Thai protesters besiege more government ministries

[webfact]

Thai political protests paralyse more ministries
by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, November 26, 2013 (AFP) - Thai opposition protesters besieged several more ministries in Bangkok on Tuesday in a bid to topple the government, as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra faced a no-confidence motion in parliament and warned against "mob rule".

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have rallied against Yingluck and her brother, ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, in the biggest street protests since 2010, when more than 90 civilians were killed in a military crackdown.

Fresh turmoil in the politically turbulent country has sparked international concern and raised fears of a new bout of street violence.

Demonstrators surrounded the interior, agriculture, transport, and sports and tourism ministries, ordering officials inside to leave, a day after occupying the finance and foreign ministries.

"We have to leave because they (the protesters) will cut the utilities," tourism and sports minister Somsak Pureesrisak told AFP.

Around 1,500 protesters, waving Thai flags and blowing whistles, marched to the interior ministry, which was heavily guarded by several hundred security personnel, according to an AFP reporter at the scene.

Demonstrators gave officials an ultimatum to leave within one hour, threatening to "close the ministry".

Unlike at the interior ministry, most of the government buildings taken over had only a light security presence outside.

But on the streets more generally, police numbers have been increased in Bangkok in response to the expansion late Monday of the Internal Security Act, which gives authorities additional powers to block routes, impose a curfew, ban gatherings and carry out searches.

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

"Everybody must obey the law and not use mob rule to upstage the rule of law," she told reporters.

MPs began debating the no-confidence motion, which was put forward by the opposition Democrat Party last week as part of a barrage of legal and institutional challenges to Yingluck's embattled government.

The ruling Puea Thai party holds a comfortable majority and is expected to win the censure vote expected later in the week.

'Big move' threatened
Recent protests were sparked by Puea Thai plans to introduce an amnesty that could have allowed the return from self-imposed exile of Thaksin, a deeply polarising figure who was deposed by royalist generals in a 2006 coup.

Outrage over that plan failed to ebb after the amnesty was quashed by the Senate on November 11.

On Monday, protesters marched on more than a dozen state agencies across the capital, as well as several television stations.

There were no immediate signs that authorities were moving to evict them Tuesday but authorities said demonstrators appeared to be leaving the foreign ministry.

Television images showed protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who resigned from the Democrats to lead the protest, at the finance ministry surrounded by supporters.

In a press conference broadcast on the opposition's television channel, a rally spokesman insisted protesters would wait until Wednesday before making a "big move".

"We are occupying the finance ministry in a non-violent and peaceful way, so our supporters around the country can do the same and occupy all government offices," said Akanat Promphan, speaking on behalf of Suthep, who had lost his voice after Monday's tub-thumping rally speeches.

Both the United States and Britain have raised concerns over the street action.

The rallies are the biggest challenge yet for Yingluck, who swept to power in 2011 polls on a wave of Thaksin support from the "Red Shirts", whose 2010 protests were crushed by the then Democrat-led government.

Many Red Shirts were also angered by the amnesty proposal, believing it would have pardoned those responsible for the 2010 crackdown, but they have since rallied in support of the government, with thousands massing in a stadium in Bangkok.

"Suthep is not trying to throw out the government... he wants to throw out democracy and replace it with an ultra-royalist administration," Red Shirt leader Thida Thavornseth told AFP.

Thaksin draws strong support from many of the country's rural and urban working class. But he is loathed by the elite and the middle classes, who accuse him of being corrupt and a threat to the monarchy.

A series of protests by the royalist "Yellow Shirts" helped to trigger the coup that toppled Thaksin, who now lives abroad to avoid a prison term for corruption that he contends was politically motivated.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-26

[ramrod711]

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with murder.

[rubl]

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with murder.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with premeditated murder as a private person.

Edited November 26, 2013 by rubl

[dru2]

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with murder.

Well, good. This shows uncommon common sense from the PM.

[SamMunich]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

[Thainy Tim]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

It has also gone well past the time she should have stepped down. The fact that she is digging her heals in so firmly is a test that Thaksin wants the results of. If they can ride out the protests, then Thaksin will declare a victory over the people. He will than have the confidence to do what he wants with his puppets, because he knows that no matter what protests happen, they can just dig their heals in again. They did it once they can do it again.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that this test is going to be the deciding factor over the amnesty bill. If the protesters exhaust all their strategies and this rabble is still in full control by the time they all slowly drift away. Then come the end of the suspension period of the amnesty bill. It will be rushed through and made legal and active. Then Thaksin can call the dissolution and go for rampantly bought elections (possibly using some of the 2.2 trill) with him as head of course.

Or they can offer up a new bill amended to not include Abhisit and Suthep in the amnesty. To gain red support again.

Whatever the scenario.... These protests MUST succeed, and if that means occupying every damned building in BKK then so be it... They have my full support. Do what it takes to get the army to squash this regime once and for all.

[thhMan]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

So your stating fact or more of this opinionated waffle?

[millwall_fan]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

[gemini81]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

So your stating fact or more of this opinionated waffle?

It's clear observation based on facts. In addition, looking at the past to see the future- as well as desperation of the fugitive in Dubai.

How one sided to seek arrest for Suthep, yet no red shirts or leaders.

I see you make negative remarks at the comment above, but offer only a less than prodigious one-liner in response. (Don't that call that trolling?)

[Thainy Tim]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

Yes they do still have the moral high ground.

They would have to do a shitload worse than a few peaceful occupations before they can sink beneath this piss poor excuse for a government. In fact they would have to sink below the depths of Thaksin alone seeing as he owns the government lock stock and barrel.

They are also still morally WAY above the red shirts of 2010 with their Thaksinesque 'burn Bangkok policy' and their 'Murder the soldiers' and 'storm the hospitals with grenades and rocket launchers policy'.

So to answer your question.

YES!

Edited November 26, 2013 by Thainy Tim

[jdinasia]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

Do they still have the moral high ground? Yes. They are not being told from their stages to bring a million bottles to fill with petrol ... They are not being told byt a nor MP about burning BKK to the ground.

Is this civil disobedience? Absolutely! Has it been peaceful to date? Yes

I remember your pro-red take on things n the past MF ... and these folks have been extremely well behaved compared to those you supported.

[bigbamboo]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

No one likes them..... but they don't care.

[plachon]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

Do they still have the moral high ground? Yes. They are not being told from their stages to bring a million bottles to fill with petrol ... They are not being told byt a nor MP about burning BKK to the ground.

Is this civil disobedience? Absolutely! Has it been peaceful to date? Yes

I remember your pro-red take on things n the past MF ... and these folks have been extremely well behaved compared to those you supported.

Yes, on a like for like basis, the anti-Shin protesters so far have not either been whipped up into a violent frenzy by the leaders or displayed excessive thuggery of the Red Shirt sort in 2009-10, BUT make no mistake, that they are making a clear statement that mob rule and ignoring the rule of law is the way to go, which cannot be a healthy sign of democratic development in Thailand, and suggests it is still stuck in a rut. Like with the Yellows airport occupation, what boggles the mind most is that the government of the day, when push leads to a shove, has so little control of its security forces that it cannot defend key public buildings from a mob takeover. It is a great embarassment for the country and one must question whether the Shin clan has the same sway over the police force that it clearly held in the past. Or is there a hidden unsaid factor between the factions here, that if the Yingluk govt uses the police to disperse the crowds by force, then the military will step in? Hence the ease with which these key institutions have been taken over.....

[Emdog]

Meet the new mob. Same as the old mob. Things gonna get ugly when those tea payments start getting missed.

[gemini81]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

No one likes them..... but they don't care.

They have been democratic, at the same time the need to make some noise. If you don't like those who are doer's and not just talkers, and strive for freedom through demonstration, what is wrong? They have more support than PTP at this point. Put your syringe or your drink down, and look around.

[h90]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

Not true, Thaksin has another beautiful sister: Yaowapha

[Prbkk]

I agree with that editorial . They have gone way too far. What is more, the photograph below the editorial demonstrates just how goonish some of these people are. All the swagger go Pol Pot's boy soldiers and not at all like the very middle class whistlers in Silom. It's just one photo but I was troubled by it

quote name="millwall_fan" post="7085014" timestamp="1385456803"]I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been

supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

[DonaldBattles]

If her brother and his mob would cut her loose she could manage the country.

[carlosacao]

Does anybody know if the Immigration department at the big government complex in Chaeng Wattanna is still operating normal?

[MILT]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

Absolutely!

[lemoncake]

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with murder.

Well, good. This shows uncommon common sense from the PM.

No, this shows how much she really care about the rest of the people.

Saving her own backside is her only concern

[lemoncake]

I am interested to hear if those on this forum who have been supporting the protesters up to now still think they have the moral high ground now that they are illegally entering and occupying government ministries or whether they agree with the editorial in a certain English language newspaper that this is mob rule and well beyond the realms of democratic protest.

Government buildings belong to the people, not the government , so what is so illegal for people to enter it ?

[jdinasia]

I agree with that editorial . They have gone way too far. What is more, the photograph below the editorial demonstrates just how goonish some of these people are. All the swagger go Pol Pot's boy soldiers and not at all like the very middle class whistlers in Silom. It's just one photo but I was troubled by it

I deleted your botched quote from MF ... and I am unsure what photo you are referring to but I can share one here ....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/62325_538281729595100_172474048_n.jpg

that photo comes from here

https://www.facebook.com/Mallikaboonmeetrakool

Edited November 26, 2013 by jdinasia

[DGIE]

carlosacao said:

Posted 49 minutes ago

Does anybody know if the Immigration department at the big government complex in Chaeng Wattanna is still operating normal?

Yeah, it is interesting to know if there are demonstrators there to try to close the place. LOL!

[DGIE]

What in my mind is that, in case Yingluck step down, can anybody seats in her position without election?

[MaxYakov]

Yingluck on Tuesday reiterated a vow that authorities would "absolutely not use violence" as she arrived at parliament, which was guarded by dozens of police.

Translate as...No freaking way i'm getting charged with murder.

Well, good. This shows uncommon common sense from the PM.

Yeah, well ... did she rule out the use of force or is she going to let them 'occupy' indefinitely as were the Red shirts allowed in 2010? Or does she know that Suthep will let it run until December 5th and then 'de-occupy' so she can wait it out?

Edited November 26, 2013 by MaxYakov

[spermwhale]

It isn't that Yingluck doesn't want to get out of this msierable situation she is in right now, it is her brother ordering her to stay on at all cost. Without Yingluck as Primeminister there is definitely no more hope for him to come back. There is no real other Shinawatra available to take over from her and Taksin doesn't trust anybody outside his own family, Chinese that he is...

So only if the pressure on her is too much to bear, from the streets as well as from the no-confidence-motion, will she opt out of office. I guess Taksin is brainwashing her every few hours into staying put...

Suthep, though I don't particularly like him is right in one thing: The whole System Taksin has to be dismantled, or else things will drag on until he's dead. And that system is not only his famly and close friends, it is also that corruption, that he stands for.

SamM.

Actually you are incorrect regarding no other Shinawatra. He has another sister that rumor has it he's been grooming to take over. Yaowapa, Yingluck's older sister, is an MP from Chiang Mai and she's been given more clout in the PT party in the last year in case Yingluck bows out.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Yaowapas-return-shores-up-a-dynasty-30205556.html