Red-Shirt Protesters Mark First Anniversay Of Crackdown

[webfact]

Red-shirt Protesters Mark First Anniversay of Crackdown

The red-shirt group holds a major gathering at the Ratchaprasong business area to mark the first anniversary of the dispersal of its rally last year.

Red-shirt demonstrators from many provinces this afternoon joined the group's assembly at Bangkok's Ratchaprasong Intersection to commemorate the crackdown on its mass rally on May 19 last year where nearly a hundred people and state officials were killed.

Police put up barricades along the sidewalk to prevent protesters from occupying the road and obstructing traffic around the rally site.

The group started its activities by presenting alms to monks from the Pathumwanaram Temple, where six protesters and medical volunteers were killed during the crackdown.

They also laid flowers at the temple to remember those victims.

For the evening activities, the group broadcast a video detailing last year's major anti-government rally which started from March 12 and ran until May 16.

At the same time, some red-shirt affiliated groups, led by the Red Siam and the June 24 Democracy, held activities at the monument of King Rama VI to mark last year's crackdown on the rally.

They also called for removal of the Criminal Code's Article 112 on lese majeste, the release of innocent red-shirt members who are still being held on remand after the dispersal of the group's protests and legal action against state officials involved in the crackdown on the protest.

In a related development, two red-shirt leaders Weng Tojirakarn and Korkaew Pikulthong visited their associates Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai, who are being detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison due to the revocation of bail on their terrorism charges.

The pair have been held on remand for eight days so far.

A number of red-shirt protesters from the provinces also appeared at the prison to give moral support to Jatuporn.

-- Tan Network 2011-05-19

[Who, me ?]

Seems like a great time they have! Traffic is a nightmare around there...certainly for the good of Thai people.

Good to read that some people come from far to give moral support to Jatuporn....Maybe they should take this opportunity to try and help the other reds still in jail, just to show them that there is no double standard among them....

[rubl]

K. Jatuporn and Nisit jailed for eight whole days and daily getting one or two hundred supporters. Makes you wonder how much moral support those red-shirt members still in prison upcountry get on a daily/weekly/monthly base (underline as applicable). Of course those are just the ordinary grass-root red-shirts, totally unimportant except for being able to refer to 'unjustly prisoned red-shirts'. UDD leaders and in case of k. Jatuporn MP candidate, now that's what counts in a mass movement striving for democracy, justice and against double standards

[webfact]

Thailand's election race heats up as Reds rally

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, May 19, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's election battle got into full swing on Thursday as a mass opposition rally to mourn protesters killed in a military crackdown a year ago underscored simmering political tensions.

The vote, set for July 3, is shaping up to be a close fight pitting Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's establishment-backed Democrats against allies of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Thousands of opposition "Red Shirts" -- who are broadly loyal to Thaksin -- gathered in Bangkok to mark the first anniversary of a deadly military operation to break up their two-month rally, which sparked Thailand's worst political bloodshed in decades.

More than 90 people, mostly civilians, died in a series of street clashes between demonstrators and armed troops in April and May last year.

Relatives of the victims say they are still waiting for answers from the authorities about who was responsible.

Almost two thousand police officers were deployed for Thursday's gathering -- the latest in a series of one-day rallies in recent months that have ended peacefully -- with tens of thousands of people expected to attend.

"I couldn't miss this anniversary because many people sacrificed themselves at last year's protest," said Red Shirt supporter Soomboon Peng-In, a farmer from northeastern Thailand who made the long trip to Bangkok for the rally.

Abhisit says he hopes the upcoming election will help heal Thailand's festering political wounds but observers fear it could bring more unrest and possibly even another military coup if the opposition wins.

Registrations for candidates under the proportional representation system began on Thursday and the premier took two days' leave from his official duties to throw his hat in the ring to win a second term, and hit the campaign trail.

The British-born, Oxford-educated premier's party, Thailand's oldest, draws most of its support from Bangkok and the south but it has not won a general election in nearly two decades.

Abhisit took over as the head of a coalition government in a 2008 parliamentary vote after a judicial ruling threw out the previous administration, and he is accused by his political foes of being an unelected puppet of the military and the establishment.

His main rival in the lower house election race is Thaksin's youngest sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is the main opposition Puea Thai party's candidate for premier.

Parties affiliated to Thaksin have won the most seats in the past four elections, but courts reversed the results of the last two polls.

Puea Thai won a psychological victory Thursday when it was allocated the top spot on the ballot paper, selecting number one in a lottery to decide how 26 parties contesting the vote would be ranked. Democrats selected number 10.

If it wins, the opposition party is considering issuing an amnesty to politicians, including Thaksin, who have been charged or convicted.

But Yingluck denied her brother would get special treatment.

"I don't want people to only focus on an amnesty only. I want people to rely on reconciliation and justice first," the 43-year-old businesswoman told Thai TV. "Everything must be done by the rules, equally for everyone."

Although he lives abroad to escape a jail term imposed in absentia for corruption, Thaksin is widely considered the de facto leader of the Puea Thai party and his politically inexperienced sister is viewed as his proxy.

Puea Thai has wide support among the largely rural and working-class Red Shirts, who are mostly loyal to Thaksin.

The former telecoms tycoon is hailed by the Reds for his policies for the poor while in power, but he is reviled by the Thai ruling elite and faces terrorism charges, accused of bankrolling and inciting last year's protests.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-05-19

[jimbeam1]

Yes and I wonder how long it will be before they have another date to mark?

jb1

[rubl]

Following twitter a link showed a photo with the well know banner 'peaceful protesters, not terrorists' re-erected. I can only assume that's the case this time.

http://yfrog.com/h31vabmj

Also a photo with k. Natthawut. I assume he won't say too much to avoid his bail being revoked. I'm only wondering how his status as 'party list MP candidate' effects what he may or may not say and do now according to the 'election law'. This gathering is not a political gathering, just remembering the mayhem last year.

Edited May 19, 2011 by rubl

[dominique355]

Just got home after a meeting in the Grand Hyatt Erewan. I left the car parking at 3 pm and could drive (stop and go) down Rajadamri towards Rama IV.

The intersection of Ploenchit/Rama 1 with Rajadamri was partially closed, i.e. traffic from Ploenchit could turn left into Rajadamri only. All other directions from and to the intersection were blocked.

When I drove by the Four Seasons Hotel, big trucks loaded with Red Shirts and PA systems deployed in front of the Four Seasons shouting and waving flags.

Masses of Red Shirts walking from Rama IV towards Rajaprasong intersection. Traffic was under the control of Red Shirts, Police stood by, idle.

My impression was that these people seemed very aggressive and loaded, ready for violence.

But I hope I am wrong.

[Who, me ?]

Just got home after a meeting in the Grand Hyatt Erewan. I left the car parking at 3 pm and could drive (stop and go) down Rajadamri towards Rama IV.

The intersection of Ploenchit/Rama 1 with Rajadamri was partially closed, i.e. traffic from Ploenchit could turn left into Rajadamri only. All other directions from and to the intersection were blocked.

When I drove by the Four Seasons Hotel, big trucks loaded with Red Shirts and PA systems deployed in front of the Four Seasons shouting and waving flags.

Masses of Red Shirts walking from Rama IV towards Rajaprasong intersection. Traffic was under the control of Red Shirts, Police stood by, idle.

My impression was that these people seemed very aggressive and loaded, ready for violence.

But I hope I am wrong.

Nothing new here unfortunately. A bunch of aggressive thugs take control of the streets, in plain view of the money collectors .......... Seems like a re-run of what happened a year ago.

[givenall]

Seems like a great time they have! Traffic is a nightmare around there...certainly for the good of Thai people.

Good to read that some people come from far to give moral support to Jatuporn....Maybe they should take this opportunity to try and help the other reds still in jail, just to show them that there is no double standard among them....

I am doing a rain dance so may be it rains hard so these idiotsgo home and life in my neighborhood goes back to normal

[Who, me ?]

Seems like a great time they have! Traffic is a nightmare around there...certainly for the good of Thai people.

Good to read that some people come from far to give moral support to Jatuporn....Maybe they should take this opportunity to try and help the other reds still in jail, just to show them that there is no double standard among them....

I am doing a rain dance so may be it rains hard so these idiotsgo home and life in my neighborhood goes back to normal

It works....raining now in LangSuan road. Keep it coming !

[dinooz]

Well done its raining now

[steveromagnino]

Well, since the coup I got a couple of speeding tickets; I am all for this selective application of the law by majority rule approach that Peua Thai are promoting....as long as they also get me amnesty for my speeding tickets at the same time that they get Thaksin off all the political charges both the ones he's already been found guilty for and also the many he refuses to show up in court for.

I, like Thaksin and the red shirt leaders who deliberately and vindictively set fire to stuff, am fully aware I did wrong, but what the hell, let's declare amnesty for it, and it will prove that we are all equal.

Somehow.

Rama 4 looks absolutely jammed. Maybe if they declare amnesty of red lights, then the traffic can flow a bit better.

[webfact]

Red Shirts mark first anniversary of protest clampdown

BANGKOK, May 19 -- Supporters of Thailand’s anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirt movement, began gathering late Thursday afternoon at Ratchaprasong, Bangkok's prime business and shopping zone, to mark the anniversary of the May 19 protest clampdown.

Police closed Ratchadamri Road between Ratchaprasong, in front of CentralWorld Shopping Complex and Pratunam intersection to traffic after the large number of demonstrators caused snarled traffic.

CentralWorld announced its closure at 3pm and will reopen Friday. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) rerouted buses to avoid the rally site but BTS SkyTrain is operating normally.

The UDD is scheduled to begin its activities at 5pm and promises to end the rally by midnight tonight.

Acting UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth earlier said that the rally would be held to mark the death of 92 people who died during last year's protest and called on the government to take responsibility for the loss of life.

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

Meanwhile, Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association President Chai Srivikorn said the association was waiting to see how the authorities handle the demonstrators.

However, the association initally instructed staff of its department stores and shops to end their working hours early, at around 4pm, before the Red Shirt gathering, for their convenience in connecting with outgoing transportation.

He said some hotels reported that tourists had cancelled some 1,100 booked rooms causing damage of more than Bt5.1 million, and some functions were cancelled which cost the hotels losses of Bt1.7 million.

Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Prawuth Thawornsiri said 13 companies of uniformed and plainclothes police, including crowd-control specialists, have been deployed to ensure that the UDD gathering will be peaceful.

He said the authorities will not allow any traffic blockage and any speeches on 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. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-05-19

[givenall]

I really want to know how many of these people will show upto these events if there no compensation or a promise of compensation. My guesswill be very few

[mrtoad]

Just got home after a meeting in the Grand Hyatt Erewan. I left the car parking at 3 pm and could drive (stop and go) down Rajadamri towards Rama IV.

The intersection of Ploenchit/Rama 1 with Rajadamri was partially closed, i.e. traffic from Ploenchit could turn left into Rajadamri only. All other directions from and to the intersection were blocked.

When I drove by the Four Seasons Hotel, big trucks loaded with Red Shirts and PA systems deployed in front of the Four Seasons shouting and waving flags.

Masses of Red Shirts walking from Rama IV towards Rajaprasong intersection. Traffic was under the control of Red Shirts, Police stood by, idle.

My impression was that these people seemed very aggressive and loaded, ready for violence.

But I hope I am wrong.

History of The Red Shirts unfortunately says otherwise - they have rioted two years on the trot now, and wouldn't put it past them again. How the BIB allow any of these demo's to close down roads I have no idea - be it Yellow or Red. Unfortunately, whatever the outcome of the election one of the mobs will be out causing trouble.

[lopburi3]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

[rubl]

Acting UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth earlier said that the rally would be held to mark the death of 92 people who died during last year's protest and called on the government to take responsibility for the loss of life.

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

No word on 'government to take responsibility' like the UDD leaders have done. Probably because the UDD leaders haven't either. Still, saying sorry for the inconvenience today is a (very) small step in the right direction

Edited May 19, 2011 by rubl

[JamesGoyder]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

In the past I have posted photos from yellow shirt protests, red shirt protests and the fighting on the Thai Cambodian border on this forum. In many instances before similar pictures have been posted anywhere else online.

In future I won't bother.

Congratulations.

[mrtoad]

Acting UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth earlier said that the rally would be held to mark the death of 92 people who died during last year's protest and called on the government to take responsibility for the loss of life.

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

No word on 'government to take responsibility' like the UDD leaders have done. Probably because the UDD leaders haven't either. Still, saying sorry for the inconvenience today is a (very) small step in the right direction

"Sorry" is a pretty easy word to use - maybe they would like to take full responsibility for the riots that they have instigated over the past two years. Pretty unlikely though, considering their puppet master is a fugitive.

[gemini81]

[quote name=givenall' timestamp='1305802191'

I really want to know how many of these people will show upto these events if there no compensation or a promise of compensation. My guesswill be very few

then you underestimate the sheer ignorance and stupidity of these fools.

[JAG]

[quote name=givenall' timestamp='1305802191'

I really want to know how many of these people will show upto these events if there no compensation or a promise of compensation. My guesswill be very few

[/size]

then you underestimate the sheer ignorance and stupidity of these fools.

It's wrong to post URL marked photos, but it's OK to label a significant proportion of the people of this country as ignorant stupid fools?

[whybother]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

He isn't advertising. He's just making sure that no one else uses the photos without permission.

James, maybe you just need to watermark the photos with your name rather than the URL.

[mrtoad]

It's wrong to post URL marked photos, but it's OK to label a significant proportion of the people of this country as ignorant stupid fools?

I didn't realise that 30,000 people protesting and rioting represented a significant proportion of this country.

[mrtoad]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

In the past I have posted photos from yellow shirt protests, red shirt protests and the fighting on the Thai Cambodian border on this forum. In many instances before similar pictures have been posted anywhere else online.

In future I won't bother.

Congratulations.

That would be a shame - they are good photo's - sure there must be some compromise.

[rubl]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

In the past I have posted photos from yellow shirt protests, red shirt protests and the fighting on the Thai Cambodian border on this forum. In many instances before similar pictures have been posted anywhere else online.

In future I won't bother.

Congratulations.

That would be a shame - they are good photo's - sure there must be some compromise.

Maybe just having "© 2011 James Goyder" instead of the web link would be sufficient ? It would reflect the member's name and the copyright claim.

[JamesGoyder]

Several photo posts with advertising URL have been removed - please do not post URL marked photos. Thanks.

In the past I have posted photos from yellow shirt protests, red shirt protests and the fighting on the Thai Cambodian border on this forum. In many instances before similar pictures have been posted anywhere else online.

In future I won't bother.

Congratulations.

That would be a shame - they are good photo's - sure there must be some compromise.

Maybe just having "© 2011 James Goyder" instead of the web link would be sufficient ? It would reflect the member's name and the copyright claim.

I use the watermarked photos in a lot of different places and I don't really have time to watermark my photos twice, once for thai visa and once for the rest of the world so I just won't post them on Thai Visa anymore.

TV effectively had a choice between getting good quality photos of major newsworthy events uploaded onto their forums rapidly with my website watermark on or getting nothing at all from me and it seems like they have opted for the latter.

It's a shame because if you look through my posts, assuming they haven't all been deleted by now, you will see that i was uploading pics fairly regularly.

[lungmi]

Innocent question of a Buddhist, The ceremony of the monks included the victims killed by reds or associated reds too?

If not there has been a lot of fake monks.

[mrtoad]

I use the watermarked photos in a lot of different places and I don't really have time to watermark my photos twice, once for thai visa and once for the rest of the world so I just won't post them on Thai Visa anymore.

TV effectively had a choice between getting good quality photos of major newsworthy events uploaded onto their forums rapidly with my website watermark on or getting nothing at all from me and it seems like they have opted for the latter.

It's a shame because if you look through my posts, assuming they haven't all been deleted by now, you will see that i was uploading pics fairly regularly.

It is a shame James, getting good quality pics on this site like yours is certainly a benefit.

[hyperdimension]

It's wrong to post URL marked photos, but it's OK to label a significant proportion of the people of this country as ignorant stupid fools?

I didn't realise that 30,000 people protesting and rioting represented a significant proportion of this country.

30,000 people might look like a lot, particularly if they are all wearing the same color, but it's only 0.045% of the population of Thailand.

Edited May 19, 2011 by hyperdimension

[Macmundi]

The terrorists are back and they have taken the business district hostage again. Blocking other people's right of way and obstructing other people's way of life is clear sign of terrorism. I hope the army (black or green I don't care) comes out and shoot them down again.