Soldiers enlisted to assist police

[Lite Beer]

Soldiers enlisted to assist police
The Sunday Nation:

BANGKOK: -- More than 20,000 policemen to be deployed to defend 10 sites from protesters today

More than 21,000 police will guard key state offices including Government House today, when anti-government protesters plan to take control of 10 targeted locations, as part of their "fight to uproot the Thaksin regime".

The government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) and the Metropolitan Police will deploy 21,550 policemen in and around government offices in Bangkok, including Government House and Parliament, a police source said.

At the request of the CAPO, soldiers from Thailand's three-armed forces will be sent today to help police deal with protesters attempting to occupy government offices in the capital, a high-ranking source in the military said. The unarmed troops will be responsible for preventing damage to state property and government offices, the source said, adding that they would not confront protesters.

"Soldiers will assist the police, but police will still be at the forefront of operations. Troops will not man checkpoints or patrol the streets," the source added. The prime minister yesterday also confirmed that unarmed soldiers would help with maintaining peace and order in certain areas.

The CAPO yesterday ordered closure of 14 road sections around Government House and Parliament and declared areas around the Royal Thai Police headquarters, Police Hospital and Chulalongkorn Hospital off-limits for protesters.

Metropolitan Police chief Maj-General Camronvit Toopkrajank chaired a meeting yesterday about security measures for the compounds, in preparation for the planned occupations. Participants including many senior police were informed about crowd-control measures and suppression of a protest - in line with international standards.

The Metropolitan Police chief prohibited all staff against taking leave at this time until further notice, the source said. About 50 fire extinguishers were distributed to different divisions of the Metropolitan Police in case of fire, according to the source.

Some 8,400 policemen would be deployed to guard Government House, Parliament and the Metropolitan Police Bureau, another police source said. Protest leader Suthep Thauguban, who is also secretary-general of the newly-formed People's Democratic Reform Committee, did not name Parliament among the 10 state offices the protesters will try to seize control of today.

Deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner Maj-General Samroeng Suwanpong said yesterday police would "seriously enforce" the Internal Security Act (ISA) against any protester attempting to enter Government House, Parliament and other key government offices. The authorities would focus on negotiations with protesters but would not allow them to trespass into a government office, CAPO spokesman Police Maj-General Piya Uthayo said yesterday.

"It is now clear that the protests are not peaceful. It is illegal to trespass into government offices. Also, weapons have been found at protest sites," Piya said. "Police will not allow protesters to trespass into important government offices, including Government House, Parliament and Royal Thai Police headquarters, as running of the country will be affected," he said.

"All the measures taken will be in line with the international standards. The focus will be on negotiation."

He said that the CAPO was pleased to have representatives from human rights organisations, academia and the media to observe the police's handling of the protesters.

Many government offices in Bangkok, which is now under the ISA, have been guarded by thousands of police and surrounded by concrete barriers and barbed-wire fences.

Crowd-control equipment such as batons, shields, teargas canisters, and vehicles equipped with long range acoustic devices and high-pressure water jets have also been spotted inside compounds. The police's preparation came as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ruled out the use of violence to tackle the protests.

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast. "It is better than setting a deadline to regain our ground and leading to people's suffering," she said.

The numbers of anti- and pro-government demonstrators have "increased continuously" yesterday, according to CAPO deputy spokesman Maj-General Anuch Romayanand. He said police were deployed at Ramkhamhaeng University, which is adjacent to Rajamangala Stadium, where the red shirts were gathering in support of the government, in an attempt to prevent violence.

He claimed there had been attempts to create violence between both sides. Peace advocates urged both sides yesterday to avoid violence. Gothom Arya, director of Mahidol University's Research Centre for Peace Building, said that conflict should not lead to violence, as it could cause death.

-- The Nation 2013-12-01

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast

Yes we noticed that last night in in the Ramkhamhaeng district. The invading red protestors were even cheered by your interior minister on stage. Just very sad that young students, the hope for our future had to be shot and killed by your red storm troopers.

[noikrit]

Yingluck request (ORDERS as she is Defence Minister) Army in ......... Now Theres the Red Pittbulls , the BIB tea money takers AND the Army ..... Sunday Bloody Sunday .....Meanwhile Old Square Head sips Champagne in Dubal pulling the strings ..... weak as piss !!

[Tokay]

Sunday bloody Sunday.

[noitom]

CAPO to the rescue. Don Somchai riding in to save the day in Thailand.

[Minnehaha]

Heard Richard Barrow Tweet that Paragon and Central World closed today.

Seems like the shooting(s) last night - early this morning were the catalyst.

Edited December 1, 2013 by Minnehaha

[Tatsujin]

I thought the Army were NOT going to get involved? Wasn't there a recent statement from both Yingluck and Prayuth Chan-ocha?

[Bluespunk]

"Soldiers enlisted to assist police"

Shouldn't that read "to do the job the police won't"?

[pkspeaker]

Yingluck has more power today than Somchai (the PPP supported PM that was in power during the PAD takeover of the airports in 2008). Back then the PAD had already seized government house (and they trashed it before finally leaving and relocating to the airports) and Somchai was sort of being chased all over the city as he moved his government cabnet meetings to other locations; But the PAD occupation of Government House was dragging on and it was not having the desired effect of forceing SOmchai to quit. It was out of desperation tha PAD went for the airports-the tactic worked as Somchai did not have the political capital to order a military assault on the airport to take it back like Abhisit did to the red Shirts 2 years later.

When Yingluck took office she knew she had to build a repore with the security forces and I think she has more respect. We'll see today if the protesters are able to occupy all these places they said they would.

[Pikeybkk]

Sunday bloody Sunday.

that is already in use in Ireland, please find another

[Frank James]

Pray for Thailand.

[Moruya]

Is Yingluck a member of the CRES? Or is it some expendable minion?

Is Tarit still a member? (loaded question)

Has the army been given written or verbal orders?

What are the orders?

[Arkady]

CNN got this muddled and reported that 20,000 soldiers had been deployed in support of the police. I don't think any quantity of soldiers has been announced.

[Arkady]

Is Yingluck a member of the CRES? Or is it some expendable minion?

Is Tarit still a member? (loaded question)

Has the army been given written or verbal orders?

What are the orders?

Abhisit wasn't a member of CRES in 2010 but was charged with murder resulting from CRES's actions by Tarit, commander of the DSI, who was, himself, a member of CRES at the time.

[tomross46]

The Army was not enlisted, it was ordered by the Defense Minister PM Yingluck. To enlist is voluntary, to be enlisted is drafted. Every year the Military swears allegiance to His Majesty, the Monarchy and the country. They do not swear allegiance to a to a political party, or to an individual outside the Royal Family.

The police on the other-hand, do not.

[Moruya]

Is Yingluck a member of the CRES? Or is it some expendable minion?

Is Tarit still a member? (loaded question)

Has the army been given written or verbal orders?

What are the orders?

Abhisit wasn't a member of CRES in 2010 but was charged with murder resulting from CRES's actions by Tarit, commander of the DSI, who was, himself, a member of CRES at the time.

I must have been under a misconception for years!!

[Bkkbound]

Hiding in the police sports club never seemed like a sensible idea, but that's symbolic of her total lack of control over most of the levers of state, she is PM in name only irrespective of the evils ones wishes in Dubai.

[siampolee]

Not to put too fine a point on this issue it certainly seems as if the puppet master and his star female lead puppet Yingluck along with her cabinet and the P.T.P. along with its coalition partners are loosing their grip on matters. No doubt the puppet master has resurrected that chewing on the carpet tantrum attack to vent his rage.

The whole issue regarding this puppet governments reactions are indeed remarkable in their resemblance to the Red Shirts tactics in 2010. Leopards never change their spots.

The country is moving towards a watershed of hostility and self destruction all because of one creatures lust for absolute power and revenge at any price.

One wonders how long before there might be a coup within the cabinet and the P.T.P. and their coalition partners to try to stabilize this current situation?

No doubt there are a number of concerned P.T.P. and coalition politicians out there who are half decent and hopefully are coming to realise what their taking of Thaksins 30 pieces of silver is costing the country and its peoples in wasted lives. We can but only hope that ultimately those politicians will act to exorcise the evils of Thaksin his family and their brown nosing acolytes too whilst there is still a chance to rebuild both political stability and restore civil order to Thailand and its peoples

Edited December 1, 2013 by siampolee

[Bkkbound]

if she is fleeing from site to site.. then clearly she is not in control of much..

http://news.sky.com/story/1176026/thai-pm-flees-building-during-violent-protests

Edited December 1, 2013 by Bkkbound

[siampolee]

Dammed protesters. One can't it seems have a decent game of bridge on a Sunday now.

Wonder if I can get into Whites or the Garrick when I am resident in The U.K,. in what may not be the too distant future, brother has a nice house there seems as if it is vacant at the moment too.

[bigbamboo]

Hopefully with the police actually getting on side this time there will be no repeat of 2010.

Fingers crossed everyone.

[pkspeaker]

Seems like Yingluck, this 'puppet' as you call her is managing to blunt the PADs attempt to seize Government House, the police headquarters, and a number of other critical buildings (sorry are they calling themselves the 'royalists' now, whatever); Forcing PAD to instead seize TV stations. Like tey can't deal with reality so maybe if they can run all the tv stations they can create a false reality in which Yingluck is not PM. It's almost sunset now and if they have failed to seize anything significant (there are reports that they seized the interior ministry and a few other outlying government buildings like the large complex in Nonthaburi) but having failed at Government House and the Police and military HQs this will most likly be a big blow to PADs bid to put presure on the Yingluck administration to quit. Especially since PADs demand is not that she resign and call fresh elections like is norm when democratic countries have civil unrest; Instead they want her to quit and for an 'unelected peoples council' to run the country, something Yingluck has described as being totally outside the countries constitution.

Not to put too fine a point on this issue it certainly seems as if the puppet master and his star female lead puppet Yingluck along with her cabinet and the P.T.P. along with its coalition partners are loosing their grip on matters. No doubt the puppet master has resurrected that chewing on the carpet tantrum attack to vent his rage.

The whole issue regarding this puppet governments reactions are indeed remarkable in their resemblance to the Red Shirts tactics in 2010. Leopards never change their spots.

The country is moving towards a watershed of hostility and self destruction all because of one creatures lust for absolute power and revenge at any price.

One wonders how long before there might be a coup within the cabinet and the P.T.P. and their coalition partners to try to stabilize this current situation?

No doubt there are a number of concerned P.T.P. and coalition politicians out there who are half decent and hopefully are coming to realise what their taking of Thaksins 30 pieces of silver is costing the country and its peoples in wasted lives. We can but only hope that ultimately those politicians will act to exorcise the evils of Thaksin his family and their brown nosing acolytes too whilst there is still a chance to rebuild both political stability and restore civil order to Thailand and its peoples

Edited December 1, 2013 by pkspeaker

[Halion]

Would be interested to hear and explanation as to the definitive use and purpose on "an unarmed soldier". It is almost an oxymoron . To me at least it is simply a ploy on behalf of the government and the RTP to drag the military into this fiasco.

the generals should have learn t from 2012 that it is impossible to be a little bit pregnant.

Should the military have to intervene then they should do so as a military force otherwise let the RTP deal with this situation.They are trying to project these soldiers as a parody of the United Nations forces who on so many occasions were put in harms ways as toothless tigers.

[PhilipCook]

Well, rest assured, the government is doing things according to international standards. They mentioned it more than once, by gosh it must be true.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[Denim]

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast

Yes we noticed that last night in in the Ramkhamhaeng district. The invading red protestors were even cheered by your interior minister on stage. Just very sad that young students, the hope for our future had to be shot and killed by your red storm troopers.

Actually, at least 1 red shirt supporter was shot and killed , an off duty soldier supporting the government according to BP.

' Thanasit Viangkham, a 23-year-old soldier, was shot in the head and died instantly '

As usual, the reporting in the English language press is pretty awful but apparently later on a further two people were shot .

Then later we have the total at 5. The allegiance of these other 4 has yet to be clarified but earlier muddled reports mentioned four of the killed as being red shirts.

Either way, the facts so far reported do not in any way suggest or support the idea that reds were doing the shooting.

[Moruya]

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast

Yes we noticed that last night in in the Ramkhamhaeng district. The invading red protestors were even cheered by your interior minister on stage. Just very sad that young students, the hope for our future had to be shot and killed by your red storm troopers.

Actually, at least 1 red shirt supporter was shot and killed , an off duty soldier supporting the government according to BP.

' Thanasit Viangkham, a 23-year-old soldier, was shot in the head and died instantly '

As usual, the reporting in the English language press is pretty awful but apparently later on a further two people were shot .

Then later we have the total at 5. The allegiance of these other 4 has yet to be clarified but earlier muddled reports mentioned four of the killed as being red shirts.

Either way, the facts so far reported do not in any way suggest or support the idea that reds were doing the shooting.

The only deaths being reported by BP are 2 Ramkamhaeng students

[whybother]

Hiding in the police sports club never seemed like a sensible idea, but that's symbolic of her total lack of control over most of the levers of state, she is PM in name only irrespective of the evils ones wishes in Dubai.

Wasn't Abhisit called a coward for hiding in the army barracks? Will the pro-government supporters be doing the same thing now?

Sent from my phone ...

[Denim]

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast

Yes we noticed that last night in in the Ramkhamhaeng district. The invading red protestors were even cheered by your interior minister on stage. Just very sad that young students, the hope for our future had to be shot and killed by your red storm troopers.

Actually, at least 1 red shirt supporter was shot and killed , an off duty soldier supporting the government according to BP.

' Thanasit Viangkham, a 23-year-old soldier, was shot in the head and died instantly '

As usual, the reporting in the English language press is pretty awful but apparently later on a further two people were shot .

Then later we have the total at 5. The allegiance of these other 4 has yet to be clarified but earlier muddled reports mentioned four of the killed as being red shirts.

Either way, the facts so far reported do not in any way suggest or support the idea that reds were doing the shooting.

The only deaths being reported by BP are 2 Ramkamhaeng students

Now that the dust has cleared it appears the final death toll is 5 and that 4 of them were redshirts. Obviously, selfless suicides trying to make the protesters look bad

BTW.....just be watching the news on television and the above figures have been repeated.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

"Today, we choose to be condemned as a weak government, not using force and being invaded by protesters," the prime minister said in a television broadcast

Yes we noticed that last night in in the Ramkhamhaeng district. The invading red protestors were even cheered by your interior minister on stage. Just very sad that young students, the hope for our future had to be shot and killed by your red storm troopers.

Actually, at least 1 red shirt supporter was shot and killed , an off duty soldier supporting the government according to BP.

' Thanasit Viangkham, a 23-year-old soldier, was shot in the head and died instantly '

As usual, the reporting in the English language press is pretty awful but apparently later on a further two people were shot .

Then later we have the total at 5. The allegiance of these other 4 has yet to be clarified but earlier muddled reports mentioned four of the killed as being red shirts.

Either way, the facts so far reported do not in any way suggest or support the idea that reds were doing the shooting.

The only deaths being reported by BP are 2 Ramkamhaeng students

Now that the dust has cleared it appears the final death toll is 5 and that 4 of them were redshirts. Obviously, selfless suicides trying to make the protesters look bad

BTW.....just be watching the news on television and the above figures have been repeated.

6 now, one more found in the torched bus on Ramkhamhaeng Rd. No reports yet if it was a Red skirt member or a student from RU.