Thai protesters break into army headquarters

[webfact]

Thai protesters target army, ruling party headquarters

BANGKOK, November 29, 2013 (AFP) - Defiant Thai opposition protesters stormed the army headquarters and besieged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's party offices on Friday, intensifying their fight to bring down her government.

Boisterous demonstrators have targeted key government buildings in Bangkok in the biggest street protests since mass rallies in 2010 degenerated into the kingdom's worst civil strife in decades.

The protesters -- a mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class sometimes numbering in their tens of thousands -- are united by their loathing of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The controversial former telecoms tycoon was ousted in a coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile, but he is widely believed to be the real power behind the embattled government of his younger sister Yingluck.

Protesters are demanding the end of the "Thaksin regime" and want to replace the government with an unelected "people's council".

Demonstrators forced open the gates of the army headquarters in Bangkok, calling on the military to support their fight to bring down the government.

Thousands of flag-waving demonstrators massed on the lawn inside the army compound in Bangkok's historic district, sheltering under sun umbrellas.

"We want to know whether the army will stand by the people not a dictator," said a protest leader, Amorn Amornrattananont.

Demonstrators also massed outside the headquarters of Yingluck's Puea Thai party, setting up a tense standoff with riot police guarding the building.

The provocative twin-pronged move against key symbols of authority came a day after protesters cut off the electricity to the national police headquarters, ignoring Yingluck's plea for calm after she won a parliamentary no confidence vote.

With their spirits buoyed by free food and a party atmosphere, demonstrators have massed at several locations around the capital, including outside many major government buildings.

Their numbers have fallen sharply since an estimated crowd of up to 180,000 people joined an opposition rally on Sunday.

But turnout is expected to spike again over the weekend as organisers seek a final push ahead of celebrations for revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday on December 5, which is traditionally marked in an atmosphere of calm and respect.

The carnival-like mood at the rallies masks deep divisions in Thai society that have erupted into political bloodshed on several occasions since Thaksin's overthrow.

While the latest demonstrations have been largely peaceful, a minor clash broke out Thursday between pro- and anti-government supporters in the province of Pathum Thani on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, police said.

"Two anti-government supporters suffered minor injuries. They might have been hit with a wooden stick," said provincial police commander Major General Smithi Mukdasanit.

A minor confrontation between the two sides was also reported in the northeastern province of Mahasarakam although nobody was injured.

Thaksin remains a hugely divisive figure seven years after he was deposed by royalist generals. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election for more than a decade.

He is adored by many of the country's rural and urban working class but hated by many southerners, middle-class Thais and the Bangkok elite, who see him as corrupt and a threat to the monarchy.

In a televised address Thursday, Yingluck urged demonstrators to call off their protesters and said the government did not want confrontation.

But a defiant rally leader, Suthep Thaugsuban, rejected any suggestion of talks in a tub-thumping late night speech that set a fresh deadline for the demos to reach their climax.

"Yingluck said the government can still govern, can still work -- I want to say that they will only be able to work for a few more days, then we will not let them work anymore," he told several thousand supporters in Bangkok.

The protests snowballed after the ruling party tried to introduce an amnesty that could have allowed Thaksin's return from self-imposed exile, and the rallies have continued despite a Senate move to reject the bill.

Yingluck on Monday ordered special security measures to be expanded to cover all of the capital, although she has ruled out using force against the demonstrators.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-29

[webfact]

RT @tulsathit: Moment when protesters reach Army HQ gate. RT @veen_NT: via @WassanaNanuam http://t.co/1RB1FswEc5


RT @tulsathit: Protesters resting and taking pictures at Army HQ. RT @khwan_nna: http://t.co/cLci6fwY6w


RT @tulsathit: At Army HQ, protesters have been told to remain on the lawn and never enter the building. We shall see.

[webfact]

POLITICS
Protesters occupy front yard of Army headquarters
The Nation


Photo: Joey kanis@thaipbs

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of the anti-government protesters managed to break into the Army's headquarters on Rajadamnoen Nok Road on Friday.

The protest was led by Students and People Network for Thailand's Reform who marched from their base in Nang Lueng area in the morning.

Their leaders earlier said they wanted to talk to Army Commander in chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha and asked him whether he took side with people.


-- The Nation 2013-11-29

[JoeThePoster]

Who was on guard duty? Fiddle Dee and Fiddle Dum?

[stubuzz]

The guards didn't notice the large crowd advancing on the gate.

[draftvader]

TAT new campaign - "Hey Cambodia. We're open for the taking, check out our defence strategy."

p.s. bring whistles!

[jdinasia]

The Student's Network are probably the only ones that could have accomplished this.

[h90]

Who was on guard duty? Fiddle Dee and Fiddle Dum?

Most probably, the guard, the boss of the guard and the boss of the boss of the guard sees the demonstrators as much more legit than the government.

And most probably he had the order for no violence. So by being very carefully that no fragile elderly woman is hurt in the struggle they got overrun.

[draftvader]

Who was on guard duty? Fiddle Dee and Fiddle Dum?

Most probably, the guard, the boss of the guard and the boss of the boss of the guard sees the demonstrators as much more legit than the government.

And most probably he had the order for no violence. So by being very carefully that no fragile elderly woman is hurt in the struggle they got overrun.

"Fragile Elderly Woman"? You need to queue for more buses

[Loles]

Congratulation for thai army.

Brave and strong team

I hope when Burmians or Cambodiams come they will be a bit stronger ....

[Katipo]

Who was on guard duty? Fiddle Dee and Fiddle Dum?

No. They were out for lunch too. I should add, they are sick of being your scapegoats everytime there is an uprising.

[Jasun]

Must have been packing fried basil leaves.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

I understand now why they lost Ayutthaya to the Burmese. Oh dear..

[Rob8891]

They are reported to be inside the building now. Rather than some of the inane comments about the Thai army here, this development may reflect more on their possible reluctance to side with the corrupt government. Secondly, said government is now running scared. The last thing they need is bullets flying (again).

[pisico]

Water cannon time. Capsicum in the water with persuade them to leave. The army HQ.

[Patje]

Damn, the front gate guard was taking a sh*t when they came and was carried away with his smartphone while doing so.....

[hgma]

explosive stuff.......The Army is No Go.

They went.....dragging the army in a stand.

Stupid and a sign of lost struggle.

Edited November 29, 2013 by hgma

[transam]

The guards didn't notice the large crowd advancing on the gate.

It was lunch hour..............

[Rob8891]

The guards didn't notice the large crowd advancing on the gate.

It was lunch hour..............

The crowd was disguised as the somtam lady?

[marcusd]

The guy in the blue shirt in the pic does not look to THAI to me. the army will not budge with a few hundred people. they will need to see a hell of a lot more to be convinced to COUP which will destroy thailand as a tourist haven for a long while.

This is not easy for the army as they p[robably like me, can see no side is good for this country.

[transam]

So a vast army cannot create a perimeter around it's commander centre in times of unrest .

[airconsult]

Hmm, I wondered why they moved some senior officers out to 1st Infantry barracks as reported the other day.....

[ratcatcher]

The guy in the blue shirt in the pic does not look to THAI to me. the army will not budge with a few hundred people. they will need to see a hell of a lot more to be convinced to COUP which will destroy thailand as a tourist haven for a long while.

This is not easy for the army as they p[robably like me, can see no side is good for this country.

"The guy in the blue shirt in the pic does not look to THAI to me."

What the hell is that supposed to mean. Do you have a prototype picture of a Thai? Specifications?

What does a Cambodian look like?

And I doubt that the army "probably likes you".

[jdinasia]

explosive stuff.......The Army is No Go.

They went.....dragging the army in a stand.

Stupid and a sign of lost struggle.

Ummmm think that through.

Any group but the Students ....

The Army has yet to take a stand.

Nothing appears lost at this point.

That this particular group decided to "picnic" on the front grounds of the Army HQ may simply be making a statement .....

[ratcatcher]

So a vast army cannot create a perimeter around it's commander centre in times of unrest .

I had to imagine the guards on duty at the gate were something like dear Baldrick.

[h90]

Who was on guard duty? Fiddle Dee and Fiddle Dum?

Most probably, the guard, the boss of the guard and the boss of the boss of the guard sees the demonstrators as much more legit than the government.

And most probably he had the order for no violence. So by being very carefully that no fragile elderly woman is hurt in the struggle they got overrun.

"Fragile Elderly Woman"? You need to queue for more buses

I know breakfast buffet.....young male martial art specialists are hopeless outmatched......

[RKASA]

So close the gate with them inside and don't re open it.

[jdinasia]

The guy in the blue shirt in the pic does not look to THAI to me. the army will not budge with a few hundred people. they will need to see a hell of a lot more to be convinced to COUP which will destroy thailand as a tourist haven for a long while.

This is not easy for the army as they p[robably like me, can see no side is good for this country.

marcusd --- why would yet another coup "destroy thailand as a tourist haven for a long time" (sic)???

Political instability and being in the news for tourist deaths certainly hurts ....

Civil unrest hurts ....

Coups are like chilies here .... they add flavor.

(yes that last was said with a bit of toungue-in-cheek)

[winstonc]

the army are not worried in the slightest,no voilence again must be heartbreaking for the grim reds reading this on here...whether they suceed or not ..it might stop a future push for amnesty bill..which really is the main gripe neither me or any of you know ..but it is fascinating to watch and read..

Edited November 29, 2013 by winstonc

[Jawnie]

You know, I dare say that in most countries in the world, if a crowd breaks into the Army HQ, the response from the Army/government is to start cracking heads. These protesters are just beginning for it. They are completely out of control now.

Edited November 29, 2013 by Jawnie