Concern As Red Shirts Threaten Mass Protest In Bangkok

[webfact]

POLITICS
Concern as red shirts threaten mass protest
The Nation


Police Tuesday get ready to keep situation when red shirts hold a mass rally against Constitutional Court judges Wednesday.

BANGKOK: -- Today could see a turning point: Will the red shirts hold a mass demonstration some 100,000 strong in a move to oust three Constitutional Court judges, or will they opt to disperse and later seek the judges' impeachment?

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has instructed municipal police to tighten security at government compounds and landmarks in Bangkok, and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she was concerned and had assigned her deputy Chalerm Yoobamrung to take charge.

But the National Police chief and national security agencies said the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to cope with possible violence was not necessary and there was nothing to worry about.

A police spokesman said the red-shirt rally conditions did not meet the criteria for the ISA to be imposed. It showed no sign of being a threat to national security or of prolonged violence.

Now, there was about 500 and there was likely to be less than 100,000 joining, and they would disperse.

The red shirts have accused the Court judges of doing their duty beyond the scope of the charter.


-- The Nation 2013-05-08

[scorecard]

Have a look at the website for the paper not to be mentioned, it says the protest has now pretty much dispersed, with the main UDD etc., people strongly distancing themselves from the protest.

[Locationthailand]

Who are the blue uniformed "Members of the People" in the pic? New one on me (the beret's are cute!). Next we will have men in black in support of the protestors, protestors in red, anti protestors in yellow and royal anti protest and anti anti protest protesters in pink. Oh what a gay day... And the PM has given the issue to Chalerm? This place really is a cluster <deleted> at times.

[Ricardo]

Who are the blue uniformed "Members of the People" in the pic? New one on me (the beret's are cute!). Next we will have men in black in support of the protestors, protestors in red, anti protestors in yellow and royal anti protest and anti anti protest protesters in pink. Oh what a gay day... And the PM has given the issue to Chalerm? This place really is a cluster <deleted> at times.

Which is why we love it, of course !

DPM-Super-Chalerm to-the-rescue !

[A Member]

Of course there's concern that PTP's not so tame thugs turn nasty as it would be a major embarrassment with the world's media looking on as the inter-relationship is well known and a riot, arson etc again would be hard to explain and any police / army " crackdown " couldn't be blamed on the Democrats. Sometime soon Thaksin and PTP will learn the danger of creating a monster but not for a single minute am I suggesting Mr. T would be in the least bit worried.

[OzMick]

Absolutely necessary for Chalerm to be involved with this affair lest RTP commanders recognise the authority/orders given by Sukhumband. The mayor and the DPM have completely different attitudes and agendas in regard to this "protest".

Edited May 8, 2013 by OzMick

[Stradavarius37]

Red shirt morons. You are not helping - go home.

[Mampara]

One wonders how many actually know why they are there, what they are doing there, and how many were told to be there, and how many actually came there out of freewill?

[Mampara]

Who are the blue uniformed "Members of the People" in the pic? New one on me (the beret's are cute!). Next we will have men in black in support of the protestors, protestors in red, anti protestors in yellow and royal anti protest and anti anti protest protesters in pink. Oh what a gay day... And the PM has given the issue to Chalerm? This place really is a cluster <deleted> at times.

There seems to be a lot of different police forces that have come up lately don't you think? I wonder Why?

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: Red Shirt Parade Route at 9am: Chaeng Wattana > Vibhavadi > Phahon Yothin > Ratchawithi > Uthong Nai > Parliament http://thai.vi/YE7s6q

[Robby nz]

No worries the Govt has it sorted:

Thai Security Chief Says No Worry Posed By Bangkok's Rallies

And now that Chalerm is in charge no doubt he will drink to that.

[tomross46]

Where is CNN and BBC? They are supporters of the PTP and the red shirts.

[hellodolly]

One wonders how many actually know why they are there, what they are doing there, and how many were told to be there, and how many actually came there out of freewill?

What is the pay rate for this one?

[gl555]

Sickening people with nothing better to do disrupting traffic and other people's lives. What a bunch of losers.

[Ianatlarge]

One wonders how many actually know why they are there, what they are doing there, and how many were told to be there, and how many actually came there out of freewill?

Do you mean the cops and soldiers?

[MaxLee]

So how's the traffic now in the affected areas?

[asupeartea]

Think the pay IS the point and the answer. Paid to do others bidding.

What is the pay rate for this one?

[MunterHunter]

So i assume they massively fell short of their 100,000 target as there is no follow up news on this item today?

Guess the paymaster didn't give them the 'burn sh*t down' payment plan just the 'gather and sing songs' payment plan

[Donnie Brasco]

Red Shirts "street work"= stalking horse for any radical agenda that may be hovering in Party Ranks.

It'll will stmble out into the blistering hot sun and onto the proving grounds.

It will collapse.

The Peua Thai leopard will changes a few spots in order to conform to traditional hierarchy patterns

The names and the faces change.

Peua Thai morphs gracefully into the new "armnaat".

[webfact]

RT @RichardBarrow: 11:30am Red Shirts have arrived at Parliament and are setting up a stage (Pic @Kamonnate_NBC) http://thai.vi/10FxOz7

[webfact]

Phuket News: Court protest fizzles amidst calls to cancel

BANGKOK: The red-shirt protest against the Constitution Court appeared to be faltering Tuesday after the ruling Pheu Thai Party and other red-shirt groups distanced themselves from the rally.

A Pheu Thai Party source said the protest, led by the Radio Broadcasters for Democracy movement, lacked cooperation from major figures in the party who have a key role in mobilising supporters in the provinces.

The protest is expected to end shortly since it is estimated the turnout will fall short of the 100,000 that the movement wanted, the source said.

However, about 18 police companies, or about 2,700 riot police, will be deployed to handle protesters at the court and state agencies nearby, Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Parinya Chansuriya said Tuesday.

The source said a Pheu Thai committee overseeing political strategies chaired by former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat met Tuesday.

The committee voiced disapproval at the intimidation and threats made by the movement's leaders against the charter court judges. The panel wanted the group to end their rally Wednesday, the source said.

Several other red-shirt groups were to boycott the gathering as they were reluctant to pay travel expenses for protesters from the provinces, the source said.

Udon Thani red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana said Tuesday his group's members would also not be joining the rally.

A source close to the leaders of the Radio Broadcasters for Democracy movement said a key Pheu Thai figure had urged them to call it off immediately.

Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan Prasert Chaikit, who is the group's chief adviser, had earlier failed to persuade movement leaders Pongpisit Kongsena and Lek Bandon, to stop the protest on April 30, the source said.

The group wants to gather 100,000 people at the court on Chaeng Watthana Road Wednesday to press its judges to resign.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said Tuesday there was no need to invoke the Internal Security Act to deal with the protesters.

He did not believe the rally will get out of hand easily and said it was not easy to mobilise up to 100,000 people.

The red shirts have been protesting since April 22 to force the charter court's nine judges to step down after the court decided on April 3 to accept a petition by Senator Somchai Sawaengkarn. The senator had asked the court to rule on the legality of an attempt by 312 MPs and senators to amend Section 68 of the constitution.

Meanwhile, Sornrak Malaithong, another protest leader, Tuesday submitted a letter to the charter court demanding the three judges who voted to accept Sen Somchai's petition step down. The court voted three to two to accept the complaint.

A source at the Constitution Court said the judges will arrive for work as usual Wednesday.


-- Phuket News 2013-05-08

[LuckyLew]

everything will be ok ... chalerm is on the job

He did so well with the South

[Thai at Heart]

Most of the reports so far, are from yesterday.

Let's see how many they get to pitch.

[gl555]

"Several other red-shirt groups were to boycott the gathering as they
were reluctant to pay travel expenses for protesters from the provinces,
the source said."

And that sums up the Red Shirt movement.

[Robby nz]

Several other red-shirt groups were to boycott the gathering as they were reluctant to pay travel expenses for protesters from the provinces, the source said.

There it is if they aint gonna get paid they aint gonna go.

[Neilly]

Several other red-shirt groups were to boycott the gathering as they were reluctant to pay travel expenses for protesters from the provinces, the source said.

There it is if they aint gonna get paid they aint gonna go.

[metisdead]

A nonsense trolling post has been removed as well as a reply.

[candypants]

no need to worry, we are heading into low season, they will wait until they are shooting the tourist economy in the foot

[seajae]

hahahahahaha , they are only red shirts when it is helping their bank accounts, once again we see the proof. If there is no payment they simply refuse to do anything, money matters especially if you want them to fulfill your desires.

[sonar6ca]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she was concerned and had assigned her deputy Chalerm Yoobamrung to take charge

I can sleep much better now, Chalerm is in charge.