Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Tuesday

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Chulalongkorn Hospital Closes Special Clinic Apr 27- May 2

BANGKOK: -- In light of the recent escalation of the red-shirt movement and its rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection, Chulongkorn Hospital has temporarily closed down the hospital's special clinic arm from April 27 - May 2.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-27

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TAN Network: Red-shirts file charge against Dep PM Suthep for allegations the reds have malicious intent towards highest institution of THL.

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RichardBarrow: Central Chidlom will stay closed today while Central Silom Complex will open only 10.30-18.00.

thai_news: Less tourist arrivals at Suvarnabhumi

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Red-shirts Form Special Units to Counter Multi Colored Shirt Group

The red-shirt core leaders have revealed that special units have been set up to 'counter' the movements of anti-red groups that are calling themselves the 'multi-colored shirt' group.

The largest anti-red shirt civic movement is being led by Dr. Tul Sittisomwong.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-27

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THE NATION: Redshirts stratgy today is to hound multicolour shirts: starting fr tomorrow they will go wherever the other group goes. - INN

THE NATION: Red leaders say they want to test if the govt will adopt double-standard for two groups. - INN

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THE NATION: Thaksin was warned by the Montengrin foreign ministry not to interfere in Thailand: a local newspaper reported.

THE NATION: Neighboring countries were putting pressure on Thakisn, as a Montenegrin citizen, NOT to interfere or to encourage protests in Thailand.

THE NATION: "But Thaksin - remained deaf to their warnings", the local paper said. It also now calls him "richest Montenegrin"

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ThaivisaNews: Red shirts block Langsuan Road /BP

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Thai PM says he is seeking political resolution to opposition standoff

(CNN) -- Thailand's prime minister said Monday that his government is working to achieve normalcy in the country

amid massive opposition protests, but warned it will take "time, patience and cooperation" from all parties involved.

Story and Video continues: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/...dex.html?hpt=T2

-- 2010-04-27

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Thai govt talks tough as protesters beef up defences

by Boonradom Chitradon

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai authorities vowed Tuesday to get tough with anti-government Red Shirts paralysing central Bangkok, where protesters bracing for a crackdown reinforced their barricades and caused travel chaos.

The Red Shirts have said they will turn up the heat on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, sending out protesters on Wednesday to try to persuade more people to join their rally in the capital, which is under a state of emergency.

The city's Skytrain service was halted for several hours on Tuesday after Reds laid tyres on the rails at a station above the protest site to stop troops using it for a surprise attack, forcing many commuters to walk to work.

Services resumed after the protesters -- who have been staging weeks of rolling rallies to campaign for snap elections -- agreed to remove the tyres.

The government said it would not tolerate moves by the opposition protesters to set up road checkpoints to prevent police and soldiers heading to the capital to reinforce security forces there.

"The government has intensified measures against protesters because they have created a situation of unrest by setting up checkpoints which violate other people's rights," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.

"We cannot talk to these people any longer," warning that any protesters found setting up checkpoints would be immediately arrested.

A day after Thailand's revered king spoke of the need for peace in his first public remarks since the crisis began, protesters remained on high alert for a crackdown by security forces.

Street clashes earlier this month and grenade attacks last week in the heart of Bangkok have left 26 people dead and hundreds more wounded in the worst political unrest for almost two decades.

The Red Shirts have reinforced their roadblocks and stepped up security checks on the perimeter of their sprawling protest site, which has been fortified with barricades made from piles of truck tyres and bamboo stakes.

"Each passing day will make us stronger. At least we can hold government forces at bay for another day," said a Reds leader, Jatuporn Prompan.

The Reds said they would set up a "rapid movement unit" to talk to people and invite them to join their protest, vowing to break all checkpoints without using violence.

The king spoke on national television Monday for the first time since anti-government protests broke out in mid-March, addressing a group of newly appointed judges, but he did not directly mention the political crisis.

"Do your job with honesty. In this country there may be some people who forget their duty. You should be an example by working honestly and properly, your job is very important," King Bhumibol Adulyadej said.

"It will help the country to live in peace and contentment," the 82-year-old told the judges at the Bangkok hospital where he has been since September.

Thailand's opposition has asked for an audience with the king, who has intervened in previous bouts of civil unrest.

The government has said it has uncovered a network of people suspected of plotting to overthrow the monarchy and will issue summons, and later arrest warrants, for members of the group. The Reds denied any involvement.

The government will not allow these people to insult the monarchy," Suthep said. "If necessary we will bar all of them from leaving Thailand."

Abhisit, regarded as elitist and undemocratic by his opponents, has rejected an offer by the Reds to disperse if elections are held in three months' time.

The Reds are mostly supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Thaksin, who was in Montenegro at the weekend, said he has been in contact with the opposition protestors in Thailand.

"We just fight for democracy," he told reporters in the Adriatic republic.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-04-27

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Red-shirts Set Up Checkpoints to Block Soldiers

Red-shirt members in many provinces have blocked roads and thwarted government security officials-- not allowing them to reach Bangkok to disperse the major rally site at the Ratchaprasong intersection.

Some 200 red-shirt people in Saraburi, Nakhonnayok and Lopburi provinces set up a checkpoint on Phahonyothin highway in Saraburi province to block security forces from heading to Bangkok.

The action caused a several kilometer traffic jam and local police requested that the general public avoid this route.

In Phitsanulok red-shirt members have closed off the entrances and exits of the 31st Border Patrol Police base, preventing 155 personnel from traveling to Bangkok to reinforce security operations there.

However, sources reported that authorities decided to drive through the barricade, while afterward, the red-shirt people filed complaints against the officials for physical assault.

In the central province of Pathumthani, around one hundred people from the pro-Thaksin movement checked vehicles in front of the Thai fresh market while another group was trying to block authorities' cars on the Phahonyothin highway, claiming that the security personnel have been ordered to disperse the demonstration at the Ratchaprasong Intersection.

In the northeastern province of Ubonratchathani, police said they have are looking into a case in which the red-shirt protesters in the province threw waste and burnt down an ancient boat in the Ratcha Thani Asok village in the Warinchamrap district.

They explained they did not arrest the red-shirt people immediately at the scene as they must protect local villagers first and foremost, adding they will seek arrest warrants soon.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-27

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US Embassy BKK:

Here's the latest video message from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, calling for peaceful dialogue in Thailand.

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BPbreakingnews: Chavalit: I'll do the job if PM can't

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Govt to sue UDD for BTS disruption

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The government will lodge charges against the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for the recent disruption of BTS Skytrain services.

Transport Minister Sophon Zarum disclosed today that the state authorities were planning to sue the anti-government group since its closure of Chidlom BTS station this morning had resulted in further public hardships. He said the government had been informing all parties that public facilities should not be used as political tool by any certain group.

The operator of the BTS Skytrain is estimating the total damage incurred by the temporary operational suspension, according to the minister.

Earlier today, the anti-government UDD reportedly placed car tires on the skytrain tracks at Chidlom BTS station in order to put the train services on halt and switched off all closed-circuit cameras in the area. All skytrain services were then declared closed for safety reason, leaving a large number of commuters throughout Bangkok stranded.

However, the BTS Skytrain resumed its operations at 10.00 hrs after the situation returned to normalcy.

-- NNT 2010-04-27

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MCOT: PM Abhisit on CNN, BBC relates government plan to find way out of political crisis; affirms rule of law, to crackdown on terrorism

RichardBarrow: From April 28th until further notice, service at all BTS stations will operate from 06.00-20.00 hrs. /via @BTS_SkyTrain

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MCOT: Six volunteer UDD guards earlier diagnosed with A(H1N1) infections released from hospital, promptly rejoin Red Shirt rally at Ratchaprasong

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BTS trains will run from 6 am to 8 pm until further notice

Bangkok's Skytrain system will start its services from 6am to 8 pm from Wednesday instead of 6 am to midnight.

"Our services will operate as normal between 6am and 8pm," Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) director Dr Anat Arbhabhirama said Tuesday, "We plan to keep this schedule from April 28 onward".

So far, he did not rule out the possibility of an abrupt change.

In an announcement posted on the BTS web site, Anat said BTS might change the schedule if any emergency arose.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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BMA cancels garbage collecting at red-shirt rally sites

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Tuesday cancelled the garbage collecting in the red-shirt rally sites after the seizure of four garbage trucks yesterday morning.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said that they would go collect trash again if the red-shirt leaders could guarantee the safety of officials and that such truck seizure wouldn't happen again.

The red-shirt had seized for garbage trucks to block the Pathumwan Intersection Tuesday early morning and then released them after an hour negotiation with officials at 8am.

The city hence instructed all garbage trucks usually passed near the rally sites to the On Nut garbage plant to shift to the Nong Khaem or Sai Mai garbage plants instead, Pornthep said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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Chavalit condemns Abhisit, Suthep as 'murderers'

Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh Tuesday lashed out at the government for "ordering the people killed" and for framing him as the mastermind behind the "terrorists" amid the protests.

"I condenm both of you, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thuagsuban, as murderers," Chavalist said in a bid to deflect his charges.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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TAN Network: Thanyaburi Court sentences 11 red shirts to 15 days in jail for setting up check points along Pholyothin Rd; jailed immediately

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Chulalongkorn Hospital's special OPD clinic opens on April 27-30 and May 1-2. Call 02-2565193-4, 0-2256-5166, 0-2256-5175. via@Neaw_NBC

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MCOT: BTS skytrain in full operation from 6am to 8pm Wednesday, MRT subway runs to midnight except Silom station to close at 7.30pm

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Chavalit slams govt for 'cold-blooded murder'

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on Tuesday lashed out at the government for "ordering killings" and for framing him as the mastermind behind "terrorism" during the protests.

"I condemn both of you - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban - as murderers," Chavalist said in a bid to deflect the charges.

The main opposition party also called a press conference to rebut allegations that Chavalit and the red shirts were linked to acts of terrorism designed to grab power and that the redshirt protests were just a pretext for establishing a "New Thai State" and abolishing the monarchy.

Chavalit said he was not responsible for instigating violence, arguing the real culprits were Abhisit and Suthep who ordered a crackdown on the red shirts in cold blood.

"You will be haunted by your murderous acts and I am certain you will get your deserved punishment," he warned.

Chavalit also denied he was in any way involved with armed groups, saying he has always been an advocate for change via peaceful means. However, he added that he would not file a counter lawsuit on grounds that he deemed it futile to litigate about his reputation.

He also insisted that he was justified in seeking an audience with His Majesty the King and soliciting royal intervention to end the turmoil.

"If all sides think my move is inappropriate, then I will have to suspend my request for a royal audience," he said.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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Reds dismiss claim they plan to harm monarchy

Red shirt leaders denied on Tuesday their involvement in a campaign designed to overthrow the monarchy and threatened to sue the government for defamation.

Redshirt leader Natthawut Saikua said none of the reds were linked in any attempts to harm the monarchy.

He said portraying the reds as disloyal to the monarchy was just a figment of the government's and the military's imagination, adding that the reds had instructed their lawyers to initiate a defamation lawsuit.

He went on to question why the authorities were labelling the reds as terrorists when those involved in violence in the three southernmost provinces were classified as insurgents.

Redshirt leader weng Tojirakarn said the reds were struggling to achieve six goals, none of which was about overthrowing the monarchy as alleged.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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Minister urges reds to let kids attend school

On Friday, Education Minister Chinnaworn Boonyakiat will meet directors and presidents of parent-teacher associations of schools affected by the red-shirt rally.

The ministry's main agencies have already had an initial discussion on the issue, and on Friday the meeting would hear suggestions from parents and schools. He said schools will open as scheduled between May 6 and May 16, while universities will open in June.

Chinnaworn said the red-shirt blockade of the Rajprasong intersection is affecting at least 10 schools along with some colleges and universities, not to mention the tutorial schools in Siam Square, and is urging the protesters to consider allowing youngsters to go attend their classes.

-- The Nation 2010-04-27

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Thai protesters shut Bangkok's elevated train system

Anti-government protesters forced a rush-hour shutdown of Bangkok's busy elevated train system.

Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, said he hoped to resolve the crisis in Thailand soon, without resorting to force.

Rachel Harvey reports from Bangkok.

-- BBC 2010-04-27

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