Thai Army Chief Worried By Red Shirt Rally At Constitution Court

[webfact]

Army chief worried by court protest
By English News



BANGKOK, April 30 - Thai army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday expressed concern regarding the Red Shirt rally at Constitution Court and urged the protesters not to violate the law.

The army chief reacted as the supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protested at the office of the Constitution Court in Bangkok's Chaengwattana Government Complex for nine days amid tight security.

The pro-government protesters from the so-called "People's Radio for Democracy" group demanded the resignation of all nine judges for allegedly interfering with the duties of the legislative branch after the Court accepted a petition against the move by 312 lawmakers to amend Section 68 of the Constitution.

The petition was submitted earlier to the Constitution Court by a group of senators.

Protest leader Pongpisit Kongsena, alias Lek Bandon, said the Red Shirts would protest there until all the judges resign. The protesters are ready to intensify the protest if their demands are not met.

Gen Prayuth said the army was concerned about a possible confrontation between political factions but as of now the army has not been assigned by the government to supervise the security there.

The army chief urged the protesters to comply with the law, warning that anyone who violates the law will face legal action.

Meanwhile, some 100 activists of the so-called Homeland Protection Organisation of Thailand and the group "Thais Love Peace" group also appeared outside the court to show their support for the nine judges.

The counter protesters submitted their statement to the judges via Ms Atthaporn Laohasurayothin, director of Administrative Staff Group, urging the judges to continue their duties.

The group presented red roses to the judges via Ms Atthaporn and sang a song to boost the judges' spirit. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-04-30

[A Member]

He has every right to be worried but it's a waste of breath to call on the red shirts to obey the law as for so many of them they have become the law.

[chooka]

He has every right to be worried but it's a waste of breath to call on the red shirts to obey the law as for so many of them they have become the law.

Both the reds and yellows are the same except they wear different coloured shirts.

[Ricardo]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

[Locationthailand]

I like it when the army issues an unveiled warning. Go 'coup', time to rid Thailand of this mess and try to get some real law and order back into play. Reds threatening and demands?

[Chupup]

He has every right to be worried but it's a waste of breath to call on the red shirts to obey the law as for so many of them they have become the law.

Both the reds and yellows are the same except they wear different coloured shirts.

Don't think so, as it wasn't the Yellows who burnt Bangkok or threaten violence all the time if they do not get their way

[Thai at Heart]

After his statements over the bomb detector, I really can't give two hoots what he has to say about anything.

He is very much part of the problem not the solution to anything.

[jonclark]

He has every right to be worried but it's a waste of breath to call on the red shirts to obey the law as for so many of them they have become the law.

Both the reds and yellows are the same except they wear different coloured shirts.

And both are as bad as each other - a pox on the country.

[chooka]

I like it when the army issues an unveiled warning. Go 'coup', time to rid Thailand of this mess and try to get some real law and order back into play. Reds threatening and demands?

Yea, hooray for another airport blockade and tanks rolling through the streets. Hooray for democracy thai style

[whybother]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

The PM has actually spoken out FOR the protests!

[ZhouZhou]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

The PM has actually spoken out FOR the protests!

they are pro-government protesters.

[whybother]

The PM has actually spoken out FOR the protests!

they are pro-government protesters.

... that are threatening judges. Interesting that the PM supports that.

Edited April 30, 2013 by whybother

[bigbamboo]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

Shouldn't the police be voicing their concern, not the army.

Or are they standing off again?

[tominbkk]

We shall see if they are as strict about the red xxxx protestors as they were last November with the Siam Pitak.

Edited April 30, 2013 by metisdead

[Pimay1]

The protesters are ready to intensify the protest if their demands are not met.

I think we all know what that means.

[Bobobirdiebuddy]

There was a period after the coup when the courts, finally freed from the intimidation of the Thaksin regime, actually showed some independence. Now, with undoubtably the urging of Mr. Dubai, they are threatening the court. Thaksin continues to be the great cancer for this country.

[jcb2001]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

Shouldn't the police be voicing their concern, not the army.

Or are they standing off again?

Strong reason to believe the police will just stand by on the sidelines and watch as they did in previous Red confrontations. Mr. T has total control over the police. The Thai people can only trust the judges and the army to protect their country. I fear the only path to save the country is through a coup now.

[thaicbr]

The PM has actually spoken out FOR the protests!

they are pro-government protesters.

... that are threatening judges. Interesting that the PM supports that.

Why wouldn't she? Her boss has already told her to get rid of them

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE Q6

Edited April 30, 2013 by thaicbr

[BuddyPinkham]

A Civil War is coming!

[rametindallas]

This is a veiled threat to the government to pull back their dogs, or else... The government can go too far and a coup d’état is not impossible. Dr. Thaksin always goes too far only to pull back at he last moment. One of these days, if he is not careful, he will pull back too little too late.

[Pimay1]

Protest leader Pongpisit Kongsena, alias Lek Bandon, said the Red Shirts would protest there until all the judges resign. The protesters are ready to intensify the protest if their demands are not met.

There are a few weeks left before the rice planting starts in the NE. Perfect time to get the red busses rolling.

[notmyself]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

Shouldn't the police be voicing their concern, not the army.

Or are they standing off again?

Strong reason to believe the police will just stand by on the sidelines and watch as they did in previous Red confrontations. Mr. T has total control over the police. The Thai people can only trust the judges and the army to protect their country. I fear the only path to save the country is through a coup now.

The smell of a coup is almost at the point of it being palpable.

[whybother]

Protest leader Pongpisit Kongsena, alias Lek Bandon, said the Red Shirts would protest there until all the judges resign. The protesters are ready to intensify the protest if their demands are not met.

There are a few weeks left before the rice planting starts in the NE. Perfect time to get the red busses rolling.

This is what they did in 2010. They started off with "legitimate peaceful protests" and then each time they were ignored, they intensified their protests, right up to them bringing out their armed militia.

[Nickymaster]

After his statements over the bomb detector, I really can't give two hoots what he has to say about anything.

He is very much part of the problem not the solution to anything.

Sticking to the topic the army chief is right. The problem is that the Reds don't like the court because it is making their Master's life difficult.

[Nickymaster]

Protest leader Pongpisit Kongsena, alias Lek Bandon, said the Red Shirts would protest there until all the judges resign. The protesters are ready to intensify the protest if their demands are not met.

There are a few weeks left before the rice planting starts in the NE. Perfect time to get the red busses rolling.

This is what they did in 2010. They started off with "legitimate peaceful protests" and then each time they were ignored, they intensified their protests, right up to them bringing out their armed militia.

No no, you don't get it. They were always peaceful but the security officials (of which 20 were killed by them) made them act like hooligans...

[Nickymaster]

A Civil War is coming!

Please let's hope not. But....if that happens to be what Thaksin wants, uhh...

Have a nice day!

Edited April 30, 2013 by Nickymaster

[Jawnie]

There was a period after the coup when the courts, finally freed from the intimidation of the Thaksin regime, actually showed some independence. Now, with undoubtably the urging of Mr. Dubai, they are threatening the court. Thaksin continues to be the great cancer for this country.

Do you have one shred of proof or evidence about this? In any case, anyone can say anything about the courts, right....it's a democracy, right? Thaksin haters: broken record, broken record, broken record....but never a spit of truth.

[Pimay1]

Shouldn't the PM and her government also be concerned, and speak out against, pressure on the independence (such as it is) of the judicial-system from a pressure-group like this, or are their Skyped-instructions to let the Red-Shirts get on with it unhindered ?

Whatever happened to Fighting-for-Justice & No-Double-Standards ?

Or is there real concern about whether/what the Constitutional Court might rule ?

At least the bombs and grenades are not flying, yet ...

Shouldn't the police be voicing their concern, not the army.

Or are they standing off again?

Strong reason to believe the police will just stand by on the sidelines and watch as they did in previous Red confrontations. Mr. T has total control over the police. The Thai people can only trust the judges and the army to protect their country. I fear the only path to save the country is through a coup now.

The smell of a coup is almost at the point of it being palpable.

Never underestimate the value of being the Chief Potentate of the army and directing a coup. Just ask multimillionaire Sonthi Boonyaratglin.

[whybother]

There was a period after the coup when the courts, finally freed from the intimidation of the Thaksin regime, actually showed some independence. Now, with undoubtably the urging of Mr. Dubai, they are threatening the court. Thaksin continues to be the great cancer for this country.

Do you have one shred of proof or evidence about this? In any case, anyone can say anything about the courts, right....it's a democracy, right? Thaksin haters: broken record, broken record, broken record....but never a spit of truth.

Pot, meet Kettle.

[Thai at Heart]

After his statements over the bomb detector, I really can't give two hoots what he has to say about anything.

He is very much part of the problem not the solution to anything.

Sticking to the topic the army chief is right. The problem is that the Reds don't like the court because it is making their Master's life difficult.

I don't like what the reds are up to either, but surveying the opinion of the army leader constantly is intensely boring. I know that in Thailand, he has an opinion on anything, but I wish the army would just butt out. A coup will not solve anything.

There is somethign afoot here, if you had read the headlines, and tying this all together with Phraer Viharn, I think we may be a lot closer to a coup than any of us reckon.