician called him a "bloody terrorist".

"Dr Thaksin has assigned a team of lawyers to bring a libel case, both civil and criminal, against Mr. Kasit," Noppadon Pattama told AFP.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-17

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[way2muchcoffee]

I don't think the people of Bangkok are prepared to give them another month, never mind the army.

No. I don't think so. Can you imagine the traffic nightmare and massive inconvenience to BKK residents once schools start in early May?

[Neurath]

Sounds promising.

The red shirt leadership with warrants will surrender but not in the next few weeks.

Abhisit will call an election before the end of 2011 but not in the next few months.

A lovely symmetry is coming into focus.

Edited April 17, 2010 by Neurath

[animatic]

I don't think the people of Bangkok are prepared to give them another month, never mind the army.

No. I don't think so. Can you imagine the traffic nightmare and massive inconvenience to BKK residents once schools start in early May?

All things must pass.

Including the saenchows to school.

But not likely on Jatuporn's chosen schedule.

Seems like the army is about to 'lithotripter' this gallstone in the national bile ducts.

May 15th, may be coming sooner than expected.

[otherstuff1957]

Didn't Arisaman already surrender on April 1st? The only way these people will 'turn themselves in' will be to Redshirt Police officers (perhaps the ones who handed their weapons over to the crowd at SC Park Hotel), who will promptly release them on 50 satang bail.

[Huey]

They have to be alive to surrender.

[geovalin]

If the yellows was in jail (their normal place), the reds would have to surrender RIGHT AWAY.

Let's sentence and jail the yellows first.

[frodo]

UPDATE

Thai protest leaders to surrender, but the rally goes on

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

A legal aide announced Thaksin is to sue Thailand's Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya after the politician called him a "bloody terrorist".

"Dr Thaksin has assigned a team of lawyers to bring a libel case, both civil and criminal, against Mr. Kasit," Noppadon Pattama told AFP.

Published with written approval from AFP.

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

Frickin' hilarious! A coward in hiding and stroking the flames of unrest, while continually claiming the courts are biased and are basically worthless. Yet, he has no problem wanting to use that which he now despises and detests. This "man" is a total nutcase.

[balou]

If the yellows was in jail (their normal place), the reds would have to surrender RIGHT AWAY.

Let's sentence and jail the yellows first.

You are right!

If the yellows who were sentenced guilty and jailed, they then should go first.

i repeat, i am not red , pink, blue or yellow, i am nothing here, just a witness farang.

there is laws for some thais and freeway for others!

seems to be a two (or more) speed law here..................

anyway they are all guilty of corruption, lets send them all in jail!

[Burr]

What are the yellows??

[balou]

What are the yellows??

As a witness, i could say that a yellow is a thai person issued from medium/high to high class who support a group of old (very old) elites witch are part of famous very high class famillies witch are owning almost all country large buisenesses, for example: they are rulling the rice buisness and also deciding for it's price.

Very influent people who are staying in the background, never appears on any medias but rule the country and it's economy. They do not want to share power or anything else...

[eggomaniac]

STILL the same same story behind the current event.

There are LOTs of crocodiles in Thailand to go around. Some BIGGER than others. The news for the next 100 years? Just look at the last 80! These guys can do the time, others can do the crime.

Until someone comes up with a Plan for draining the swamp that includes all of the factors and elements of The Joseph Solution, today's news will be tommorow's news for anon.

When all of the pigs see that the trough is getting smaller from all of the damage to the economy, the dons might call a truce and divide up the corruption amongst themselves. Gang land treaty!

Maybe they can use the movie "The Godfather" as template for their criminal control. I'm talking reds AND yellows! and others!

[OzMick]

If the yellows was in jail (their normal place), the reds would have to surrender RIGHT AWAY.

Let's sentence and jail the yellows first.

You are right!

If the yellows who were sentenced guilty and jailed, they then should go first.

i repeat, i am not red , pink, blue or yellow, i am nothing here, just a witness farang.

there is laws for some thais and freeway for others!

seems to be a two (or more) speed law here..................

anyway they are all guilty of corruption, lets send them all in jail!

Well, let's look at your statement. The yellows have surrendered promptly to police, and are on bail pending trial. Perhaps we should have a trial, get a verdict and THEN decide a sentence, AND carry it out.

Are you advocating sending all thais to jail?

and you misspelled "witless".

More to the point, how do people breaking their bail conditions get to decide when they will front. In the same situation, I would be expecting the old bill to be all over me like a rash. "Sorry, I'm busy stuffing the economy at the moment" just doesn't cut it.

[OldgitTom]

What are the yellows??

Burr,

the Yellows are/were the crowd the Bangkok Bandits wheel out when they lose an election. Unlike the Reds, the army does not shoot them when they occupy an airport, etc.

Most of the farang posters here seem to be right-wing authoritarians who have not a clue about democracy. In a real democracy, ultimate political power is the will of the majority of people, as expressed at the ballot-box. It is not some elevated elite possessing unlimited money, troops, tanks, guns, & English-language newspapers.

I see one of the latter has dubbed the Red-supporting majority of Thailand as 'terrorists'. Nice one for all authoritarian anti-democrats. It's a simple 'law 'n order' situation, so bring on more firepower! Were Adolf Hitler & Joe Stalin alive, they would be cheering behind you.

By all means let the legal attrition against Ole Squarehead continue. Meantime, howsabout a free election, dudes?

[naughtybadfurrimunki]

What are the yellows??

As a witness, i could say that a yellow is a thai person issued from medium/high to high class who support a group of old (very old) elites witch are part of famous very high class famillies witch are owning almost all country large buisenesses, for example: they are rulling the rice buisness and also deciding for it's price.

Very influent people who are staying in the background, never appears on any medias but rule the country and it's economy. They do not want to share power or anything else...

You may be correct about the yellow leaders, but there's only one thing that unites the average yellow supporter in bk - hatred of Thaksin.

[midas]

What are the yellows??

As a witness, i could say that a yellow is a thai person issued from medium/high to high class who support a group of old (very old) elites witch are part of famous very high class famillies witch are owning almost all country large buisenesses, for example: they are rulling the rice buisness and also deciding for it's price.

Very influent people who are staying in the background, never appears on any medias but rule the country and it's economy. They do not want to share power or anything else...

Thank you for that good summary balou - and that is my understanding also.

And what is your opinion about the pink shirts…………….I wonder how many pink shirts also wear yellow shirts ?

[Tokay]

I don't believe they will turn themselves in on that date. However, it also wouldn't surprise me if on or before that day they just called the whole thing off and returned home like nothing happened.

[Farfetched]

They have to be alive to surrender.

Are you suggesting that someone should or would see to it that they are not alive? Can that be said on this forum? I thought this forum was just for the whiners that can't get out to drink their beer? JMHO

[metisdead]

What are the yellows??

Will find you this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People's_...e_for_Democracy

[10027586]

As per previous promises to turn themselves in, they will fail to do so. Just like the yellows and every other colour-coded bandit in Thailand.

[looping]

Funny, the red shirt leaders have repeatedly stated that they've been staying at the protest site and not at posh hotels! The great thing for them is that their supporters are just plain STUPID!!! If you ever needed more proof, check this out. The red shirt leaders told their supporters that the Americans must have been lying about tapping Thaksins phone because Thaksin speaks Thai on the phone and Americans speak English. So how could they have understood what he was saying? THE CROWD BELIEVED THEM!!!!! I'd be laughing if it wasn't so sad.

[Burr]

Now, what is a "pink shirts "???

[balou]

What are the yellows??

As a witness, i could say that a yellow is a thai person issued from medium/high to high class who support a group of old (very old) elites witch are part of famous very high class famillies witch are owning almost all country large buisenesses, for example: they are rulling the rice buisness and also deciding for it's price.

Very influent people who are staying in the background, never appears on any medias but rule the country and it's economy. They do not want to share power or anything else...

what is a red?

As a witness, i could say that a red is a thai person issued from low to medium class who support a rich buiseness man whitch became richer when he was prime minister. They look him as a god, god Thaksin, as soon he pay them the day. Red low education level ease a lot Thaksin suprematie on his troops to get them on the first line in the streets, during this time he is confortably hidden in a rich hotels arround the world.

They are some times violent and arogant due to lak of education, they fall easilly in "yellows" traps to turn the streets in a mess witch turn things against the red cause, again by lack of education.

Some medium class people reach the movement, as they would like to get an active (and legitime) participation on governing the country...

Note : reds and yellows are all paying the same price to get the streets crowded. We have to admit, that if there is no money there is only a few persons.

[scorecard]

Let's get this into a realistic perspective:

- The police (dozens of them) failed to capture anybody.

- Why? Because they had no intention of obeying their orders.

- Why? Because the police support thaksin. (Do you suspect Thaksi is taking big advantage of all of this stuff and maintaining his hold on the police force? The answer cannot be anything but YES!)

- Why? Because of long tradition of the police supporting each other no matter what. It's a deep rooted brotherhood, my 'brother' is massively corrupt, he is highly unethical, he should be on trial in the world courts for massive human rights abuse, but never mind, he's my 'brother', and I will support him forever, no matter what.

- Will this attitude ever stop? Well it has to stop because it means that the police currently don't report to the people of Thailand, they can and they do make their own rules to suit their own needs and their own (murky) brotherhood ethics. The current police situation also means that people can very easily buy their way out of anything. Totally unacceptable long-term and a total roadblock to building a first world (or even second world) civil society.

- How can it change? Only by massive reorganization* of the whole police force, which would sideline the most incapable (also meaning those who have bought their way into high positions, and installing only those with appropriate ethics. (* Actual organization, total accountability, investigation of police by an independent body with no linkage to the force or police officers, promotion by displayed capability and past impressive track record, new criteria to join, including well educated staff who do have strong knowledge of the law, appropriate reward for the job and at a level which would attract more educated people, etc.)

- Difficult? Yes, but it is doable, and I suspect PM Abhisit is the man to ultimately demand change and right now (or in the near future) he would have massive support from the public at large to go ahead and take strong action. He must be pretty pissed off at the police, especially including the top officers, and this might well be the factor which pushed him to get serious on this issue.

- Did PM Abhisit build this current situation / did it develop only on his watch? NO, it's been building for many decades so it's unfair to say Abhisit is weak or has failed on this item..

- Is it dangerous for the PM to take such an action. YES, of course. Massive public very verbal support would help.

Edited April 17, 2010 by scorecard