Troops, Armoured Vehicles Converge On Bangkok Protest Site

[OzMick]

For what its worth and its here say

the red protestors (mums/dads/kids) have had their ID cards taken by the "officials" in the camps. In return they were paid some money, food, water etc. and the promise of more after the reds win.

Assume the red protestors cannot leave as they cant get their ID cards back.

The reds were expecting a million people to turn out and they are approx 5000 at present

this represents 0.5%

of this its possible that approx 300 motor cycle taxi drivers / taxi drivers / disturbed idealistic youths are causing billions of baht in damages.

go figure!!!

Any Thai can go and get a new ID card from any Police Station anywhere in Thailand if he says he lost it. Better come up with a new theory.

Your statement is a distortion of the truth. Supporting documentation must be supplied, and in some cases, a respected professional to vouch for the person's identity. A thai friend of mine will have to travel from Samui to Kalasin to obtain a new ID card, even though she is in possession of an expired driver's licence with an easily recognizable photograph.

[cup-O-coffee]

This entire situation keeps on getting more and more chaotic as each hairbrained solution is attempted. The government is much like Heracles, but drunken on their own personal gain and fear of loss, or whatever. The government cannot kill an ideal. It can remove people, or shoot them in the head, but those people will be replaced by the many who stand behind them.

To the individuals who condone the actions against the people who subscribe to the red-shirt views, and to the individuals who take satisfaction with human beings suffering at the hands of the media and powerful, rich people who can get away with anything; to those individuals I turn my head away in disgust.

[daboyz1]

TAN: Thaksin says gov't should talk directly to red shirt leaders; claims he isn't involved; "please stop accusing me"

There he goes again with the "I am innocent" lines

I'm innocent, I swear! Someone planted that 2 billion baht on me. Maybe it was my wife or Jatuporn.

[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!!

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?

Passport to Pattaya; where do you go for a visa?

Will the 'girls' need work permits now?

[LuckyLew]

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?

They found a rope behind the stage.

escaped thru back door of MacDonalds

[SomTumTiger]

Red Shirts - Hope you all rot, for the terrible situation you have brought on our country. Thaksin - suck it!

[roykeanz]

<br />

<b><font size="5">Protesters Surround Police Hospital<br /><br /></font></b>Doctors at the Police Hospital say protesters have completely surrounded the hospital. <br /><br />At this point, it is reported that ambulances are not being allowed to leave. The Police Hospital is located right off the Ratchprasong intersection where the main red shirt rally stage is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/redirect.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thailandoutlook.tv%2F" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/pics/tanlogo.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /></a><br />-- Tan Network 2010-05-19

<br />Amnesty. Where are you?<br />

<br />Amnesty Inter now is only in favor of aggressors and terrorists. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/annoyed.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="annoyed.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

No surprise if these rabid terrorists torch the hospital sometime soon.

[Jerrytheyoung]

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!

I have never supported violent speeches and I try to cool down, I work for Peace.

the seizure of accounts will produce effects in several days and you are not without ignoring that financial networks can find alternate solutions, so it is not an efficient short term measure, the only immediate effect is to irk some moderate people in the red side and to push to more confrontation. It is at the opposite of what is required today for bringing peace, which is what want Thai Population.

The seizure of assets could have wait few days (or have been done without announcement)

Do not dream, I am afraid some people are waiting the crackdown for entering in the game. Already the upcountry is not quiet.. and if some Red leaders like Arisman are already out...it is probably for organising a ripost. The conflict today is very, very close to become a Civil war just waiting than some new actors enter in the game and it has been announced as probable by witnesses like Young.

I have never supported violent actions from both sides and I have supported the Government Roadmap...give me this credit, and above all I wish Thailand will not enter in a Civil War, but I am afraid that we are very, very close to, today.

[Chiangmai Cheers]

Richard Lloyd Parry, Times Correspondent on CNN

“Sure the red shirt guards have some guns, but nothing to compare with the firepower of the Army”

Sad, pathetic reporting

[Steely Dan]

Red shirt leader Dr weng Tohjirakarn is seen wearing bullet proof vest at the back of the stage.

very important people ( than their protesters just with and without shirts )

3 other important people already in the red ballon heading to Mr T ( this is kidding ) !

[pickle86]

is it expected that if the army clears the red shirts will things return to normal or will it erupt into a full scale war?

[atyclb]

Toxicology drug screens and blood alcohol levels should be done on arrested protesters and killed ones. This may confirm suspicion that Reds recruited and enabled yaba addicts and alcoholics. Raging fearless warriors.

[KMUTT]

The remaining UDD leaders on stage, Nutthuwut and Kwanchai, are encouraging protesters to create unrest elsewhere in the country.

[gregor200]

The reds had the chance to get an agreement for elections in a reasonable timespan. I think, 6 month is the minimum to prepare elections, doing all the paperwork and autumn is always a good time. I did not understand why they didn´t take this chance. Maybe I cannot follow their arguments.

On the other hand, 6 weeks is enough to occupy a vital business district. Either you know what you want to get and take it or leave. They can occupy a parliament building for years, this does´t matter because no critical work is done there.

From the beginning the red had my full moral support. The behaviour of the yellow two years ago made me very angry and the two time dissolution of the government with readymade laws (like it is illegal to take part in a tv-cooking show for money) made the oligocraty of Bangkok the leaders of a banana republic.

Now the red from bangkok are just a headless group of youtube warriors, who fear police and prison, when they come of their camp.

[seahorse]

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!

Jerry, you might be right about the bolded part, but it's a fait accompli. No money, no terrorists.

[atyclb]

Much of this could have been avoided if there had been a designated protest site - a large field with basic facilities outside downtown Bangkok. That's what the Cambodians just arranged - for future protests in their country. Granted, it's easier said than done, but if the initial protesters had been funneled to a large field somewhere, then things would not have gotten so far out of hand.

Plus, recent reports of freezing accounts of many big businesses and big shot Thais associated with Thaksin and the Reds is BIG NEWS. You can bet there are a lot of big shots close to the Shinawats, who are cussing and shouting and banging furniture against walls.

Thaskin is definatly the cause and the financial organizer of this protest

Panic and chaos will allow him to return

But the question is

Is Thaskin the head of all of this

or just a puppet himself

There are many of my business friends who say he is but a puppet of The New World Order

and Thailand is a test site for bigger things to come

Obama is the lead puppet of the new world order

You need your head re-checked.

Thay probably were influenced by a movie called "the obama deception" can be downloaded

[haveaniceday]

Red Shirt leaders escape- Arisman, Weng, Suporn but Natthawut, Jatuporn still at protest stage

Anyone have a link with the pics of these people? Just trying to put a face to the names.

[whitfield]

Richard Lloyd Parry, Times Correspondent on CNN

"Sure the red shirt guards have some guns, but nothing to compare with the firepower of the Army"

Sad, pathetic reporting

I saw that and tried to post a correction but it didn't get through the Times mods. It seems that they prefer posts that give an uncritical view of the Red protest. Innocents against the Machine is the preferred line. If only they knew.

[tb86]

let em burn issan to the ground...if they want, they are only setting their own areas back...oh well,

[roykeanz]

<br />

There is now talk that the north and north east may start to push for a seperate state.<br />This thing has only just begun!!

<br /><br />That will be the solution for sure as they have in the south already 5 provinces that call for a seperate state.<font face="Arial Black">Thailand the hub of seperate states</font>.<br />

<br /><br />Who would pay them to grow rise and sell it at a price below their claimed cost?<br />Who would pay for their medical?<br />Who would pay for their schooling and school supplies?<br />Who would provide monthly payments to the elderly?<br /><br />Certainly not the farmers unless the new country passed a law which stop making them exempt from almost all taxes.<br /><br />Edit: Maybe the answer is obvious ... the rich elite of their new neighboring country(s).<br /><br />Edit 2: Oh and am sure Burma & Laos would love this as they would finally have another country to look down on.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Separate State of Isaan?

How the hel_l would Thacky and his cronies regain power in Thailand without their 'votes for sale, cheap' haven?

[brahmburgers]

ASTV and several other media are reporting that key red-shirt core leaders including Jatuporn Promphan, Arisman Pongruengrong and Suporn Attawong have fled the Ratchaprasong protest site after soldiers were able to reclaim the Sarasin intersection.

From TAN

I'm sure they're going straight to a police station to turn themselves in, as they promised they'd do my May 15th. So what it you're 4 days late, this is Thailand, and excuses flow as fast and easy as a mountain stream.

[retdson]

.......To the individuals who condone the actions against the people who subscribe to the red-shirt views, and to the individuals who take satisfaction with human beings suffering at the hands of the media and powerful, rich people who can get away with anything; to those individuals I turn my head away in disgust.....

Perhaps you could explain - what ARE 'the red shirt views'? Other than general mayhem. I'm not fan of the powers that are in this country; get my stomach slightly turned by the sycophantic 20 minutes nightly on the news; believe that Thailand needs to grow up and get itself out of the feudal mindset - BUT I don't understand what these people think they're doing now. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER?

[gpdjohn]

Its not going to be good Today - looks like the Army will wipe out the camp this Morning, Thailand needs to resolve this I suppose, I hope they realize the World is watching

The press in the US is giving this minimal coverage. All of my family/friends say nothing has been on the news of what's going on over here.

Most Americans don't even know where Bangkok is.

Sure they do.. it's right next to Taipei.

[animatic]

The remaining UDD leaders on stage, Nutthuwut and Kwanchai, are encouraging protesters to create unrest elsewhere in the country.

Yes, if they can win one way, they'll try another.

They want the whole shooting match and civil war is one way to get it.

Desperate chacters do desperate things.

[seahorse]

I just read that there are announcements to leave the area in Thai, English and Cambodian?

What is going on?

[NanaFoods]

This blame will be on him [Thaksin] and hopefully his conscious if he has any.

I won't be holding my breath.

[KMUTT]

Thailand's top four banks to close all Bangkok branches

19 May 2010, 1044 hrs, REUTERS

BANGKOK: Thailand's top four banks will close all branches in the capital as political violence escalates after troops moved into an anti-government protest camp in central Bangkok and a gunfight broke out.

The four are top lender Bangkok Bank, second-ranked Krung Thai Bank, Kasikornbank, and Siam Commercial Bank, the Thai Bankers' Association said in a statement.

All branches will be closed at 13:00 local time on Wednesday. The statement did not say when the banks would re-open.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/i...how/5947915.cms

[Grey11]

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

In the case of these terrorist lawbreakers you are correct. They are still setting buildings on fire, looting, shooting at the army & police. These people must be stopped before half on Bangkok is burned to the ground. The police who stood around and watched as the Red Shirts built barracades - thus expanding their territory - day by day and just watched, need to be disciplined. But, if this is the manner in which the lower classes intend to act, then they need to be put in their places. Many poor people all over the world do not break the law by burning buildings and other acts of terrorism.

[angiud]

Arisman is said to have escape wearing a long-hair wig, we've learned from a senior red member.

Heading Patpong...

[ETatBKK]

HOT: Red-leader Jatuporn Promphan to Turn Himself in

Reports indicate that key leader of the red-shirt movement Jatuporn Promphan is expected to turn himself in at the National Police Office.

Key Pheu Thai MPs will act as witnesses to ensure the safety of the red-shirt leader.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-19

confirmed ?

Edited May 19, 2010 by ETatBKK