PAD protesters refuse to quit rally site

By THE NATION

As yesterday's deadline passed, protesters continued to remain encamped near Government House while police were making a last-ditch effort to relocate two other rally sites from Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge and Phitsanulok Road.

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) shrugged off a deadline to move out from the bridge, while the Thai Patriots' Network said it would decide by Friday whether to vacate the road, Metropolitan Police Region 1 commander Maj-General Wichai Sangprapai said.

Should the network agree to relocate, police have offered alternate rally sites near the Bank of Thailand and another near the Finance Ministry, Wichai said.

With regard to the PAD, the police will map out their next move following consultations with the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), which supervises enforcement of the Internal Security Act, he said.

He insisted that the protesters must vacate the rally sites to open up access to the annual fair organised by the Thai Red Cross.

Meanwhile, CAPO has convened a meeting to assess the situation, to be chaired by National Police chief General Wichean Potephosree.

Traffic policeman Pakin Meephet gave a briefing on how he was assaulted by protesters on Monday as the police tried to take control of the PAD rally site.

Pakin said protesters hurled bags filled with dirty water at him even though he was in charge of a cleaning detail and not involved in crowd-control operations.

Police spokesman Maj-General Prawut Thawornsiri said police would try to negotiate with rally organisers until Friday.

PAD spokesman Panthep Pourpongpan said the PAD would carry on protesting despite the police deadline.

Panthep said the surge of yellow shirts in recent days was a strong warning that the people would not tolerate police trying to disperse protesters.

He said even if the network decided to relocate its rally site, the PAD would still refuse to leave.

-- The Nation 2011-03-16

so who is paying for these law breakers to stay there?

are they all unemployed and have no jobs to go to or potentially lose in their absence?

"Police will try to negotiate with rally organizers until Friday" and then what. Get the water cannons out now.

"Police will try to negotiate with rally organizers until Friday" and then what. Get the water cannons out now.

Yes, water canons. Not their style. They prefer more lethal methods.

"Police will try to negotiate with rally organizers until Friday" and then what. Get the water cannons out now.

Yes, water canons. Not their style. They prefer more lethal methods.

Faulty RDX laced tear gas?

now, what was it this group protesting?

something about "3 days, or else!'"

or was that 3 weeks or else? 3 years maybe?

"Police will try to negotiate with rally organizers until Friday" and then what. Get the water cannons out now.

Yes, water canons. Not their style. They prefer more lethal methods.

And what is wrong with lethal methods. Try all else, negotiations fail, the mob is given time, warned and then they are removed - their problem, can't say there has not been enough warnings. Give over to mob rule - we're all well <deleted>**ed.

Letting the Yellows sit in the cold and the rain surely hurts the morale of the yellows and costs nothing. Wait until the weather is about to break and go in to remove them. Police in full riot gear and APC's to knock down tents and toilets etc. Enough police will be needed to use 4:1 to pick up protesters that peacefully just sit down. LTL tactics for the rest. (beanbags, water cannon, etc.)

The police aren't well enough trained to use teargas effectively.

One post promoting violence has been deleted along with a few replies. Promotion of violence will not be condoned on ThaiVisa.

"Police will try to negotiate with rally organizers until Friday" and then what. Get the water cannons out now.

Yes, water canons. Not their style. They prefer more lethal methods.

And what is wrong with lethal methods. Try all else, negotiations fail, the mob is given time, warned and then they are removed - their problem, can't say there has not been enough warnings. Give over to mob rule - we're all well <deleted>**ed.

Lethal force is not appropriate when not faced by lethal force. When shots start coming from a group of protesters THEN you can warn them and move them out using more force (including lethal force when appropriate,) but not until then.

Perhaps this is what they are after:

"Security forces with tanks have over-run a square in the centre of Bahrain's capital Manama where anti-government protesters have been camped for weeks.

At least three protesters are reported to have died after police fired tear gas at the mainly Shia demonstrators. State TV said two policemen also died.

There are reports that troops have entered the main Salmaniya hospital.

The country's Sunni rulers have declared martial law and called in Saudi troops to help keep order.

At least two people died in clashes on Tuesday and more than 200 were injured.

A senior Bahrain opposition MP, quoted by Reuters, described the crackdown as a "war of annihilation".

Idiots.