Security tightened at Constitution Court for Friday’s charter bill ruling

[Lite Beer]

Security tightened at Constitution Court for Friday’s charter bill ruling

BANGKOK, July 11 - Thirteen companies of police have been readied to provide security on Friday when Thailand’s Constitution Court delivers its verdict on the government-sponsored charter amendment bill’s constitutionality, according to National Police Chief Pol Gen Prewpan Dhamapong.

Gen Prewpan said on Wednesday that the National Police Bureau will deploy 13 companies of police at the Constitution Court on Friday and he is confident that the police can handle the situation.

But the police chief said he is personally worried about the post-ruling situation as groups who are dissatisfied with the court verdict might demonstrate their disapproval.

Regarding the judges' safety, Gen Prewpan said he had assigned police units to provide protection to all the court judges upon their request.

The Constitution Court, after finishing two days of witness testimony on Friday, told the proponents and opponents of the Constitution amendment bill to give their written closing statements to the court by today, and that the court would deliver its ruling at 2pm on Friday.

The judges will rule whether the bill to amend Article 291 of the Constitution contravenes Section 68.

The opposition claimed the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s move to amend Article 291 to set up a drafting committee is tantamount to an attempt to topple the constitutional monarchy.

A panel of eight judges only will hand down their verdict as the ninth justice, Jaran Pukditanakul, last Thursday withdrew from the case.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai party spokesperson Prompong Nopparit told a news conference on Wednesday that the party legal team was assigned to submit the closing statement to the court.

He said the party was confident that the proponents of the charter amendment bill have given complete statement and testimony to support that the bill to amend Article 291 of the Constitution did not contravene Section 68.

Mr Prompong said that he did not intend to pressure the judges but said the court shouldn't have accepted the case for consideration at the first place.

He also urged all civic groups not to rally at the court, and to avoid confrontation which could open way for a "third party" to intervene and cause an untoward incident.

Mr Prompong also denied the opposition Democrat Party's claim that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra plans to visit Cambodia on the same day as the verdict will be given to avoid responsibility, saying the premier must perform her duties.

Prime Minister Yingluck's trip to Cambodia has no hidden agenda, he stated. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-11

[maeab]

Yes she should perform her duties for thailand first.

[Thaddeus]

Gen Prewpan said on Wednesday that the National Police Bureau will deploy 13 companies of police at the Constitution Court on Friday

Why 13?

Is this just more superstitious mumbo jumbo.

[Skywalker69]

Yes she should perform her duties for thailand first.

Will never happen, her lojalty lies elsewhere.

[h90]

To note that National Police Chief Pol Gen Prewpan Dhamapong is Thaksins brother in law.

[mrtoad]

Yes she should perform her duties for thailand first.

Will never happen, her lojalty lies elsewhere.

In Dubai

[h90]

Yes she should perform her duties for thailand first.

duties for Thailand???

[bigbamboo]

Why did the ninth judge withdraw from the case?

[Thaddeus]

Why did the ninth judge withdraw from the case?

So that the result could be a draw and the pantomime continues.

[hellodolly]

"Gen Prewpan said on Wednesday that the National Police Bureau will deploy 13 companies of police at the Constitution Court on Friday and he is confident that the police can handle the situation."

Like they did in 2010

There should be a law preventing a vote by a even number of judges. They should have one on stand by to step in if needed. A tie vote will just allow the wound to fester longer.

It is indeed a sad day for Thailand when they have to call out the police or army to protect judges who don't rule the way certain people in Dubai want them to decide one way or there will be civil war.

[Moruya]

"Gen Prewpan said on Wednesday that the National Police Bureau will deploy 13 companies of police at the Constitution Court on Friday and he is confident that the police can handle the situation."

Like they did in 2010

There should be a law preventing a vote by a even number of judges. They should have one on stand by to step in if needed. A tie vote will just allow the wound to fester longer.

It is indeed a sad day for Thailand when they have to call out the police or army to protect judges who don't rule the way certain people in Dubai want them to decide one way or there will be civil war.

Poachers guarding the gamekeepers

[webfact]

Tight security for verdict

The Nation

Red-shirt leader Kokaew Pikulthong warns of 'all-out war' if Constitution Court blocks charter change.

BANGKOK: -- Preventive and back-up measures in place; no emergency law planned but Army ready to help police if required; Red-shirt leader Kokaew Pikulthong warns of 'all-out war' if Constitution Court blocks charter change

Security has been beefed up at the Constitution Court in a government complex in northern Bangkok, and the Royal Plaza to cope with anticipated rallies by either red shirts or their opponents for the much-awaited verdict tomorrow.

People gathering will be allowed in an area only at the front of the court, where a live televised reading of the verdict will be arranged, senior police commander Pol Maj-General Parinya Jansuriya said. Four companies of anti-riot policemen are being deployed inside the court compound while another nine companies are ready to prevent clashes between gatherers disagreeing with the verdict.

Extra police force will be stationed at the Royal Plaza, where a large number of taxis will converge this afternoon until tomorrow morning, the officer said. "The taxi drivers will possibly continue their rally over the weekend if the verdict is not in their favour," he added.

Deputy Prime Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha said the authorities have contingency plans to ensure peace after the verdict. "The security and all preventive measures will be put in place starting today, the eve of the verdict day," he added.

In case political violence erupts, the military will take charge in shielding and evacuating the judges, he said.

He said three companies of policemen, on alert for deployment, would be inadequate for crowd control if the rival camps mobilise their supporters.

The government has instructed the police to prepare reinforcement anti-riot forces if deemed necessary, said Yuthasak.

At this juncture, existing security agencies can cope with the situation and there is no justification to invoke the emergency law, he said.

opposing camps

Yuthasak said his concern was not about rallies tomorrow, the day of verdict, but the post-verdict situation after the opposing camps had the time to plan and execute their course of action.

Yuthasak chaired a meeting of all military and civilian intelligence units to discuss security measures, and the meeting's conclusion was, in his words, "to anticipate incidents, rather than be careless and stay put".

Among security measures are a ban on alcoholic drinks at the site, and a total restriction on rival groups entering the Constitution Court compound. Asked whether the travel of red shirts from outside Bangkok would be banned, Yuthasak said the movement in the provinces was still not very active.

"The rallies on the day should not involve many people, but after the verdict is read out, that is what we have to be very careful about," he added. He said there would be no need to use special laws, although troops from the Supreme Command or the Armed Forces had been readied for possible evacuation of the judges, in addition to deployment of policemen.

He said no formal request had been made to the military for other support, but the troops were ever-ready to assist policemen, upon request.

Asked whether as a member of the Pheu Thai government he would use his connections and seek cooperation from red shirts, Yuthasak said the party had worked jointly with them, but he was not aware of any talks between the red masses and the party.

The red shirts earlier threatened to execute a citizen arrest of the high court judges if tomorrow's verdict blocks the charter amendment bill, Pheu Thai MP Kokaew Pikulthong said yesterday.

"I am going to fight and the red shirts are ready to bid farewell to their families to wage an all-out war," he said.

Kokaew reminded the Constitution Court that the people would not accept a judicial decision that interpreted the push for charter change as an attempt to topple democratic rule.

He said he was still optimistic that the verdict would be acceptable to all sides such as a caution against a complete rewrite of the charter.

The red shirts would not react before having the time to study the verdict, he said.

(click for larger image)

In the worst-case scenario of an unfavourable verdict, the red shirts would take action on their own if the police refused to arrest the judges for usurping power from an elected government, he said.

He said the government's opponents might try to mobilise the masses to shield the high court and counter the red shirts. And this would likely lead to a street battle that would, in turn, trigger a military intervention, he added.

"If there is a coup, the red shirts will fight to the bitter end," he said, warning of tragic losses.

Pheu Thai MP Weng Tojirakarn urged a faction of the red shirts to cancel a plan to encamp at the Royal Plaza ahead of tomorrow's verdict. "All the reds should not mobilise before their leaders decided on the timing," he said.

He stated that any actions taken by the red shirts should not be construed as applying pressure to sway the verdict. People have the right to air their opinions if they see the high court as transgressing on the separation of powers between the legislature, the government and the judiciary, he said.

The high court has to rule within its jurisdiction granted by the Constitution, otherwise its decision would be unconstitutional, he said.

Another coalition MP, Worachai Hama, said millions of red shirts would descend on the streets to dismantle the high court if the verdict were unjust and unlawful.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva urged the government to rein in the red shirts.

"It is unacceptable to condone the red shirts harassing the high court under the guise of freedom of expression," he said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's indifference might be a wrong signal to the red shirts who often rally beyond the sanction of the law then renounce their involvement later, he said.

He said he saw no justification in allowing the red shirts to carry on threatening the high court should the verdict be unfavourable.

The government had no excuse to ignore the political volatility as all prevailing disputes could be traced back to the coalition's initiatives on charter change and reconciliation, he said.

Opponents and proponents have mapped out plans to react to the verdict, seen as either negative or positive depending on the respective views of the opposing camps, and the authorities will have to take every precaution to foil any attempts to instigate political violence, he said.

-- The Nation 2012-07-12

[Jingthing]

... Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's indifference ...

Classic.

[cougar52]

I for one hope both sides of the color divide, would just get after it and end this B/S , how many times have I heard this vacant statement:

"If there is a coup, the red shirts will fight to the bitter end,"

Just go after it to the bitter end, don't stop.

[ThaiOats]

So if the military doesn't mobilize or mobilize against the Red shirts only they will say "AH HA! See!? The ammarts and military are against us!". If the military mobilizes against the Non-red shirts, it contradicts what the Red-Shirt goons have been spouting all this time. So which is it?

[Moruya]

There is no law.

There is no government

Just anarchic and fascist red shirts

[SuneeTH]

There is no law.

There is no government

Just anarchic and fascist red shirts

I hope no people die that day; which is quite impossible.

[Thai at Heart]

I am starting to believe that the Singaporean system of not allowing large public demonstrations is good. And I never ever though I would say such a thing.

Public demonstrations over 300 should need a license, cannot block public thoroughfares, no sit ins allowed, those above 500 must have a police escort and cannot cause disruption to traffic flow. They can march around Lumpini for all I care.

[thaicbr]

Why did the ninth judge withdraw from the case?

He withdrew because of remarks made earlier in statements could be construed to mean he had already made up his mind (which he refutes)

So a possible conflict of interest. Unlike our current prime minister who stands to gain 900 million Bahrain if this goes through. But that's NOT a conflict of interest according to Phua Thai :blink:

Sent from my GT-P1010 using Thaivisa Connect App

[Moruya]

There is no law.

There is no government

Just anarchic and fascist red shirts

I hope no people die that day; which is quite impossible.

Do you have a wish list?

[khunken]

I would strongly advise any Bangkok expat whose 90-day or visa extension requires renewal to postpone the process until Monday. BKK Immigration is rather too close for comfort to the CC.

[h90]

I am starting to believe that the Singaporean system of not allowing large public demonstrations is good. And I never ever though I would say such a thing.

Public demonstrations over 300 should need a license, cannot block public thoroughfares, no sit ins allowed, those above 500 must have a police escort and cannot cause disruption to traffic flow. They can march around Lumpini for all I care.

And Thaksin as lifetime dictator

[atyclb]

You know they are really getting serious about security when the MRT security staff are transferred to roles outside the constitution court.

Edited July 12, 2012 by atyclb

[samsiam]

You know they are really getting serious about security when the MRT security staff are transferred to roles outside the constitution court.

God help anyone with balloons...

[animatic]

In the worst-case scenario of an unfavourable verdict, the red shirts would take action on their own if the police refused to arrest the judges for usurping power from an elected government, he said.

He said the government's opponents might try to mobilise the masses to shield the high court and counter the red shirts. And this would likely lead to a street battle that would, in turn, trigger a military intervention, he added.

"If there is a coup, the red shirts will fight to the bitter end," he said, warning of tragic losses.

So lets see 'the law' and 'the courts' is not enough

if the 'Red Shirt mob leadership' doesn't like it,

so they 'usurp the right to take the judges hostage'?

They will 'see themselves as above the police and the army

and all other government functions if the don't like them';

if they don't get their own way.

Well if "the masses" are mobilized against the red shirts,

then they can't be representative of the whole country can they?

'We don't represent 'all the masses', just our masses'.

All other masses don't count. Forget that logic conundrum.

So basically;

if these Red shirt's actions trigger opposition, and further the army to restore order,

then they will order their redshirt members to fight the army,

and anyone else, "to the death"

to install 'Red Shirt Control of the Court System',

thus usurping that checks and balances mechanism.

Doesn't this sound like treason against the government of Thailand"

Which is tripartate; Legislative, Executive and Judiciary.

Not just the PM, and not just the largest minority party.

And not just one sides interpretation of laws.

Edited July 12, 2012 by animatic

[waza]

amazing year of miracle thailand, never a dull moment.