Bangkok Police Plays Down Firecracker Blast In Front Of Pitak Sayam Leader's Home

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POLITICS

Police plays down firecracker blast in front of Pitak Sayam leader's home Monday

The Nation

File photo : Boonlert

BANGKOK: -- A giant firecracker exploded in front of the house of an anti-government rally leader on Monday evening while Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung told red shirts not to hold a rally to counter the November 23 protest.

However, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Kamronvit Thupkrajang played down the firecracker exploding in front of the house of Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the leader of the Pitak Sayam movement, saying it was a normal incident in the lead up to the Loy Krathong festival.

A soldier guarding Boonlert's house alerted police that the firecracker was thrown in front of Boonlert's house on Soi Sukhumvit 54 at 8pm Monday night.

Boonlert has planned a second rally against the government at the Royal Plaza on November 24.

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

-- The Nation 2012-11-13

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Dept PM Chalerm: 50,000 police to be deployed to ensure law and order at anti-govt Pitak Siam group mass rally at Royal Plaza Nov 24 /MCOT

[Payboy]

A giant firecracker exploded in front of the house of an anti-government rally leader on Monday evening

Just need to follow those giant footsteps to find the culprit.

[OzMick]

I wonder if the good general would be so nonchalant if giant firecrackers started going off outside his house?

One thing you have to say about Chalerm, he has subtlety down to a fine art.

[jonclark]

Wonder what the police response would have been if a giant firecracker had gone off in front of the home of say Tida - fairly sure it wouldn't have been brushed aside as a normal part of the Loy Kratong build up.

This rally might, just might turn out to be an absolute whopper with hundreds of thousands of people, maybe not 1 million, but it could be a monster, whose size might actually force a bit of self reflection on the part of the government.

[waza]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

[OzMick]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

[h90]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

which increases the logistic problems....Thaksin pays for 100.000 people, just 20.000 arrive rest of the money disappears....without colors it may get even worse.

[JeremyBowskill]

from now until the end of loi krathong i'm predicting 9 going off in front of my house, the count is up to 3 already.

[carra]

its a firecracker, its hardly sending the troops in with live ammo and shoot to kill orders.

On another note, who is paying for the soldier to stand guard outside his house?

[tomross46]

Could the large fire cracker have been made from C4 or TNT? I am sure that Bangkok CSI has gathered up all the data and an arrest will be soon.

[DocN]

...and so it begins....

[Pimay1]

...and so it begins....

I'm afraid so DocN. I hope the reds don't trash my car again like the last time. If I see any of them manning a roadblock it is going to be instant uturn if possible.

[OzMick]

...and so it begins....

I'm afraid so DocN. I hope the reds don't trash my car again like the last time. If I see any of them manning a roadblock it is going to be instant uturn if possible.

NSW Premier Robert Askin has some excellent advice for situations such as you describe.

[asiawatcher]

Simple intimidation. Please describe a 'giant firecracker?'

[Nickymaster]

its a firecracker, its hardly sending the troops in with live ammo and shoot to kill orders.

On another note, who is paying for the soldier to stand guard outside his house?

So let's hope they don't step it up to RPGs.

[whybother]

its a firecracker, its hardly sending the troops in with live ammo and shoot to kill orders.

Why would they send troops in to shoot someone letting off a fire cracker? It's not like they were shooting guns or firing grenades like 2010.

[Rich teacher]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

Read between these lines ; leave your yellowy-green glasses at home.

[OzMick]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

Read between these lines ; leave your yellowy-green glasses at home.

I'm quite serious. Blaming things on "fake' redshirts just wasn't/isn't credible, to the discerning at least.

[Sunderland]

Dept PM Chalerm: 50,000 police to be deployed to ensure law and order at anti-govt Pitak Siam group mass rally at Royal Plaza Nov 24 /MCOT

50,000 police?????? The Daily Telegraph in a 2009 report on recruiting female officers mentioned there were 250,000 police in the Royal Thai Police. If that figure is still roughly correct it is quite a big thing to have 20% of the nation's police force deployed for a rally that might draw a crowd of 50,000-100,000 if a lot of people decide to go. One police office for every 1-2 protesters. An over-reaction perhaps?

Edited November 13, 2012 by Sunderland

[GentlemanJim]

Just things to look forward to. I guess the guards need to don hazmat suits as no doubt it wont be long before there are bags of Blood - pigs - childrens, menstrual and HIV infected being lobbed all over the MP's garden. The PTP guys are terrified of a peoples revolution because they all know that if they don't leg it out the country, they will be in the slammer quicker than you can say Grand Theft.

[GentlemanJim]

its a firecracker, its hardly sending the troops in with live ammo and shoot to kill orders.

On another note, who is paying for the soldier to stand guard outside his house?

No, but it was definitely a large fire cracker, which will kill and maim, whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders, even though when there was anarchy, mob rule and an attempt to overthrow the Government and burn down Bangkok they would have been completely within their rights to do so.

If the Government can squander 200 Billion of tax payers money on a corrupt rice pledging scheme, then a 1000 baht a day for some conscripts to guard a party leaders house is neither here nor there really is it,

[rubl]

A giant firecracker, just the droll sense of humour we all love when visiting relatives in the boondocks and other parts of jungle.

Who's the next 'in the news' figure to ask for some fireworks ?

[philw]

its a firecracker, its hardly sending the troops in with live ammo and shoot to kill orders.

On another note, who is paying for the soldier to stand guard outside his house?

No, but it was definitely a large fire cracker, which will kill and maim, whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders, even though when there was anarchy, mob rule and an attempt to overthrow the Government and burn down Bangkok they would have been completely within their rights to do so.

If the Government can squander 200 Billion of tax payers money on a corrupt rice pledging scheme, then a 1000 baht a day for some conscripts to guard a party leaders house is neither here nor there really is it,

".......whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders........"

How can you say such a patent untruth ???

[Rich teacher]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

Read between these lines ; leave your yellowy-green glasses at home.

I'm quite serious. Blaming things on "fake' redshirts just wasn't/isn't credible, to the discerning at least.

How about leaving their green shirts behind like the military officers that attacked Abhisit's car?

[Rich teacher]

No, but it was definitely a large fire cracker, which will kill and maim, whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders, even though when there was anarchy, mob rule and an attempt to overthrow the Government and burn down Bangkok they would have been completely within their rights to do so.

If the Government can squander 200 Billion of tax payers money on a corrupt rice pledging scheme, then a 1000 baht a day for some conscripts to guard a party leaders house is neither here nor there really is it,

Since when is Boonlert a 'party leader'? A buffoon leader perhaps.

[philw]

No, but it was definitely a large fire cracker, which will kill and maim, whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders, even though when there was anarchy, mob rule and an attempt to overthrow the Government and burn down Bangkok they would have been completely within their rights to do so.

If the Government can squander 200 Billion of tax payers money on a corrupt rice pledging scheme, then a 1000 baht a day for some conscripts to guard a party leaders house is neither here nor there really is it,

Since when is Boonlert a 'party leader'? A buffoon leader perhaps.

Thank you.

Nice one for stating the obvious, which is often overlooked on this forum.

To some on here Boonlert is democracy in action , with his calls for a military overthrow of an elected government..........

Think I'll have a few more gin and tonics and drive the kids home....................

What say you to that, gentleman jim ??

[waza]

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create a situation by causing violence during the rally so he did not want any red shirt group to hold counter demonstrations in Bangkok.

Not those imaginary blackshirts again?

You have to read between the lines. It actually means "Go for it, but leave your red shirts at home."

Actually when I read between the lines it says, you can go but not as a redshirt because Thaksin wont provide any funding.

[whybother]

No, but it was definitely a large fire cracker, which will kill and maim, whereas the 'last lot' did not send in troops with live ammo and shoot to kill orders, even though when there was anarchy, mob rule and an attempt to overthrow the Government and burn down Bangkok they would have been completely within their rights to do so.

If the Government can squander 200 Billion of tax payers money on a corrupt rice pledging scheme, then a 1000 baht a day for some conscripts to guard a party leaders house is neither here nor there really is it,

Since when is Boonlert a 'party leader'? A buffoon leader perhaps.

Thank you.

Nice one for stating the obvious, which is often overlooked on this forum.

To some on here Boonlert is democracy in action , with his calls for a military overthrow of an elected government..........

Think I'll have a few more gin and tonics and drive the kids home....................

What say you to that, gentleman jim ??

Democracy in action: "Step down or we will burn Bangkok".

<i>Sent from my HTC phone.</i>

[webfact]

UPDATE

POLITICS

Security alert at home of anti-govt rally leader

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A giant firecracker exploded in front of the house of an anti-government rally leader ahead of a mass demonstration later this month in which some 50,000 policemen will be deployed to keep security.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday revealed that 50,000 force members would be used to keep law and order. He also told red shirts not to hold a rally to counter the November 23 protest.

The firecracker exploded in front of the house of General Boonlert Kaewprasit, leader of the Pitak Sayam movement, on Sukhumvit Soi 54 at 8pm Monday night.

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Kamronvit Thupkrajang played down the firecracker explosion, saying it was a normal incident before the Loy Krathong festival.

A soldier guarding Boonlert's house alerted police when the firecracker was thrown on the road in front of Boonlert's house and exploded. Police rushed to the scene and found no suspect.

Boonlert has planned the second rally against the government at the Royal Plaza on November 24. The rally is expected to draw more protesters than the first rally at the Royal Turf Club last month where more than 10,000 people had gathered. The People's Alliance for Democracy has given the go-ahead for yellow-shirt people to join the Boonlert-led rally.

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create an ugly situation by causing violence during the rally hence he did not want any red-shirt group to hold a counter-demonstration in Bangkok.

Earlier, Sangiam Samranrat, a leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship in Chumphon, announced he would lead red shirts from his province to hold a demonstration to counter Boonlert's group.

Chalerm said Sangiam had been told by core Pheu Thai members to cancel the plan.

"I believe no red shirts would travel to the rally site. But what I am worried about is that intelligence operations of police and security agencies have learned that a third party may try to create a disturbance," Chalerm said.

He said if a third party caused a violent incident, it would be difficult for the police to control the situation.

Chalerm said he had assigned Police Commissioner-General Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew to be in full charge of the operations to keep security during the demonstration on November 24.

Chalerm said police and security agencies expected that there would be some 50,000 demonstrators so Adul would deploy enough policemen to control the situation.

Chalerm said police commissioners nationwide would gather at Government House and Parliament to monitor the situation on the demonstration day.

Chalerm said police would also prepare an exit for MPs to leave Parlia-ment if the Boonlert-led protesters tried to storm into the Parliament compound on November 25 when the Opposition holds a no-confidence debate against the government.

Phetchawat Watanapongsirikul, an adviser to the social development and human security minister, said his Rak Chiang Mai group had some 5,000 red shirts on stand by. He said if Boonlert's group created a disturbance, the 5,000 red shirts would reach Bangkok in two hours to counter the group.

-- The Nation 2012-11-14