Defiant Thai protesters target CAT, TOT

[webfact]

Thai capital braced for rival rallies
by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, November 30, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's capital was braced for mass rival rallies on Saturday as opposition protesters marched on key communications firms after vowing a final push against the premier, while pro-government demonstrators converged on Bangkok.

Defiant demonstrators have besieged 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 in the month-long rallies.

The controversial former telecoms tycoon was ousted in a military 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 Shinawatra.

Anti-government protesters occupied parts of Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) offices near their base at a key government complex in the outskirts of Bangkok Saturday, holding a cheerful picnic in the grounds.

They also briefly gathered around Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT), another key state telecoms firm.

"My fight strategy is to march empty handed. I feel tomorrow we will win," protester Sanit Ounjai, a 45-year-old rubber farmer from southern Thailand, told AFP.

Demonstrators have declared Sunday a "day of victory", with plans to gather near the heavily guarded Government House, besiege more important buildings -- even Bangkok's zoo.

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

The pro-Thaksin "Red Shirt" movement also stepped up their rally in the capital Saturday, vowing to protect the government.

"Red Shirts who do not want our country pushed into anarchy will be here," Thanawut Wichaidit, a spokesman for the group, told AFP, adding that thousands were expected to head to the capital.

The Reds have gathered in a stadium in Bangkok for a week, but have so far shown no intention of taking to the streets.

Thaksin 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.

He 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 but Yingluck has given no indication that she is thinking of calling fresh polls as a way out of the crisis.

With free food and a carnival atmosphere, opposition demonstrators have massed at several locations around the capital, occupying the finance ministry since Monday.

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 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.

Provocative protests
Demonstrators on Friday forced open the gates of the compound of the army headquarters in Bangkok and occupied the lawn inside for several hours, calling on the military to support their fight to bring down the government.

It was the latest in a string of provocative moves targeting a symbol of state power, which have made headlines but failed to rattle the government into acting to disperse their rallies.

"The prime minister has given clear orders for authorities to deal leniently with protesters and not to use violence," a deputy prime minister Pracha Promnog said on television Saturday.

Yingluck's Puea Thai party came to power in 2011 elections on a wave of Thaksin support, after a bloody 2010 military crackdown on Red Shirt protests under the previous government left some 90 people dead.

In a statement released Friday, army chief Prayuth Chan-O-Cha urged protesters to respect "the democratic process under the law", urging people to come together ahead of the king's birthday.

The generals are traditionally seen as staunch defenders of the monarchy with close links to its supporters in the royalist "Yellow Shirt" protest movement -- the arch-rivals of the Red Shirts.

But they have so far shown little appetite for getting involved in the latest standoff.

The protests began on October 30 in response to a ruling party amnesty plan that could have allowed Thaksin's return, and have snowballed despite the Senate's rejection of the bill.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-11-30

[Pomthai]

I don't use Facebook myself but I'd imagine there would be even bigger protests if by besieging the TOT and CAT offices, Facebook or heaven forbid lol, YouTube went down.

[chainarong]

The protesters need to control their protest, both these institutions are hardly the back bone of the PTP, communications are important to everyone in Thailand and to destroy/damage this facility will only hinder the protesters own communications, there is no point in occupying these places, unless u need a ticket to London through CAT, I don't recommend any targets, but if you need some , here's some suggestions, Yingluck, the PTP and DSI.

[pedro01]

I don't use Facebook myself but I'd imagine there would be even bigger protests if by besieging the TOT and CAT offices, Facebook or heaven forbid lol, YouTube went down.

More likely to be Skype they want to cut off!

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[pomchop]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

[kutjebu]

And that all in the name of Democracy.

[h90]

I don't use Facebook myself but I'd imagine there would be even bigger protests if by besieging the TOT and CAT offices, Facebook or heaven forbid lol, YouTube went down.

or that other movies and pictures that account for the most traffic on the internet...

[winstonc]

who is this man writing this rubbish,hes copied most of this from 3 other people who cant /unable to write an independent article for themselves utter rubbish,on a side note there are quite a few people from the north east there to not reds but anti-government,but how would they know,theyv hardly been out on the streets talking to people,discraceful journalism,,very news international.im just trying to add what they have ommited to put in,,

[SABloke]

"a mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class" So only royalist northerners are against Thaksin, or aren't there royalists in the north? I have friends(farmers) from Isaan who protest against this goernment - I also have Southern friends(business owners) who are staunch red-shirt supporters. There may be majorities in certain areas that lean to either side, but to paint everything with the same brush just adds to the polarisation of this nation. The media should not perpetuate these stereotypical ideas.

[webfact]

Thousands of protesters stage symbolic siege of DSI, CAT, TOT
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thousands of protesters from the Government Complex rally site marched to stage a symbolic siege of the Department of Special Investigation, the CAT Plc and TOT Plc Saturday.

They formed a procession and moved from the Government House Complex t at 10:45 am.

They staged a symbolic siege of the DSI at 11:33 am. They did not make attempts to get through padlocked glass doors but just waited outside and shouted for DSI Tarrit Pengdit to come out to meet them.

They blew whistles and shouted: "Where are you, Tarrit?

The protesters later moved on the CAT headquarters at 11:52 am and entered the compound briefly before heading to the TOT Plc headquarters.

They arrived at the TOT Plc headquarters at noon Saturday.

They were greeted and welcomed by TOT Senior Executive Vice President Wudthidanai Thitakasikorn in front of TOT building. The protesters gathered at its front yard. Some were singing and clapping.

Wudthidanai told the protesters that the TOT welcomed them because they are tax payers. He said the TOT prepared drinking water and restrooms to welcome them.

He asked them not to destroy the property and asked them to consider using TOT services when they need phone and Internet services


-- The Nation 2013-11-30

[Thai at Heart]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

Have they gone completely public with this peoples council idea?

I think I'd prefer a coup to be honest. A bunch of right wing nut jobs trying to convince us that this is the natural order of things hardly appeals. Listening to a bunch of decrepit cronies spouting off about getting rid of corruption while they drive away in their mercs is even less appealing.

At least the army knows they don't want to be in power forever.

Edited November 30, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[Beetlejuice]

"We will control the area, like we did at the finance ministry, and ask staff not to work. OR ELSE WE`LL MAKE THEM AN OFFER THEY CAN`T REFUSE.

[backtonormal]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

Have they gone completely public with this peoples council idea?

I think I'd prefer a coup to be honest. A bunch of right wing nut jobs trying to convince us that this is the natural order of things hardly appeals. Listening to a bunch of decrepit cronies spouting off about getting rid of corruption while they drive away in their mercs is even less appealing.

At least the army knows they don't want to be in power forever.

Stay in power long enough to fill their pockets, change the constitution to free themselves from treason, destroy world confidence in Thailand, run the country back 20 years for their paymasters etc etc

[Misterwhisper]

"Demonstrators have declared Sunday a "day of victory", with plans to gather near the heavily guarded Government House, besiege more important buildings -- even Bangkok's zoo."

I've always found it quite amusing - nay, befitting - that Thailand's parliament is located right next to Dusit Zoo, and wondered which one of the two might be the bigger zoo.

Feeding times at Dusit Zoo are thrice a day. How about parliament?

Edited November 30, 2013 by Misterwhisper

[ballpoint]

They were greeted and welcomed by TOT Senior Executive Vice President Wudthidanai Thitakasikorn in front of TOT building. The protesters gathered at its front yard. Some were singing and clapping.

Wudthidanai told the protesters that the TOT welcomed them because they are tax payers. He said the TOT prepared drinking water and restrooms to welcome them.

He asked them not to destroy the property and asked them to consider using TOT services when they need phone and Internet services

I nominate this guy for PM.

[Bagwan]

Were not TOT and CAT ordered to merge over 10 years ago? What is the point of demonstrating outside their offices. There's no intelligent life inside either.

[MarleyMarl]

My internet and websites that are hosted at the CAT datacenter are down.

What kind of joke is this? Shouldn't the protesters want the internet to aide in their campaign. It should be the government that resorts to cutting the internet as seen in Egypt etc.

[hullupullo]

Yep, power off at CAT, many angry people on twitter. Picture here, just emergency lights on

https://twitter.com/AsiaTitawat/status/406713703271133184

Edited November 30, 2013 by hullupullo

[allan michaud]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

It would be nice if it was as simple as having an election, the trouble is there is always massive vote buying so in reality the results are a complete joke. Sadly I seen no sign of any light appearing at the end of this particular tunnel. The Thai people desperately need an honest alternative to the Dems or Thaksin and his bunch of thieves. It's clear the majority of Thai's want to see the end to the power of the old elites and will not vote democrat, however, the only alternative is a megalomaniac.

[lemoncake]

They have cut off Internet for CAT users , not sure about TOT.

True 3 g is still working, but all CAT lines are down .

CAT not sure when it will be up again

[lemoncake]

My internet and websites that are hosted at the CAT datacenter are down.

What kind of joke is this? Shouldn't the protesters want the internet to aide in their campaign. It should be the government that resorts to cutting the internet as seen in Egypt etc.

I guess it's not as bad as you making it out to be, as here you are posting

[AloisAmrein]

TOT would better improve their lousy service then support this antidemocratic mob of right-wing and royalist protesters.

[EvilDrSomkid]

who is this man writing this rubbish,hes copied most of this from 3 other people who cant /unable to write an independent article for themselves utter rubbish,on a side note there are quite a few people from the north east there to not reds but anti-government,but how would they know,theyv hardly been out on the streets talking to people,discraceful journalism,,very news international.im just trying to add what they have ommited to put in,,

I did not read the OP, but you are not exactly Mr. Professional either when it comes to writing.

Besides that, cutting power to pubic utilities is not protesting anymore, that is just criminal damage of PUBLIC property.

And those douchebags who thought it would be a good idea to intimidate a 10 year old are just insane.

Then again, there are a LOT of people in this country who have the mentality of a 10 year old, but have a physical age many times that.

is what is happening now. New years will see this country in tatters.

[SABloke]

Internet's back!! Hoorah!

[slipperylobster]

"a mix of royalists, southerners and the urban middle class" So only royalist northerners are against Thaksin, or aren't there royalists in the north? I have friends(farmers) from Isaan who protest against this goernment - I also have Southern friends(business owners) who are staunch red-shirt supporters. There may be majorities in certain areas that lean to either side, but to paint everything with the same brush just adds to the polarisation of this nation. The media should not perpetuate these stereotypical ideas.

My wife's family is all Red Shirt, but my wife is yellow. They don't quarrel about it. Thats how it should work.

[ozterix]

lemoncake, on 30 Nov 2013 - 17:59, said:

MarleyMarl, on 30 Nov 2013 - 16:38, said:

My internet and websites that are hosted at the CAT datacenter are down.

What kind of joke is this? Shouldn't the protesters want the internet to aide in their campaign. It should be the government that resorts to cutting the internet as seen in Egypt etc.

I guess it's not as bad as you making it out to be, as here you are posting

There are thousands of businesses hosted in this Building, probably half of bangkok runs from it. All the major datacenter hosted in Thailand are in this building... this means a VERY serious disruption of many businesses from now on... this is not helping anyone and will not make the protester popular in the business community. I really believe this is a bad move, they will now create serious inconveniences to anyone who runs a business in Bangkok or host its data here.

[ChokDeeMak]

If all this was not falling on Deaf ears. I am starting to think protesting does nothing expect create news headlines.

[Thai at Heart]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

Have they gone completely public with this peoples council idea?

I think I'd prefer a coup to be honest. A bunch of right wing nut jobs trying to convince us that this is the natural order of things hardly appeals. Listening to a bunch of decrepit cronies spouting off about getting rid of corruption while they drive away in their mercs is even less appealing.

At least the army knows they don't want to be in power forever.

Stay in power long enough to fill their pockets, change the constitution to free themselves from treason, destroy world confidence in Thailand, run the country back 20 years for their paymasters etc etc

Last time they were in for a bit. These right wing appointees would be in forever.

[lemoncake]

lemoncake, on 30 Nov 2013 - 17:59, said:

MarleyMarl, on 30 Nov 2013 - 16:38, said:

My internet and websites that are hosted at the CAT datacenter are down.

What kind of joke is this? Shouldn't the protesters want the internet to aide in their campaign. It should be the government that resorts to cutting the internet as seen in Egypt etc.

I guess it's not as bad as you making it out to be, as here you are posting

There are thousands of businesses hosted in this Building, probably half of bangkok runs from it. All the major datacenter hosted in Thailand are in this building... this means a VERY serious disruption of many businesses from now on... this is not helping anyone and will not make the protester popular in the business community. I really believe this is a bad move, they will now create serious inconveniences to anyone who runs a business in Bangkok or host its data here.

While I agree with inconvenience, for every way there is a wheel.

Thai business and Internet do not seem to go well together.

Even basic Internet shopping is a nightmare

[zydeco]

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

So the "ten thousand or so" protestors will decide among themselves as to exactly WHO will be on the UNELECTED "people's council"....bunch of THUGS who have zero respect for the FACT that millions of voters have spoken loud and clear.

Hate Taksin all you want but if you want to replace his sister then run your candidates in the elections and let the people decide. Otherwise this idiotic cycle of elections followed by demonstrations and coups will never end.

Have they gone completely public with this peoples council idea?

I think I'd prefer a coup to be honest. A bunch of right wing nut jobs trying to convince us that this is the natural order of things hardly appeals. Listening to a bunch of decrepit cronies spouting off about getting rid of corruption while they drive away in their mercs is even less appealing.

At least the army knows they don't want to be in power forever.

Ah, yes. The Cult of Democracy. A universal truth. Just like the structure of the atom. No deviation allowed, as its contrary to nature, the universe, and everything.