Thai protesters march against amnesty

[webfact]

Thai protesters march against amnesty

BANGKOK, November 4, 2013 (AFP) - Thousands of protesters marched through Bangkok on Monday, seeking to raise pressure on the Thai government over its controversial political amnesty bill.

The opposition, which organised the demonstration, fears that the legislation could allow fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return.

More than 10,000 protesters joined the march to the Grand Palace from a railway station in the city where they had held several days of rallies since Thursday, according to police.

"Today is a significant day when we will march," said opposition MP and former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban.

"It is time to unite to fight and ask people who love the country to protect our nation," he told a cheering crowd.

More than 1,000 people, including office workers on their lunch break, joined a second demonstration against the amnesty in the Silom financial and shopping district.

Small protests were also reported in several provincial towns in northeastern Thailand -- usually the pro-Thaksin heartland.

The former telecoms tycoon, who was toppled in a military coup in 2006, remains a hugely divisive figure in Thailand. His younger sister Yingluck Shinawatra is now prime minister.

Supporters of the amnesty say it will draw a line under years of turmoil, culminating in mass pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" protests in 2010 that left more than 90 people dead in a military crackdown.

But many Red Shirts also oppose a blanket amnesty, calling for justice for past abuses including the killing of unarmed protesters.

A faction of the Red Shirt movement plans to hold its own protest in Bangkok on Sunday.

"We support a bill but not a blanket one," said Red Shirt activist Sombat Boonngamanong, adding that he hoped 10,000 protesters would attend the demo at an intersection in the city that was the focus of the 2010 protests.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-04

[coma]

It looks to be kicking off big time. 10,000 on a Monday aint' bad.

[h90]

It looks to be kicking off big time. 10,000 on a Monday aint' bad.

might have been more.....

But we all know, how they estimate, more than 1000 for the police = 100.000 for the demonstrators and people believe up to if they wear the yellow or the red glasses.

Today it seems like a lot people.

But was it 8000 or 20000 or even 30000...who knows?

[webfact]

Protests will be allowed within legal limits: peacekeeping centre
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Peacekeeping Operations Centre has reaffirmed that it will not block protest activities carried out within legal limits.

Police forces would focus on ensuring peace and order, facilitating traffic flows and safeguarding Government House, Parliament and residences of government leaders.

"The Metropolitan Police Bureau will form nine rapid response teams as a precaution to respond to any protest-related situation," POC spokesman Police Maj General Piya Uthayo said Monday.

Police commanders in Bangkok have been assigned oversee riot forces deployed at strategic areas near the seat of government.

Police put up head-high barriers at main roads near Government House. Anti-riot forces made preparations for crowd control in case protesters decided to encroach on government installations.


-- The Nation 2013-11-04

[waza]

November 5 is the day when a global body remembers, wa fo (Guy Fawkes Day), which is the date that the parliamentary dictatorship was attacked ...

V global are organising a big worldwide protest, and Thailand V will join at the democracy monument at the same time to remember history of the inscription.

November 5, 2013

V For Thailand, Kong worldwide by unison.

Now this is a grass roots protest movement that is growing organically.

Edited November 4, 2013 by metisdead
Photo containing Thai language removed. This is an English language forum, English is the only acceptable language, except in the Thai language forum where Thai language is allowed.

[coma]

November 5 is the day when a global body remembers, wa fo (Guy Fawkes Day), which is the date that the parliamentary dictatorship was attacked ...

V global are organising a big worldwide protest, and Thailand V will join at the democracy monument at the same time to remember history of the inscription.

November 5, 2013

No Amnesty 2.jpgV For Thailand, Kong worldwide by unison.

Now this is a grass roots protest movement that is growing organically.

The democracy monument is where the crowd is at right now.

[ballpoint]

Protests will be allowed within legal limits: peacekeeping centre

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Peacekeeping Operations Centre has reaffirmed that it will not block protest activities carried out within legal limits.

<Snip>

But there arre no legal limits, according to the bill they're protesting about. The police could mow down the protestors, the protestors could mow down the police, and the survivors could unite and burn down the whole city and all would be forgiven. This ridiculous bill would be better renamed as the anarchy bill, as that is what it's legalising.

[The International Farang]

Did this crowd pass through Sala Daeng BTS? There were all these crowds blowing whistles and acting hysterical!

[ratcatcher]

Did this crowd pass through Sala Daeng BTS? There were all these crowds blowing whistles and acting hysterical!

You want to see hysterical, you should have been here 3 years ago. Now that was a show and a half.

[coma]

[metisdead]

Off topic posts as well as inflammatory posts and replies have been removed.

[Sunderland]

Gets interesting now that the protesters have taken up camp at Democracy Monument, since it is now inside one of the districts that the ISA excluded protests from being held in. What next for Yingluck and friends???

[steveromagnino]

On Silom near my place of work today it was far, far in excess of 1,000; having been involved in large scale open events, I'd guess it was likely in the 10,000s range; hard to tell as it stretched from Lumpini Park to the Narathiwas intersection in front of Bangkok Bank.

At least this group of no colour shirt protestors showed you can protest without burning stuff down then trying to secure amnesty afterwards, or severely impeding access to an airport etc. It's a benchmark for how protests should be conducted (traffic was allowed to flow through from side streets without protestors charging a fee or illegally searching/patting down visitors in the area as occurred in the red shirt encampment in the middle of Bangkok in 2010) and without violence.

People appeared to be pretty happy and in good spirits; certainly the difference of this group is they are protesting many of them in their own area of work/home, so there is less incentive perhaps to destroy it.

Let's hope it stays peaceful and positive.

[metisdead]

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While we do not wish to needlessly restrict discussion of current events in Thailand, it's necessary that we put the above restrictions in place to ensure that local laws and customs are honoured, and the forum remains a viable news source for Thailand's expat community.

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http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/479383-no-discussion-of-the-monarchy-in-political-context/

[Pib]

Will be interesting if the various protests have any staying power and maybe increase in size, frequency, and/or location....or just dwindle over the coming weeks.

[Artisi]

Protests will be allowed within legal limits: peacekeeping centre

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Peacekeeping Operations Centre has reaffirmed that it will not block protest activities carried out within legal limits.

<Snip>

But there arre no legal limits, according to the bill they're protesting about. The police could mow down the protestors, the protestors could mow down the police, and the survivors could unite and burn down the whole city and all would be forgiven. This ridiculous bill would be better renamed as the anarchy bill, as that is what it's legalising.

They wouldn't be game enough to try and stop it, legal or illegal - the backlash could be the catalyst for a major revolt from the many Thai's feed-up with the ongoing one-up-manship games and bullsh1t from the proxy government currently running the country, please note that I used the word running, very loosely unless of course you add "into the ground" after it.

[winstonc]

wife was marching today says there were thousands there...gawd knows how long shes guna be there but the dog loves sleeping on the settee,so he aint in a rush to see her...

[whybother]

Did this crowd pass through Sala Daeng BTS? There were all these crowds blowing whistles and acting hysterical!

There are 3 or 4 separate groups protesting at the moment.

There is a group (Democrats) who were at Samsen railway station, and today they walked to the Emerald Buddha and on their way back to Samsen decided to stop at Democracy Monument.

There was a group at Lumpini Park. I believe they joined another group at Uruphong (spelling?) intersection in the last couple of days.

The group at Sala Daeng are basically a new group.

[WAERTH]

The Saladeang people are organised by the Silom business association. They are not affiliated to any party.

And AFP hits the nail terribly wrong. The subway train which I took from Huai Kwang was packed aroung 11.20 with people heading to Silom. Now one train is over 500 people. Having trains go every 5 minutes arounf that time I believe means at least a couple of 1000 took the subway to get there. I do not know how crowded the BTS trains were!

Silom was jampacked with people from all over Bangkok and many many office workers whom joined in! Only a 1000 people? No way! I would say 10,000 at least.

It was a nice and orderly protest and afterwards everyone went back to work.

W

[waza]

Did this crowd pass through Sala Daeng BTS? There were all these crowds blowing whistles and acting hysterical!

There are 3 or 4 separate groups protesting at the moment.

There is a group (Democrats) who were at Samsen railway station, and today they walked to the Emerald Buddha and on their way back to Samsen decided to stop at Democracy Monument.

There was a group at Lumpini Park. I believe they joined another group at Uruphong (spelling?) intersection in the last couple of days.

The group at Sala Daeng are basically a new group.

The white masks are assembling at Democracy Monument today, Guy Fawkes day/night.

[attrayant]

Does anyone know if protests are still ongoing? Will there be any problems going downtown this weekend?

[don123123]

I think it would be ongoing