Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Thursday

[webfact]

EU ambassador calls for peaceful resolution

The European Union's office in Bangkok Thursday called for upholding the law and seeking a peaceful resolution through negotiations to end the political predicament in a democratic manner.

EU ambassador David Lipman issued his statement after a meeting with four red-shirt representatives who delivered a plea for the EU to send observers to the rally site at Rajprasong in a bid to prevent a crackdown.

The plea was signed by red-shirt leader Veera Musigapong.

In his statement, the EU ambassador voiced regrets for the loss of life and those injured but stopped short of addressing the request for intervention to avert what Veera described as human rights catastrophe.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

@RichardBarrow: Pol Sgt-Maj Prinya Maneekhot, the police officer wanted in connection with the seizure of 63 M79 rounds, has been arrested /BkkPost

@veen_NT: Shopkeepers in Siam Square area start complaing about a drastic drop of customers. "Only few people left at 7pm," said one. TT @noppatjak

[webfact]

@MCOTEnglishnews: Chulalongkorn Hospital suspending general clinics Friday, except for Emergency Room; extended service clinics closed until May 2

[webfact]

Policeman admits involvement in arms trafficking, not red-shirt movement

A policeman who carried a sizeable amount of war weapons Thursday admitted he had been selling M79 grenades but denied any involvement in the red-shirt movement.

Pol Sen Sgt Parinya Maneechote and two other accomplices were arrested Thursday.

The hunt of Parinya, a policeman at the Khukhot Police Station in Pathum Thani, began Wednesday evening after he accidentally left his ID card during his attempt to avoid a checkpoint manned by security officials.

At 4.20pm on Wednesday, security officials rushed after a motorcyclist - who was later identified as Parinya - after he suspiciously changed his route upon seeing the checkpoint.

When chased, the man dropped a Styrofoam box initially on his motorcycle into a garbage bin and sped away. Because the soi he went into was a dead end, he left his motorcycle and scaled the wall to make his escape.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

@veen_NT: Thai PBS is reporting about Payap and co at Chulalongkorn hopstial.

@tulsathit: Tension at Chula Hospital at moment. Hundreds of reds demanding to search for "hiden" soldiers there.

@veen_NT: Background: Payap believed there are soldiers inside the building. He asked if reporters wanted to prove it and they agreed.

@veen_NT: Don't agree with this searching at all - just silly. Anyway, Adisorn MD taking the tour inside the hospital.

[webfact]

@tulsathit: Payap and some red representatives have been allowed to "inspect" hospital. The reds are really pushing it this time.

@veen_NT: Translating @jin_nation: RT @tistoo: A guard told reporter that after inspecting Sor Kor Bldg, they didn't find anything.

@veen_NT Thai TPS reported Payab led the inspection with 5 #redshirts guards.

@tukky_nt: Red shirts permitted to search for troops in Chula hospital:

[webfact]

@tulsathit: TR @tistoo: http://tweetphoto.com/20357093 >>unspeakable. Police just allowed red mob to create scenes at a hospital.

@veen_NT: Look like a Thai film - police have finally arrived at the scene (7.49pm). Translating@tistoo.

@veen_NT: RT @tiggervince: @veen_NT Reds again violate the right of others with their demand, guess leaders've 2keep mob going.. what if no soldiers?

@tulsathit: Red leader Payap questioned list of names on a whilte board as evidence of "hiden forces" at hospital.

[webfact]

@tulsathit: TR @tistoo: Some more reds tried to scale a hospital wall but were told to stay out. A little commotion.

@tulsathit: I can't decide which is better _ reds storming hospital or police just standing there chitchatting with wanted

@tulsathit: RT @prhbkk: @tulsathit This behaviour would not be tolerated in any other country in the world!man Payap.

@tulsathit: RT @Dany_k: an absolute disgrace of abhisits gov services.Police just seen to be talking with wanted men, *waits for BBC and CNN report*

[webfact]

@veen_NT: RT @terryfrd: RT @tistoo: Police are negotiating with Payap to have guards and other reds leave hospital.

@tulsathit: TR @tistoo: Payap announced through a loudspeaker that search to be resumed tomorrow morning.

@veen_NT: RT @tulsathit: TR @tistoo: Payap announced through a loudspeaker that search to be resumed tomorrow morning.>>Reds is law & law is reds?

@tulsathit: One fugitive posed for photo at McDonalds, another has led a hospital search. I can't wait for tomorrow.

[webfact]

@tulsathit: Yeah I forgot to mention Arisman Ethan Hunt Pongruangrong as well.

@tulsathit urgent: two "suspects" have reportedly been captured from hospital and taken to red stage. Awaiting more details.

[webfact]

@veen_NT: Ch 7 just showed reds climbing fence and all and the situation has improved.

@veen_NT: Btw.just 4 the record- head of Police is Pol.Lt.Gen Wittaya Kanjanavanij.

@veen_NT: RT @timeframeco: @tulsathit @veen_NT This is called anarchy!>> no we now have "Emergency" law - run as far as you can!!!

[webfact]

Red shirts permitted to search for troops in Chula hospital

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts demand on Thursday to search in Chulalongkorn hospital where they claimed troops were hiding.

Dozens of red shirts protesters, led by Payab Panket, marched from their Rajprasong rally site to the hospital which is located nearby.

Dr Adisorn Pataradul, director of the hospital, met them at the entrance of the hospital.

Initially the director refused to allow them to enter the hospital compound.

However the director finally gave the permission but allowed only five of them and a group of reporters to enter the compound.

-- The Nation 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Reds invade the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital

BANGKOK: (NNT) -- A Core figure of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Payap Pangate led the UDD guards inside the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital following his fear of military force hideout.

Mr Payap today invaded the hospital along with a number of UDD guards due to his fear of military force using the hospital as their base for a crowd dispersal operation. He asked the hospital officers to inspect all buildings and promised to march in single file but failed to do so once they were inside.

The guards found no officials stationed in the hospital.

Mr Payap stated he earlier discovered military officials based in the third floor of the second and third hospital buildings and that he saw food being delivered inside the buildings.

He demanded the Prime Minister to immediately disband all the officials, otherwise he and the UDD co-leader Kwanchai Praipana will reclaim the hospital back to the citizens on 30 April at 10.00 hrs.

-- NNT 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

@veen_NT: Is this a true lie? TR@nirandr - Payap returned to stage and told protesters that he found soldiers and weapon but reporters didnt z them.!!

@tulsathit: Now, Vietnam has warned its citizens not to come to Thailand.

[webfact]

@veen_NT: (9.02pm) TR @Neaw_NBC - redshirts said they would seach every floor of Chulalongkorn Hospital tommorw. in Thai - http://bit.ly/c3rKiT #NNA

[webfact]

@veen_NT: RT @Kaypobird: @veen_NT if the police or army let the reds search the hospital again, then i would say thailand is a failed state.>>agree

[webfact]

@veen_NT: INN (9/22pm) TR @jin_nation - tense situation is reported at Chula hospital. 300 police officers are confronting the reds. Gunfire heard.

@veen_NT Urgent!: sound at Chulalongkorn Hospital is not gun fired but giant fire cracker. viaNNA & MGRNews

[webfact]

A pack of M79 grenades found in Chanthaburi

CHANTHABURI: (NNT) -- After receiving information, the Chanthaburi police with a bomb disposal team headed to the scene to investigate suspected objects at the roadside of Mueang distict in Chanthaburi province. They found heavy weapons, including M79 grenades.

A worker laying water supply pipeline had notice two bags of suspected items beside the street so he called local police to investigate the objects.

The police found that the bags contained four units of M79 grenades, 12 M79 cartridges and two packs of plastic bullets. The grenades are the high explosive type with 600 meters-shooting capacity and 6-10 meters of explosive distance. Another M79 launcher was found at two kilometers from the scene.

Officials view that the incident is a sign of possible sabotage in the province planned by an unknown force.

Chanthaburi is one of 38 provinces in the country after Bangkok and Chiang Mai that are likely to see demonstrations and violent actions.

-- NNT 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

Police Believe Seized Grenades Linked to Attacks

Authorities believe that the M-79 grenades that were discarded by a fleeing suspect at a Vibhavadi Rangsit Road checkpoint yesterday are linked to the recent series of grenade attacks. Police have begun probing possible connection.

Royal Thai Police Spokesman Police Major General Prawut Thavornsiri disclosed that authorities confiscated more than 60 M-79 grenades yesterday from a car and a motorcycle that belonged to Police Sargent Major Parinya Maneekhot of the Khu Khot คูคต district police station in Pathum Thani.

The suspect discarded the weapons and fled the checkpoint but he was already apprehended today. He has also been dismissed from police service.

The police also searched his apartment today and found more weapons.

They believe that the grenades are connected to a string of recent attacks in the capital.

The Provincial Police Bureau 1 and the Metropolitan Police Bureau have been assigned to investigate possible connection.

Police will also hand the case over to the Department of Special Investigation to further probe the connection as well as interrogate witnesses who include reporters and security officials.

Meanwhile, the body of Private Narongrit Sala has been sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy in an attempt to determine the weapon that killed him.

He was the only fatality in yesterday's clash between red-shirt protesters and security forces on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

Some foreign media have reported that his death was caused by a friendly fire but Al Jazeera has released footage of him being shot by a man dressed in black and standing among the red-shirt protesters.

-- Tan Network 2010-04-29

[newsfooter][/newsfooter]

[webfact]

@veen_NT: Think it's time society condemns the reds for inhuman act: what rights they have to go into the hospital? There's no justification for that.

@veen_NT: RT @willphd: @veen_NT Patients already moved; perhaps they saw gunmen at the windows? Justification to me.>>agree to disagree!!

@veen_NT: RT @chrisothailand my guess becoz it got more people angry &increase chance of them being "attacked"by pol tmrw so they can be victims again

[webfact]

@tulsathit: TR @wongthanong I have never once critized red shirts, but scenes at the Chula Hospital is very horrible, disgusting and a real shame.

@veen_NT: Ok, recap of today. 1> Reds ask help from EU - no one got hurt and their voice was heard.

@veen_NT: 2> PAD to 11th Regiment - no one got hurt and their voice was heard.

@veen_NT: 3> Reds inspected Chulalongkorn Hospital - no one got hurt but .... (i leave the blank space for you guys to fill up yourself).

[webfact]

@BangkokDan: Raiding a hospital means no respect for any law. So we know, & govt implicitly becomes an accpmplice by tolerating the abuses & anarchy

@veen_NT: Oh and I must say that the biggest gossip today is "Dead or Alive" - who knows who I'm talking about.

@tulsathit i took liberty to mention some of u in my Thaksin rumours article. it's a pity a few gud tweets were edged out by hospital developments.

@tulsathit: But big tks to u all for the ideas. Btw, the rumours just refuse to die. I've been getting cascade of phone calls.

[Maestro]

'Red Shirts' promise to stand ground

CNN's Arwa Damon reports from the "Red Shirt" demonstration site in Thailand where protesters are refusing to leave.

-- CNN 2010-04-29