Bangkok On Edge After Deadly Grenade Blasts

[humfurry]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

So following that logic why should I believe anything that you write?

[tonywebster]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

So following that logic why should I believe anything that you write?

You shouldn't, you can either accept my opinions or not, because if we are honest here NONE of us are in possession of the facts. That is why I question things rather than blindly follow what is said by officialdom or by the red shirts, I form my own opinion, it may be right or it may be wrong, time will tell.

[Sheryl]

A large number offlaming/insulting posts have been deleted. Absolutely NO tolerance for insulting other posters.

Offenders will find their posting rights suspeneded for a time out"

[jcbangkok]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

[humfurry]

Foreign diplomats to visit rally site : Nuttawut

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign envoys of 40 countries will visit the red shirts protesters at Rajprasong rally sites, red shirts leader Nuttawut Saikua said Friday.

The visit scheduled on 4pm clearly showed that the reds' fighting for democracy has been monitored by the international community.

Nuttawut said if PM Abhisit Vejjajiva wanted to disperse the red shirts protesters, he should have it done during the diplomats' visit.

He told the protesters to be a good host by cleaning up the rally sites from Lumpini Park to Ploenjit intersection to welcome the guests.

He said he would invite the diplomats to be on stage during the visit.

-- The Nation 2010-04-23

Do these diplomats realize what danger they would be in ? It would be like going into a hungry lions cage!

The reds have already proved they are a bunch of blood thirsty revolutionary's against ruling elitists.

But it could work out quite well for the governments image if the reds kidnap or even harm some diplomats, as this would perhaps bring world attention to the reds true colours (pun intended)

I am not so sure I would take too much stock in what red leaders say ... they have said many things that have just been way off and untrue.

I can only imagine the the topics of discussion and negotiations...

Reds " We want democracy!"

Diplomats "Ok so what will help your cause?"

Reds "Dissolve the Parliament"

Diplomats "Ok How will that help your cause?"

Reds "Hang on, I have to call Dubai."

[granuaile]

Many Thais say

It was safer in Thailand under the last Coup

Maybe its time for th army to save the country, we know democracy does not work

Yes, I could not agree more. When the coup happened I was in the US, having been here in March and returning nin Nov. When the coup happened I emailed a friend of mine and asked if she was OK. Her response was "Honestly G, I don't know anyone who doesn't support this" and sent photos of people with the troops. When I came back in November everything was calm.

The red shirts clamor for democracy in their rhetoric but it is just rhetoric, their real goal is to bring their boss back. Everyone knows that. And I agree democracy does not work, I've seen it's failure first hand living in the US for 55 years... I think that if there were a coup we'd see scenes like those my friend sent me photos of in 2006 - children giving ice cream to the soldiers, just as the people in Silom welcomed troops the other day with food and drink and smiles.

[tonywebster]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Did someone have a Thesaurus for breakfast this morning

Come on, you can tell us.

Now considering the post above yours is a moderator removing posts and issuing ban threats why would you continue to used veiled abuse? It is clear from previous posts you are calling me ignorant, yet here you are ignoring a ban threat, is it me being ignorant here?

[humfurry]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

So following that logic why should I believe anything that you write?

You shouldn't, you can either accept my opinions or not, because if we are honest here NONE of us are in possession of the facts. That is why I question things rather than blindly follow what is said by officialdom or by the red shirts, I form my own opinion, it may be right or it may be wrong, time will tell.

Well said

[jcbangkok]

Foreign diplomats to visit rally site : Nuttawut

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Foreign envoys of 40 countries will visit the red shirts protesters at Rajprasong rally sites, red shirts leader Nuttawut Saikua said Friday.

The visit scheduled on 4pm clearly showed that the reds' fighting for democracy has been monitored by the international community.

Nuttawut said if PM Abhisit Vejjajiva wanted to disperse the red shirts protesters, he should have it done during the diplomats' visit.

He told the protesters to be a good host by cleaning up the rally sites from Lumpini Park to Ploenjit intersection to welcome the guests.

He said he would invite the diplomats to be on stage during the visit.

-- The Nation 2010-04-23

Do these diplomats realize what danger they would be in ? It would be like going into a hungry lions cage!

The reds have already proved they are a bunch of blood thirsty revolutionary's against ruling elitists.

But it could work out quite well for the governments image if the reds kidnap or even harm some diplomats, as this would perhaps bring world attention to the reds true colours (pun intended)

I am not so sure I would take too much stock in what red leaders say ... they have said many things that have just been way off and untrue.

I can only imagine the the topics of discussion and negotiations...

Reds " We want democracy!"

Diplomats "Ok so what will help your cause?"

Reds "Dissolve the Parliament"

Diplomats "Ok How will that help your cause?"

Reds "Hang on, I have to call Dubai."

I thought the reds want all the workers of Bangkok (the elite) to give them their money they have worked for .. oh yea and to have Abhisit leave the country today.

[jcbangkok]

To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant.

Yes, it would be ignorant to believe everything that is written

Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Did someone have a Thesaurus for breakfast this morning

Come on, you can tell us.

Now considering the post above yours is a moderator removing posts and issuing ban threats why would you continue to used veiled abuse? It is clear from previous posts you are calling me ignorant, yet here you are ignoring a ban threat, is it me being ignorant here?

Obviously, your opinion is wrong because I am not calling you ignorant. However, when one disregards every fact that doesn't fit into their opinion and also embraces all things (regardless of how incredible) to support their beliefs is an act of ignorance. There are all sorts of very intelligent people who do this and often they are called conspiracy theorists who disbelieve things such as the moon landing. Regardless of video, pictures, first hand accounts and so on ... they just keep claiming all the fact to be untrue because something inside them cannot handle the obvious truth in regards to a specific subject.

PS. A Thesaurus is a book of synonyms (and sometimes antonyms). The last two posts represented famous quotes.

Edited April 23, 2010 by jcbangkok

[waza]

So is Bangkok still on edge?

[WildDave99]

New elections and the show is over.But this government know they will loose.

An immediate General Election is the answer but if the PM is so confident that the people of Thailand are behind him what has he to loose.. NOTHING... but he has everything to gain .. A country reunited and the Red-shirsts have already pledged that they will accept the outcome of a general election..

Why is he so chicken hearted .. or is his yellow colour a thick stripe down the centre of his back...?

[bkkjames]

So is Bangkok still on edge?

Not sure about the city, but I sure the hel_l am.

[Lumumba]

Nabbed UDD activist unveils info on black-clad firemen

BANGKOK (NNT) -- A key supporter of the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) disclosed that the black-clad firemen captured on video were involved in the 10 April attack on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, according to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

The actor-turned-activist Methi Amornwuttikul, who is also a leading supporter of the UDD, was nabbed yesterday by police while carrying heavy weapons. He was suspected to be involved in armed attacks against state troops on 10 April.

According to DSI Chief Tarit Pengdit, Mr Methi gave out information on the source of armories he was holding. He revealed that the men in black, who were caught on tape firing grenades during the 10 April clash, were also involved in the series of bomb blasts on Silom Road on Thursday night.

Mr Tarit stated that the authorities were compiling information and evidence, which could not yet be unveiled.

During the latest televised press conference this morning, the DSI chief asked the public to stay away from public gatherings as the M79 grenade attacks at the commercial district of Silom in downtown Bangkok last night had left almost one hundred people injured and one dead. He also condemned the act of terrorism, warning that those involved in the crime would be subject to death penalty.

The majority of the victims from last night’s blasts were those participating in the rally of the multi-color protestors, who were demonstrating against the UDD’s movement"

How correct is this report.

we all know that the mysterious black clad men had a hand in April 10 mayhem.

He was in custody and still able to know who did what last night.

First it was said he was caught with a handgun, but then now its reported he was hauling armories. Heavy weapons, anything over 2 pounds.

The reporters or their translators, seem to be making up the stories as they go, or they do not understand what is said at this press conferences.

[tonywebster]

Obviously, your opinion is wrong because I am not calling you ignorant. However, when one disregards every fact that doesn't fit into their opinion is an act of ignorance. There are all sorts of very intelligent people who do this and often they are called conspiracy theorists who disbelieve things such as the moon landing. Regardless of video, pictures, first hand accounts and so on ... they just keep claiming all the fact to be untrue because something inside them cannot handle the obvious truth.

Well I am not stopping you from providing me with evidence that will prove me wrong, if you have hard facts then let me have them and I will believe them providing they show me irrefutable proof. Until you can show me this then logic would say that my opinion is just as valid as your opinion. the fact that you have no proof that it is red shirts shooting grenades, or shooting at soldiers makes my opinion that it is a party that is neither red shirts or government just as valid as your opinion.

You seem educated so I am sure you will grasp what I am saying, we have different OPINIONS, neither of us have FACTS, therefore for me to listen to both sides (in the absence of hard facts) makes me quite the opposite of ignorant, surely ignorance would be believing something without proof when there is a clear propaganda war going on on both sides.

We seem to have gone off topic, I will happily continue this is pm if you wish rather than having the thread derailed.

[lannarebirth]

New elections and the show is over.But this government know they will loose.

An immediate General Election is the answer but if the PM is so confident that the people of Thailand are behind him what has he to loose.. NOTHING... but he has everything to gain .. A country reunited and the Red-shirsts have already pledged that they will accept the outcome of a general election..

Why is he so chicken hearted .. or is his yellow colour a thick stripe down the centre of his back...?

Why would you suppose that a group that holds an unlawful, violent assembly to bring down a government would not create similar mayhem during an election. You can't forsee threats to blowup polling places likely to vote for non PTP candidates? You can't see mobs showing up to block legitimate campaign gatherings? If you're honest with yourself I think you can see those very types of things occuring and more. You just can't hold elections in this climate. If that means this government falls to the military if it can't affect a solution, then so be it. There's no democracy to be had here if this government doesn't hold the line.

[bkkjames]

New elections and the show is over.But this government know they will loose.

An immediate General Election is the answer but if the PM is so confident that the people of Thailand are behind him what has he to loose.. NOTHING... but he has everything to gain .. A country reunited and the Red-shirsts have already pledged that they will accept the outcome of a general election..

Why is he so chicken hearted .. or is his yellow colour a thick stripe down the centre of his back...?

For your first post, is that really the best you can do? We have high expectations around here.

[jcbangkok]

You shouldn't, you can either accept my opinions or not, because if we are honest here NONE of us are in possession of the facts. That is why I question things rather than blindly follow what is said by officialdom or by the red shirts, I form my own opinion, it may be right or it may be wrong, time will tell.

Well said

Certainly we are not in possession of all the facts but some of us have been to the protests sites and witnessed things first hand. We have also heard speeches, seen photos and videos as well as heard numerous first hand accounts from both sides and from those not involved. No doubt there is a lot (we hope) going on behind the scenes but there are just too many numerous facts not in question such as the reds taking over the commercial area, the reds being armed (seen it first hand), the reds refusing lawful orders, the reds over running government offices, the reds fortifying their seizure of the commercial district, the reds seizing a military transport train, the reds attacking those trying to enforce the law ....

then we can go on to use common sense in terms of things like a grenade being launched from the red crowd when the reds are frisking everyone entering the area and have beaten at least one person who refused to searched.

[dobadoy]

the Red-shirsts have already pledged that they will accept the outcome of a general election..

And what in their portfolio of recent actions leads anyone to belive that this is likely?

And they pledged to demonstrate peacefully

- yet there they are with guns, molotovs, stones, spears

- red motorcyclists kidanped the head of the EC commission and took him for a drive, a few days later, they EC announces Democrat dissolution case

- reds threatened staff at Thaicomm, attacked police

- reds shot soldiers on April 10, beat wounded soldiers being taken to hospital

- reds fired 5 M79 grenades into the middle of Sala Deang because they were being taunted by a few anti-reds who disagree with them

The reds have no track record of accepting anything. Why beleive this, except its convenient claim that no one will be able to make them keep.

The Reds have said they will pass the word that election canvassers should not be harrassed...and who really buys this one :D

Edited April 23, 2010 by dobadoy

[neverdie]

So is Bangkok still on edge?

Not sure about the city, but I sure the hel_l am.

Is that painful, being on the edge and all that?

[tonywebster]

You shouldn't, you can either accept my opinions or not, because if we are honest here NONE of us are in possession of the facts. That is why I question things rather than blindly follow what is said by officialdom or by the red shirts, I form my own opinion, it may be right or it may be wrong, time will tell.

Well said

Certainly we are not in possession of all the facts but some of us have been to the protests sites and witnessed things first hand. We have also heard speeches, seen photos and videos as well as heard numerous first hand accounts from both sides and from those not involved. No doubt there is a lot (we hope) going on behind the scenes but there are just too many numerous facts not in question such as the reds taking over the commercial area, the reds being armed (seen it first hand), the reds refusing lawful orders, the reds over running government offices, the reds fortifying their seizure of the commercial district, the reds seizing a military transport train, the reds attacking those trying to enforce the law ....

then we can go on to use common sense in terms of things like a grenade being launched from the red crowd when the reds are frisking everyone entering the area and have beaten at least one person who refused to searched.

Show me the video of this man getting beaten, I am not disputing some reds are armed, I am not disputing they seized a train, however I don't understand the logic about the grenade being launched from the red crowd when people are getting searched, ok I understand that they must have let the guy through with the grenade9I think this what you are getting at), but your point is that it MUST have been fired from the reds, however last night witnesses claim to have seen it fired from the hospital and another from silom complex, so until I have facts rather than assumptions I am allowed to question these comments.

(ps, I have also been to the rally site and spoke with people, all that does is basically mean I have listened to people on one side of the fence, and I have read the reports from the other side of the fence, oddly enough very rarely do they match up, but it would be very foolish of me to beleive everything written by the government when I have clearly seen footage showing they are being a more than a tad liberal with the truth)

[draftvader]

So is Bangkok still on edge?

Not sure about the city, but I sure the hel_l am.

Is that painful, being on the edge and all that?

It sure chafes

[zorm999]

Absolutely spot on and i thank you for being polite in the way you put it.

These forums are all about opinion. I too cannot stand to read comments from those who believe their comment to be the only one that counts.

I don't really have a 'side' in all of this. Amongst all of the hype and propoganda that is being thrown about i am just trying to work out what i think is the truth. I don't suppose i ever will but in the meantime it is quite entertaining reading the posts. Like everybody else here, i hope, i just want to see an end to this stand-off as it is doing nothing for the name of Thailand (and making my commute to work each day a real bi_tch!)

I honestly do believe that Abhisit would be good for Thailand, given a decent time in office. However i can, to a point, see the argument of the red shirts. As with both sides there are some very unsavoury characters involved and i do wonder if they would be the right people to have in places of power should one of the sides eventually win an election.

I certainly do not agree with the yellow shirts encampment at the airport. I still don't understand how in this day and age a country can be held to ransom by a few thousand people taking a whole airport hostage. Most other countries in the world and the first yellow to set a foot out of place at the airport would have been shot in the back in the name of national security!

Anyway, the past is the past. Abhisit and his advisors [sic] are in a very unsavoury position and most of it is their own doing by allowing this to happen in the first place. Whatever happens needs to happen soon and for the good of Thailand. I only hope, but seriously doubt, it happens peacefully and without any more bloodshed, but i doubt it......

Politeness breeds politeness mate.

I think Abhisit could have been a good PM, but not yet.

I had an interesting conversation over lunch with a Thai, we were both in agreement that Abhisit come to the top too soon and with too many people to thank for being there, the guys hands are tied, too many people have an interest in getting him to that position so he owes too many people favours in return.

If he had waited another 5 years or 10 years he could have won an election, had the mandate of the people, and owed nobody, he could have been the decision maker rather than be in the position he is in now. The Dems were too keen to grab power, they grabbed it via the back door, they grabbed it despite also being guilty of vote buying (and now the new EC things against them). Now whether these things are true or not is not important, what is important is that if you are a red shirt is IF YOU BELIEVE them to be true.

I feel his political career will be scarred for ever now, too eager to take the reigns.

If you are a red and you are told that your vote counted for nothing in the end, the man that helped you has been kicked out, the people that despise you are going to take over despite not winning the election, they are being helped by the army to get power by way of a coup and a military backed court, the PAD also had a hand in this, they think you are too stupid to have a vote and should just shut up etc etc etc, Now like I have just said, whether all this is true or not does not matter if the red shirts believe this to be true, and to be fair anyone with an open mind could see that there are too many circumstances there that seem likely to lead to some sort of conspiracy.

I am not even Thai but I could sit down and put together a great conspiracy with all that has gone on, and people will believe it, there are too many coincidences and this is why people are protesting, not because they get paid (not all of them are), not because of Thaksin, but because they think it is the right thing to do to get some equality back.

Finally, some balanced, thoughtful dialogue!

And it highlights the truth that both sides genuinely believe they are right. And they can afford to do this because the truth is so vague and subjective. There are no innocent hands at the top of Thai politics over the last 5 years, so both sides can legitimately claim to have genuine grievances. And neither side is willing to admit their mistakes or failures. Result: current stalemate.

The problem is both sides have been playing chicken with each other. The problem with that game is if no-one gets out of the way, there's a mighty crash.

Everyone predicted the red protest would collapse within a week or two, due to lack of enthusiasm or lack of funding. Instead, it's just got bigger and more entrenched and more confident and more stubborn. And now it's too late for the government to do anything without serious bloodshed.

It just suc_ks!

[jcbangkok]

Obviously, your opinion is wrong because I am not calling you ignorant. However, when one disregards every fact that doesn't fit into their opinion is an act of ignorance. There are all sorts of very intelligent people who do this and often they are called conspiracy theorists who disbelieve things such as the moon landing. Regardless of video, pictures, first hand accounts and so on ... they just keep claiming all the fact to be untrue because something inside them cannot handle the obvious truth.

Well I am not stopping you from providing me with evidence that will prove me wrong, if you have hard facts then let me have them and I will believe them providing they show me irrefutable proof. Until you can show me this then logic would say that my opinion is just as valid as your opinion. the fact that you have no proof that it is red shirts shooting grenades, or shooting at soldiers makes my opinion that it is a party that is neither red shirts or government just as valid as your opinion.

You seem educated so I am sure you will grasp what I am saying, we have different OPINIONS, neither of us have FACTS, therefore for me to listen to both sides (in the absence of hard facts) makes me quite the opposite of ignorant, surely ignorance would be believing something without proof when there is a clear propaganda war going on on both sides.

We seem to have gone off topic, I will happily continue this is pm if you wish rather than having the thread derailed.

Simply look at the post above yours (#62). But I already know your response ... you won't believe it ... because it goes against what you want to believe.

Or you can explain the below video and why logic would not dictate that the red shirt leaders are violent.

We must all acknowledge the government has been beyond patient with this thing and have every right and responsibility to end this take over of part of the city. Yet the reds have every step of the way provoked the government into battle by ignoring every warning and marching in every place they are asked not to go. Logic should easily tell you who the aggressors are here. The government has made one move to control the mob and that resulted in disaster because they had no idea there were armed people within the group .. a major blunder on the part of the government.

The facts also remain that under this government the poor of the country have been granted free healthcare and education as well as being giving free handouts. Farmers continue to be subsidized for their crops when they are sold at prices below market and the continue to be exempt from almost all taxes related to their farming work. Not to mention the year the PM has been in power the economy was improving greatly and the reds actions are reversing this despite the fact this is bad for all Thailand. Making a living as a farmer anywhere is not easy (including the US) and if they don't like it they can move nearer to the city where the money is as is the case in every country.

I am not saying they "may" not have some legit gripes but they are going about this all wrong and they are certainly not so oppressed that they cannot wait to cast their vote in the next elections. All of their actions have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that they are only interested in themselves and not anyone else in Thailand or Thailand as a whole.

Edited April 23, 2010 by jcbangkok

[whiterussian]

Many Thais say

It was safer in Thailand under the last Coup

Maybe its time for the army to save the country, we know democracy does not work

Yes, I could not agree more. When the coup happened I was in the US, having been here in March and returning nin Nov. When the coup happened I emailed a friend of mine and asked if she was OK. Her response was "Honestly G, I don't know anyone who doesn't support this" and sent photos of people with the troops. When I came back in November everything was calm.

The red shirts clamor for democracy in their rhetoric but it is just rhetoric, their real goal is to bring their boss back. Everyone knows that. And I agree democracy does not work, I've seen it's failure first hand living in the US for 55 years... I think that if there were a coup we'd see scenes like those my friend sent me photos of in 2006 - children giving ice cream to the soldiers, just as the people in Silom welcomed troops the other day with food and drink and smiles.

Reminds me of the German army welcome, as they liberated the gentle people of eastern europe...

read: http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displa...ory_id=15955366

Edited April 23, 2010 by whiterussian

[pontius]

I think the govt shall taunt the reds a second time, like such: "I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time."

[Thaihog]

Send in the bloody tanks, they will make short work of any barricades.........

[Phuket Stan]

If there is no terrorist element within the Red Shirts, and i willing to accept if i am mistaken, then why do i see so many photographs and video of red shirts in violent situations with weapons.

Are you suggesting that the government or Army are firing grenades at their own people in an attempt to win sympathy?

That picture is so old I am surprised it is not black and white. And yes, I am suggesting that the government are not adverse to collateral damage if it boosts their cause. It would not be the first time and I am sure it will not be the last.

Picture so old....like 12 months....is that old ?? And it was in most major newspapers in the world....great advertising for Thailand....but I suppose by wearing a red shirt it is allowed by some of the expert commentors on this site

[way2muchcoffee]

I my honest opinion, which will mean little to anybody but what the he_ll i'm going to add it, Abhisit has only himself to blame for this whole mess caused by the Red Shirts.

From the very beginning he was too lenient with their encampent at Central. Hindsight being a wonderful pain in the ar_se, i am sure evrybody will agree that the encampent should never have been allowed to happen, double standards or not. An immediate show of force might have been the answer way back then. However we will never know.

I am a fan of Abhisit and i believe that he has this country's best interest at heart. In my opinion he is a true believer in democracy and given the right amount of time to prove himself he may have changed the minds of many Thaksin supporters. Perhaps this is one reason why the red's are where they are now, in some crazy attempt to affect people's judgment of him as a leader.

At this moment i believe that the only way out of this mess is for him to call to an election in 6-9 months, be allowed to run the country properly until such time (hopefully showing many of the Thaksin supporters his abilities during this time) and the Red leaders to agree to it. i really don't believe that will happen so i see there being no other way out than using force.

Can somebody tell me why the military and the police can't enter the red's camps in riot gear with only truncheons and shields and physically remove the reds, put them in the large black trucks that are all over the capital and take them to a compund to be processed? And by processed i mean names, photo's, fingerprints etc and then sent back to their home towns at the governments expense. Why the need for firearms and ammo, be it rubber or live. This sort of thing used to happen every saturday afternoon outside pubs and football grounds in the UK. If the red shirt terrorist division (and lets be honest here, there is one) decide to use firearms, then and only then arm troops.

A show of physical force rather than lethal force may have an effect? Who know's.

Short term memory loss without impairment of long term memory is an indicator of Alzheimer's Disease. The army was sent in in crowd control/dispersal mode a couple of weeks ago, and were savagely attacked leading to 25 deaths. If you can't remember that, but can remember your childhood, you should consult a doctor, if you can remember where his surgery is located.

Actually this makes sense to me. Move in with the soldiers and police in riot gear, along with the tractors. Do it in broad daylight with an army of reporters not far behind. Film the whole thing from every angle possible. Remove red shirts from the periphery to waiting vans, trucks, and buses.

[Michael00707]

Nahhhhh - just mix all that confiscated viagra into the water being delivered to the red camp - wait twenty four hours then go in and march them out just like Noah - two by two

Seriously though, my feeling is that Abhisit has the wrong portion of the army on the streets - he's using infantry, what he needs is the field engineers with their heavy equipment for removing obstructions and clearing terrain.

Just roll forward with side by side bulldozers, dirt-blades lowered, backed up by airfield fire trucks firing water cannons over the bulldozers without let up - it'd wash the less staunch protesters away from the contact lines, and the die-hards would have the choice to move or die ..... thing is, the bulldozers would be pushing so much barricade rubble in front of them, the die-hards wouldn't get within 10 metres of the dirt blade, so it all becomes nominally a use of non-lethal force (protesters hurt by their own bamboo, not army equipment). Heck the firetrucks could even spray fire fighting foam instead of water - that would really disorganise the hordes. Water from water cannon makes it too much like Songkran - and that of course is sanook, not a serious measure.

Other non-lethal weaponry can be deployed and used prior to the move-in by the authorities. For example,

Forget tear gas (more correctly called CS-gas) it's not effective against these sorts of hard core protesters. Use pepper bombs instead.

Soak the streets with water, and add non-lethal electrical charges - stop them from sitting or lying down. Deny them rest and exhaust them.

Begin building the barricades to deny egress to side sois and pedestrian alley ways - build a "cattle channel" to herd them all into somewhere like Lumpini or Sanam Luang, with holding pens and segregation areas erected there, so authorities can filter out the "red guards" and leaders - deny them the opportunity to slink off quietly once the troops go in.

There is so much the government and army could be doing to show they're serious and to demoralise / disrupt the reds, which would encourage defection from their camp, but I haven't seen any evidence of any such measures being enacted. There's too much "wait and see" and not enough "prepare and forewarn" from the government to the protesters. They need to see physical activity warning them of what's coming before any verbal warnings will have effect.

Abhisit seems to be taking the measures that Thatcher used against the coal miners in the UK in the 1970s, and I don't believe that will work in this situation. He needs to get creative and bring unrelenting psychological pressure against the rank and file, so they leave of their own accord before the showdown with the hard-core and leaders.

Awesome strategies! Agreed!