Thai Cabinet Members To Go On Standby During Anti-Govt Rally In Bangkok

[webfact]

Cabinet members to go on standby during anti-govt rally

The Nation

BANGKOK: - Nine Cabinet members will be on standby to convene an urgent meeting over the weekend should the anti-government rally, expected to attract up to 50,000 people, escalate into violence.

The National Security Council expects some 40,000 demonstrators to join the rally organised by Pitak Siam leader General Boonlert Kaewprasit at the Royal Plaza on Saturday, though police believe 50,000 people will show up.

Deputy Government Spokesman Pakdiharn Himathongkham said Deputy PrM Chalerm Yoobamrung has told eight fellow Cabinet members to go on standby in case the government needs to put the capital under emergency rule. Chalerm will also be on standby, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet members on standby are Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Deputy PM and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suvanadat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

Pakdiharn said Atchaporn Jarujinda, secretary general of the Office of the Council of State, has also be told to be available in case the Cabinet needs legal advice on measures that can be taken to deal with protesters.

The spokesman said Chalerm had told the Cabinet at the weekly meeting yesterday that the government would deal with protesters in line with the nine-step master plan, adding that the police commissioner-general would be informed of the master plan.

He said the rally would also be broadcast live on TV so the public is informed of the situation in order to keep the public informed of the situation and the measures being taken to deal with the protesters. He added that some 5,000 to 8,000 police officers would be deployed to guard Government House during the rally.

Meanwhile, NSC secretary-general Lt-General Paradorn Pattanathabutr said his agency expected at least 40,000 protesters to show up at the rally. He said Chalerm had voiced concern at a meeting with the Internal Security Operations Command that a third party might try to create a situation during the rally.

Paradorn added that Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke had also allegedly heard that certain red-shirt groups would be hired to create violence against Pitak Siam protesters, hence the government will try to speak to red-shirt leaders and have them control their groups.

He added that the police, military and civilian intelligence sources had learned that a group of the government's opponents had prepared some 3,000 to 4,000 members of the red-shirt movement to create problems.

The NSC chief said the government also expected red-shirt leaders to hold a parallel demonstration at a site that is far from the Royal Plaza, hence a clash between the two groups can be prevented.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo said the Special Branch Police expected more than 50,000 people to take part in the protest, adding that people were believed to have been given between Bt300 and Bt1,500 to join the rally.

The demonstrators have also allegedly been told to prepare basic necessities so they can stay at the protest site for a few days, Piya said. They have also allegedly been told to bring along swimming goggles to protect themselves against tear gas.

Piya said Police Commissioner General Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew had prepared 112 companies comprising 16,800 policemen to maintain security around the rally site. He said 23,000 civilian volunteers will also be on standby at 192 Bangkok police stations, ready to be deployed if police need help to control the situation.

-- The Nation 2012-11- 21

[Thai at Heart]

he demonstrators have also allegedly been told to prepare basic necessities so they can stay at the protest site for a few days

Here we go again

[slapout]

If they have 16,000 police and 23,000 civilians prepared to roam the streets, they may need the army to contol/provide security for this mob. We have been promised two anti/pro government rallies with numbers of 50, 000 to 1,000,000 bandied around plus the potential instigators (low thousands) and 9 cabinat members are on stand by to solve any potential problems.

My confidense in anyone having a real plan, is waning, as there has been no committee appointed to oversee this dog and pony show.

[thaicbr]

Why would they need civilian volunteers????

Is that another way of saying we are bringing 23000 red shirts???

sent from my Q6

[OzMick]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

[ridkun]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

They are drawing their salary by doing nothing already. You should be glad they are even proposing to go on standby this time.

[ratcatcher]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

Standby is what they will be doing this coming weekend,.

Sit by is what they usually do. In both cases little or nothing is,or will be, achieved.

Edited November 21, 2012 by ratcatcher

[Pimay1]

Paradorn added that Deputy Interior Minister Chatt Kuldiloke had also allegedly heard that certain red-shirt groups would be hired to create violence

Now that would be a first .

[Buchholz]

.

It doesn't bode well for the situation, when there's such dramatically different and conflicting information being put out by those supposedly in charge...

Police Commissioner General Police General Adul Saengsingkaew had prepared 112 companies comprising 16,800 policemen

Chalerm said the 50,000-strong Police are assigned to keep order at the site

So, it looks like the standby tally may be :

9 Cabinet Ministers / 50,000 Police / 23,000 Police Volunteers / 200,000 Red Shirts

in response to :

NSC expects some 40,000 demonstrators

Saturday will indeed be interesting.

.

Edited November 21, 2012 by Buchholz

[rubl]

It is just me, or is all the hype build-up on violence alleged by government, Pheu Thai MPs, UDD leaders, other red-shirts and police ?

May be it's time to read a good book instead

[billd766]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

They are drawing their salary by doing nothing already. You should be glad they are even proposing to go on standby this time.

Because they are already being paid this will be overtime at time and a half for Saturday, double time for Sunday plus hazardous duty pay as well at triple rates.

Nice little earner for some.

[waza]

.

It doesn't bode well for the situation, when there's such dramatically different and conflicting information being put out by those supposedly in charge...

Police Commissioner General Police General Adul Saengsingkaew had prepared 112 companies comprising 16,800 policemen

Chalerm said the 50,000-strong Police are assigned to keep order at the site

So, it looks like the standby tally may be :

9 Cabinet Ministers / 50,000 Police / 23,000 Police Volunteers / 200,000 Red Shirts

in response to :

NSC expects some 40,000 demonstrators

Saturday will indeed be interesting.

.

Ditto

[siampolee]

Where on earth is that redoubtable vocal character Chalerm, packing the boot of his pink Berntley with run money perhaps.

Do we actually have a Prime Minster,, surely if there is a presumed crisis the Prime Minister should be to the forefront in the ministirial line up ?

Perhaps the word has gone out that the Dubai connection doesn't want sister involved as he and the family might be shown to be losing control if the protest situation develops into a full grown action, peaceful or bloody to the detriment of the current maladministration..

Edited November 21, 2012 by siampolee

[rubl]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

They are drawing their salary by doing nothing already. You should be glad they are even proposing to go on standby this time.

Because they are already being paid this will be overtime at time and a half for Saturday, double time for Sunday plus hazardous duty pay as well at triple rates.

Nice little earner for some.

In commercial companies in Thailand above a certain function / salary level no OT is paid. I would assume that's the same with government workers like cabinet members and the like. Lots of the 50,000 police officers are probably still in the OT scales and may like the chance to earn a bit more on top of their miserable salary (which is in many cases really miserable IMHO). Just before the end of the month those driving cars or motorcycles may also appreciate the gesture made by the government, although personally I would see that as wishful thinking.

[RogueExpat]

Do we actually have a Prime Minster,, surely if there is a presumed crisis the Prime Minister should be to the forefront in the ministirial line up ?

Only ministers loyal to Thaksin allowed, others who are likely to get verbal diarhea when put in a stressful environment are to be kept as far from the action as possible.

Couldn't have indecisiveness at a critical moment now, could we?

[Buchholz]

Chalerm will also be on standby, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet members on standby are Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Deputy PM and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suvanadat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

A veritable Dream Team of Yingluck's best and brightest :

,

[Pimay1]

Where on earth is that redoubtable vocal character Chalerm, packing the boot of his pink Berntley with run money perhaps.

Do we actually have a Prime Minster,, surely if there is a presumed crisis the Prime Minister should be to the forefront in the ministirial line up ?

Perhaps the word has gone out that the Dubai connection doesn't want sister involved as he and the family might be shown to be losing control if the protest situation develops into a full grown action, peaceful or bloody to the detriment of the current maladministration..

I expect Chalerm and his two fine upstanding sons keep a current valid one year airline ticket to a foreign country to be used at any time. After all it would not be the first time this human model of decency fled Thailand to keep from going to prison.

[khunken]

Yes, but who are these 23,000 civilian volunteers?

The BIB are bad enough when it comes to controlling protest groups, but what training have these volunteers received?

Everything I've seen so far from the government & red shirts is totally chaotic. All sorts of conflicting statements about numbers of police, will the red-shirts or won't they interfere and wild estimates of how many protesters will arrive.

It almost looks like PTP want violence to occur so they have an excuse to 'sort out' any opposition that poses a threat to their power.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

In commercial companies in Thailand above a certain function / salary level no OT is paid.

Point well taken, but the above is an incorrect statement of Thai labor law. Even senior managers are entitled to OT. See section 23 of the Labor Protection Act of 1998 which provides no exemptions to the payment of OT wages.

[Moruya]

So there will be a collection of these old moribund fossils propped up on their chaises longues with dim red LEDs indicating that they are still functioning waiting for someone to wave the magic wand and bring them back to life.

Then what?

[Stradavarius37]

Chalerm will also be on standby, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet members on standby are Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Deputy PM and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suvanadat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

A veritable Dream Team of Yingluck's best and brightest :

,

You forgot my dude!

[Pimay1]

Chalerm will also be on standby, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet members on standby are Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Deputy PM and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suvanadat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

A veritable Dream Team of Yingluck's best and brightest :

,

You forgot my dude!

To the life of me I cannot undrstand how anyone that has any principles of honor, integrity and truth can support and/or apologize for this gang of miscreants including Yingluck and Thaksin. Criminals, cheats, thieves and the list goes on.

[phuturatica]

Oh great... This is happening on the road where I live!

[Old Man River]

It is just me, or is all the hype build-up on violence alleged by government, Pheu Thai MPs, UDD leaders, other red-shirts and police ?

May be it's time to read a good book instead

In my opinion, the PTP is trying to govern. The opposition, having lost a democratic election, is exercising their democratic rights to demonstrate. So far, no problem. However, some (not all) of the UDD leaders (Jaturporn etc.) are unhappy with the PTP as they haven't been given the ministerial positions they expected. Hence, some of the UDD leaders are looking for any excuse to cause trouble. These are the ones that the government is afraid of, but cannot be seen publicly to not be supporting. If the PTP wanted Jaturporn et. al. in ministerial positions, they would already be there. What should be a peaceful demonstration could well turn out to be a powder keg. If there is trouble, the UDD will blame the opposition, the opposition will blame the UDD and the PTP will continue to be caught in the middle.

[waza]

Chalerm will also be on standby, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet members on standby are Deputy PM Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Deputy PM and Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana, Defence Minister Sukampol Suwannathat, Deputy Transport Minister General Prin Suvanadat, Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan, Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee and PM's Office Minister Varathep Ratanakorn.

A veritable Dream Team of Yingluck's best and brightest :

,

You forgot my dude!

[billd766]

Standby? Is that when they are doing nothing but still drawing a salary?

They are drawing their salary by doing nothing already. You should be glad they are even proposing to go on standby this time.

Because they are already being paid this will be overtime at time and a half for Saturday, double time for Sunday plus hazardous duty pay as well at triple rates.

Nice little earner for some.

In commercial companies in Thailand above a certain function / salary level no OT is paid. I would assume that's the same with government workers like cabinet members and the like. Lots of the 50,000 police officers are probably still in the OT scales and may like the chance to earn a bit more on top of their miserable salary (which is in many cases really miserable IMHO). Just before the end of the month those driving cars or motorcycles may also appreciate the gesture made by the government, although personally I would see that as wishful thinking.

'Twas only a little gentle sarcasm, honest guv.

They steal more in a week than they earn in a year anyway.