Bangkok Red-Shirt Rally - Live Wednesday

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Wednesday May 12 Red-Shirt rally live updates

Here you can follow the live updates from the media, hour by hour.

To make it easy to follow, this thread is read-only.

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Thai premier urges protests to end Wednesday

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thailand's embattled prime minister on Tuesday urged anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters to commit to his reconciliation plan and pack up their demonstration site after they refused to end rallies.

Protest leaders have agreed to premier Abhisit Vejjajiva's reconciliation roadmap to November elections, but said they would continue street rallies until the deputy premier was charged over a deadly crackdown.

"If protesters want to join the reconciliation process, they cannot only accept an election date. They have to stop their rally," Abhisit told reporters, adding he thought the Reds should disperse on Wednesday.

"If the situation does not return to normal it will delay the election day, so protesters should go home on the 12th (of May)," he said.

Red leaders earlier vowed to continue their rally until deputy premier Suthep Thaungsuban was charged for his role overseeing a deadly April 10 crackdown, when armed troops attempted to clear part of the capital.

Suthep went to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Tuesday to hear a complaint against him after Reds demanded he turn himself in to police, but Red leaders refused to disband until a formal case was opened against him.

"We don't accept it -- Suthep did not go there as a suspect," leader of the red-clad protest movement, Nattawut Saikuar, said from a stage in the demonstrators' sprawling encampment in the heart of Bangkok.

"We are ready to stop rallying once Suthep walks up the first step of the justice system as a suspect," he added.

Thailand is reeling from the worst political violence in almost two decades, with 29 people killed and almost 1,000 injured in a series of confrontations and attacks in the capital.

Twenty-five people died on April 10 after a crackdown sparked violent street battles between troops and protesters, who have occupied part of Bangkok for two months while demanding elections.

Suthep, who faces complaints from relatives of some of those who died, told reporters that he was willing to enter the justice process and expected to be exonerated because the capital was under emergency rule.

"The public can be reassured that the state of emergency gives protection to all security forces involved in the crackdown operation," he said.

Abhisit has warned he may scrap the plan for early elections if the protesters do not leave their vast base, which has been fortified with barricades made from piles of fuel-soaked tyres, bamboo poles and razor wire.

The Red Shirts called for the government to lift the state of emergency so the protesters could return home safely, but army chief General Anupong Paojinda said the special laws would remain in place until order was restored.

Leaders of the mainly poor and working class Reds, who broadly support fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, asked a Bangkok court Tuesday for arrest warrants against them to be dropped, but their petition was rejected.

The protest movement said Monday that it had no objection to Abhisit's proposal to dissolve parliament in the second half of September for elections on November 14, dropping a previous demand for a specific dissolution date.

Crowds at the Reds' camp, which swelled to as many as 100,000 people in the early days, dwindled to just a few thousand last week as a resolution appeared near and thunder storms dumped heavy rain on the garbage-strewn protest site.

But their ranks were boosted over the weekend by 5,000 more supporters who arrived from the movement's heartland in the impoverished rural northeast, defying a ban on rallies in the capital, which is under a state of emergency.

The Reds consider Abhisit's administration undemocratic because it came to power in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling ousted elected allies of Thaksin, who was himself unseated in a 2006 coup.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-12

Published with written approval from AFP.

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Related topic discussion:

PM Abhisit To Red-Shirts: Leave Today

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/PM-Abhisit-R...ay-t364265.html

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Coalition backs road map, undecided on banned politicians

By PIYANART SRIVALO,

KESINEE TAENGKHIEW

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Coalition parties yesterday failed to reach a consensus on a blanket pardon for banned politicians but agreed to support the premier's road map for national reconciliation, a coalition source said.

Former coalition-party executives who have been barred for five years by court order from politics, such as Banharn Silapa-archa, Suwat Liptapanlop and Pinij Jarusombat, have asked Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to consider an amnesty at the same time as his five-point road map. But the move was opposed by Bhum Jai Thai's Newin Chidchob, the source said.

"We should respect the rule of law. But if anyone wants to do a referendum on the issue [of an amnesty], we can do it together on election day," Newin, another banned politician, was quoted as saying.

Abhisit supported Newin, saying it was difficult to grant any clemency as his Democrat Party was facing its own dissolution case.

"I planned the election to fall on November 14, in accordance with the present situation. If all parties can campaign throughout the country, the polling date should be the same as I announced. But if our country remains in turmoil, I may postpone the election," Abhisit was quoted as saying.

Newin said after the meeting that he thought the outlawed politicians should bide their time.

"The country cannot go on without patience and sacrifice," he said.

The coalition parties, which met on Monday night at Suvarnabhumi Airport, also asked Abhisit to change the Constitution on two points involving the signing of international treaties and the system of electing MPs before dissolving the House.

The coalition parties except the ruling Democrats demanded the multi-MP constituency system be scrapped in favour of the previous single-seat contest for future elections.

However, Abhisit and Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban promised their partners they would amend the charter.

The coalition also described this week as the "most volatile" for the red-shirt protesters. Due to the worsening conflict between the hardliners and those wanting to end the rally soon, the coalition believes violence could break out targeting the moderate leaders.

So they asked the premier to distinguish clearly between the hawks and the doves, so that he could deal with them more easily.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks said yesterday the November 14 poll date might have to be postponed if the red shirts keep on finding excuses not to end their rally at Rajprasong.

The Democrats voiced concern that the road map for reconciliation might be derailed due to three hurdles, he said.

- The red shirts appear to be divided on how and when to disband their rally site. Their core leaders have tried to stall the decision for dispersal by revising the pre-conditions for the government to implement in exchange for ending the protest.

After Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban reported himself to acknowledge a complaint on the use of excessive force related to the April 10 violence, the red shirts said they wanted Suthep to surrender to the Crime Suppression Division instead of the Department of Special Investigation.

- Violent incidents have continued to take place despite the reds' endorsement of the reconciliation plan. Red-shirt supporter Maj-General Khattiya "Seh Daeng" Sawasdipol claimed that former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was the only individual who could order an end to the protest.

- The Pheu Thai Party, seen as the main backer of the red-shirt movement, has openly opposed the road map.

The Democrat spokesman said the main ruling coalition party suspected that Thaksin was reluctant to give his blessing for the reconciliation before he could overcome his legal predicament.

"I heard Thaksin has been approaching various political groups, such as the Bangkok 50, in order to recruit a power broker to work out a settlement to his court cases," Buranaj said.

The Bhum Jai Thai Party issued a statement endorsing the reconciliation plans and encouraging the fence-mending measures to proceed regardless of the reaction of the red shirts.

-- The Nation 2010-06-12

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Related topic discussion:

Anand: Focus On Thailand's Tackling Poverty

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Anand-Focus-...-P-t364269.html

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PM arrives at 11th Infantry Regiment for meeting with CRES

BANGKOK (NNT) -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment to attend a meeting with the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) to determine the next move following the current political situation.

The meeting is following the Government’s recent demands for the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) to end its prolonged one-month demonstrations at the Ratchaprasong junction. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban meanwhile was earlier seen arriving at the premise.

Acting Government Spokesperson, Dr Panitan Wattanayagorn yesterday suggested the UDD to urgently make their decision as late decision-making would result in a late election date and impede the reconciliation roadmap accordingly. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier announced the readiness for a house dissolution in late September and for fresh elections to be held on 14 November 2010, which is a part of his reconciliation roadmap to end the ongoing political deadlock that would lead the nation to peace and harmony.

According to reports, security measures are enforced at the highest level at the premises, with tight security guarding the points of entrance and exit.

-- NNT 2010-05-12

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PM Submits Ultimatum for Red Shirts to End Rally by Tonight

BANGKOK: -- The prime minister has given an ultimatum to the red-shirt protesters to end their rally by tonight.

Prime Minister Abhist Vejjajiva has given the red-shirt protesters ultimatum to unconditionally end their rally by tonight.

Abhisit said he has already given the red-shirts a week to decide whether or not to accept the reconcialtory plan proposed by himself.

The red-shirts' refusal to end the rally will be taken to mean the plan has been rejected by the anti-government protesters, and they will be decisively dealt with.

The Cabinet has already approved the operation plan proposed by the security authority to deal with the red-shirt rally.

The government has relented that the residents within and around the red-shirts' encampment will be affected in the short-term by the operation plan.

Abhist is claiming that the government now has every right to implement the planned measure to bring peace and order back to the public.

The Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation or CRES will make another announcement on the matter.

The red-shirts have recently demanded that Abhisit and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban turn themselves in to the judicial authority for their roles in the deadly clashes which claimed more than 20 lives.

The prime minister said that he and Suthep cannot do what the red-shirts have demanded, since they have not been summoned by the judicial authority.

Yesterday, Suthep reported to the Department of Special Investigation following the red-shirt' resquest.

Abhisit claims that this demonstrates their sincerity to submit themselves to the justice system.

In the meantime, the multicoloured group yesterday organised another rally at the Victory Monument to show their opposition to the red-shirts and urge the government to refrain from using force.

The group has also called for all people to come out and demand for the return of peace and order to the country.

The multicoloured group has also demanded that the red-shirts end their rally immediately, as much damage has been done to the country.

Also, next week is the beginning of the new academic year and more people will be affected by the anti-government rally.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-12

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MCOTEnglishnews: PM's Office Minister Sathit hints good news for Thais at noon; CRES ready to handle situation if protest prolongs

THE NATION: PM Abhisit is having a meeting at CRES at the moment. Rajprasong rally is still on and no report of electricity or water cut. #NNA

THE NATION: Govt ready to announce measures to remove UDDs at Rajprasong at midday this Wed., PM Abhisit said

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BPbreakingnews: Weng: UDD chairman gets sick

THE NATION: Veera is not seen in Rajprasong this morning. We'll see if he will be the first redshirt leader to surrender to the police.

THE NATION: There's also a gossip that Veera has already left the country. Weng said he is still here but not feeling well. TR @Nattha_tvthai

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THE NATION: Sathit told reporters that at noon today, there will be good news. He must have something rather good to call it good news. - ok 1 hr to go.

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Satit: Red-shirt leaders may have good news before noon

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said Wednesday morning that the red-shirt leaders may hae a 'good news' for the public before noon.

He said the news could be a good sign about the end of the rally.

He said the government and the red-shirt leaders had already discussed all points so the red-shirt leaders should accept the road map for reconciliation and end the rally.

But if the red-shirt leaders refused to announce the end of the rally by noon, the government would have to go ahead enforcing the laws against the protesters, Satit added.

-- The Nation 2010-05-12

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TAN Network: INN: CRES will stop water, electricity supply, phone service to Ratchprasong at midnight tonight; bus, train, boat service stopped

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TAN Network: ASVT: Red leaders Veera and Korkaew to surrender at Crime Suppression Division at 2 P.M.

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Thai authorities vow to squeeze protesters

BANGKOK (AFP) -- Thai authorities said Wednesday they would cut power and water supplies to anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters occupying a commercial district in the capital Bangkok.

"The measures will start at midnight tonight, including the cutting off of power, water and telephones," Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd, spokesman for the government agency dealing with the two-month old crisis, told reporters.

"All kinds of infrastructure, including buses and trains, waterway services will be blocked," he said.

"We will also block their food supply."

He added non-protesters living in the area as well as embassies would be affected by the measures.

-- ©Copyright AFP 2010-05-12

Published with written approval from AFP.

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ThaivisaNews: Govt to cut power, water, telephones at Ratchaprasong protest site midnight; buses, BTS skytrain to stop services

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ThaivisaNews: AFP: Local residents asked to leave redshirts occupied area as access would be restricted as part of tough new measures

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Red Lawyer Denies News of Surrender; CRES To Stop Water, Electricy Service at Midnight

Reports suggest that red shirt leaders Veera Musikapong and Korkaew Pikulthong will surrender to Crime Supression Police today at 2 P.M. However, the group's lawyer denied the report, saying the 37 red shirt leaders will surrender once the government has canceled the emergency decree.

Meanwhile, the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations has announced that water and electricity supplies to the Ratchprasong area will be cut at midnight tonight. Along with water and power, telephone services will also be blocked. Buses, trains, and boats servicing the area will also cease at the deadline.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-12

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MCOT: Red Shirt leaders shrug off govt's threat to cut water, power supplies to Ratchaprasong protest site at midnight; backup power generator comes in handy

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TAN Network: INN: Red lawyer claims 37 leaders will surrender once government cancels emergency decree

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RED RALLIES

Power supplies to be cut by midnight : Sansern

By The Nation

Red shirts leaders not worried, power generators prepared

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts leaders on Wednesday claimed they are not shaken by the government's warning of severing food and water supplies at the Rajprasong rally site.

They told reporters that they have their own power generators which would work immediately after the power supplies were cut.

Weng Tojirakarn, a red shirts leader, said, "None of the red shirts are afraid of your threats to cut water and power. We will run at soldiers with our two bare hands even if they fire at us with assault rifles."

"We just want Suthep Thaugsuban to publicly surrender himself to police," he said from a stage in the sprawling rally site in the capital where several shopping centres and upscale hotels have been forced to close temporarily.

The authorities announced new measures to take effect by midnight Wednesday to make life tougher in the sprawling encampment, cutting off electricity and water supplies as well as telephone and transportation links.

Sansern Kaewkumnerd, spokesman of Emergency Operations Center, said Wednesday that the cut of power and food supplies as well as telephone and transportation links would be cut around midnight on Wednesday.

"The people living in this area will be affected as well as embassies," said Sunsern.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has demanded the red shirts demonstrators leave the area on Wednesday, but the mainly poor and working class movement appeared in no mood to pack up and go home.

Protest leaders have vowed to continue their rally until deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban surrendered to police, not Department of Special Investigation.

-- The Nation 2010-05-12

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THE NATION: Suthep calls an urgent meeting with provincial governors at 1pm. #FM103.5

THE NATION: CRES first measure - to cut power and water around Rajprasong area but #redshirts are reportedly have their own generators. #Ch.3

THE NATION: More measures will follow at CRES press conference this afternoon. See what they have in hands to pressure the reds.

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Related topic discussion:

FLASH:

Thai Authorities To Sever Red-Shirts Supply Lines

Local residents urged to leave protest area

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Thai-Authori...ts-t364358.html

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Weng: Weera remains UDD chairperson

BANGKOK (NNT) -- United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Chairperson, Weera Musikapong, remains the supreme leader of the group despite his absence on the rally stage during the past few days, according to UDD core leader, MD Weng Tojirakarn.

Commenting on the recent absence of the chairperson, MD Weng dismissed rumors of the departure of Mr Weera from the country. He said the UDD chairperson had simply caught a cold and would return to the rally stage at Ratchapasong Intersection in Bangkok when he got well.

The UDD core figure added that there was no conflict among core leaders of the anti-government UDD group, especially about the dispersal of the street protests.

MD Weng reiterated that the UDD would not end its rally if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thausuban did not allow themselves to be held accountable to the judicial system by surrendering to the Crime Suppression Division to accept responsibility for the 10 Apr bloodshed first.

The core figure also pledged that 24 core leaders of the UDD, including Mr Arisman Pongruangrong, would turn themselves over to the police in order to enter the judicial process as well, once the UDD decided to disperse.

-- NNT 2010-05-12

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FM Kasit to brief foreign envoys Wednesday

Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya will brief foreign envoys about the latest political situation in Thailand on Wednesday.

The briefing will start at 2.30pm. After that he would give a press conference.

-- The Nation 2010-05-12

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THE NATION: RT @Dany_k: Spoke to BTS admin, said with the power being shut off and stuff. They will still be open tonight and tomorrow.

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THE NATION: ok, this should be a confirm. Korkaew told Nation TV and denied the news that he and Veera will surrender. #Nation TV.

THE NATION: Triam Udom School wil adjust its class hours from 7.30 to 3.30pm to 8.30 to 2.30pm thanks to ongoing #redshirt rally. #whatsup

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MCOTEnglishnews: Govt committee agrees to help business enterpreneurs affected by UDD' protest at Ratchaprasong through 60-day extension of tax payments

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Government to cut water, power supplies to pressure Red Shirts

BANGKOK (TNA) -- Thailand’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Wednesday announced it will cut off electricity, water supplies and all kinds of public transport services at and around the Red Shirt rally site at Ratchaprasong from midnight as an attempt to pressure the movement.

The CRES reaction came as the deadline given by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for the Red Shirts to end their month-long protest at Bangkok’s prime commercial area and return home was not met on Wednesday.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) earlier announced they accepted the prime minister’s road map for national reconciliation, but the group vowed to stay put at Ratchaprasong intersection until the premier and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban surrender to police for their role in the April 10 crackdown.

The premier said the government has every right to act to return Ratchaprasong to the public because the protest has caused trouble to the public long enough, and the Red Shirts have taken more than one week to consider his proposed road map.

CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said that CRES met Wednesday morning and resolved to apply full pressure on the red-shirted protesters as the protest leaders set up new conditions everyday although the government emergency committee itself has used soft measures and the prime minister announced his reconciliation plan but to no apparent outcome.

The CRES measures include cutting off water and electric supplies, sanitation facilities, mobile telephone signals, as well as all public transport, Col Sansern said.

The authorities will close all entrances which have been used to supply food lines to the UDD protesters, said Col Sansern, adding that all measures will begin tonight at midnight.

The CRES spokesman added that concerned agencies will discuss the measures Wednesday afternoon, while also apologising local residents who may be affected by the CRES measures.

Col Sansern said deputy premier Suthep this afternoon will also call a meeting of governors in 39 provinces considered as high-risk areas for possible protest after the stiff measures are applied at Ratchaprasong intersection.

Meanwhile, UDD leaders Weng Tojirakarn and Korkaew Pikulthong on Wednesday shrugged off the government’s threat to cut water and power supplies to Ratchaprasong protest site, saying they have backup power generators in hand.

Following the remarks of Pol Col Supisan Pakdeenaruanaj, acting commander of the Crime Suppression Division, that UDD leaders Veera Musikapong and Korkaew will surrender to police Wednesday afternoon, Mr Weng denied the possible surrender of both leaders, saying Mr Veera will appear at the Ratchaprasong rally site this afternoon to calm the rumours.

The news about the surrender of the two UDD leaders came following rumours of a serious rift among Red Shirt leaders.

Mr Korkaew conceded the idea of ceasing the demonstration was raised in a meeting of Red Shirt leaders on Tuesday, but the attendees resolved not to surrender as they remain unsure of the next moves of the government. (TNA)

-- TNA 2010-05-12

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UDD downplays disunity among them, doubts Govt’s sincerity

BANGKOK (NNT) -- The core leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protestors have denied that there is disunity within their group and will not yet surrender to the authorities, due to doubts in the sincerity of the government.

At Bangkok’s Ratchaprasong business district this morning, there was only a small number of protesters seen in the area, while the UDD leaders took turns making speeches criticizing the government’s operations on the rally stage, but without the presence of UDD Chairperson, Weera Musikapong, UDD Deputy Chairperson Jatuporn Prompan and UDD Secretary-General, Nattawut Saikua.

Backstage, UDD core leader MD Weng Tojirakarn reaffirmed that their group remains united, despite the fact that they sometimes might have different opinions. He insisted, however, that all decisions would always need approval of all the UDD core leaders.

MD Weng Tojirakarn also refuted the rumor that UDD Chairperson Weera had already made his resignation from the group and traveled abroad. He confirmed that Mr Weera would be back on stage today to dispel the rumor. He also explained that the absence of Mr Weera for the past few days was because he had been taken ill.

Meanwhile, Kokaew Pikulthong, one of the UDD leaders, said that he and Mr Weera would not yet turn themselves into the Crime Suppression Division because they doubt the sincerity of the government. He added that the UDD would closely monitor the government’s operations. If found to be sincere, all UDD core leaders and other suspects who were issued summonses would report themselves to the authorities immediately, he vowed.

UDD core leaders and other suspects are alleged of breaching the State of Emergency Decree during the protest.

-- NNT 2010-05-12

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THE NATION: Update: BTS operates normally until midnight today. Central Chidlom opens until 8pm.