Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Saturday

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Saturday May 1 Red-shirt rally live updates

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REDS RALLIES

Chula barricade rebuilt 'at Khattiya's orders'

By THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The red shirts yesterday rebuilt their road barricade outside Chulalongkorn Hospital after it was removed earlier in the day following public outrage over their raid of the hospital on Thursday night.

The barricade - made with car tyres, wooden spikes and barbed wire - was removed late yesterday morning following a meeting of protest leaders, including Natthawut Saikua, weng Tojirakarn and Suporn Atthawong.

However, at around 6pm, the red-shirt protesters began reconstructing the barricade that they said was at the order of renegade Army specialist Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol.

Many red shirts still admire Khattiya even though some leaders earlier encouraged the protesters to "cut ties" with him because of the allegedly aggressive nature of his moves.

The protesters said Khattiya had told them that removing the barricade would make it easy to disperse the crowds.

Yesterday, the hospital evacuated most of its patients after it was stormed by some 200 protesters who mistakenly believed that troops were hiding there to prepare for a crackdown. However, they did not find any soldiers inside.

Protest leader Jatuporn Promphan yesterday promised that the red shirts would not obstruct the hospital's operations anymore and prevent any such confrontations in the future.

Meanwhile, Suporn yesterday asked for understanding, saying that the red shirts had to put up the barricade in order to protect themselves.

He said the red-shirt guards stationed at Lumpini Park, opposite the hospital, would be told not to storm into the hospital again.

In a related report, acting police chief General Patheep Tanprasert said yesterday that protest leader Payap Panket had violated the law by leading the raid into the hospital.

However, despite the police presence at the scene, no arrests were made because the police were waiting for a more appropriate time, he said.

Patheep said that after the incident, he had instructed Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Santhan Chayanond to provide "sufficient care" for hospitals, adding that Pathumwan police were assigned to guard Chulalongkorn Hospital.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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CHULA INVASION

Losing patience

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- It was supposed to be a day for the red shirts to fix the damage, but as it turned out, the consequences of Thursday's invasion of Chulalongkorn Hospital meant the political movement was staring at a wrecked reputation that is nearly irreparable.

Photos of patients being wheeled out of the hospital - from helpless old people with oxygen masks to a baby in an incubator - spread epidemically on social media. The urgent yet awkward relocation of Chulalongkorn Hospital patients, helped by grim-faced relatives and nurses, subdued even the most understanding sympathisers of the red shirts and was described by some observers as a complete PR disaster for the movement.

Condemnation poured in. Simmering public anger at the disruption of daily life now has had an added cause. That a red-shirt leader is a doctor only served to magnify resentment of a public totally losing its patience. weng Tojirakarn, whose son is also a doctor and has been assigned a job at a provincial hospital, reportedly had tried to stop the invasion, but he might not have done enough, or probably the red leadership has become too fragmented to act on consensus anyway.

Behind-the-scenes photos were also circulated, with probably greater emotional impact. "In-house relocation" - the moving of patients from considered unsafe proximity to other buildings - meant a lot of sick people, including a baby with respiratory problems and in need of an operation, had to be on beds laid out on cement floors.

The National Human Rights Commission condemned what it said was complete lack of respect for humanitarian standards and a behaviour it pointed out followed other condemnable acts like snatching a dead body from a hospital or preventing efforts to get wounded victims immediate treatement.

"The rights of patients to get immediate and proper treatment have been grossly violated and medical personnel have been prevented from doing their professional jobs," the commission said in a statement. That was corroborated by an alliance of five councils of medical professions who, in a statement, called for an immediate end to "practices unacceptable by common standards and human rights principles".

"Even during war times, hospitals, medical personnel, vehicles and equipment are protected by all sides to keep an extent of humanitarian standards," said the alliance's statement. The same message was echoed by patients' clubs. The network, bringing together patients suffering from various major diseases as well as private health development groups and consumers' groups, strongly criticised the "inhuman" act and called on the red-shirted leaders to move the rally elsewhere if they could not control militant members.

The red-shirt leaders apologised yesterday, saying the one who led the invasion, Payap Panket, had acted on his own. Critics, however, were quick to point out witnesses' accounts that showed all red leaders present at Rajprasong on Thursday had been aware of Payap's move.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva took the red shirts to task for their recent actions, which have turned parts of Bangkok's commercial heart into a barricaded protest camp. "It's not necessary for me to condemn [the hospital break-in] since Thai society and the world community have already done that," Abhisit said, adding that the government would "not allow any movements that posed threats to the public".

But as always, his strong words were not followed by any arrest yesterday. Payap has become another red leader who has managed to roam the city despite facing an arrest warrant. Unlike the others before him who were forced to either scale down a rope from a hotel's third floor or slip through rows of soldiers and police, Payap on Thursday was only inches away from police who tried to persuade his men not to search the Chulalongkorn Hospital.

Protesters yesterday morning pulled down the tyres-and-bamboos fortress facing the hospital on Rajdamri Road, only to re-erect it at the order of rogue officer Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who claimed removing it would invite troops to move in and disperse the rally. Khattiya, who has been mentioned in a few government press conferences alluding to acts of terrorism, is another red-shirt member who can pop up in public wherever and whenever he likes.

The red shirts said the invasion would never happen again, but that was deplored in the social media as being the same as regret expressed by a rapist to his victim. The movement was licking its wounds yesterday. Its only comfort, however, could be the fact that this huge setback also amplified the helplessness of the Abhisit government, which got nothing but a little reprieve from the hospital incident.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Chula transfers patients to other hospitals

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Medical workers at Chulalongkorn Hospital yesterday were chaotically rushing to move over 600 patients including elderly people and children from buildings where located near the antigovernment rally site at Saladaeng Intersection to other buildings and hospitals where faraway from the demonstration as the hospital worried that the violent incident that would affect to patient.

Patient's relatives were rushing to pick up their family member who admit at hospital while the hospital had deployed wheelchairs and ambulances to moved patient who stay at Phor Por Ror, Sor Kor and Jong Konnee Wattana building where located near Ratchadamri road and near the demonstration site to other buildings which near Henri Dunant road and other hospitals where faraway from rally site.

His Holiness Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Thailand, was also moved from Vachirayannasamakeepayabarn building near Ratchadamri Road to other building to avoid any violent incident that would affect the medical treatment.

While more than 100 of them had been transferred to other hospitals in Bangkok and some of them went back home.

Most of patients who admit at Sor Kor building were children and patient who were waiting for brain surgery which need to take rest with friendly environment.

" The hospital worried about the safety of patients who are now undergoing treatment at hospital," Hospital director Dr Adisorn Patradul said, adding that the hospital also asked other hospital to temporary receive patient who was transferred from Chulalongkorn University until the situation will turn to normalcy.

According to the tweeted messages reported by local radio FM100.5, a patient was in cardiac arrest while transferring from Chulalongkorn Hospital to Kasemrat Prachachuen Hospital.

Now this patient was safe after medical worker implanted a pump to help his heart work normally.

While the Erawan Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.Centre had also sent hospital to support Chulalongkorn to transfer patients to other hospital.

Centre director Dr Phetpong Kamjornkitjakarn said the center had transferred 124 patients from Chulalongkorn hospital to other hospitals in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

The move came after some of 200 antigovernment Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) led by DAAD coleader Payap Panket had stormed to the hospital complex to search hospital building and compound as they suspected that soldiers were hiding in hospital.

Adisorn on Thursday night has allowed a group of representatives of DAAD to searching inside hospital as he afraid that any violent incident would be occurred if he refused the proposal of anti government protesters.

"I insist that there were no any soldiers or polices inside hospital," he said.

As the hospital is a member of Thai Red Cross Society, Adisorn said the hospital must take the neutral position amid the political conflict.

The hospital has to provide medical treatment to all people without bias and discrimination. Moreover, the hospital will absolutely not allow anybody to use hospital for political object as the hospital realized that this will lead to the incitement among protesters and government.

However, he said the hospital has suspended the medical services for outpatient unit as there was an explosion in front of hospital a few days ago which cause panic and chaos among patient and medical workers inside hospital.

" The hospital worried people would be injured from panic if the hospital still open the outpatient unit," he said.

The hospital also suspended surgery for emergency patients and has temporarily stopped receiving patients from other hospitals.

The special clinic will be closed from today until Sunday. The emergency unit is still open. Meanwhile all classes for medical students will be closed today.

Adisorn had also asked the antigovernment protesters to keep at least 100 metres away from hospitals to reduce the impact on patients.

DAAD demonstrators have violently clashed with security officials at least twice during their monthslong rally. In the latest clash on Wednesday, one soldier was killed. The incident also injured 18 other victims, including soldiers and the demonstrators.

Their Majesties the King and the Queen have graciously paid the medical bill of all these victims. The family of the killed soldier will also receive financial help from Their Majesties.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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DEATH OR ALIVE?

Thaksin, family dispel rumours of death, coma

By The Nation

According to a Twitter message posted yesterday, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra said he was currently in Uganda inspecting a business project.

This message was seen as an attempt to dispel rumours about him being in coma and dying.

Thaksin said he had flown from Moscow on Thursday night and was constantly in touch with the red-shirt movement.

"I just travelled from Moscow to Uganda, but regardless of where I am, I always check on the activities of the red shirts.

At this moment, I'm listening to a Mor Lam song being sung by Tungtang Burapa," he said, in reference to the singer's performance at the rally stage in Rajprasong yesterday afternoon.

He said he appreciated Tungtang for her performance and commended her for donating funds to the movement. He also urged the protesters to continue fighting for democracy and justice.

"I admire all of you for your bravery," he said, adding that injured red shirts vowing to return to the protest after recuperating was praiseworthy.

Rumours about Thaksin's death coincided with his family's visit to Hong Kong on Thursday. His cousin and former Army chief General Chaisit Shinawatra also travelled to Macau, prompting speculation about funeral arrangements.

Thaksin's ex-wife Khunying Pojaman na Pombejra and their three children, Panthongtae, Pinthongta and Paethongtarn, had flown to their Hong Kong home on Thursday.

Later, Thaksin and his children posted Twitter messages confirming that he was in good health.

Panthongtae tweeted: "My dad is fine, not even a cold", while Pinthongta and Paethongtarn said: "Stop stupid rumours, my dad is totally healthy! It is only their game, people!"

Chaisit, meanwhile, said he was vacationing in Macau and was unaware about Thaksin's family travelling to Hong Kong.

According to the departure cards of Thaksin's family, they are scheduled to return to Bangkok on Monday.

In a separate development, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Thai Ambassador Chalermpol Thanchitt to accept a diplomatic protest in response to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya's remarks on Russia's role in sheltering Thaksin.

During an April 13 speech at John Hopkins University, Kasit lashed out at countries such as Russia and Germany for turning a blind eye to Thaksin's conviction.

"This is act of interference - how can the Russians allow him to stay for two days and Germans do the same before that?" Kasit asked.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Ex-policeman held in RPG case

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- An expoliceman has been arrested in the March 20 rocket attack on the Defence Ministry.

Police said he was a highprofile suspect found to have been implicated in eight previous bomb attacks throughout Bangkok.

The suspect Bundit Sitthichum confessed he had actually tried to fire the rocket-propelled grenade at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha located not far away but the rocket missed the target as it hit electric wire nearby, said chief of Department of Special Investigation Tharit Pengdit.

Bundit allegedly said a man with ties to a political party paid him Bt500,000 to carry out the attack on the historic and symbolic landmark, Tharit said in a press conference.

The lone RPG round hit power wires and deflected off them before hitting the Defence Ministry which is located opposite the temple. After a police press conference announcing Bundit's arrest, the redshirted leaders spoke at the rally site at Rajprasong intersection that Bundit was paid by the government to lure the public into believing that red shirts were behind the attack.

Police and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) are jointly handling this RPG attack case and will decide soon whether the latter would take over it, which involved acts of terrorism.

Bundit has also been implicated in other eight bomb attacks before the RPG incident, judging from manners of crimes and explosives used in the eight relevant cases, said deputy police chief Pol General Phanuphong Singhara na Ayutthya.

There were 60 bomb attacks occurring across the country, 46 in Bangkok alone, since the redshirted rally began on March 12, he said.

DSI directorgeneral Tharit said a senior redshirted guard, Chayut Laijaroen, began to cooperate and provided information useful to the investigation. "But it is not deemed a full cooperation or allout confession from him yet," he added.

Acting police chief Pol General Patheep Tanprasert said police could say next two days whether many M79 attacks were carried out using grenades in the same lot which was seized on Wednesday from a man on a motorcycle, and later found owned by Pol Sgt Major Parinya Maneekhote, of Khoo Khot police station, who was arrested on Thursday.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Chavalit refuses to meet Suthep because his entourage left out

By The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh yesterday declined a face-to-face meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and instead handed over his curriculum vitae as a rebuttal to allegations that he was involved in an anti-monarchy movement.

Chavalit, dressed in the full regalia of a five-star general, arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment where Suthep's office is located under the emergency rule. However, he was asked to leave his entourage, comprised of aides and several opposition lawmakers, outside the military compound if he wanted to meet the deputy PM.

"I came here with the full intention make myself understood because the charges against me are reckless and a mix-up," Chavalit said, adding that he would not enter the compound if his entourage was barred.

In an earlier announcement, delivered with fanfare, he said he intended to confront Suthep for what he considers a smear campaign questioning his loyalty to the monarchy.

He said his previous jobs, as a prime minister and a military commander who served under the King, should show whether or not these charges are justified.

Chavalit said he was optimistic that any misunderstanding about him would blow over soon, adding that he held no grudges against the authorities for labelling him an anti-monarchist.

He added that he was not in contact with ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and was still close to chief royal adviser General Prem Tinsulanonda. He also urged the government to "stop killing people", saying his only objection was the use of force although he was willing to condone any other options, short of a crackdown, to overcome the political predicament.

In reaction to Chavalit's remarks, Suthep said he was disappointed that the former PM submitted his biography instead of citing proper evidence to clear his name.

Chavalit handed over eight envelopes carrying documents detailing his life as well as remarks countering the anti-monarchy allegations raised by faction leader Newin Chidchob, Suthep said.

"I don't understand what Chavalit is trying to say," he added.

Suthep said it was unfortunate that Chavalit had refused to meet him because if they had met, he would be able to explain why Chavalit's name had come up in the investigation into the anti-monarchy movement.

"It's really Chavalit's loss because he still does not know how he got involved," he said.

In a separate development, a social-network group led by Peekadet Preechachanapai, sent out a message to dispatch a 50-member team to show support for PM Abhisit Vejjajiva by presenting him with a flower bouquet.

Cover Phto : Pramote Putthaisong/The Nation

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Storming of Chulalongkorn hospital as bad as WWII seizure

By The Nation

Published on May 1, 2010

The seizure of a hospital by dissident groups is very rare in Thailand. The only time in recent history that a hospital was seized has been in Ratchaburi, when the Karen God's Army took over the provincial hospital in 2000.

Ten armed members of the God's Army stormed into the hospital and took some 1,000 patients and medical personnel hostage, demanding that treatment be provided for their colleagues in the ThaiBurmese border.

The 20hour drama came to a bloody end when commandos killed all the dissidents and managed to rescue the hostages in the early hours of January 25, 2000.

Chulalongkorn Hospital, in its nearly 100year history, was seized once during World War II by the Japanese troops who wanted to use its facilities for their operation. At the time, the hospital gave some of its buildings over to the Japanese army, and continued using some for its own operations, the hospital's deputy director Somrat Jarulaksananant said.

However, having the redshirt protesters brazenly storm into the hospital on Thursday was one of the most serious incidents since WWII, he said.

Hospitals are free of politics, because doctors have the humanitarian obligation to provide treatment to all parties without any discrimination, regardless of their political ideology or religion, he said.

Many redshirted protesters showed up at the hospital on Thursday seeking to search the premises for security officials that they believed were hiding there. The red shirts are being strongly criticised by everyone for disturbing patients and medical personnel.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Hospital raid sparks outraged comments

By The Nation

"This demonstration has severely affected patients. I understand what the red shirts want, but they should not cause problems for others."

Patcharin Srisangwal, whose mother, Wanpen, suffers from lung cancer and requires chemotherapy.

"I have never experienced an incident like this before. I believe something might happen in the near future, because the safety of the patients cannot be the only reason prompting the hospital to move all of its patients out of the compound."

Seksan Khamdaeng, 54, whose cousin was admitted on April 10 for hepatitis and had to be transferred.

"They just said they did not have a bed for me. I have to go back home and return in 17 days, which means I'll be suffering for more than two weeks."

Suwan Rattanamoung, a 45yearold freelance lawyer who has been waiting for his biopsy results and been under observation in hospital since April 12. All other hospitals refused to take on his case.

"This is my first pregnancy. I want everything to be perfect, but my tests could not be done at the hospital. Now I have to come back again on Monday."

A 35yearold woman who is eight months' pregnant with triplets.

"He was told to move to Samut Prakan Hospital. He has not even had his surgery yet."

Wanpen Kamenkarn, a 63yearold Samut Prakan resident whose husband was admitted for kidney stones.

"The patients have left the hospital in tears. Despite our knowhow, we could not help them at all. We're taught to help everyone, save every life. We want the demonstrators to step back so we can work for the benefit of the patients. We are a politically neutral organisation. Please don't disrupt our operations. If you were in their shoes, you would not have done what you did. This has hurt people who are not involved in the political struggle at all."

Supaporn Sritangsirikul, a 58yearold nurse at Chulalongkorn Hospital who joined 10 other nurses to picket yesterday morning for the redshirt protesters to stay away. She said many patients had to be turned away or transferred because of the protest, while others waiting for donated organs had lost their turn.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Thai hospital evacuated after stormed by protesters

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) -- A hospital in the Thai capital evacuated most of its patients Friday after it was stormed by "Red Shirt" protesters who mistakenly believed troops were hiding there following recent violence.

Chulalongkorn Hospital also stopped receiving outpatients following the Thursday night incident, in which some 100 Red Shirt guards searched its buildings for troops they feared were preparing for a crackdown.

Tensions are high in Bangkok following the worst political violence in almost two decades which has left 27 people dead and almost 1,000 injured this month in a series of bloody confrontations.

The 1,400-bed hospital sent most of its patients to 10 other facilities in Bangkok and was considering how to cope with the protesters occupying a large part of the city's nearby commercial district, a spokeswoman said.

"For outpatients, if their symptoms are not serious we asked them to postpone treatment," the spokeswoman said.

The Reds, who have occupied sections of Bangkok for over a month in their bid to force snap elections, have alleged the hospital was used in a grenade attack on a pro-government rally last week that killed one and wounded dozens.

The government said the grenades were fired from inside the Reds' camp -- an accusation the movement has denied.

The Reds publicly apologised for the storming of the hospital, saying guards told demonstration leaders that they saw soldiers inside the facilities, which are located near one of their main barricades.

"On behalf of all leaders, I apologise to the public and Chulalongkorn Hospital for the incident," Red leader Weng Tojirakarn said. "The situation got out of control.

"It is not our policy to obstruct hospital operations."

Thailand's Medical Council slammed the storming and asked protesters to respect medical personnel, while police said they would deploy 100 officers to the hospital to ensure neither security forces nor Reds use the grounds.

Many of the Reds come from Thailand's rural poor and urban working classes and seek the return of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed to prosecute those who were involved in the hospital incident.

"What happened last night was a shock to hospital management," he said in a television address. "Those who violated the law must be prosecuted."

After heavy public criticism of their raid, Reds scaled back barricades Friday to give greater access to the hospital. The group said they also might remove barricades from an intersection in front of three major shopping malls.

The Reds confronted troops Wednesday on a highway in Bangkok's northern suburbs, in a clash that left one soldier dead and injured 18 people.

Troops fired into the air and also directly at the Reds, and Abhisit said Friday his government would no longer allow the protesters to move out of their main rally site and disrupt Bangkok, which is under a state of emergency.

"We will move ahead aggressively but some of our work cannot be disclosed," Abhisit said.

Later Friday authorities announced on national television that police had arrested two men for allegedly firing grenades at a sacred Bangkok temple in the royal Grand Palace.

Former police sergeant Pandit Sithitum, 43, confessed to being hired by Red Shirt leaders along with another man, said the director-general of Thailand's department of special of investigations.

Officials first thought the March 20 attack had targeted the nearby defence ministry.

Police said they had arrested and charged a 37-year-old Red Shirt sympathiser for allegedly insulting the kingdom's royal family on Facebook.

Internet content seen as critical of Thailand's king -- who enjoys a semi-divine status among many citizens -- has been under close scrutiny since the Reds began their campaign in 2006.

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a stabilising force during six politically turbulent decades on the throne, has been in hospital since last September.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-01

Published with written approval from AFP.

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OPINION

Old soldier has run his course in national politics

By The Nation

Chavalit's call for the King to intervene in the political crisis seems rooted, as usual, in vested interest

While Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh furiously rebukes allegations by the government that he is the mastermind behind the ongoing violence, one thing that is hard to dismiss is the conviction among people who have followed his career that this former premier has lived a political life that is at best enigmatic and at worst wasteful.

Just over a week ago, the former premier spoke passionately about the revered monarchy and how he would defend the institution with all his heart and soul. But if his political history is any indication, whenever Chavalit spills his feelings like this, he is up to something he's not telling us about.

And in making his heartfelt statement about the monarchy, the general immediately put His Majesty and the highest institution in a tight corner by calling for a royal intervention to thwart a possible clash between the armed forces and the red shirts.

Some followers of the red-shirt movement would probably give Chavalit high marks for trying to save lives by any means necessary. But others doubt if he is acting as an honest broker. If anything he is a stakeholder in this deadly game that he himself apparently helped to start. And while we don't question the majority of reds' loyalty to the highest institution, there is no denying that the current political crisis is also associated with a systematic campaign against the Thai monarchy. Chavalit has done virtually nothing about that.

Despite his long political career, Chavalit has yet to prove his worth in Thailand's gutter politics, and his actions throughout his political career speak for themselves - from a policy that sent thousands of Burmese students to their deaths while he was the country's Army chief to his brief and uninspiring stint as premier. He has failed to go beyond routine politics where everyone is ready to serve a political master - provided that he gets his piece of the pie.

Opinion continues: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...c-30128380.html

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Parents worried about protest impact

By Supinda Na Mahachai,

Wannapa Khaopa,

Onravee Tangmeesang

Government urged to ease traffic; ensure children, teachers are safe

BANGKOK: -- Watpathumwanaram School near the red shirt rally site has planned to temporarily move its classes to the National Stadium for the students and personnel's safety if the protest continues until the school reopening in the middle of next month, its director said yesterday.

Thus, Triam Udom Suksa School (TUS) director offered the school to use some of buildings of TUS and Patumwan Demonstration School as temporarily classes.

Meanwhile, parents and teachers express their concerns over students' safety and traffic when schools reopen. Female teachers are getting worried about a raid at schools by protesters.

They were among 150 people from 40 schools near the protest sites who attended a meeting yesterday with Education Ministry's executives to find out safety measures to guard students and schools during the red shirt protest.

Watpathumwanaram School (PS) director Somphop Intarachan parents, students and teachers could not get into the school as routes had been blocked by the red shirt guards and security guards of the shopping complexes near the protest site.

"All the 764 students will probably move to study at Nimibutr Gymnasium of the National Stadium or we may postpone the date of the school reopening," Somphop said.

TUS' director Wisarut Sonthichai said he could assist this school by providing some of the buildings for its students' temporarily classes and would probably coordinate with Patumwan Demonstration School (PDS) to provide some of its buildings as well.

Parents from Assumption Commercial College and Saint Joseph Convent School said they were worried so much about the traffic as normally the traffic to the schools were congested, and if the red shirts blocked the roads to schools, their children would miss classes. So, they wanted authorities to help ease the traffic and guard students along the roads to schools.

Chulalongkorn University Demonstration Secondary School director Chuchai Ratanapinyopong, Sri Ayudhya School Chamnong Chamchantharawong and Srinakharinwirot University: Prasarnmit Demonstration School (Elementary) deputy director Trairat Pipatpokkapole also said they were worried about the safety, traffic and public transportati

Article continues: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/...t-30128367.html

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Bombs Continue to Rock Silom

The glass walls and windows of Mc Donald's at Silom Center was damaged in what authorities believe to be either a bomb or gunfire attack while a ping pong bomb was thrown at Saladaeng intersection last night.

Just off Silom Road, the red-shirt protesters have erected more barricades in front of Chulalongkorn Hospital in fear of efforts by the government to disperse the anti-government red-shirt protesters.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-01

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ThaivisaNews:

Silom Center

http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=bu...angkok-thailand

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Chulalongkorn Hospital director says he will not talk to red-shirt leaders at Rajprasong

BANGKOK: -- The director of the Chulalongkorn Hospital said he will not go to the Rajprasong rally site to hold a talk with the red-shirt leaders, saying it will look very inappropriate.

Matichon Online quoted Assoc Prof Doctor Adisorn Phattharadul as saying that he or other representatives of the hospital would not travel to Rajprasong to hold a talk with red-shirt leaders.

He said the red-shirt leaders should have come to the hospital to talk with him Friday night as arranged by police.

No red-shirt leaders turned up for a talk apparently because they feared they would be arrested.

Adisorn said the red-shirt leaders should have had trust in police who organized the talk.

Police arranged for a talk after the red-shirt leaders rebuilt their bunker to block the gate of the hospital on the Rajdamri Road again.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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MCOTEnglishnews: Supreme Patriarch, Sangharaja is only one patient left at Chulalongkorn Hospital

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MCOTEnglishnews: PM, on May Day address, affirms to promote better workers' quality of life; return normalcy to country

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Security stepped up on Silom after UDD’s hospital search

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The military forces have stepped up security on Silom Road following the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)'s intrusion of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital on Thursday.

The military officers were seen preparing barbed wires along the pavement of Silom Road while stationing at various risk-prone spots to monitor the activities of the UDD on the opposite Ratchadamri Road. The operation has reportedly prompted UDD guards to be on high alert for a potential crackdown on the main UDD demonstration at Ratchaprasong Junction.

Car tires and sharpened bamboo sticks assembled together as bunker walls by the UDD still remain intact to prevent military forces from entering the area. However, according to reports, the UDD will consider opening some lanes to facilitate the traffic in front of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Throughout this morning, UDD core figures have taken turns making speeches on the stage at the main rally site at Ratchaprasong Intersection.

On Thursday night, UDD protestors and guards, led by Mr Payap Panket, raided King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital located on Ratchadamri Road, believing that the government had encamped military troops in preparation for a crackdown on the UDD protestors in the Ratchaprasong area. The intrusion of the group led to the hospital’s closure of out-patient services.

-- NNT 2010-05-01

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Chulalongkorn Hosp insists on talk with UDD outside rally site

BANGKOK (NNT) -- King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital will not send representatives to negotiate with the anti-government protesters at Ratchaprasong Junction, according to the hospital director, MD Adisorn Patradul.

MD Adisorn said that sending hospital representatives for a negotiation with the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) within the demonstration site at Ratchaprasong would be inappropriate. He reasoned that the talk should be based on both sides’ consent to urgently return normalcy to the hospital and its patients.

Yesterday, police officers arranged a negotiation between the hospital and the UDD; however, no UDD members made their appearance due to fear of being arrested.

UDD protesters have also set up bunkers of car tires and sharpened bamboo sticks in front of Chulalongkorn Hospital to prevent the military troops from entering the premises. On Thursday, supporters and guards of the group stormed into the hospital in search for military troops believed to be hiding out inside and preparing for protest dispersal.

With the UDD’s bunkers in front of the hospital, MD Adisorn admitted that he was still uncertain when the hospital would be able to resume normal operations, citing that medical personnel now feared for their safety during night shift. The hospital decided to close its out-patient services yesterday and has transferred patients to Siriraj Hospital.

-- NNT 2010-05-01

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THE NATION: If u can read Thai, here's a very emotional letter written by a Chula doctor: http://usagi-cud44.exteen.com/20100430/entry

THE NATION: If u can't read Thai, the letter's powerful rebuttal of what Weng described as "over-reaction."

THE NATION: The letter says how patients, relatives, nurses, doctors and other personnel suffered alike by the red blockade on the Rajdamri side.

THE NATION: "Imagine how newly-operated-on pateints, babies who cn barely breath or others from ICU have 2 B relocated w/ all the equipment?" he say

THE NATION: "We used to ask them just to give a little space in front of ICU, to retreat a little, but they never cared."

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THE NATION: "On the night of April 26, they came storming into the Sirikit building wanting to capture Doc Tul (multicoloured leader)."

THE NATION: "On the following night they barged into ICU, suspecting there were police there. It was very scary."

THE NATION: "We have been intimidated. They went in and out of hospital, using facilities as they pleased."

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THE NATION: "When some of them were ill, they came to seek treatment, which was given without discrimination."

THE NATION: "When the Payap group came on April 29, they were rude and intimidating, fearing no-one."

THE NATION: "They promised just a few wld enter, but 100 or more poured in. They promised 2 search only sirikit building, but roam the whole premise."

THE NATION: "And they threatened to come again."

THE NATION: "How can our country survive like this. I pray to all sacred things to protect Chula Hospital"

THE NATION: "Assoc Prof Prasert Triwijitsilp, a Chula hospital. Please help forward this letter."

___________________________

THE NATION: From our political editor @jin_nation : I tried to fight back tears covering the Chula nurses, but couldnt.

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MCOTEnglishnews: Suthep orders police to dismantle red-shirts barricades on Ratchadamri road to allow access to emergency gate of Chulalongkorn Hospital

MCOTEnglishnews: Red Shirt leaders order guards to dismantle blockage at entrance of Chula Hospital, the order is rejected by Maj Gen Khattiya who obstructs removal

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Weng criticises Khattiya for ordering red shirts to rebuild bunkers at Saladaeng

Weng Tojirakarn said Saturday that Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol had no rights to interfere in the decision of red-shirt leaders who ordered the removal of bunkers blocking the entrance to Chulalongkorn Hospital on Rajdamri Road.

Weng said protesters, who rebuilt the bunkers there, violated the order of the red-shirt leaders.

On Friday, protesters at the Lumpini Park removed the bunkers in line with the order of the leaders at Rajprasong but later in the evening they rebuilt the bunkers at the order of Khattiya, a suspended Army specialist.

"Seh Daeng [Khattiya] has no rights to order red-shirt guards to rebuild the bunkers," weng said.

Weng said the red-shirt leaders ordered Suporn Atthawong to remove the bunkers that block the part of Rajdamri Road in front of the hopsptial.

"Seh Daeng should not interfere in the works of the red-shirt movement," weng said.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Protesters at Saladaeng snub leaders' order to remove bunkers

BANGKOK: -- The red-shirt protesters at the Lumpini Park refused to remove the bunkers on Rajdamri Road in front of Chulalongkorn Hospital in line with the order of the leaders at the Rajprasong Rally site.

Jatuporn Promphan, a red-shirt leader, announced at the Rajprasong rally site that the leaders sent Suporn Atthawong to remove the bunkers in front of the hospital.

But when Suporn arrived at the Saladaeng Intersection at 11 am, he encountered Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdiphol, who would not allow the removal.

Khattiya said troops could be easily deployed to crush the protesters without bunkers. The protesters at the scene listened to Khattiya and would not allow Suporn to remove the bunkers.

Khattiya said the leaders at Rajprasong must come to the scene to win approval from the protesters at the intersection first before the bunkers could be removed.

While the tension was running high, Suporn backed down, announcing he would not remove the bunkers.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Thai protesters criticise hospital evacuation

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Leaders of Thailand's "Red Shirt" protests slammed management at a Bangkok hospital Saturday, saying its chaotic evacuation of patients was a ploy to make the anti-government group look bad.

The Reds have faced heavy criticism after about 100 supporters raided Chulalongkorn hospital Thursday evening under the mistaken belief it sheltered security forces preparing a crackdown, following deadly street violence.

The 1,400-bed hospital evacuated most of its patients because of the incident, and Red leaders have apologised profusely.

"The hospital did not hear our apology. They dramatised the evacuation of patients, turning it into a tragedy to paint Red Shirt people as bad," Jatuporn Prompan, one of the group's core leaders, said in news conference.

"We have been made to look like terrorists and very soon the crackdown will begin," he added.

The Reds, who have occupied sections of Bangkok for over a month in their bid to force snap elections, have alleged the hospital was used in an April 22 grenade attack on a pro-government rally that killed one and wounded dozens.

The government said the grenades were fired from inside the Reds' camp -- an accusation the movement has denied.

Tensions are high in Bangkok following the worst political violence in almost two decades which has left 27 people dead and almost 1,000 injured this month in a series of bloody confrontations.

Thailand's Medical Council criticised the storming and asked protesters to respect medical personnel, while police said they would deploy 100 officers to the hospital to ensure neither security forces nor Reds use the grounds.

Many of the Reds come from Thailand's rural poor and urban working classes and seek the return of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed to prosecute those who were involved in the hospital incident.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-01

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Somchai's relatives dressed in black: Bannawit

Adm Bannawit Kengrien, a former deputy permanent secretary for Defence, posted a message on his Twitter page, saying he has learned that all family members of former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat are now dressed in black.

Bannawit also claimed that his friend, who is a Pheu Thai MPs, received an order that if someone asked him about former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, he would have to reply that he had just talked to Thaksin over the phone.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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Metro Police ordered to clear Chula Hospital’s gates

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has ordered the Metropolitan Police Bureau to remove the bunkers blocking the gates of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

As the Director of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES), Mr Suthep said he had instructed the police to tear down all barricades obstructing the hospital’s entrances and exits, which were set up by the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters, in order to facilitate incoming patients.

Tasked with taking control of the hospital area, security forces will be posted to ensure safety for the public and to prevent UDD protesters from intruding the premises again. Mr Suthep stressed that if the officers failed to secure the place, they would be subject to penalty.

Security at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital has been beefed up after a group of some 200 UDD guards stormed into the compound on Thursday night to search for state troops rumored to be hiding and preparing to disperse the UDD gathering at Ratchaprasong Junction nearby.

-- NNT 2010-05-01

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Chulalongkorn Hospital now takes care only Supreme Patriarch

Doctor Adisorn Phattharadul, the director of Chulalongkorn Hospital, said the hospital now is taking care only the Supreme Patriarch.

He said the hospital also scaled down its operation only intensive care unit.

He said the hospital would resume service only on one condition - the protesters must pull back from Saladeng Intersection to Sarasin Intersection.

-- The Nation 2010-05-01

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MCOTEnglishnews: Princess Sirindhorn visits Supreme Patriarch, sole patient remaining at Chulalongkorn Hospital