Troops, Armoured Vehicles Converge On Bangkok Protest Site

[OzMick]

Yes indeed .... follow their billionaire "leader".

Surprise surprise! ... They claim they can't control the mob they have been stirring up and inflaming for the past several months. These guys are totally irresponsible. They may have some charisma but they have few other leadership qualities ... similar to their sugar daddy.

After all the propaganda that they fed to the followers, the leaders lost control. This is so funny and ironic at the same time.

I am trying to come up with a historical example, but can't think of one yet.

Anyways, those guys are a bunch a pu$ies. The perfect ending for them would be getting beaten up the red mob. I could only wish.

You may get that wish. Likely they will all end up in prison - imagine the reaction when the rice farmers find out about the millions of baht they were paid to stir this event. of course the leaders might ask for protective custody, but I think their chances would be pretty slim.

[rabo]

For you people who have chosen sides, you don't seem to understand that regardless of how it ends, the country will still be run by corrupt wealthy politicians. There will be NO winners.

Tell us something new.

Like a name of the country which is not run by corrupt wealthy politicians.

Never say that something can never change. If you do, it can't.

[seedyfarang]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

[jdinasia]

Taking into account the average Thai stubbordiness, seizing the accounts at this particular moment is only fuelling the conflict. Should have been done in a quiet period. As already some opinions have stated, this conflict is maybe only the spark of a major operation in line with a re-positionning of some actors on the politician stage. If true we should see some new developments in the coming hours...

IMHO, the seizure of accounts NOW is a tactical mistake.

Jerry:

Haven't you so far said that ANY action taken by the government has been bad? All the while saying that the violent rhetoric coming from the reds leaders is "negotiation"?

Shutting down their communications and their funding makes sense to most people. Tell the protesters thay won't get paid. Stop the violent rhetoric and lies from getting out. Prevent mass calls for logistical support and red troop movements. Seems smart when dealing with an armed insurgency.

Dont you see the huge risk of Civil war starting today? This is the most important thing to avoid.....

Stopping this insurgency NOW will help in preventing that.

Jerry, I do have to give you credit for never wavering in your failure to condemn the violent speeches made by the red leadership. You are a credit to your belief that nothing they say or do is wrong!

[chadintheusa]

I just left Thaicom area in Nonthaburi, red blockade that paralyzed traffic this morning seems to be reduced. Tire barricade blocking three lanes closest to Thaicom building, another 1-2 lanes blocked by parked cars. Traffic still impeded. Lots of people hanging around to see what develops. Police at city hall across the street, not doing much at the moment. Esplanade mall on Rattanathibet still closed security monitoring protest. Mcdonald's open. Central Rattanathibet opened late today about 11am, first time shopping malls in this area have been affected.

[elcent]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

veen_NT: RT @WizardofWindsor: Breaking. Khon Khaen. #redshirts are storming the City Hall (TPBS)

Wed May 19 2010 12:02:29 GMT+0700 (SE Asia Standard Time)

[basjke]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

That will be the solution for sure as they have in the south already 5 provinces that call for a seperate state.Thailand the hub of seperate states.

[jcbangkok]

Taking into account the average Thai stubbordiness, seizing the accounts at this particular moment is only fuelling the conflict. Should have been done in a quiet period. As already some opinions have stated, this conflict is maybe only the spark of a major operation in line with a re-positionning of some actors on the politician stage. If true we should see some new developments in the coming hours...

IMHO, the seizure of accounts NOW is a tactical mistake.

Jerry:

Haven't you so far said that ANY action taken by the government has been bad? All the while saying that the violent rhetoric coming from the reds leaders is "negotiation"?

Shutting down their communications and their funding makes sense to most people. Tell the protesters thay won't get paid. Stop the violent rhetoric and lies from getting out. Prevent mass calls for logistical support and red troop movements. Seems smart when dealing with an armed insurgency.

Dont you see the huge risk of Civil war starting today? This is the most important thing to avoid.....

Fully agree, the gov't should move to cut off funds and supplies to the reds when they don't need them and should move troops in only if and when (after) they stop breaking the law

[roykeanz]

Jatuporn and Arisman Have Fled after Soldiers Reclaim Ratchaprasong

UPDATE : 19 May 2010

More citizens of Montenegro?

No surprise there!!

It's been clear all along that these simian, paid Red firebrands are really ... Yellow! 

Brainwash - and threaten - the 'cannon fodder' in order to get them to stay and confront the army, then run the <deleted> away yourself?    (.... well, 'waddle' might be the properverb for these porcine p***ks! )

This clearly shows how they really feel about the so-called  "marginalised, democracy-starved masses" they purport to represent! Shows too the real dark truth that's alwaye been behind this "Red" sham. 

Let's hope these rats are caught real soon and introduced to a lovely firing squad.

Edited May 19, 2010 by roykeanz

[elcent]

RT @RichardBarrow: Three foreign journalists have been shot (according to AP) and one has died.

6 minutes ago via we

[KMUTT]

Khon Kaen: Reds Raid City Hall

UPDATE : 19 May 2010

As security officials tightened its blockade of red-shirt protesters in Bangkok, pockets of red-shirts in the provinces have begun to stir up chaos in their respective provinces.

In Khon Kaen, a group of red-shirt protesters have managed to raid the province's City Hall.

They are currently not yet able to proceed to the second floor of the building. There are riot control officials present at the scene (11.55 A.M.) but no action has been taken to neutralize the situation yet.

The protesters are demanding the government cease its operation and violence against the protesters in Bangkok.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1029502

[spectrumisgreen]

Nice pic of that brave 'leader of men' Mister Thaksin - still far, far away - out shopping with the 'kids' at Louis Vitton Saturday, while 'his' people fought the army!!! Should make that one into half a poster, the other half showing what was happening to the poor people back in his own country at precisely the same time: 'And this man cares about you, how?' would be my tag-line if I was Abhisit!!!!

......................................................

Edited May 19, 2010 by spectrumisgreen

[Zolt]

On a sidenote, as much as I welcome determined action to remove this mob from the streets,

I don't understand why they don't use non-lethal weapons like water cannons, night sticks,

electrical guns etc. before coming up with tanks and live rounds, even though they are obviously

used in a very cautious and defensive way by the military.

1 - Actually they are using water cannons too. But these are crowd control toys, and what they have in front of them are sparsely spread-out guard. This is more an urban guerrilla situation than crowd control.

2- Don't bring a knife to a gunfight. With the guys in front running around with assault rifles and grenades, coming in with shields and sticks is a sure way to get yourself killed.

3 - This is the army . They simply don't have that kind of toys - nor are they trained with them.

[edgarfriendly]

sadly,

there are more than a few people around who love to see the powers that be, 'send a message' to the lesser classes.

ef

[jcbangkok]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

That will be the solution for sure as they have in the south already 5 provinces that call for a seperate state.Thailand the hub of seperate states.

Who would pay them to grow rise and sell it at a price below their claimed cost?

Who would pay for their medical?

Who would pay for their schooling and school supplies?

Who would provide monthly payments to the elderly?

Certainly not the farmers unless the new country passed a law which stop making them exempt from almost all taxes.

Edit: Maybe the answer is obvious ... the rich elite of their new neighboring country(s).

Edit 2: Oh and am sure Burma & Laos would love this as they would finally have another country to look down on.

Edited May 19, 2010 by jcbangkok

[animatic]

Gov't says there will be no slow down today in their actions which have been successful such as at Lumpini

Correction --- phone number to report leader sighing is the same to call if you need help do to the situation

I thought the area was completely surrounded.

They must be the most recognizable people in Thailand.

How can it be possible for them to flee the area?

No doubt some escape routes were found using building basements and back alleys.

They sealed off for supplies of large quantities and groups, individuals in small groups

have many little possible pathways.

I can imagine them even taking down a wall to get through if needs be.

One more explosion never noticed.

[tlongdon]

i really doubt that martial law will have any effect in the northeast provinces were the majority are red shirts , what can few hundred police officers do with houndred of thousands of angry protesters , even the army cannot shoot at thousand of protesters in the northeast , and keep in mind many army officers come from that region . again i hope none of this happen , however i am just talking from my past experince in some third world countries

This might sound like I'm joking, but I'm not. Plus it's too late anyway. But,

Someone should get Alex Salmond from the Scottish SNP to explain to the Red Shirts (who I agree, theoretically should be largely from the countryside/north-east, and I also acknowledge that were he not some despotic corrupt thug on the run, Thaksin would be voted back in democratically by the Thai people) some slightly more civil strategies for dealing with a situation where you are effectively a separate country/entity, but ruled from afar by people who have little or no understanding of you, nothing in common with you, no interest in your well-being and so on. Look how democratic the UK supposedly is, yet massive and important chunks of the country are governed by those at polar opposites to their politics.

It took centuries for UK devolution to happen - and I don't believe Thailand will ever become stable with such disparity between what really amounts to 2 ethnic groups - the Thais (a massive generalisation, but poor and hard-working) and the Thai-Chinese (again a massive generalisation, but rich and often hard-working - at least in the past, when the big Chinese immigrant families worked hard to get establish their wealth in Thailand) - in a constant tit-for-tat battle for/over power in the country.

Devolve power regionally in Thailand, and then the likes of Thaksin can go around splashing the cash on OTOP projects and the like. And much like London, leave the wealthy elite to manage the civil service in Bangkok.

[CHdiver]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

end then they find out that nobody will send them any Money, no paycheck for Elections and so on.

Btw. will they need a Work Permit to work in "old" Thailand after they separated?

[neverdie]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

Where did you see this supposed talk?

What is happening with you're avatar there?

[Jingthing]

BBC showing APCs and water cannon in action.

Looks like this is the end.

Sorry for the poor dupes who thought they were protesting for democracy (which they already have).

We now know this was all about power and money.

Hats off to Abhisit!

I hope not too many people die today.

Enough is enough. The red have to go home today, hopefully in a bus, and not in a box.

Yes, by all means, take the the red insurgent criminals "home" in a "bus" post haste.

I am ashamed to be a farang after I read the entries .... it seems you all should be housed in a mental institution : people are dying and you all glee ... this is not something that is based on something recent but it has its roots many many years ago ... who are you to side any side without understanding the history ... I now feel more and more how the US and UK is trying to brainwash your little brains and they are successful as the only thing you lot does in Thailand is drink and make noise ... or at the other spectrum you live like a good in a 60K baht condo with one or 2 maids you pay 5000 baht ... colonial ? you all forgot what happened in Prague or in China ... it sets the country back at least 10 years if not more ...

I will ignore your personal attack rant against foreigners which doesn't apply to me at all.

However I am offended by the way you included my post. Out of context of the PRISON BUS PICTURE, the text may suggest something I most certainly did not mean to intend. What I did intend was to show support to the Thai government to arrest the red insurgents who have been WARNED for a very long time now that they were staging an illegal occupation. So "home" in my post meant PRISON and "bus" of course meant PRISON BUS. So, as to correct your sleazy distortion, I have included the prison bus picture again, to make it clear I don't take any pleasure in any person getting injured or killed.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Jingthing

[ozzieman05]

The fact is

They have a site where they can protest

and are safe

If they go outside this site then they are asking for trouble

I do not think the PM has any problems negotiating with a legal protest group of Thai's

So those who attack, provoke and enter the no mans area are only asking for trouble

The red shirt leaders have brain washed the hard core for 2 months that the army will not take them on

They are a law unto them selves

They believe they haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."

Any deaths or injuries that a mob suffers must be the responibilities of the mob and their leaders

The Army are just upholding the law of the land

The fact is

They have a site where they can protest

and are safe

(The fact is they have a site where they can protest and are safe.)

I do not think the PM has any problems negotiating with a legal protest group of Thai's (I don't believe this is correct. He's demonstrated several times that his word is not to be trusted and that he won't negotiate in good faith.)

So those who attack, provoke and enter the no mans area are only asking for trouble

(So those who attack, provoke and enter the no mans land are only asking for trouble. (You are speaking here of the police and the Army entering into the "safe" protest area you spoke about in the first sentence of your post? They are looking for trouble? Yes, I agree.)

The red shirt leaders have brain washed the hard core for 2 months that the army will not take them on

(I think you mean to say here that the red shirt leaders have convinced the rank and file red shirt members that the Army will not directly confront or attack them.) I don't believe the rank and file members are that easily led. Furthermore, it's a bit of an insult to other Red Shirt leaders like Sae Dang who already gave his life for the cause.

They are a law unto them selves

(It's not clear here who you are talking about? I can only presume you mean The Army and current government.)

They believe they haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."

(Again, who are you talking about here? The government, Army and to a lesser extent the police I would guess. You should try to clear this up in a future post.)

Any deaths or injuries that a mob suffers must be the responibilities of the mob and their leaders

(The about should read, "Any deaths or injuries that a mob suffers must be the responsibility of the mob and the mobs leaders." I don't think your sentence is logically correct because I seem to remember that when the "mob" wore yellow and they suffered injuries it turns out their leaders were not responsible or surely the government would have already put them in jail. Right? But I'm only here to help you edit your English not question your logic.)

The Army are just upholding the law of the land

(The Army is just upholding the law of the land. Do you mean to suggest they are upholding the law of the land just as they were on October 6th 1976?)

All I can say to your posting is if you see white you call it black

I am glad the future of Thailand is not in your hands

If the PM has any sense he will retire after the new election is called, and let another person take over the future. there are much easier ways to make a good living than having to put up with people who just argue for the sake of argiung

All you wquestions have been answered in my other postings

As Thailand is a democracy and not a dictatorship like Thaskin wants it to be

You are allowed to have your own opinions

[animatic]

Taking into account the average Thai stubbordiness, seizing the accounts at this particular moment is only fuelling the conflict. Should have been done in a quiet period. As already some opinions have stated, this conflict is maybe only the spark of a major operation in line with a re-positionning of some actors on the politician stage. If true we should see some new developments in the coming hours...

IMHO, the seizure of accounts NOW is a tactical mistake.

Jerry:

Haven't you so far said that ANY action taken by the government has been bad? All the while saying that the violent rhetoric coming from the reds leaders is "negotiation"?

Shutting down their communications and their funding makes sense to most people. Tell the protesters thay won't get paid. Stop the violent rhetoric and lies from getting out. Prevent mass calls for logistical support and red troop movements. Seems smart when dealing with an armed insurgency.

Seconded,

doing the money bit earlier would have just kicked this off earlier, the inverse of your idea.

[KMUTT]

ASTV said that Jatuporn Promphan, Arisman Pongruengrong and Suporn Attawong have run away. Does anyone have pics of these people ? I mean can label them in some pics for me? Or have a link of who is who? Thnaks.

What is the name of that short hair chubby guy who has been on TV alot lately, red leader.

Suporn Attawong also known as Issan Rambo

(he's cut his hair short since that photo)

[peter48]

UK Coverage of these events now very high especially since UK election well over- probably more coverage of Thailand than ever before. These effect will be devastating on Thailand's economy especially this summer with students and tourists pulling out of holiday plans and investors retreating. , Thais here feel shy of the events as its the antithesis of all images of Thailand. In almost every other country this would not have been allowed to go on for months and shows the ineffectual nature of Thai law and order forces who should have used water cannon long ago. Thaksin is finished for allowing so much grief to come to country with so much promise. All of those who once believed in him ae deeply deeply troubled.

[GungaDin]

Gov't now reporting on TV that Red Leader(s?) have fled and have given phone number out to report sightings of them.

What's the phone number?

edit: Found it...... CRES Hot Tip line

Call now ! 02 55 11 51 5

I have no idea why the Oz flag is next to the BKK number

Edited May 19, 2010 by GungaDin

[cpofc]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

That will be the solution for sure as they have in the south already 5 provinces that call for a seperate state.Thailand the hub of seperate states.

glasnost and perestroika in thailand perhaps?

[chadintheusa]

RT @RichardBarrow: Three foreign journalists have been shot (according to AP) and one has died.

6 minutes ago via we

Not safe for journalists to run around a battle dressed like protesters, what are they thinking? Don't they know the reds will shoot them?

[animatic]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

This actually was declared foolishly a few weeks back.

By Sae Deang among a few others. "Free State of Issan"...

I wrote a post about how it is about a stupid a thing as can be imagined,

if the goal is to help the Issan people economically. So many reasons this is a bad idea.

Edited May 19, 2010 by animatic

[Steely Dan]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

The North, North East and Issan are net recipients of tax revenue from Bangkok and the South, not that this will have occurred to their brainwashed supporters.

[porky8pig]

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.

This thing has only just begun!!

Heard about it in the office started off as a joke...here will become something call United Stated of something else....huh