Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Monday

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Foreign Ministry not to re-clarify ambassadors

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not elaborate any further situation regarding Thai politics with foreign ambassadors after they met with core leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Secretary to the Foreign Minister, Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, stated that the ministry would not brief anything further with foreign ambassadors because the ministry used to invite ambassadors and media members to clarify the situation.

Mr Chavanond continued to say that foreign countries have been receiving reports about developments of the Thai political situation, and he believed that foreign ambassadors and governments already have good understanding in this issue.

The secretary explained further that inviting foreign ambassadors to clarify the political situation after the UDD would be deemed a vivid measure to counter the UDD. He said appropriate time must be considered before another invitation is made to foreign ambassadors to a meeting to boost international confidence.

-- NNT 2010-04-26

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THE NATION: Update on M67 bomb in front of Banharn house at almost midnight: 12 were injured - 4 policemen and 8 pedestrians.

THE NATION: Banharn's daughter Kanchana: If Thaksin wants to return to Thailalnd, he must do good things to compensate 4 his past acts.

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THE NATION: PAD leader Suriyasai is reading the PAD statement on ASTV now.

THE NATION: PAD making announcement now.

THE NATION: PAD: Reds creating an illegal state inside Thailand.

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THE NATION: PAD: Nationwide yellowshirts will submit a petition to Army and boycott all red-related business activities.

THE NATION: PAD says it's in favour of martial law to resolve the crisis.

THE NATION: The petitions are supposed to be simultaenous, from yellow shirts nationwide to Army & Govt, reflecting nationwide frustration over inaction

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THE NATION: A PAD gathering is planned on April 29 in front of 11 Regiment.

THE NATION: "It feels like we have no state now," says a PAD leader, somsak kosaisuk.

THE NATION: PAD will distribute two things: List of red-related businesses (for boycott) and VCD explaining alleged plot to overthrow monarchy.

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THE NATION: Chamlong: Public must be fully alert. Civil War for sure if it goes on like this.

THE NATION: Never has the army been so weak, Chamlong says.

THE NATION: PAD leaders take turn speaking. Sondhi Limthongkul is still missing.

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THE NATION: Pad leader Pipop criticised PM and Gen Anupong as mean leaders: They have power but don't use it to protect people.

THE NATION: Pipop: Pipop: Red shirts seizing, stopping armed forces' vehicles for fun signals a failed state.

THE NATION: Pipop: When leaders are in state of fear, everything will fall into pieces.

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BangkokDan: The govt allowed unarmed troops to fight with armed terrorist, a major mistake: Chamlong.

THE NATION: PAD leaders suggest Thailand is now a failed state. Chamlong sums it as: "No govt, No police and No military".

THE NATION: Nobody mentions Sondhi.

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THE NATION: PAD: The lack of action by govt will eventually lead to civil war.

THE NATION: PAD's statements are the flipside of what PM, Anupong tried to portray on TV yesterday.

THE NATION: Pipop said that PM & Gen Anupong followed the Silom explosion until 3am wasn't good enough. "You two are not just people. You're leaders."

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THE NATION: PAD Chamlong: as a soldier, the military is the weakest I have ever seen.

THE NATION: Apart from 11 Regiment rally on Thursday, yellow shirts will hold provincial gatherings on the same day.

THE NATION: During Q&A with press Chamlong said he earlier mention Martial Law. "O'

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THE NATION: Chamlong: (personally) I think Martial Law could end the problem in two hours. I've already said that.

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THE NATION: PAD's leader Chamlong: our duty is to pressure govt to do their work otherwise there'll be a civil war.

THE NATION: PAD press conference just ended.

THE NATION: PAD has ended its press con, highlight being strong call for martial law, deploring of "failed state" and sharp criticism of Army.

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THE NATION: 1. PAD will have a big rally on April 29 in front of 11th Infantry Regiment. 2. Thailand is now a failed state.

THE NATION: 3. PAD will continue pressuring the govt to do their work.

THE NATION: 4. PAD members will boycott all red-related business activities.

THE NATION: Last and most importantly, Chamlong again mentions Martial Law as a quick fix to crisis.

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MCOT: Yellow Shirts decide not to hold mass rally, will submit letter to PM on Thursday, demanding him to speed up handle ongoing turmoil

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THE NATION: More Redshirt guards mobilised to checkpoints around protest site after police reinforcement in area.

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PAD to submit demands to PM Thursday

Representatives of the People's Alliance for Democracy will submit its demands for the prime minister to take action against the red-shirt protesters.

The PAD announced that it will send representatives to submit the demands to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the 11th Infantry Regiment on Thursday while PAD supporters will hold sporadic rallies nationwide.

The PAD demanded that the government announce clear-cut measures for dealing with the red-shirt protesters who seize Rajprasong Intersection.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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Police to issue summons for UDD demonstrators

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The police announced today that summons will be issued for demonstrators of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) for the blockages of Phahonyothin Road and surrounding the Prime Minister’s residence.

Metropolitan Police Region 5 Commander Major General Anuchai Lekbumrung stated summons will be issued for hundreds of UDD supporters who attempted to blockade the Prime Minister's residence in order to check his presence, reasoning that such act violated the eighth CAPO announcement, prohibiting a road blockade by vehicles. The punishments included a two-year jail term and/or a fine of up to 40,000 THB or both.

Following a bar of the inbound lanes of Phahonyothin Road by UDD demonstrators on Sunday to prevent vehicles carrying officials from Nakhon Phanom, Chainat and Lopburi from entering Bangkok, Provincial Deputy Commander-in-Chief Pathumthani Region Pol Col Visoot Chatchaidech stated the police had to pull back to prevent clashes between both parties. He ensured that the legal process will be taken against them thereafter.

-- NNT 2010-04-26

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MD Khunying Pornthip re-examines Sala Daeng BTS station

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Director of the Central Institute of Forensic Science and leader of the Silom blast examination team, MD Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand visited the Sala Daeng station of BTS sky train on Sunday to examine the station’s roof which was hit by the grenades last Thursday.

MD Khunying Pornthip stated that the team had asked for the three roof tiles to find out which types of grenade were used for the attacks. The tile samples will be used to compare with another two spots whether they were the same type of grenade.

MD Khunying Pornthip assured that the results should be known within one month.She refused to answer if the firing range came from higher buildings and added that she had already been threatened.

-- NNT 2010-04-26

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THE NATION: Thaksin's brother Payap said he just phoned Thaksin yesterday. He spoke with cheerful voice& told Payap he is still healthy:matichon online.

THE NATION: "I believe those who spread this rumour (Thaksin's illness) intend to create confusion,"Payap

noppatjak: If u want to see how reds with changed colours look like. Photo taken mins ago. http://tweetphoto.com/19990360

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Sukhumbhand says talk with red shirts suspended because of policy

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Monday that he ha suspended the truce talk with the red-shirt leaders because of a policy.

He said earlier talks yielded satisfactory results but the talk had to be suspended now because of a policy. He declined to elaborate.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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THE NATION: JS100 reports that #redshirts set up 3 checkpoints -one on Mitrapap Rd (km 91) and 2 on Paholyothin Rd (km55-56 &94).

THE NATION: Avoid traffic on Mitrapap Km91, Paholyothin in front of Nong Khae Industrial Estate in Saraburi and in front of Carlsberg production plant.

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ThaivisaNews:

Bangkok Red Shirt Occupation

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BPP policemen break through red-shirt blockade in Phitsanulok

PHITSANULOK - Border patrol policemen broke through the blockade of red-shirt protesters in this northern province at noon Monday.

The protesters tried to block the policemen from travelling to Bangkok.

After five hours of blockade, the policemen decided to break through the red-shirt protesters.

The BPP policemen armed with baton managed to push through the lines of protesters at 12:50 pm for police trucks to pass through.

Several protesters were injured during the clash.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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Thailand's 'Yellow Shirts' call for martial law

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's pro-establishment "Yellow Shirts" called Monday for the imposition of martial law to end mass anti-government protests by the rival "Red Shirts," warning they may take action themselves.

The Reds were on alert for a crackdown by the security forces on their fortified camp in the heart of Bangkok, where tensions remained high after a grenade attack late Sunday on the house of a former premier injured 11 people.

Twenty-six people have died and almost 1,000 have been injured in the capital this month in Thailand's bloodiest civil violence in almost two decades, despite a state of emergency in Bangkok and surrounding areas.

The Yellows, formally known as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), have said they will take action to "protect the country" if authorities do not deal with the thousands of anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters.

A one-week deadline set by the Yellows for an end to the crippling protests expired with no end in sight and the movement called on its supporters to begin their own peaceful demonstrations.

"The prime minister knows well that in this situation military measures are needed because it was hard to resolve it through politics," said Suriyasai Katasila, spokesman for the Yellows' New Politics Party.

"There should be an announcement of martial law," he said. "If the situation does not improve, PAD will consider intensifying its measures."

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected an offer by the Reds, who mostly support former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, to disperse if elections are held in three months' time -- softening earlier demands for snap polls.

Appearing on national television Sunday alongside his army chief, Abhisit vowed to retake the sprawling protest site that has paralysed Bangkok's main retail district, but gave no indication of when a crackdown might come.

Thailand is largely split between the mainly rural poor and urban working class Reds, and the Yellows who staged their own street protests that heralded a 2006 coup ousting their enemy Thaksin.

Yellow protesters in 2008 blockaded Bangkok's two main airports, before a controversial court verdict removed Thaksin's allies and allowed a parliamentary vote that brought in the current government.

The Yellows had remained largely silent since the Reds began mass rallies in mid-March demanding immediate elections, but there are now growing fears of clashes between the rival groups.

The anti-government movement remained as defiant after another night passed with no sign of a crackdown on their base, which has been fortified with barricades made from piles of truck tyres and sharpened bamboo poles.

"If Abhisit fails to crack down on us, he will have to leave office," said one of the Reds' leaders, Nattawut Saikuar.

If he succeeds in breaking up the protests, the Reds will rally across the country and prepare for a return to the capital, he said.

Many of the anti-government protesters have begun shedding their trademark red clothing and wearing other colours to make themselves harder to identify.

The red-clad movement has also blocked the path of hundreds of police officers headed for the capital to reinforce security forces.

When troops tried to sweep the Reds out of Bangkok's historic area on April 10 they suffered a humiliating retreat in the face of bloody street fighting that left 25 dead and hundreds injured.

The military has warned protesters they will face live weapons fire in any new clashes.

Ramping up the pressure on Abhisit, the Election Commission earlier this month called for his ruling Democrat Party to be abolished over allegations of an illegal political donation in 2005 and misuse of a commission grant.

The first count will be forwarded to the Attorney General, who has 30 days to consider it. The election body has until the end of Monday to forward the second case of alleged grant misuse directly to the constitutional court.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-26

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Topic discussion: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thailand-s-Y...Ma-t359624.html

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RED RALLY

Red protest leads to Bt50 bn damage

By The Nation

The council of economic ministers today estimated that the red shirt demonstration would shave the gross domestic product by 0.64 percentage point, with damage of about Bt50 billion, if it continues for no longer than 3 months.

The estimation is based on the forecast GDP growth of 4.5 per cent, said Putthipong Punnakan, vice minister to the PM's Office.

The red shirts started demonstration at Rajprasong on April 3. Businesses and their employees in the area have suffered from business closures, and been asking for the government's financial assistance.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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NHRC chair urges people to sue reds for rights violations

National Human Rights Commission chairwoman Amara Pongsapich Monday said people could sue the red shirts who have violated their rights, and lodge a complaint against local police for failing to carry out their duty.

"Police cannot allow any unauthorised person to conduct a search or intimidate others," Amara said.

Amara was speaking at a seminar.

At the same seminar, Foundation for Consumers secretary general Saree Ongsomwang urged police to protect people.

"If the police do nothing, hatred among people with different opinions will grow," she said.

She also urged the red-shirt demonstrators to stop violating the rights of other people.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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REDS SHIRTS

Doctor seeks police action against reds' unlawful bid to search

By The Nation

UDON THANI -- A female doctor has filed a complaint with police about red shirts' alleged unlawful attempt to search her car and their intimidating gestures on Sunday night.

"I feel like I am in a lawless state. I feel unsafe," Dr Duangdao Duangnamsawang of a Udon Thani hospital on Monday.

She said the incident took place at around 10pm on the Udon Thani - Nong Bua Lamphu Road.

"At first, I saw a redshirt motorcyclist cut in front of my car. I honked and then saw the motorcycle stop at a checkpoint manned by a group of red shirts," Duangdao recounted.

According to her, there were about 200 red shirts at the spot and they loudly said they would strictly search her vehicle because its license plate was registered in Bangkok.

"I was gravely worried. It's in the middle of the night and I am a woman. My companion is a younger woman," Duangdao said, "My car also has some valuables like computer notebooks, digital camera and cell phones, some of which belong to friends'.

The reds insisted the search although she explained to them that she was a doctor on her way to the hospital.

"There's no else there except the red shirts. So, I decided to speed my car away for safety reason," Duangdao said.

After she successfully fled from the scene, Duangdao headed to a local police station to lodge her complaint.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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TAN Network: Talingchun Court approves arrest warrant for male bomber believed to be responsible for last night attack on Banharn's house

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Police break Red Shirt blockade to reinforce Bangkok ranks

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Border Patrol Police in Phitsanulok have broken the Red Shirt blockade, and headed to Bangkok after a five-hour stand-off, with some injuries reported.

A clash occurred between the anti-government Red Shirt protesters and the police as the police broke through the Red Shirt blockade to travel to the capital.

About 100 Red Shirts Monday morning blocked the main entrance to a Border Patrol Police unit at Phraya Chakri camp in Phitsanulok to prevent a company of anti-riot police from travelling to Bangkok.

Negotiations to ask the Red Shirts to unblock the entrance failed as they insisted to stay there, claiming the government will disperse the protest at Ratchaprasong.

Meanwhile, more Red Shirt guards have been mobilised to six checkpoints around their protest site in Ratchaprasong after police reinforcement in the area, according to Red Shirt leader Natthawut Saikua.

An additional 20-30 Red Shirt guards have been stationed at check points around the protest site and extra sharpened bamboo staves and piles of tyres reinforced their barricades.

Mr Nattawut said he has learned that the police were reinforced in nearby areas and called for the military and the police to ignore the order of the government, which he claimed will not stay in power for long due to a possible dissolution of the ruling Democrat Party by the court on allegedly misuse of party’s donation money.

He said Red Shirt supporters upcountry were trying to block police reinforcement from travelling to the capital.

After the prime minister called a meeting with provincial governors on Sunday, Nattawut said he believed the governors would not follow the prime minister’s order as they did not want confrontation with local people.

Red Shirt guards were instructed to be more vigilant after a hand grenade was found in front of the emergency room of Chulalongkorn University Hospital Monday morning. The grenade was disposed by officials.

Jatuporn Prompan, a Red Shirt leader said that more 70 companies of police officers will be reinforced in the capital to retake the protest site.

He said government officials who still serve Mr Abhisit’s administration will have a problem in the future as they have to take responsibility if the government orders operations to hurt the people.

Meanwhile, another UDD leader Weng Tojirakarn confirmed that there was no new Influenza type A (H1N1) infections among protesters.

Dr Weng said he believed the infection is limited to six patients, as confirmed by BMA General hospital, and the H1N1 flu will not spread at the protest site as it is open air area with temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-04-26

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VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Red shirts and police could be sued : HRC

People could sue red shirts if they violate their rights, National Human Rights Commission chairwoman Amara Pongsapich said Monday.

They could also lodge a complaint against local police for failing to carry out their duty to protect people.

In the previous weeks, the red shirts set up checkpoints to block and search vehicles in many provinces. In many cases, they assaulted people who refused the search.

"Police cannot allow any unauthorised person to conduct a search or intimidate others," said Amara.

At the same seminar, Foundation for Consumers secretary general Saree Ongsomwang urged police to protect people.

"If the police do nothing, hatred among people with different opinions will grow," she said.

She also urged the redshirt demonstrators to stop violating the rights of other people.

-- The Nation 2010-04-26

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Govenors to Decide to Implement Emergency Decree

The Center of the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) announced that authorities are giving provincial governors the power to decide whether or not to implement emergency decree in their respective areas.

Hot spots named by CRES include Udon Thani, Nakorn Ratchasima, Chiang Rai, and Chiang Mai.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-26

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