Red Shirts Hold Rally In Bangkok Under Close Watch Of Police

[webfact]

‘Red Shirt’ protesters hold rally in Bangkok under watchful eyes of police

BANGKOK, Feb 19 -- Traffic in prime business areas in the Thai capital became impassable as anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) marched from Ratchaprasong intersection to the Supreme Court and ending up at Democracy Monument on Saturday, commemorating the end of their nine-month marathon protest which was crushed by government security forces.

UDD protesters, led by the movement core leader Jatuporn Prompan, also a list MP of the opposition Puea Thai Party, first assembled at Ratchaprasong intersection before marching to the Supreme Court to read out letters written by imprisoned UDD core leaders complaining of their hardships while in jail on terrorism charges.

As the number of the protesters grew, police decided to seal off two traffic lanes on Ratchaprasong Road.

Police said about 4,200 police personnel had been assigned to provide security near the protesters on fears that a ‘third hand party’ might mingle with the crowd and create unrest.

Security in front of and around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s residence in an alley off Sukhumvit Road, one of the areas which Internal Security Act is enforced, was also tight as police searched suspicious looking persons while closed-circuit surveillance cameras operated round-the-clock, said national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree.

Pol Gen Wichean said police believed that the Act which expires next Wednesday should be extended as it is a vital tool to assist police to restore peace. He said if the situation deteriorates then police might discuss reintroducing an emergency decree which is more severe than the Act.

The Cabinet earlier re-enforced the ISA from Feb 9-23 in seven districts around Government House including Dusit, Phra Nakorn, Wattana, Ratchathewi, Wang Thonglang, Pathumwan and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts.

Eighty-nine persons, both security personnel and protesters, were killed and more than 1,900 were injured in several clashes between the troops and UDD members during April and May last year.

Most top protest leaders remain jailed under terrorism charges and their bail has been rejected as the court cited their possible flight to avoid prosecution. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-02-19

[Robby nz]

The other paper reports that Jataporn and Thida are marching "On the mobile rally stage"

Marching no less, was there anyone who really expected them to walk?

Walking is for peasents dont you know.

I see no mention of Jataporn's previous promise to surrender and go to jail, probably forgotton that one already.

I wonter if he really considered that one a threat to the Govt or court?

[webfact]

Thousands of Thai 'Red Shirts' rally in Bangkok

BANGKOK, February 19, 2011 (AFP) - Thousands of Thai "Red Shirts" gathered in Bangkok on Saturday to mark nine months since a bloody crackdown on their anti-government rally and to press for the release of detained leaders.

Police estimated around 8,000 protesters massed in Ratchaprasong, the retail heart of the city, and a further thousand met at Democracy Monument, both sites of bloodshed during last year's April and May demonstration.

Dressed in their trademark colour and waving banners, flags and plastic clappers, the crowd cheered loudly as the movement's few key figures not detained by authorities spoke to protesters.

"We came today to ask for justice for our people who died exactly nine months ago at this place," said Thida Thavornseth, leader of Red Shirt movement.

"They died for our fight we will ask for justice for them from those who do not show either political responsibility or legal responsibility," she said.

More than 90 died and nearly 1,900 were injured in clashes between protesters and the army during the two-month rallies in 2010 calling for immediate elections.

Thailand's political landscape has remained fractured since the unrest.

Many Red Shirt leaders remain in prison on terrorism charges and the protest movement has held a series of peaceful one-day rallies in the capital in recent weeks demanding their release.

Their arch-rivals -- "Yellow Shirt" nationalist activists who claim allegiance to the throne -- have been rallying near Government House recently in protest at Abhisit's handling of a deadly border dispute with Cambodia.

The cabinet recently agreed to invoke the Internal Security Act in Bangkok to cope with the renewed political rallies.

Around 4,500 police officers were deployed in the city to maintain law and order, said national police spokesman Major General Prawut Thavornsiri.

Red Shirts, many of whom came into Bangkok from nearby provinces on motorcycles, cars and pick-up trucks, later formed a procession and moved through the city towards the Supreme Court to press their demands.

Jatuporn Prompan, another key leader, promised to intensify their campaign.

"It is a full nine months since our friends lost their freedom, but they will be with us for the one year anniversary here," he said, adding that the court will rule whether to grant bail to seven leaders on February 21.

On the street Red Shirt Worachai Hema said the group were determined to continue protesting at Ratchaprasong, despite authorities' attempts to persuade them to congregate at nearby park.

"Our people died here so we will not move to anywhere else," he said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-02-19

[DP25]

Only 9000? Did the 1 million paper cranes at least show up?

[Jingthing]

Hmmm. Is the red shirt rent-a-mob running short of rent?

[Robby nz]

Wasnt there supposed to be 3000 coming from Udon Thani or somewhere?

Was looking forward to seeing the flock of paper birds fly past.

Perhaps the flocked off in another direction.

[MaiChai]

Thats one policeman for every two demonstrators. Hardly a million as was mentioned earlier in the week. I would say their support is waneing.

[JamesGoyder]

Jatuporn makes his way to the stage:

The view from the stage:

A red shirt protestor:

[JamesGoyder]

I interviewed a protester at Ratchadapisek last week who was adamant that none of the protestors were getting paid and claimed that many people had needed to sell land in order to raise money to come to bangkok to protest. If this is the case it would certainly explain why numbers are dwindling when protests are organized on consecutive weekends, the picture taken from the stage gives a pretty good indication of the turnout. there were people behind the stage as well but nowhere near as many.

[DP25]

I interviewed a protester at Ratchadapisek last week who was adamant that none of the protestors were getting paid and claimed that many people had needed to sell land in order to raise money to come to bangkok to protest.

I'm sure they were telling the truth

[whybother]

Police estimated around 8,000 protesters massed in Ratchaprasong,

Unprecedented.

[bulmercke]

I took these photos outside the Supreme Court this afternoon around 3.30 PM.

[h90]

Thats one policeman for every two demonstrators. Hardly a million as was mentioned earlier in the week. I would say their support is waneing.

I think there was 1 Million of the paper birds mentioned, not people, or?

[whybother]

Thats one policeman for every two demonstrators. Hardly a million as was mentioned earlier in the week. I would say their support is waneing.

I think there was 1 Million of the paper birds mentioned, not people, or?

Yes .... what happened to those 1 mil cranes? No mention of them yet.

But with only 8000 people, that's 125 each ... take a fair while for them to fold those.

[bulmercke]

Thats one policeman for every two demonstrators. Hardly a million as was mentioned earlier in the week. I would say their support is waneing.

I think there was 1 Million of the paper birds mentioned, not people, or?

Yes .... what happened to those 1 mil cranes? No mention of them yet.

But with only 8000 people, that's 125 each ... take a fair while for them to fold those.

This afternoon I walked from the Supreme Court to Saphan PhanFa past the Democracy Monument and I didn't see a single paper bird so your guess is as good as mine. Saw plenty of Red-Shirt protesters though. Felt like the old days.

[Lite Beer]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told an estimated 20,000 red-shirt demonstrators Saturday the group would hold an even bigger rally on March 12 if hundreds of detained red shirts, including seven of its leaders, were not granted bail next week

March 12 marks the beginning of last year's red-shirt rally, which ended in violent riots with 91 people killed and more than 1,000 injured. An even bigger rally would follow to mark the May 19 crackdown if the situation remained the same, he said.

"If they are still [in jail] then we will have no recourse but to fight," Jatuporn told the crowd at the Ratchaprasong intersection early yesterday afternoon through loud speakers.

-- The Nation 2011-02-19

[jayjay0]

Jatuporn makes his way to the stage:

The view from the stage:

A red shirt protestor:

I can't believe that Thailand would let these terrorists suporters hold a seat in government. They should be alowed a seat in a chair with wires running to it. All this to get seven people with terrorism charges released.

Just another red shirt day to show Thailand that they don't care about the peoples who lives they are constantly disrupting with the same message as if no one had ever heard therm before.

Cambodia had no trouble sentencing trespassers. What is Thailand's problem. If they want proof just grab a couple of u tube videos and some recordings of them urging the peaceful armed demonstrators to burn Bangkok down. No problem.

Did Abhist not learn any thing last spring. Given unlimited time these people will do a lot of damage.

Just to show you what kind of people they are notice how they try to free the leaders and not the followers. They don't realize that the next person that the red shirts abandon could be them.

[hyperdimension]

commemorating the end of their nine-month marathon protest which was crushed by government security forces.

A "nine-month marathon protest"! It sure would be a marathon if it were true. "nine-month old marathon protest" would be more accurate.

[hyperdimension]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Why won't Pheu Thai / Thaksin choose Jatuporn as their candidate for the position of Prime Minister of Thailand? It would make for some entertaining electoral campaigning. Can you imagine Jatuporn being on the world stage, shaking hands with leaders of other nations?

[whybother]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told an estimated 20,000 red-shirt demonstrators Saturday the group would hold an even bigger rally on March 12 if hundreds of detained red shirts, including seven of its leaders, were not granted bail next week

March 12 marks the beginning of last year's red-shirt rally, which ended in violent riots with 91 people killed and more than 1,000 injured. An even bigger rally would follow to mark the May 19 crackdown if the situation remained the same, he said.

"If they are still [in jail] then we will have no recourse but to fight," Jatuporn told the crowd at the Ratchaprasong intersection early yesterday afternoon through loud speakers.

-- The Nation 2011-02-19

Given their "unprecedented" numbers today, it probably won't be too hard to get a larger crowd.

Hopefully, only 2 of the leaders will be granted bail on Monday. Then Jatuporn will go in there with the left overs.

[bulmercke]

At around 5.00 PM this afternoon I asked some Red-Shirts supporters - who were standing around - from which direction the main group would approach Ratchadamnoen and to my surprise they notified me that they had already arrived.

[jdinasia]

I took these photos outside the Supreme Court this afternoon around 3.30 PM.

So there were at least 100 Hi-So people there!

[Emptyset]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Why won't Pheu Thai / Thaksin choose Jatuporn as their candidate for the position of Prime Minister of Thailand? It would make for some entertaining electoral campaigning. Can you imagine Jatuporn being on the world stage, shaking hands with leaders of other nations?

He could hardly be less embarrassing than Banharn. Not that it'll ever happen, Jatuporn doesn't have the support base, funds or credibility. Even some red shirts think he's an incompetent third-rate blow hard.

[timekeeper]

I interviewed a protester at Ratchadapisek last week who was adamant that none of the protestors were getting paid and claimed that many people had needed to sell land in order to raise money to come to bangkok to protest.

I'm sure they were telling the truth

i agree, reds always tell the truth

it would be unprecedented to find that they lied about something.........

[timekeeper]

I took these photos outside the Supreme Court this afternoon around 3.30 PM.

the cars a copy and they are fake reds............

[timekeeper]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told an estimated 20,000 red-shirt demonstrators Saturday the group would hold an even bigger rally on March 12 if hundreds of detained red shirts, including seven of its leaders, were not granted bail next week

March 12 marks the beginning of last year's red-shirt rally, which ended in violent riots with 91 people killed and more than 1,000 injured. An even bigger rally would follow to mark the May 19 crackdown if the situation remained the same, he said.

"If they are still [in jail] then we will have no recourse but to fight," Jatuporn told the crowd at the Ratchaprasong intersection early yesterday afternoon through loud speakers.

-- The Nation 2011-02-19

another unprecedented number of protesters then...............

[timekeeper]

Bigger rallies ahead if you don't free detainees, Jatuporn warns

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told an estimated 20,000 red-shirt demonstrators Saturday the group would hold an even bigger rally on March 12 if hundreds of detained red shirts, including seven of its leaders, were not granted bail next week

March 12 marks the beginning of last year's red-shirt rally, which ended in violent riots with 91 people killed and more than 1,000 injured. An even bigger rally would follow to mark the May 19 crackdown if the situation remained the same, he said.

"If they are still [in jail] then we will have no recourse but to fight," Jatuporn told the crowd at the Ratchaprasong intersection early yesterday afternoon through loud speakers.

-- The Nation 2011-02-19

Given their "unprecedented" numbers today, it probably won't be too hard to get a larger crowd.

Hopefully, only 2 of the leaders will be granted bail on Monday. Then Jatuporn will go in there with the left overs.

wasn't it a condition of his recent bail hearing that he should not indulge in this kind of thing?

surely he should be going to jail anyway for contempt of court.......