Thai govt ups ante in publicity battle with protesters

[webfact]

PROTESTS
Govt ups ante in publicity battle with protesters
The Nation



Govt steps up its PR campaign 'war room' and media centre set up to give its side of crisis

BANGKOK: -- The embattled ruling coalition countered anti-government protesters yesterday by setting up a "war room" to spread information from its side, as media outlets become increasingly dominated by news of the street rallies.

The "war room" will monitor and assess the latest developments in the protests, said government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi.

A media centre has also been set up at Government House to give updates in Thai and English three to four times a day.

Both the 'war room' and the media centre became operational yesterday, he said, adding that they were separate from the police Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, which is in charge of administering the Internal Security Act during the current turbulence.

Teerat said the frequency and number of channels for the dissemination of information would be increased.

The media centre will explain the latest situation to the public, he said. In addition to the government spokesman's team, there will be personnel from agencies such as the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and security agencies.

"Certain Cabinet members or even the prime minister may also be present if there is an urgent issue," he added.

Defence Ministry permanent secretary General Nipat Thonglek joined the war room's first press conference at Government House yesterday. He said the military disagreed with the protesters' occupation and sieges at many government offices.

The government and the armed forces want to see talks between both sides, following almost a month of street protests, he stressed.

A number of other senior government officials were also present at the press conference.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would not dissolve the House, according to a source from the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

The source said party leaders had agreed there would be an immediate political deadlock if she were to dissolve Parliament soon.

They fear three factors that would affect Pheu Thai in the event of an early dissolution: members of the new Election Commission have not yet been endorsed by His Majesty the King; the Democrat Party may boycott a general election, as it did in early 2006; and Pheu Thai's popularity has fallen due to its backing of the controversial amnesty bill.

"We have rejected several parties' demands for a House dissolution. The party's urgent strategy is to create fear among the public that the anti-government protests are violating the law," the source said.

"We are focused on communicating with the people to attack [former Democrat MP] Suthep Thaugsuban's group heavily via social media. We will post photos and audio of him encouraging protesters to commit illegal acts. We hope it can block some people from joining the rallies," the source added.

Pheu Thai Party issued a statement in support of the prime minister yesterday and the idea of talks to resolve the political crisis peacefully. It thanked the United Nations and countries that had supported the proposal for talks.

However, the party insisted it could not accept the ruling of the Constitutional Court that the charter amendment pushed by the majority of parliamentarians to amend the Senate's election rules was unconstitutional.

The party called on protesters to leave government agencies, and said their demand to set up a "People's Council" to lead the country would not be possible under the current Constitution.

Pheu Thai also said the Democrats, which has key members currently leading the anti-government protests, had acted illegally.


-- The Nation 2013-11-30

[webfact]

Govt seeks talks with protest leader via mediator
By English News



BANGKOK, Nov 30 - The Yingluck Shinawatra government remains committed to seeking talks with anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban using a non-partisan mediator despite Mr Suthep's refusal of the offer.

Speaking after meeting with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to evaluate the latest situation, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok disclosed that the premier stated that no force would not be used against the protesters. The situation is worrisome and the government would mainly seek talks with all conflicting parties.

Initially, a non-partisan senior figure had been asked to mediate and convey a message to Mr Suthep, he said. The talks format could model those which Ms Yingluck's predecessor Abhisit Vejjajiva used when he entered talks with the Red Shirt leaders during the anti-government protest three years ago.

The government repeated its stance after Mr Suthep and the opposition Democrat party firmly rejected the proposed dialogue with the government, saying the both Yingluck Shinawatra administration and the so-called "Thaksin regime" is what they want to eradicate.

Mr Pracha insisted that the talks are necessary to end the ongoing problems that engulf the country. The demand of the demonstrators for a people's council could also be put on the negotiating table.

"The prime minister is the person who calls the shots, not her elder brother Thaksin," the deputy premier said.

As the government pushed for the talks, about a thousand anti-government protesters stormed into the premises of the national army headquarters, asking army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to make a clear stance against what the demonstrators called the Thaksin regime.

Protest leader Nititorn Lamlua however announced that the demonstrators did not demand a military putsch but simply wanted the military to protect the nation, religion and the monarchy which they claimed have been undermined by the Thaksin regime. He also submitted a letter to a representative of Gen Prayuth and the protesters later dispersed peacefully.

At the same time, another group of protesters surrounded the ruling Pheu Thai Party headquarters in downtown Bangkok's Petchburi Road, blowing whistles as a symbolic gesture against the Thaksin regime. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-11-30

[Robby nz]

Teerat said the frequency and number of channels for the dissemination of information would be increased.

Would that account for the increased number of Pro Govt and red posters on here?

[NongKhaiKid]

It's natural that the government will try to say the right things at this time and if it wasn't so serious it would be hysterical.

Calling on protestors to stop in rich coming from an administration that includes two ministers who in 2010 told the reds to leave Bkk but leave it in flames.

[waza]

The PTP is panicking this protest is interfering with the flow of money by scaring off foreign investors which is affecting the sale of government bonds. They are loosing the publicity battle and loosing face internationally. Time for a propaganda offensive to draw international sympathy and misdirect the Thai people. But its too late "The die has been cast", their unconstitutional and immoral amnesty bill, their corrupt rice scam and their self centered constitutional changes have let the genie of public discontent, out the bottle, no amount of spin, misdirection and outright lies will put it back in again.

Heads must roll.

Edited November 29, 2013 by waza

[noikrit]

" WAR ROOM " Sounds appropriate coming from a Rabble of Thugs that burnt down parts of Bangkok in 2010 ....... Any of those Rice Farmers been paid yet ??...... I mean for their rice ???

[JRSoul]

The Police Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order - is it "1984" again?

Edited November 29, 2013 by JRSoul

[h90]

"war room" What a bad name....In a war people die....

[Thait Spot]

The Ministry of Propaganda

Too late for that

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ramrod711]

The media centre will explain the latest situation to the public, he said. In addition to the government spokesman's team, there will be personnel from agencies such as the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and security agencies.

"Certain Cabinet members or even the prime minister may also be present if there is an urgent issue," he added.

We will tell our side of the story, and explain how we are all in Thaksins pocket. As a special treat for you, his sister may even show up. Now don't say we haven't done anything for you.

[Valentine]

The PTP is panicking this protest is interfering with the flow of money by scaring off foreign investors which is affecting the sale of government bonds. They are loosing the publicity battle and loosing face internationally. Time for a propaganda offensive to draw international sympathy and misdirect the Thai people. But its too late "The die has been cast", their unconstitutional and immoral amnesty bill, their corrupt rice scam and their self centered constitutional changes have let the genie of public discontent, out the bottle, no amount of spin, misdirection and outright lies will put it back in again.

Heads must roll.

This backs up what you are saying about the bond issue http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-28/rice-bond-flop-adds-to-yingluck-protest-misfortune-asean-credit.html

Not sure if this was on any of the local media reports but it could be bad news for the farmers who are waiting for their money.

[winstonc]

The PTP is panicking this protest is interfering with the flow of money by scaring off foreign investors which is affecting the sale of government bonds. They are loosing the publicity battle and loosing face internationally. Time for a propaganda offensive to draw international sympathy and misdirect the Thai people. But its too late "The die has been cast", their unconstitutional and immoral amnesty bill, their corrupt rice scam and their self centered constitutional changes have let the genie of public discontent, out the bottle, no amount of spin, misdirection and outright lies will put it back in again.

Heads must roll.

This backs up what you are saying about the bond issue http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-28/rice-bond-flop-adds-to-yingluck-protest-misfortune-asean-credit.html

Not sure if this was on any of the local media reports but it could be bad news for the farmers who are waiting for their money.

correct valentine,i was thinking the same,the farmers are not happy bunnies up here in ubon ..you would think these would be the people you would pay off first...it seems they really dont give a <deleted> about anyone at all..bloody hell im so nieve..

[winstonc]

Teerat said the frequency and number of channels for the dissemination of information would be increased.

Would that account for the increased number of Pro Govt and red posters on here?

morning..there is only an increase in more avatars.its still the same ammount..their just massaging the numbers like the government they so dearly love..wheres fab4 is he on holiday.the only one who puts up half a decent arguament..

[Ricardo]

Need help in spinning the corruption & failures of your government ? Send for the hamster !

Anything rather than apologise, for your misdeeds, and calling an election !

[Manbing]

The redshirts in 2010 were not peaceful protesters, they were armed and declared they would fight the government before leaving Rajaprasong. They employed General Sai Deng, a trained guerrilla tactician, they had a group of soldiers dressed in black, they bombed banks and other targets. They had multiple shootouts with police at checkpoints around Bangkok. They attended resolution talks and when talks were resolved, live on TV, they still refused to leave holding parts of downtown BKK to armed ransom. Insisting they would fight to the death before leaving Rajaprasong. They burned down privately owned property. They then bribed voters to vote for the PTP.

Now the PTP complain about peaceful protests related to further corruption allegations in Bangkok? Sure the protestors are occupying many government buildings illegally, but without force. There is an important difference in this point.

[spidermike007]

The PTP is panicking this protest is interfering with the flow of money by scaring off foreign investors which is affecting the sale of government bonds. They are loosing the publicity battle and loosing face internationally. Time for a propaganda offensive to draw international sympathy and misdirect the Thai people. But its too late "The die has been cast", their unconstitutional and immoral amnesty bill, their corrupt rice scam and their self centered constitutional changes have let the genie of public discontent, out the bottle, no amount of spin, misdirection and outright lies will put it back in again.

Heads must roll.

You make some good points. The level of incompetence that Yingbat is demonstrating is historic. She is an absolute neophyte, attempting to handle serious issues. She is out of her element. And the level of cronyism is being demonstrated by just how little talent she has in her administration. Reminds me of Blundering Barry, back there in D.C. If she had been wise, who would have appointed truly talented men and women to the various posts, and when a crisis like this happens, there are smart, wise, charismatic people to get on the job, and find solutions. Of course, has she had anyone who fit that description they would have advised against the amnesty bill, which demonstrated tremendous lack of wisdom. She seems like a 13 year old trying to deal with adult issues. Is there a leader in the house? Anyone capable of creative, wise solutions? A war room? Has she completely departed from her faculties? When will she stop listening to the "turd in Dubai"? Will she develop some wisdom, at some point? Is it too late for that? What is the solution here? Even if she resigns, do the democrats have anyone better?

[Magenta2013]

The main event coming up is the 12th of December 2013 - the real reason behind Sutheps quest for killing democracy and his vile propoganda. He wants to get his own "get out of jail free card" via a coup or an appointed council of PAD Yellow shirts.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/abhisit-suthep-hear-formal-murder-charge-oag/

He has an appointment at the Criminal Court on 12th December 2013 to face the charges of murder against him.

This is the real news behind everything going on - and something the government should do more to highlight..........

[almavro]

I don't see anyone talking (in truth, I have done a systematic search) about the fact that when you're in one of the "mob" locations, the mobile signal is unaccountably lacking. This has been the case for some time, as my wife and I have tried in vain to remain in contact with one another. Moreover, the last day or two, the online TV coverage has gone from problematic to flat impossible, where it remains at the moment.

The conventional news coverage has been a riot, as if from a different planet.For example, based on my brief and anecdotal exposure to the various "mobs," it appears that the official po-po figures need to be corrected by introducing a multiplier of approximately 10... for large crowds, but over 20, for smaller crowds. *Some*one should be gathering accurate data: with today's photographic and software options, it's child's play to come up with extremely accurate crowd counts.

Restricting access to information is a double-edged sword. I'm sure the thinking is that if people don't know what's going on, then the likelihood of participation snowballing is minimal. But the counter to that is to offset the fear that many have of being left uninformed, they may head to the various "mob" locations to see for themselves, thus swelling the crowd numbers.

And after how many "mob" events over the past six years... still no use of water cannon or fire hoses? Controlling and dispersing peaceful protesters is not an arcane art form. It is done daily around the world.