Red Shirts To Be Asked Not To Shut Down Traffic During Thursday Rally

[webfact]

Reds to be asked not to shut down traffic

By The Nation

The Metropolitan Police Bureau plans to ask organisers not to shut down traffic at Ratchaprasong intersection during the red-shirt rally, scheduled for Thursday.

Red-shirt leader Thida Thawornseth and Metropolitan Police Region 1 chief Maj General Wichai Sangprapai will tomorrow hold a meeting to finalise the rally preparations.

Police fear massive road snarls around the capital as the red shirts kick off their mass rally at the downtown shopping complex at 4.30 pm coinciding with the evening rush hours.

The Metropolitan Police held an internal meeting yesterday to map out security measures for the rally.

Democrat Party spokesman Buranaj Smutharaks called on Pheu Thai legal adviser Noppadon Patama to disclose the whereabouts of his client and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Buranaj voiced suspicion that Thaksin might be plotting to stir up trouble in connection with the rally planned for Thursday.

Last week a number of Pheu Thai MP hopefuls reportedly flew to meet Thaksin in Brunei but Noppadon issued a statement that Thaksin was in the Middle East, he said.

He also questioned why Noppadon and Thaksin would repeatedly call for the winning party to have a first chance at forming the next government if the two were so confident about defeating the Democrats.

The provisions of the Constitution are clear - MPs would vote to elect the prime minister, he said, arguing Pheu Thai should not be worrying if it was certain to have won the majority.

In a separate development, Thaksin's brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat was among the well-wishers lining up at the birthday party for former Pheu Thai charman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.

Somchai presented a flower basket on Thaksin's behalf and placed a telephone call for Thaksin to speak directly with Chavalit.

He said Chavalit remained a Pheu Thai ally even though he would not be involved in the campaigning.

He insisted Pheu Thai would provide the legal defence for MP hopeful Jatuporn Promphan, who was put in the remand cell on Thursday after violating the bail condition related to the April 10 rally speech deemed offensive to the monarchy.

He also said parties concerned should not try to involve the military in the electoral campaign. He ruled out the linkage between the Pheu Thai campaigning and the Army filing the police complaint against Jatuporn's speech.

"I believe the Army has acted out of concern, hence alerting police to an alleged offence which has no linkage to the campaigning," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-05-16

[anotheruser]

Of course they will comply with the request. nobody running a protest would ever want to shut down traffic or an airport for political gain.

[Buchholz]

the red shirts kick off their mass rally at the downtown shopping complex at 4.30 pm coinciding with the evening rush hours.

Well now, that's right neighborly of them... let's impose on the most number we can.

Our Bangkok PTP MP candidates will be sure to win votes with this strategy.

.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Buchholz

[sirchai]

the red shirts kick off their mass rally at the downtown shopping complex at 4.30 pm coinciding with the evening rush hours.

Well now, that's right neighborly of them... let's impose on the most number we can.

Our Bangkok PTP MP candidates will be sure to win votes with this strategy.

.

The Metropolitan Police held an internal meeting yesterday to map out security measures for the rally.

I hope their meeting has been much more productive than a meeting of teachers at a school in the lower northeast.........:jap:

[Voltaire]

Indeed. In confusion there is always profit. Maybe PTP could strike a deal to release Juturaporn? It's nice to see that business is still placed higher on the agenda than the welfare of the country-democracy.

I wonder how long the rally will last for? Maybe the police could use there many cameras to control the situation(traffic), or is there real purpose to watch the people (road cameras can't watch demonstrators and traffic!)

A democrat party official asking Thaksin's lawyer where he is! So there is no place for legal confidentiality then..

[dominique355]

Indeed. In confusion there is always profit. Maybe PTP could strike a deal to release Juturaporn? It's nice to see that business is still placed higher on the agenda than the welfare of the country-democracy.

I wonder how long the rally will last for? Maybe the police could use there many cameras to control the situation(traffic), or is there real purpose to watch the people (road cameras can't watch demonstrators and traffic!)

A democrat party official asking Thaksin's lawyer where he is! So there is no place for legal confidentiality then..

It's not about business, it's about one of the most fundamental human rights, the right to come and go where ever and when ever you want. No one is allowed to monopolize public ground for himself for extended periods of time. And no one is allowed to restrict the freedom of others to move about.

I know, the Red Shirts have a lack of basic understanding of human rights, hence the restriction imposed by the Police.

[newermonkey]

How about... "TELL them".

This is like "asking" a buffalo not to go near the water.

Edited May 16, 2011 by newermonkey

[thaihome]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday’s rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

[animatic]

Somchai presented a flower basket on Thaksin's behalf and placed a telephone call for Thaksin to speak directly with Chavalit.

He said Chavalit remained a Pheu Thai ally even though he would not be involved in the campaigning.

He insisted Pheu Thai would provide the legal defence for MP hopeful Jatuporn Promphan, who was put in the remand cell on Thursday after violating the bail condition related to the April 10 rally speech deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Interesting that the direct attack on pulling Chavalit back into the fold is coupled so closely here with PTP specifically defending Jatuporn agains charges of insulting the monarchy. It was obvious that Chavalit had heard the exact words used when he bolted the Thaksin mothership, even Thaksin took a step back.

So how much money does it take to for Chavalit to forget...

he is in bed with people condoning and defending those who insult the monarchy?

Wer get Somchai stating Chavalit is PT ally, but markedly no confirmation of that from Chavalit.

Edited May 16, 2011 by animatic

[Buchholz]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday’s rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

One would think that there couldn't possibly be a better time than their actual one year anniversary date and additionally being election time for them to show to the whole world their wide-spread appeal by putting together one of their vaunted 1,000,000 person rallies.

[thaihome]

^

Worth noting that Abhisist said over a month ago that he intended to dissolve the house so the May 19 anniversary would fall during the campaign period. Considering the fallout from the April 10 anniversary rally, would seem to be a very smart move. I doubt PTP will be supporting any huge turn out. Would not be a good start to a Bangkok campaign.

TH

[Insight]

Frankly, despite the intentions of marking the death of red shirts (obviously honourable regardless of stance), a mass protest may work very much against them and Phua Thai - especially if the violent element rears its head. Their leaders and sponsors have cried wolf too many times (and subsequently caught out) should they try and point the blame elsewhere if violence breaks out.

But then there's also the prospect of violence provoked as a way to postpone what's looking like a very unpredictable election result.

[hyperdimension]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday’s rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

... which is 0.09% to 0.15% of the population of Thailand, i.e. an extreme and statistically insignificant minority and therefore not a representative sample of the population, even though they try to make themselves look big and foreceful.

They're getting the election that they wanted so desperately, yet they still want to disrupt peaceful life in the city and make irritating noise about deaths that they themselves caused.

I wonder if Yingluck will make a speech on the stage.

Edited May 16, 2011 by hyperdimension

[MaiChai]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday’s rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

So whats the point of the rally? An election is in the offing. IMHO its just more bad press for Peua Thai, and shows them as a party who wants to be lawless and do what they want with little consideration for others. PT=the lawless party that supports terrorism, intimidation, nepotism and corruption. Is this what your average Thai wants?

Of course PT and the Red Shirts are not related, but then why would Taksin be paying for Jutaporns defence and why is he an MP of PT?

Edited May 16, 2011 by MaiChai

[Puccini]

The weeks leading up to the election promise to be an interesting time in Thailand, with demonstrations and counter-demonstrations by the UDD and the PAD. I wish I could be there.

[rreddin]

Of course they will comply with the request. nobody running a protest would ever want to shut down traffic or an airport for political gain.

Bangkok should, by now, be used to being the venue for protests by various groups. Thailand is Bangkok-centric, so these protests are going to take place in the capital city just as they do in the capital cities of other countries.

London, for example, has seen some very large demonstrations that took several hours to pass along the planned route. The city did not come to a standstill. The Metropolitan Police made well signed traffic diversions and Transport For London rerouted the buses until the demonstration had passed. Given the experience of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority and the Royal Thai Police, such elementary measures should now be within their capability.

[ballpoint]

In the interests of balance I'd like to see all those affected by the red protest hold a counter protest outside Imperial Lard Prao. Then we'll see how democratic, and respectful of the rights of others the red leadership is. No doubt when the counter protest is attacked we'll see the same apologists on here blaming the police and government for allowing it to go ahead, rather as we got following the reds Silom attacks last year. Seems some groups have more rights than others to some people.

[rubl]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday’s rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

5,000, 20,000 or 100,000, from Thursday afternoon avoid Ratchaprasong and roads leading to, leading from it. Take off a few days, leave Bangkok :-)

[Buchholz]

Whatever the final number is, Red Shirt Interim President Thida said this afternoon that it will be minus seven Red Shirt Leaders as the Red Shirt Terrorist Suspects Out On Bail will not be attending the Red Shirt Rally on the 19th according to the other paper

.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Buchholz

[phiphidon]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday's rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

5,000, 20,000 or 100,000, from Thursday afternoon avoid Ratchaprasong and roads leading to, leading from it. Take off a few days, leave Bangkok :-)

Or go along and join in. At the moment you still have a choice. I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent. They will have to be content with writing angry posts about not being able to go shopping at Louis Vuitton and/or enduring traffic delays in the process.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Interesting that the direct attack on pulling Chavalit back into the fold is coupled so closely here with PTP specifically defending Jatuporn agains charges of insulting the monarchy. It was obvious that Chavalit had heard the exact words used when he bolted the Thaksin mothership, even Thaksin took a step back.

So how much money does it take to for Chavalit to forget...

he is in bed with people condoning and defending those who insult the monarchy?

It's only a charge. In the above you are assuming and implying that he actually WAS insulting the monarchy, instead of it merely being a political smear tactic by the military / powers-that-be, to cheaply and conveniently get rid of opponents.

Edited May 16, 2011 by WinnieTheKhwai

[phiphidon]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday's rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

Did you query that number with reasons on that forum or did you just think it was safer to post your bias here amongst your peers? I use the word bias due to your use of the phrase UDD apologist. In what way was the poster you mention an UDD apologist - what was he/she apologising for?

[rubl]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday's rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

5,000, 20,000 or 100,000, from Thursday afternoon avoid Ratchaprasong and roads leading to, leading from it. Take off a few days, leave Bangkok :-)

Or go along and join in. At the moment you still have a choice. I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent. They will have to be content with writing angry posts about not being able to go shopping at Louis Vuitton and/or enduring traffic delays in the process.

As some esteemed members have said 'it's not our business'. To join in would mean foreign interference with internal Thai matters. That's a 'no-no'. As for the shopping, who cares. It's those Thais who work in the area and won't have business unless they sell food or red-shirts. Those Thais who will be very inconvenienced by the traffic problems. The foreigners don't count in this, most can easily afford to take off a few more days.

[rubl]

Interesting that the direct attack on pulling Chavalit back into the fold is coupled so closely here with PTP specifically defending Jatuporn agains charges of insulting the monarchy. It was obvious that Chavalit had heard the exact words used when he bolted the Thaksin mothership, even Thaksin took a step back.

So how much money does it take to for Chavalit to forget...

he is in bed with people condoning and defending those who insult the monarchy?

It's only a charge. In the above you are assuming and implying that he actually WAS insulting the monarchy, instead of it merely being a political smear tactic by the military / powers-that-be, to cheaply and conveniently get rid of opponents.

So? Are you really suggesting it's THAT easy to get rid of Gen. Chavalit, or that easy to get him scared? The old fox may live to be 100 and still out-fox youngsters.

[Buchholz]

Whatever the final number is, Red Shirt Interim President Thida said this afternoon that it will be minus seven Red Shirt Leaders as the Red Shirt Terrorist Suspects Out On Bail will not be attending the Red Shirt Rally on the 19th according to the other paper

UDD to hold 19 May rally as planned

BANGKOK, 17 May 2011 (NNT) – The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has confirmed its planned mass rally on 19 May at Ratchaprasong Intersection, but likely without the presence of the seven UDD key figures on the stage.

Acting UDD Chairperson Thida Thavornsret stated that the planned mass gathering will be organised on Thursday as scheduled. She said the rally has no objective to either increase or decrease the intensity of UDD demonstrations since it aims only to commemorate the first anniversary of the deadly military crackdown.

The acting chairperson admitted that she is not certain about the number of people who will attend the rally since it is conducted on a weekday; however, she pledged that it will not escalate to cause any damage as the time has been fixed that activities will start in the evening and end no later than midnight.

Ms Thida also announced that the seven UDD key leaders who have survived the bail withdrawal bid will not speak on the stage, not for fear of having their bails revoked, but to avoid violating the electoral regulation as some of them will run in the election.

The acting chairperson said she has not been confirmed by any side if former Prime Minister Dr Thaksin Shinawatra will give a phone-in talk to the gathering or not.

-- NNT 2011-05-17

[rick999]

the rally is so meaningless...its more like holding the others to ransom...."look guys! be on my side, if not ill terrorise the city and continuing having "rallies" to disrupt their normal lifes!".....

[phiphidon]

One UDD apologist on another forum is claiming Thursday's rally will have 60,000 to 100,000 in attendance.

TH

5,000, 20,000 or 100,000, from Thursday afternoon avoid Ratchaprasong and roads leading to, leading from it. Take off a few days, leave Bangkok :-)

Or go along and join in. At the moment you still have a choice. I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent. They will have to be content with writing angry posts about not being able to go shopping at Louis Vuitton and/or enduring traffic delays in the process.

As some esteemed members have said 'it's not our business'. To join in would mean foreign interference with internal Thai matters. That's a 'no-no'. As for the shopping, who cares. It's those Thais who work in the area and won't have business unless they sell food or red-shirts. Those Thais who will be very inconvenienced by the traffic problems. The foreigners don't count in this, most can easily afford to take off a few more days.

You may or may not have read my post properly, I can't quite make my mind up. I'll reiterate my 3rd sentence for you.........."I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent".

[rubl]

5,000, 20,000 or 100,000, from Thursday afternoon avoid Ratchaprasong and roads leading to, leading from it. Take off a few days, leave Bangkok :-)

Or go along and join in. At the moment you still have a choice. I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent. They will have to be content with writing angry posts about not being able to go shopping at Louis Vuitton and/or enduring traffic delays in the process.

As some esteemed members have said 'it's not our business'. To join in would mean foreign interference with internal Thai matters. That's a 'no-no'. As for the shopping, who cares. It's those Thais who work in the area and won't have business unless they sell food or red-shirts. Those Thais who will be very inconvenienced by the traffic problems. The foreigners don't count in this, most can easily afford to take off a few more days.

You may or may not have read my post properly, I can't quite make my mind up. I'll reiterate my 3rd sentence for you.........."I refer that to our Thai members of course, as it has nothing to do with the foreign contingent".

I may have mis-read your post. Maybe because I'm not used to you advising or telling our Thai members what to do. I assume also the 'write angry posts' is still directed at our Thai members ?

[webfact]

Police urge UDD to rally peacefully Thursday

BANGKOK, May 17 -- Senior Thai police officers met Tuesday with leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirts, urging them to rally peacefully Thursday when they mark the anniversary of the end of their protest last year.

Police Division 1 Chief Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai spent over an hour discussing with acting UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth on measures to prevent any third party intervention to incite disorder and outlined the authorities security measures to be applied during the anti-government Red Shirt movement's gathering Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the army crackdown on protesters in the capital’s main shopping area last May.

Mrs Thida said the rally will be held at Ratchaprasong intersection to mark the death of 92 people who died during last year's protest and called on government to admit responsibility for the loss of life.

The rally will start at 4.30pm and continue to midnight before dispersing, she said.

She said the UDD would like to apologise to the public and merchants in the area who will face inconvenience and difficulty during the demonstration.

Gen Wichai said seven companies of uniformed and plainclothes police, including crowd-control specialists, will be deployed to ensure that the UDD gathering will be peaceful.

The authorities will not allow any traffic blockage and speeches on the stage cannot mention the monarchy. Officials will closely monitor the proceedings, making audio and video recordings of the rally. Anyone found violating the law will be prosecuted.

The police bomb squad will clear the Ratchaprasong area before the gathering to prevent agitators from causing disturbances. The public are urged to remain vigilant and alert the police if they find anything unusual or witness any suspicious moves.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, were killed in street clashes between the red-clad demonstrators and soldiers a year ago.

Troops dispersed thousands of Red Shirt protesters who had been camped in the capital's premier shopping and hotel district for weeks. The army crackdown led anti-government protest leaders to surrender, enraging followers who exploded grenades and set fire to landmark buildings including Thailand’s largest luxury shopping mall and the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET). (MCOT Online News)

-- TNA 2011-05-17

[webfact]

Over 1,000 policemen to watch red-shirt rally at Rajprasong

The Metropolitan Police will deploy 7 companies of policemen plus 300 traffic police officers to keep security at the Rajprasong Intersection when the red-shirt people hold a rally on Thursday.

Red-shirt leader Thida Thavornset insisted Tuesday that the movement will hold rally to commemorate the deaths of 91 people during the crackdown a year ago.

Thida met Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Pol Maj Gen Surapong Siriphakdee and Metropolitan Police Division 1 Commander Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangpraphai to discuss the planned rally for over an hour.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Thida said the red-shirt people would try to minimise the impact on traffic and businesses at the shopping area.

Wichai said the Metropolitan Police Bureau would deploy 7 companies of policemen and 300 police officers to watch against untoward incidents.

Wichai said Thida had been warned to make sure that no one would attack the monarchy during the rally.

-- The Nation 2011-05-17