POLITICS
Yellow-shirt rally, plough ceremony in clash of dates
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of yellow shirt protesters, gathering since Tuesday at Sanam Luang to give moral support to Constitutional Court judges and opposing the Preah Vihear court case, are refusing to clear the site.

They claim presence won't conflict with the May 13 Ceremony of the Plough at Sanam Luang.

Leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong said his group had considered a police request but resolved to stay until Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted. He said he expected 100,000 protesters this weekend.

The ploughing ceremony on May 13 is for farmers, many of whom support protesters in Chaiwat's group. They would not be able to leave the rally site and would join in the ceremony. However, the group says it would adjust the protest to open ways for the ceremony.

"We will stay until the government goes. Once it does, we go home. Our protest will not move to the Constitutional Court as we respect other people's rights. If we go there, a clash [with the red shirts and others] would happen and that would be as some people want. [They are looking for] riots and a military coup. So we will stay here to confirm our stance," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-05-08

Hopefully, they'll do as well as the red shirts in getting 100,000 people.

How many people usually turn up for the ploughing ceremony?

Hopefully, they'll do as well as the red shirts in getting 100,000 people.

How many people usually turn up for the ploughing ceremony?

Lots of people show as the occasion is auspicious among Thais/Khmers etc.

Also a pair of sacred oxen.

There could be 100,000 there but not because of the Yellow presence.

Nice and peaceful , no pack drill, , no violence, no threats, no fires, good to see, setting the example of a peaceful protest .

Nice and peaceful , no pack drill, , no violence, no threats, no fires, good to see, setting the example of a peaceful protest .[url=http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif]http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif[/url]

Just wait until the red shirts get wind of this, then we will see what happens. If the red shirts show up to 'oppose' the yellow shirts, there will be violence.

Deja Vu anyone?

I think Sanam Luang means roughly "Field of Yellow"?

Hope it doesn't turn into another airport blockade type protest. These people caused so much kaos that time. Both the reds and yellows are equally as bad as each other.

Nice and peaceful , no pack drill, , no violence, no threats, no fires, good to see, setting the example of a peaceful protest .http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif'>http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif

Just wait until the red shirts get wind of this, then we will see what happens. If the red shirts show up to 'oppose' the yellow shirts, there will be violence.

Deja Vu anyone?

Yep then the army will arrive and it will be same same. surely the reds will not be that stupid to try it, !!!

Hope it doesn't turn into another airport blockade type protest. These people caused so much kaos that time. Both the reds. and yellows are equally as bad as each other.

Sorry but No NO different circumstances, both not good, but vast difference in attitude, I dissagreed with the airport job, it made a point but sick one at that.

Surely you can never put them equally as bad. No yellow shirt villages in sight in Demo areas.!! Government is in chaos .

lets be more honest mate. I am never saying the yellows are saints BUT come on with the comparisons. eh.

Nice and peaceful , no pack drill, , no violence, no threats, no fires, good to see, setting the example of a peaceful protest .http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif'>http://static.thaivisa.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/clap2.gif

Just wait until the red shirts get wind of this, then we will see what happens. If the red shirts show up to 'oppose' the yellow shirts, there will be violence.

Deja Vu anyone?

Isn't His Majesty at this event usually? The army's mandate is to protect the royal family is it not?

What is it about this magic number 100,000 that's always quoted.... is it supposed to be lucky or something?

What is it about this magic number 100,000 that's always quoted.... is it supposed to be lucky or something?

It makes for easy counting of the appearance fees.

100,000

Where do they come up with these numbers?

What i find some what interesting is that yellow shirts were asked to disperse, while the red shirts according to an earlier article the the full right to protest.

There is no need to security law to deal with red shirts but apparently yellow shirts is a problem?

This Government and PM has really pushed the agenda pretty far by now, if we know anything about Yellow Shirts, if they said they are there to stay, it does mean they are there to stay.

If PM decides to use force causing any deaths, she will end up being charged, or must be charged just as Suthep and Abhist.

I do not think this will go away peacefully and easy, yellow shirts have been somewhat quite for a while.

100,000

Where do they come up with these numbers?

The number of email address or phone numbers?

great lets see who is first to 100,000

Red and yellow fascists gathering in Bangkok at same time as a major ceremony takes place. Well that's just great, all we need now is a spark and the madness will begin. Still as long as Chalerm doesn't get involved we should be ok. Lets face it no one is stupid enough to put him in charge of resolving a potentially dangerous set of circumstances such as this.

Red and yellow fascists gathering in Bangkok at same time as a major ceremony takes place. Well that's just great, all we need now is a spark and the madness will begin. Still as long as Chalerm doesn't get involved we should be ok. Lets face it no one is stupid enough to put him in charge of resolving a potentially dangerous set of circumstances such as this.

I believe if she was dumb enough to put him in charge of cleaning up the mess in the southern three provinces she is dumb enough to put him in charge of this situation also.

I don't know what happened today with the red shirts has any one heard the estimated number who showed up for it. I highly doubt the yellow shirts will sink to the red shirt level and try to ruin the red shirt rally.

On the other hand the red shirts have that in the first chapter of the book they gave out at their democracy schools. I think break up rallies that don't agree with you is in between how to load a gun and how to start a fire.O course the democratically way.

Red and yellow fascists gathering in Bangkok at same time as a major ceremony takes place. Well that's just great, all we need now is a spark and the madness will begin. Still as long as Chalerm doesn't get involved we should be ok. Lets face it no one is stupid enough to put him in charge of resolving a potentially dangerous set of circumstances such as this.

He is in charge of the south Thailand unrest

thats a lot of people and no toilets

Although I'm willing to believe the yellow shirt may get 20,000 supporters together for the aim of 'moral support' for the Constitutional Court judges I doubt the 100,000 for the Phreah Vihear issue.

BTW is this PAD, or just one of the yellow shirt factions? Confusion, really. Even the UDD doesn't seem to be equivalent to red-shirts any more. Mind you I didn't join any rally, I had to work today.

In a way it's good to see the Yellows are still able to garner a crowd of supporters. However, I think it's too early to take a big public stand. Several of Thaksin's PT's policies are already faltering and will crash and burn soon. The Yellows should bide their time and let Yingluck, PT and the Reds show their true colors leading to failures - and then focus on winning elections.

By letting time roll on, and proving that PT policies (like the rice pledging scheme) are failures - will hurt ordinary Thais, and that's sad. But it must be remembered that it was many of those same ordinary Thais who set the stage for the poor leadership they're now saddled with. In sum: increasing pain in the near term will hopefully lead to better leaders in the long term - but that's assuming Issanaites {among others} will realize the folly of their earlier choices of voting for Shinawatre members.

Red and yellow fascists gathering in Bangkok at same time as a major ceremony takes place. Well that's just great, all we need now is a spark and the madness will begin. Still as long as Chalerm doesn't get involved we should be ok. Lets face it no one is stupid enough to put him in charge of resolving a potentially dangerous set of circumstances such as this.

He is in charge of the south Thailand unrest

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.

Thais sure love a good protest. Fellowship, seeing old faces, being part of something bigger, empowerment, and so on. One thing for sure, Thailand is NEVER boring. I do love Thai people, no matter what shirt they wear.

Yeah, they expect 100.000 and they will end up with less than 5.000. If they are really going to stay until the government goes, they had better pack heavy and bring plenty of food.

Yeah, they expect 100.000 and they will end up with less than 5.000. If they are really going to stay until the government goes, they had better pack heavy and bring plenty of food.

Just as long as they leave their matches at home.

Suspect the yellow leadership came up with this idea to counter the reds, as in 'we are just as strong as you'.

But after the big loss of face for the reds yesterday, particularly when it came out that the reason they didn't get people from the provinces was because no one was paying, the yellow rally now becomes somewhat redundant and can really now only lead to a loss of face for the yellows if they don't get a big mob.

They need to show a bit of sense now and say something like :

In respect for the King and the Royal Plowing Ceremony we will withdraw for the time being.

Incidentaley don't know how much you can equate the yellows with the Dems anymore, if you ever really could.

But the reds will always have them as one and the same for they will never understand that there can be a difference them being so close to PT, red leaders PT MP's.

Nice and peaceful , no pack drill, , no violence, no threats, no fires, good to see, setting the example of a peaceful protest .

If you remember your history, there is a chance a few M-79 grenades will be fired into the crowd by a mysterious (seemingly invisible) group, which will obviously be the yellow's fault because it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't been there.

UPDATE:
Yellows stay as reds head to Parliament
Anuphan Chantana,
Chanikarn Phumhiran,
Tanatpong Kongsai
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- After staging a sit-in demonstration for 17 days, the red shirts yesterday announced the end of their protest after a rally motorcade from the Constitutional Court to Parliament to call for the impeachment of five judges who've accepted to hear a petition against the amendment of Article 68 of the Constitution.

Although the red shirts announced they would mobilise up to 100,000 protesters, not as many turned up early though more joined in after the rally got underway at 9.30am.

Meanwhile, hundreds of yellow-shirt Thai Compatriots and Territory Protection Front members, gathering since Tuesday at Sanam Luang, are refusing to clear the site.

They say they will stay until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is ousted and that their presence won't interfere with Royal Ploughing Ceremony on the grounds next Monday.

The red-shirt community radio group leaders yesterday jointly read a statement saying they would take recourse in accordance with Article 274 of the Constitution to seek the impeachment of five Constitutional Court judges - Jaran Pukditanakul, Charoon Intachan, Chalermpon Ake-uru, Nurak Marpraneet and Suphot Khaimuk.

They are opposed to the court's agreeing to consider a petition filed by Senator Somjet Bunthanom over the amendment of Article 68.

In a motorcade, which included motorcycles, pickup tracks, buses and personal cars, the red-shirt protesters rallied from the Constitutional Court to Parliament, where they filed a petition with the House Speaker.

The red-shirt leaders submitted two letters to Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liengbunler-schai, one supporting the 312 MPs and senators moving to amend the Constitution and the other signed by 20,000 people seeking impeachment of the Constitutional Court judges.

The letter accuses the five judges of violating Article 157 of the Constitution and lacking ethics.

Red-shirt leader Pongpisit Kongsena Pongpisit said he would bring to Parliament a list of 50,000 people who joined the campaign to oust the five judges within 15 days.

He added that red shirts would disperse now that they have completed their mission.

Around noon, a woman in her 30s dressed in black lambasted the media near the rally stage opposite Parliament.

One of the red shirts shouted out that she was not a red shirt, causing others to flock to her.

Red-shirt guards rushed to remove her from the scene as others tried to assault her physically. The woman fled in one of the buses that carried the red shirts to Parliament, before she was pulled out and hit in the head.

She screamed in pain and with the help of the red-shirt guards managed to take shelter in a government building.

Yellow-shirt leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong said his group had considered a police request to vacate Sanam Luang but resolved to stay until Yingluck is ousted. He said he expected 100,000 protesters by this weekend.

They are also demonstrating to offer moral support to the Constitutional Court judges and oppose the Preah Vihear court case.

Monday's Royal Ploughing Ceremony is for farmers, many of whom support protesters in Chaiwat's group. Chaiwat said his group would adjust its protest to accommodate the ceremony and join in the annual rite, which marks the start of the rice-planting season.

"We will stay until the government goes. Once it does, we will go home. Our protest will not move to the Constitutional Court as we respect other people's rights.

"If we go there, a clash [with the red shirts and others] would happen and that would be as some people want. [They are looking for] riots and a military coup. So we will stay here to confirm our stance," Chaiwat said.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pol General Assawin Kwanmuang yesterday met former Yasothorn senator Sombun Thongburan who led yellow shirts from Nakhon Ratchasima to the Sanam Luang rally. Assawin asked Chaiwat to leave the site because the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration must get the grounds ready for the ploughing ceremony.

-- The Nation 2013-05-09

The letter accuses the five judges of violating Article 157 of the Constitution and lacking ethics.

Lacking ethics?

Good grief, if there was ever a better example of a pot kettle scenario, I'd like to hear it.