Troops, Armoured Vehicles Converge On Bangkok Protest Site

[neverdie]

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

[animatic]

Bon Kai on Fire

UPDATE : 19 May 2010

Fires ablaze in Bonkai; at least 10 shops on fire; looting of other shops; banks being stormed.

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/tan/ViewData...?DataID=1029492

Perhaps the government of Cambodia, through one of its economic advisors, Thaksin Shinawatra, has offered sanctuary to the Red Shirt (UDD) leaders. Perhaps some are already there. Like Thaksin, these Reds didn't stay to fight.

Well an fast moving Red convoy was sighted heading towards Pattaya / Sriracha...

Cambo is a hop skip and a jump from there.

Suggest the government install some LOYAL army personal at all border crossings.

Edited May 19, 2010 by animatic

[OzMick]

Al Jazeera reporter Wayne Hayes on Rama IV: "Shots are being fired BACK at the soldiers!" /via @Saksith

As quoted. Surprise, surprise, surprise! What an idiot!

Then we have from Newsweak "Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was thought to be a populist demagogue. Actually, he was the high-water mark for Thai democracy." God help us when we hit the nadir.

[rufanuf]

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

Ozzieman, Yours is one of the most perceptive and at the same time the most chilling comments I have read on this forum.

I fear that your friends may be right.

ozzieman/bulbous just how many sign-in names do you have?

Somebody trying to create a new World Order all on thier own

[cpofc]

Australian Radio (1377MTR) just released News Flash (Source AAP) three foreign journos shot, one dead. Yet to be confirmed.

[KhunVee]

I've been called by a friend who was near Chiang Mai City Hall about half an hour ago.

Aparentle there's a red mob trying to set the City Hall on fire.

Lot's of police and army around, my friend said.

OK, so this is 'hear say' from only 1 source, and therefore I post it here to inform if anyone has a relyable source or relyable information about this current event.

[rabo]

Some strange thoughts. Appropriate user name "Clockwork Orange". Ab is nowhere near Thaksin at this point. In fact I have been amazed by his patience. What other leader in any country in the world would let mayhem and anarchy invade their capital for two months? Please name me a single nation or shut up.

I'm with you on this one. Many people are of the belief that Abhisit didn't swing the hammer earlier because he couldn't get the Army to do it. In my opinion that theory is highly unlikely to be true. For goodness sake, he's the Prime Minister of Thailand. The LAST thing he wants to do is have to order the Army to shoot at other Thais.

Unfortunately, the reds used this to their advantage for the last two months. Even now, Abhisit is showing a level of restraint that is almost painful to watch. If he was really a bloodthirsty fascist wannabe dictator, this would all have been over a long time ago.

Many people seem to fear a return by Thaksin. That would suck, but I think the real and very possible nasty outcome is that Thais vote in a true rights-stomping "law and order" government and PM because they don't want a repeat of all this.

I agree, I think the biggest/best outcome would be that more Thais are willing to support law and order, especially corruption and voter fraud. It is not Thai nature to face a problem that is not immediate or to see a problem through to it's conclusion. If it's not here today, lets play. Maybe this time their thinking will start to change.

When this is all done, I think they really, really need to either pursue Thaksin through the international courts or get international support to bring him back for a fair trial here. In the west we call this closure.

Edited May 19, 2010 by rabo

[tb86]

wondering how acurate the reports of red leasders abandoning their people are... if they did...just goes to show, all the rhetoric was just nonsense... they were just there for the money and when the shit went down leave the protestors leaderless... sad state of affairs, but what most of us expected

[KhunVee]

I've been called by a friend who was near Chiang Mai City Hall about half an hour ago.

Aparently there's a red mob trying to set the City Hall on fire.

Lot's of police and army around, my friend said.

OK, so this is 'hear say' from only 1 source, and therefore I post it here to inform if anyone has a relyable source or relyable information about this current event.

[basjke]

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 never heard him say during his call in.Sorry dialed the wrong number.

[cpofc]

Australian Radio (1377MTR) just released News Flash (Source AAP) three foreign journos shot, one dead. Yet to be confirmed.

[KMUTT]

Gun battles break out between Thai troops, protesters

Agence France-Presse

Posted at 05/19/2010 12:24 PM | Updated as of 05/19/2010 12:24 PM

BANGKOK, Thailand - Gun battles broke out Wednesday between troops and anti-government protesters after security forces broke through barricades and pushed inside the rally base, an AFP reporter saw.

Gunfire was being exchanged from both sides and at least one "Red Shirt" protester was seen carrying a weapon.

An AFP photographer saw two people shot and lying motionless on the ground inside the camp. At least seven other protesters have been injured and sent to hospital.

In the face of the barrage, some 100 other protesters fled towards the movement's main rally stage in their heart of their encampment in Bangkok's main shopping district, which they have occupied for six weeks.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino...oops-protesters

[isanb]

Immigration office at Chaengwattana is finally open. I have to go asap. Is the expressway safe?

Can someone confirm if immigration office at Chaenwattana is actually open? I have to go there and no-one is answering the phones, although the line was engaged earlier. Cheers!

The government has announced that all government departments or statutory board closed for the next three day.

that,s why it was so quiet in Immigration office this morning, Had all done in 20 minutes.

Please check your info before posting.

[haveaniceday]

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.

[cnmltd]

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?

[cpofc]

Australian Radio (1377MTR) just released News Flash (Source AAP) three foreign journos shot, one dead. Yet to be confirmed.

[senti]

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.

[ETatBKK]

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 ) !

[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.

[saintofsilence]

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

There must be a fake thaksin about

[jcbangkok]

Oooops,...

Sorry again.

Internet must suffer these days.

Luckily Thailand has a strong network of High SPeed fiberglass

oops - responded to wrong post

Edited May 19, 2010 by jcbangkok

[RKASA]

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.

[clevenp]

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 ...

[admiraldy]

I have lived in countries were the militias retaliated to revenge their people being attacked by the govenment , by invading all the govenment and military bases in their stronghold provinces , i hope the thai government has taken this option under consideration when they decided to go ahead with their carackdown ,

the whole northeast provinces can fall under the hands of red shirts militias including army barricades police stations and government offices .

This is certainly a danger so martial law and a shoot to kill directive is a lesser evil if push comes to shove. One thing is certain when the dust settles, Abhisit should make his first priority completely dismantling the police and starting again. If there was a police force that enforced the law regardless of the personal feelings of individual officers then nearly all of this mess could have been avoided.

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

[elcent]

Protesters Surround Police Hospital

Doctors at the Police Hospital say protesters have completely surrounded the hospital.

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.

-- Tan Network 2010-05-19

Amnesty. Where are you?

Amnesty Inter now is only in favor of aggressors and terrorists.

[seahorse]

LIVE UPDATES:

Up-2-the-minute updates:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Bangkok-Red-...dn-t366679.html

I think this service has improved in the last day or two.

[ratcatcher]

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

Talk to the Red Shirts leaders? In 24 hours or less those rats will be long gone. Dedicated to the cause (of Thaksin).

[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.....

[elcent]

veen_NT: Police Hospital confirmed an Italian photographer dead. #Thai PBS

Wed May 19 2010 12:04:21 GMT+0700 (SE Asia Standard Time)

[basjke]

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?