Demonstrations And Rallies Leading Up To The Election

[frodo]

POLITICAL CRISIS

Democrat leaders attacked in Chiang Mai

Chairs, eggs and paint thrown at party chiefs as violent episode blights lead-up to Sunday's ballot

Democrat Party leaders were attacked and pelted with chairs and a rally they had planned for Chiang Mai was cut short by road blockages and abusive behaviour in a concerted and highly effective campaign by supporters of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday.

The supporters thwarted the Democrat Party's key members at the airport, blocked the road to the rally venue and threw chairs, rotten eggs, paint and all manner of rubbish onto the stage when they tried to address the rally.

About 100 Thaksin supporters in Chiang Mai, his home town, rushed to Chiang Mai National airport to protest the arrival of Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was scheduled to fly in at 4pm for a speech at Chiang Mai University.

The group went inside the terminal without waiting for weapons checking and held banners with messages condemning Abhisit and the party for boycotting the April 2 election. The Democrat leader was forced to evade the protesters by leaving the airport by a rear gate, which angered the protesters who shouted insults at Abhisit and threatened tourists who witnessed the incident.

Another group of Thaksin supporters used their cars to block Nimmanahaeminda Road, where Chiang Mai University's Art Museum is located. Key members of the Democrat Party, including Abhisit, secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and senior adviser Chuan Leekpai were stopped from reaching the venue.

The protesters also hung up effigies of the party's key members, as well as leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy like Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang and then burned them.

Hundreds of people who wanted to attend the rally had to wait outside and on the streets around the museum.

The rally eventually started at 6pm, with deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr as the first speaker. Only 40-50 people who managed to get into the venue before the roadblock was erected listened to him. More Democrat supporters later climbed a fence to get in.

As Alongkorn was speaking, supporters of Thaksin verbally attacked him and the party, as well as the Chiang Mai audience, through amplifiers.

Abhisit was finally able to get to the museum at 7.20pm. He was giving his speech and telling people why the party had boycotted Sunday's election when about 300 Thaksin supporters rushed the stage. They shouted at him and other party members.

About 100 police and security officers tried to drive the protesters back, but failed and Abhisit had to end his speech 10 minutes later.

The party's spokesman, Ong-art Klampaiboon, said the rally was cancelled and no plans made for a new one.

Nobody was seriously hurt in the attack, he said, although Chuan was hit with a chair and deputy party leader Chaiwut Bannawat had to use his arms to protect himself from a thrown chair.

Some of the protesters stayed in the art museum until 8pm, while some of the key Democrat members were still there.

After the Democrat executives left, Prachuab Wangjai, editor and anchorman of the Nation Channel in Chiang Mai, was punched in the ear.

Members of the audience who turned up to see the Democrat leaders were visibly shaken by the violence from the pro-Thaksin camp. A third-year medical student at the university broke down and cried, saying all she wanted was to hear some political information but instead had to deal with barbaric people. She did not understand why the protest had got out of control and why police had allowed it to.

A university lecturer said it was not the kind of behaviour you would expect to see in Chiang Mai, so it was quite likely the protesters were hired from outside. She said it was an embarrassment for Chiang Mai people.

This stuff is getting violent! Some folks are under the impression that PAD is anything but peaceful. Take away the one isolated incident on Sukimvit a few days ago where a guy was pushed around a bit and it is clear that PAD has been peaceful. Just looking at the first paragraph of the above article, and things are becoming clearer as who the antoginists and violent people are. Bombs found at various places where anti-Thaksin supporters are located. Caravan of the poor demanding that a person be physically handed over to them at the Nation. These are only a few that I mention. If violence continues to esculate, it isn't PAD. They've been very well restrained.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/31...es_30000602.php

Edited March 30, 2006 by frodo

[asd]

The motorcycle drivers joined the farmers at Chatuchak Park.

I am not understand why this girl had to use this megaphone.

Don't you think that the motorcycle drivers were hired by this girl ?

[jdinasia]

TRT's fabulous following freak out and take violent agressive action ... such a shame

Gotta give the Denos some credit though! They didn' just cancel everythingand run back to BKK

Edited March 30, 2006 by jdinasia

[penzman]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

[lukamar]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

Possibly they see the Democrats as part of a minority from BKK trying to overthrow the government they elected or trying to disrupt them electing it once again.

I still think, the Democrats, or some party, should go to the North and work hard to get the rural people behind them. A couple of days before the election going into the opposition stronghold is poor timing on the Democrats part.

[britmaveric]

Thai protesters want election called off

BANGKOK (AFP) - Thousands of Thai protesters marched on the offices of the country's election commission demanding the last-minute cancellation of this weekend's polls.

The latest protest in two months of political turmoil followed a Bangkok sit-in overnight that drew around 50,000 people onto the streets calling on Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down before Sunday's vote.

"This is a very critical moment. Only people power can force Prime Minister Thaksin to quit," rally leader Chamlong Srimuang told the crowd, which waved banners calling the commission members "political criminals."

But support for Chamlong's movement appeared to be waning. He cut short the sit-in at a major Bangkok retail district, which was originally planned to run until Friday, after widespread complaints over traffic jams.

Organizers have already started speaking of new protests after the election, seeming to acknowledge that their campaign has failed to derail the polls.

A survey conducted Monday indicated support for Thaksin went up in March. Only about 26 percent of Bangkok residents said he should resign, down from 48 percent three weeks earlier.

Thaksin seems guaranteed to win the vote, which he called three years early in hopes of ending the street protests calling for his resignation over allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

But with opposition parties boycotting the election and hundreds of candidates disqualified, not enough lawmakers may be elected to confirm him to office -- meaning the political crisis could continue.

Chamlong said the current election commissioners should resign so that new members could be named to investigate their claims of fraud by Thaksin's party in the run-up to the vote.

Commission chief Vasana Puemlarp insisted that the body was conducting a neutral investigation into the fraud claims.

"I can reassure everyone that the commission is not dragging its feet over the investigation into their allegations," he told reporters. "We remain neutral."

Amid the latest protests, Thaksin has kept a low profile. He made a pilgrimage to his hometown of Chiang Mai for religious services, returning to Bangkok on Thursday for meetings with his top aides.

Thaksin cancelled his final campaign rally, which had been scheduled for Friday night in a downtown Bangkok park, for fear of clashes with the protesters.

But he urged the demonstrators to respect the outcome of the election.

"Our country cannot be in prolonged confusion. Everything must be in line with the rules," Thaksin said, promising to push for national reconciliation after the polls.

Thaksin has refused to resign and insisted that the polls would be a referendum on his leadership. He has promised not to take office if he wins less than 50 percent of the vote.

Public anger erupted in January after Thaksin's family pocketed nearly two billion dollars in the tax-free sale of its stake in Shin Corp, the telecoms giant Thaksin founded before entering public office.

Around 100,000 people rallied in Bangkok on Saturday in the biggest demonstration so far. The opposition has rejected Thaksin's offer to form a government coalition if he wins, insisting that he must stand down.

The main support for protesters has come from the middle-class in Bangkok but a poll Tuesday indicated that moving the rallies into the center of the capital could cost the demonstrators support, with traffic concerns a possible factor.

-AFP News

30 March 2006

[asd]

POLITICAL CRISIS

Democrat leaders attacked in Chiang Mai

Chairs, eggs and paint thrown at party chiefs as violent episode blights lead-up to Sunday's ballot

Democrat Party leaders were attacked and pelted with chairs and a rally they had planned for Chiang Mai was cut short by road blockages and abusive behaviour in a concerted and highly effective campaign by supporters of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday.

The supporters thwarted the Democrat Party's key members at the airport, blocked the road to the rally venue and threw chairs, rotten eggs, paint and all manner of rubbish onto the stage when they tried to address the rally.

About 100 Thaksin supporters in Chiang Mai, his home town, rushed to Chiang Mai National airport to protest the arrival of Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was scheduled to fly in at 4pm for a speech at Chiang Mai University.

The group went inside the terminal without waiting for weapons checking and held banners with messages condemning Abhisit and the party for boycotting the April 2 election. The Democrat leader was forced to evade the protesters by leaving the airport by a rear gate, which angered the protesters who shouted insults at Abhisit and threatened tourists who witnessed the incident.

Another group of Thaksin supporters used their cars to block Nimmanahaeminda Road, where Chiang Mai University's Art Museum is located. Key members of the Democrat Party, including Abhisit, secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban and senior adviser Chuan Leekpai were stopped from reaching the venue.

The protesters also hung up effigies of the party's key members, as well as leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy like Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang and then burned them.

Hundreds of people who wanted to attend the rally had to wait outside and on the streets around the museum.

The rally eventually started at 6pm, with deputy leader Alongkorn Pollabutr as the first speaker. Only 40-50 people who managed to get into the venue before the roadblock was erected listened to him. More Democrat supporters later climbed a fence to get in.

As Alongkorn was speaking, supporters of Thaksin verbally attacked him and the party, as well as the Chiang Mai audience, through amplifiers.

Abhisit was finally able to get to the museum at 7.20pm. He was giving his speech and telling people why the party had boycotted Sunday's election when about 300 Thaksin supporters rushed the stage. They shouted at him and other party members.

About 100 police and security officers tried to drive the protesters back, but failed and Abhisit had to end his speech 10 minutes later.

The party's spokesman, Ong-art Klampaiboon, said the rally was cancelled and no plans made for a new one.

Nobody was seriously hurt in the attack, he said, although Chuan was hit with a chair and deputy party leader Chaiwut Bannawat had to use his arms to protect himself from a thrown chair.

Some of the protesters stayed in the art museum until 8pm, while some of the key Democrat members were still there.

After the Democrat executives left, Prachuab Wangjai, editor and anchorman of the Nation Channel in Chiang Mai, was punched in the ear.

Members of the audience who turned up to see the Democrat leaders were visibly shaken by the violence from the pro-Thaksin camp. A third-year medical student at the university broke down and cried, saying all she wanted was to hear some political information but instead had to deal with barbaric people. She did not understand why the protest had got out of control and why police had allowed it to.

A university lecturer said it was not the kind of behaviour you would expect to see in Chiang Mai, so it was quite likely the protesters were hired from outside. She said it was an embarrassment for Chiang Mai people.

source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/03/31...es_30000602.php

Thaksin is trying to divide Thailand into:

Thais who don't want Thaksin vs Poor upcountry Thais who will give their life to support Thaksin for a payment of 300 baht.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva speech at Chiang Mai University.

It was quite likely the protesters were hired from TRT member.

OMG !!!! OMG !!! Battlefield : Chiang Mai University.

Do not kill me plz !!!

"Crazy people" >>> It's useless.

Thaksin supporters announced victory over Democrat leaders

?????

Thaksin is trying to ruin Thailand !!

[britmaveric]

Or PAD (people against democracy) is trying to ruin the country?

[ColPyat]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

Is that it?

Thailand divided by Thaksin supporters and PAD supporters? Lovely prospects for the future.

Where, according to you, do people like me fit in who do support neither?

[asd]

Hello Lukamar

Cute Thai girls pics >>> for you

Oops, sorry guys

Off Topic

[lukamar]

Hello Lukamar

Cute Thai girls pics >>> for you

Hello asd.....

Thanks for the thought, but I'm not in the market for a mia noi I'm more than happy with what I have..

[jdinasia]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

Is that it?

Thailand divided by Thaksin supporters and PAD supporters? Lovely prospects for the future.

Where, according to you, do people like me fit in who do support neither?

If you told us the truth earlier it leaves you nowhere i would guess. Aren't you the one they were yelling Farang get out at? Or are you a different kind of farang? But I really don't get your point here (again) Coly ... did Penz say there were only 2 groups etc?

Edited March 30, 2006 by jdinasia

[sriracha john]

to Chiang Mai National airport

The group went inside the terminal without waiting for weapons checking

Abhisit was finally able to get to the museum at 7.20pm. He was giving his speech and telling people why the party had boycotted Sunday's election when about 300 Thaksin supporters rushed the stage. They shouted at him and other party members.

About 100 police and security officers tried to drive the protesters back,

Nobody was seriously hurt in the attack, he said, although Chuan was hit with a chair

After the Democrat executives left, Prachuab Wangjai, editor and anchorman of the Nation Channel in Chiang Mai, was punched in the ear.

This is all completely unacceptable.

Airport security allows a mob to enter unchecked into the terminal building? What's the possibility of a horrific incident due to that?

The police can't hold back a mob storming a stage??

Some well placed shots in the air might have made them change their minds. But of course, the initial problem is inadequate numbers of police. They don't seem to have problem mustering up 10,000... 20,000 police for a PAD rally.

Chiang Mai is a nice place.... but they got a big black eye from all this.

[sriracha john]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

Possibly they see the Democrats as part of a minority from BKK trying to overthrow the government they elected or trying to disrupt them electing it once again.

I still think, the Democrats, or some party, should go to the North and work hard to get the rural people behind them. A couple of days before the election going into the opposition stronghold is poor timing on the Democrats part.

1. So using violence is acceptable against those that have only used non-violent methods themselves??

2. The Hells Angels Party riding their Harleys into Chiang Mai would be an appropriate party to go to the North.

[lung]

and wait... and wait....

tamai khon thai cha cha ?? in europe or so ...

they put him out in 2week's

viva la...

ASD >> nice pic's

Edited March 30, 2006 by lung

[sriracha john]

30/03/06 .... The night that peaceful Democracy died in Chiang Mai:

Democrat meeting invaded

Chiang Mai _ A Democrat party outdoor rally was brought to an abrupt end last night when Thaksin Shinawatra loyalists stormed the venue and ordered the opposition members out of the province. About 1,000 Thaksin supporters arrived in vehicles at the venue, in front of Chiang Mai University's art gallery on Nimmanhaeminda road, and harassed the Democrat heavyweights on stage.

The meeting began about 7pm but only about 200 people could get in as people claiming to be from the Rak Thaksin (Love Thaksin) group blocked the entrance.

As soon as Democrat deputy leader Alongkorn Ponlabutr began his speech, with party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on the stage as well, about 1,000 people wearing yellow headbands with the ''Love Thaksin'' slogan drove up.

In the presence of about 200 police, the protesters used loudhailers to berate the Democrats and warned them to leave Chiang Mai at once.

Mr Alongkorn tried to continue but had to stop when the protesters began throwing plastic bottles at the audience and rammed their vehicles into the fences near the stage, forcing the Democrats and the audience to flee.

After that, the protesters celebrated.

The Democrats returned to Bangkok.

- BP

[sriracha john]

Hecklers Force Thai Opposition to End Rally

The Associated Press

Thursday, March 30, 2006; 11:58 AM

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Supporters of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra forced an abrupt end to a rally by the country's chief opposition party, heightening political tensions ahead of a general election this weekend.

Thaksin supporters toting banners and shouting through loudspeakers interrupted an outdoor rally in the northern city of Chiang Mai by about 500 Democrat Party sympathizers, taking over the stage after it was abandoned by the Democrats, who are boycotting Sunday's vote.

The crowd of about 2,000 Thaksin supporters had been demonstrating in the street outside Chiang Mai University before breaking through police lines to enter the venue, said police Col. Prachuab Wongsuk.

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, also leader of the parliamentary opposition, said a few words from the stage about avoiding confrontation before he and colleagues were hustled off.

TV video of the incident showed placards and debris being thrown, but no serious injuries were reported. Chiang Mai is Thaksin's hometown and a stronghold of his Thai Rak Thai Party.

The conflict was the rowdiest incident yet between Thaksin supporters and his critics, who accuse him of corruption and abuse of power and have been rallying almost daily for weeks in Bangkok.

The three opposition parties are boycotting the elections and protesters say Thaksin's party paid others to run against it and make the polls seem legitimate, a claim denied by Thai Rak Thai.

Few analysts expect the election to end the crisis, since both Thaksin and his opponents have shown no sign of compromise.

Thaksin said Thursday he wants demonstrators to tone down their protests after the election, which his party is virtually assured of winning.

Speaking to reporters at his party's headquarters, Thaksin declined to say what measures he would take against those staging protests after the election, but he insisted that the law be respected because the country "can't continue to be in the state of uncertainty."

"We respect the basic rights of people to protest and express their dissatisfaction but everyone has to abide by the law," he said.

Thaksin called the election in hopes of reaffirming the mandate he received in last year's general election, when he won a second term after his party captured 377 of the 500 seats in the House of Representatives.

The anti-Thaksin movement hopes the election boycott will make it impossible to fill all 500 seats in the House, which many legal scholars believe would make it impossible to convene parliament.

In such a case, they believe the constitution would allow (His Majesty) King Bhumibol Adulyadej to intervene and appoint a new prime minister.

Edited March 30, 2006 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thailand's Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva (center) rushes out of a crowd of some 500 people violently disrupting his political rally in the northern hometown of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Chiang Mai, 700 km (435 miles) from Bangkok, March 30, 2006. Abhisit had to be whisked away by the police to the Chiang Mai airport to head back to Bangkok. (Reuters)

[Thaible]

If Thaksin walked into Siam Paragon during the PAD protest, the exact same would happen.

[sriracha john]

If Thaksin walked into Siam Paragon during the PAD protest, the exact same would happen.

what a load of crap...

besides, we're dealing with REALITY here, not your hypothetical guesses...

[Thaible]

If Thaksin walked into Siam Paragon during the PAD protest, the exact same would happen.

what a load of crap...

besides, we're dealing with REALITY here, not your hypothetical guesses...

Considering the PAD is burning effigies of him and carrying signs portraying him as Hitler, it's obvious some of the 50,000 to 300,000 would do something violent to him.

[jdinasia]

Thaible .... Thaksin getting near people that are protesting him? 555555

The reality is that the only violent occurance has been by Pro-Thaksin supporters ... kinda sad~

[jdinasia]

Brit would seem to say .... "Thaksin is winning .... there's no chance he'll be forced out" ...

If that were true .. there'd be no need for this silliness

[britmaveric]

We'll see what happens - but I expect same same when results are known. If PM has a mandate PAD/Opposition might as well pack it in, because that will be all he needs.

[jdinasia]

i rather think he'll legally need to be able to get a Parlaiment seated actually .... if he fails to do that ... oi

[lukamar]

So much for the Thaksin supporters saying "Democrats should go North and educate the people"

Possibly they see the Democrats as part of a minority from BKK trying to overthrow the government they elected or trying to disrupt them electing it once again.

I still think, the Democrats, or some party, should go to the North and work hard to get the rural people behind them. A couple of days before the election going into the opposition stronghold is poor timing on the Democrats part.

1. So using violence is acceptable against those that have only used non-violent methods themselves??

2. The Hells Angels Party riding their Harleys into Chiang Mai would be an appropriate party to go to the North.

1:- Nobody said violence was acceptable, at least not me. I said it was poor judgment on the part of the Democrat leader to walk into the TRT stronghold, to oppose a party that is running in the election when they have opted not to run any candidates, a couple of days before an election and expect to be welcomed with open arms.

2:- You completely lost me on that one. I guess it's some sort of analogy to some of the mafia type Pad leaders or something..

[lukamar]

We'll see what happens - but I expect same same when results are known. If PM has a mandate PAD/Opposition might as well pack it in, because that will be all he needs.

Win or loose for Thaksin on April 2, one thing will be for certain, the Official Opposition as it sits now will no longer be the Official Opposition come April 3. They will not have won a seat in the election, that's their choice, that's the reality of their power play. PAD may be still be there along with the Democrats and the others but the Opposition designation that they enjoy now will be stripped from them along with the power and special status that the name brings with it.

[johna]

Police/airport security arrests no one??

The only way to get rid of Taksin is through the courts, and if the legal channels available to the opposition fail they should target the courts and other government bodies with malfeasance. This requires a lot of hard work; street demonstrations get you a lot more television coverage but do not in the long run serve democracy.

[jdinasia]

We'll see what happens - but I expect same same when results are known. If PM has a mandate PAD/Opposition might as well pack it in, because that will be all he needs.

Win or loose for Thaksin on April 2, one thing will be for certain, the Official Opposition as it sits now will no longer be the Official Opposition come April 3. They will not have won a seat in the election, that's their choice, that's the reality of their power play. PAD may be still be there along with the Democrats and the others but the Opposition designation that they enjoy now will be stripped from them along with the power and special status that the name brings with it.

One thing for certain ... the Opposition Parties .... WILL still be the opposition after the 2nd ...... after all they are registered political parties ....

Now ... since there won't be 500 MP's elected and Parlaiment likely won't be seated ... it is even more obvious that simplistic statements just won't cut it ...

It's amazing how people cannot seem to follow the basics of what is happening here ... even if you aren't here you should be able to see that ....

[lukamar]

Police/airport security arrests no one??

For those not familiar with Chiang Mai International it's a very small terminal. There are 4 entry/exits to the first floor arrival area. Any time I've been there there has only been a couple of Customs officers, less than 4 security people and on occasion 1 or 2 police, but not always. That might answer part of your question about the airport police/security.