Bangkok - Descent into chaos

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POLITICS
Descent into chaos
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- POLICE fought anti-government protesters with tear gas and chemically treated water yesterday, as thousands of demonstrators attempted to force their way into key government offices.

Violence in Bangkok left at least three people dead and more than 50 others injured. Most of these casualties occurred at Ramkhamhaeng University, where thousands of people, mostly students, were gathering to protest against the government.

Another 46 people were injured by tear-gas fired by police to disperse protesters in about a dozen other sites.

Shots were fired into the university sporadically from Saturday night until yesterday morning. Terrified students, who were forced to stay overnight on the university campus, were yesterday evacuated by military personnel.

Red-shirt leaders also claimed casualties among government supporters gathering inside the adjacent Rajamangala Stadium and quickly announced an end to their pro-government rally following the violence. Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikuar said the red-shirt rally would be ended to allow the government and police to concentrate on the anti-government protesters.

Key television stations broadcast or covered live yesterday's announcement by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban following the protesters' seizure of six TV stations.

The protesters yesterday managed to take control of 10 out of 13 locations intended for occupation, except Government House, the Royal Thai Police headquarters and the Metropolitan Police Bureau, according to former Democrat MP Sathit Wongnongtaey, now a protest leader.

Police Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman for the government's Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), told a press conference yesterday that police had resorted to firing tear gas at protesters on Chamai Maruchet Bridge, next to Government House, and near the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters. The decision to use tear gas was based on police security procedures, he said, adding that the two sites each had around 3,000 protesters.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who is also secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), instructed state officials throughout the nation to stop working from today in a campaign to oust Yingluck's government and to "uproot the Thaksin regime".

He said the Yingluck government's legitimacy had run out, after it violated the Constitution when the ruling Pheu Thai Party rejected the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court over its judgement in the Constitution-amendment case.

"From now on, the great people's movement will help protect the Constitution and cooperate with the PDRC to change the country into a perfectly democratic one, and reform the country for the sake of justice."

Suthep's first official announcement was televised live by all networks except for the Public Relations Department's NBT. Protesters stormed into the television stations in the capital to force them to follow Suthep's instruction.

State officials should stop working until the situation returns to normal, Suthep said, and noted that all television network must stop broadcasting events only from the government's perspective. The media must report only news from the PDRC and the general situation, he added.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday urged both sides in the conflict to reconcile, asking the police to stop using tear gas and the protesters to halt their activities.

Deputy Army spokesman Winthai Suwaree said Prayuth pleaded with both sides to stop what they were doing, a Thai Rath Online Twitter message said.

The Army chief also offered to find a way for both sides to hold future talks, according to a spokesman. He added that Prayuth felt uneasy monitoring the situation from inside the First Army Division.

"We soldiers are sorry that we can do nothing. We don't want to see clashes between the people and police," the spokesman quoted the Army chief as saying.

In the wake of the violence, the government last night suggested that people not leave home from 10pm yesterday to 5am today, but stopped short of imposing a curfew.

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok, who is in charge of CAPO, made the announcement on NBT television station. It was also broadcast on other major free-TV stations.

Responding to Suthep's announcement, Pracha said government agencies would be open as usual today. He added that Suthep does not have the authority to tell state media what to report and what not to cover.

"Suthep's crime is treason punishable by death, or life in prison - and his means are not peaceful," he said.

Pracha said the government was still in control of the situation but willing to listen to all sides. "We are the government of all people. We are acting in the best interest of the country. We will do our best to restore peace."

He claimed a "third party" was causing trouble that may endanger protesters' lives. Of the three fatalities, two were government supporters, he said.

Also present at the press conference last night were Deputy Premier Phongthep Thepkanjana, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Premier Plodprasob Suraswadi and Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.

One of the protest leaders, Chumphon Junsai, said his group would stay overnight at the intersection between the First Infantry Division and the Metropolitan Police Bureau. The protesters tried to break down barriers but were strongly resisted by anti-riot police with tear gas.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's whereabouts were unknown yesterday although her secretary said that she was still in Thailand, discounting earlier rumours that she had left the country.

Wim Rungwattanajinda, secretary of the Prime Minister's Office showed photos of the prime minister taking part in a meeting with officials at the police's Narcotics Suppression Bureau.


-- The Nation 2013-12-02

[noikrit]

Students fired at whilst inside the university ......... What a disgrace !!!

[fish fingers]

problem with an election is that Yingluck would be re elected. They have the money to pay for the votes needed. I think most people would like the whole Shinawatra clan out of Thailand for good

[GeorgeO]

I don't like the fact that I predicted this outcome several weeks ago, as I always felt that the situation would become so dire that YL would have no option but to resign and call for new elections. In any other democracy in the world this would have happened weeks ago, as there is no point in trying to hold on to power when it is clear that a huge proportion of the population is against you.

Unfortunately, this is not a democracy at all, it is an autocracy created by a fugitive criminal who did not have the guts to return to his home country and 'face the music', but instead, felt that he could run the country from afar. Sitting in comfort in Dubai he will no doubt be telling his sister and his other well-paid employees to hang in there because victory is in sight. Sadly, he couldn't be further from the truth...!

What we currently have is a last ditch heavy-handed attempt to use the police to "appease" the crowd, but there is no appeasing this crowd. This government has to fall in order to end this, and the police have to withdraw before we start to see real civil war.

As I've said before, these people are not being paid to be there, they are there because they are passionate about their demand to see real democracy in this country. If TS and YL cannot see this, then they will go down in history as being responsible for the destruction of a once beautiful country.

[slipperylobster]

I seen this paying out for votes. It really works up in Isaan. One hundred percent.

[GeorgeO]

problem with an election is that Yingluck would be re elected. They have the money to pay for the votes needed. I think most people would like the whole Shinawatra clan out of Thailand for good

I disagree with your point that YL would be re-elected. What this is all about is getting this government out and bringing in an interim administration that would put in place measures to ensure that the Shin clan would never be allowed to take over power again.

After the current government has fallen, it will not be too difficult to convince all parties once the full extent of the rape of this country is revealed.

I suspect the coffers will be virtually empty when these villains have all suddenly disappeared only to reappear with their beloved leader in Dubai.

Where is YL right now....?!

Edited December 2, 2013 by GeorgeO

[jaidam]

I don't like the fact that I predicted this outcome several weeks ago, as I always felt that the situation would become so dire that YL would have no option but to resign and call for new elections. In any other democracy in the world this would have happened weeks ago, as there is no point in trying to hold on to power when it is clear that a huge proportion of the population is against you.

Unfortunately, this is not a democracy at all, it is an autocracy created by a fugitive criminal who did not have the guts to return to his home country and 'face the music', but instead, felt that he could run the country from afar. Sitting in comfort in Dubai he will no doubt be telling his sister and his other well-paid employees to hang in there because victory is in sight. Sadly, he couldn't be further from the truth...!

What we currently have is a last ditch heavy-handed attempt to use the police to "appease" the crowd, but there is no appeasing this crowd. This government has to fall in order to end this, and the police have to withdraw before we start to see real civil war.

As I've said before, these people are not being paid to be there, they are there because they are passionate about their demand to see real democracy in this country. If TS and YL cannot see this, then they will go down in history as being responsible for the destruction of a once beautiful country.

Indeed. There was no other way this situation could have played out after the milestones of Yingluck's government were laid down. I am referring here to the promotion of Kamronwit (chief of met police) by Thaksin in a Hong Kong hotel room, the siccing of Tarit on Abhisit for premeditated murder charges in a personal capacity( which even a fool could see would not work as Thaksin intended as his own little sis is now a suspected premeditated murderess), the decision to ram through Thaksin's amnesty at 4am, the governments decision to stop respecting court decisions that go against it's own interests. The hideous and systematic corruption surrounding everything they did/do.

You see, by courting anarchy the PTP have again bitten off more than they can chew. It was so predictable, try going back a few weeks, most of the more politically savvy on TVF forecasted exactly this situation resulting. A few members kept to the "it's gone beyond Thaksin, grassroots movement, 2010 mass murder by yellow bla bla bla, and have been proved wrong at every turn.

Sow the wind and ye shall reap the whirlwind.

[Biscuit22]

problem with an election is that Yingluck would be re elected. They have the money to pay for the votes needed. I think most people would like the whole Shinawatra clan out of Thailand for good

But that is exactly what all these protests are trying to achieve.

The end of the Thaksin regime and any involvement with politics and the end of corruption in the election process.

Suthep has said this many times (almost daily).

[scapegoat]

the end of corruption in the election process.

After that they can tackle ending rain on Sundays.

[noitom]

"Chemically treated water?" Wouldn't that be considered to be a weapon of mass destruction by the UN?

[Yunla]

One solution would have been the opposite of Amnesty, basically Amnestybusters with a new independent watchdog authority, appointed by representatives of a much-loved and magnificent person who is respected nationwide, this would cement the mandate for the anti-corruption team to go through Govt and other high-state apparatus with the proverbial chainsaw, cutting out anything and anybody that is even remotely corrupt.

This would be a long process. But it can be balanced out with new appointments of fresh law-abiding politicians.

Thaksin would be ordered again to return for his sentence. His family would pay the price of his refusal, legally and financially, since his family have shown they are just taking orders from him anyway, they can be classed as complicit and harboring.

End result is a very empty political sphere, slowly filling up with new players who are a lot more wary of scams and schemes. Ruled over by a regally-appointed law&order watchdog, with great big teefs <groawr>. New politicians come in and behave with respect, and within the law. The democratic process moves forward. The policy mechanism finally starts to function at its optimum potential. People dance and sing.The crowd goes wild.

Edited December 2, 2013 by Yunla

[Biscuit22]

the end of corruption in the election process.

After that they can tackle ending rain on Sundays.

I would not be so cynical if I were you. That is the exact same attitude that holds Thailand back.

I bet you have found life a pretty tough challenge if that is the way you think.

You must find life itself a pretty uneventful thing when you have the attitude of 'giving up before you start.

[looping]

the end of corruption in the election process.

 

After that they can tackle ending rain on Sundays.

I would say that in reality, corruption has to be brought down to 'acceptable' levels, rather than the redefinition of the word by T, producing 'unacceptable' levels ie total rape and pillage, or unsustainable corruption if you prefer, such that an economy can be brought to its knees because of the sheer greed of one family.

You understand that they can't demand 'acceptable' levels of corruption, but this is probably what they mean, reading between the lines.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[englishoak]

And in a few years nothing will have changed, same same but no different.

[wilcopops]

So a man who is part of an elected minority is demanding that an elected government with the majority should stand down.........what then? A minority caretaker government until the current government is re-elected? ....or worse???

Edited December 2, 2013 by wilcopops

[JoeThePoster]

The only thing a new election will probably achieve is that it will increasing the bargaining power of smaller parties. The slippery eel might even become prime minister again.

[JRSoul]

I disagree with your point that YL would be re-elected. What this is all about is getting this government out and bringing in an interim administration that would put in place measures to ensure that the Shin clan would never be allowed to take over power again.

After the current government has fallen, it will not be too difficult to convince all parties once the full extent of the rape of this country is revealed.

I suspect the coffers will be virtually empty when these villains have all suddenly disappeared only to reappear with their beloved leader in Dubai.

Where is YL right now....?!

.........hiding out on an army base? Wouldn't that make the red apologist hypocrites squirm?

[DocN]

"Chemically treated water?" Wouldn't that be considered to be a weapon of mass destruction by the UN?

Not if they just pumped it up from a klong....

[Microwave]

Thailand has endured a pattern of political upheavals since at least the 1970's. After this current upheaval plays itself out, the Land of Smiles will eventually endure more upheavals in the future given this established pattern. I'm simply an interested foreign observer who is deeply saddened that such a beautiful country with such friendly people can so often be ripped apart.

[whatsupdoc]

The only thing a new election will probably achieve is that it will increasing the bargaining power of smaller parties. The slippery eel might even become prime minister again.

If only the PTP and Democrats could form an interim government together.... But without the Shinawatra's, Suthep, Abhisit and the old dinosaurs (although they could still be MP's).

If the two big parties could keep each other in check, working for the good of the country and significantly reduce corruption...

The small parties would have to rethink their strategies and actually come up with ideas.

But it won't happen.

[BKS22]

"Bangkok descends into chaos"....just a bit over dramatic. Turning into the Pattaya Daily News now!?

[virtualtraveller]

Bangkok descends into chaos. Yingluck is the elected leader, she is clueless. This is the defining moment of this brief experiment of 'Proxy prime minister'. We don't want proxy prime ministers, she should quite, there should be an election, Peua Thai should put forward a suitable candidate if it believes it deserves to win. The seeds of this latest crisis have been two years in the making, Yingluck foolishly let it play out to the extreme. She's clueless.

[GeorgeO]

One solution would have been the opposite of Amnesty, basically Amnestybusters with a new independent watchdog authority, appointed by representatives of a much-loved and magnificent person who is respected nationwide, this would cement the mandate for the anti-corruption team to go through Govt and other high-state apparatus with the proverbial chainsaw, cutting out anything and anybody that is even remotely corrupt.

This would be a long process. But it can be balanced out with new appointments of fresh law-abiding politicians.

Thaksin would be ordered again to return for his sentence. His family would pay the price of his refusal, legally and financially, since his family have shown they are just taking orders from him anyway, they can be classed as complicit and harboring.

End result is a very empty political sphere, slowly filling up with new players who are a lot more wary of scams and schemes. Ruled over by a regally-appointed law&order watchdog, with great big teefs <groawr>. New politicians come in and behave with respect, and within the law. The democratic process moves forward. The policy mechanism finally starts to function at its optimum potential. People dance and sing.The crowd goes wild.

Yes, but it would need a sort of 'Eliott Ness' team working under very close personal protection, and, as I've pointed out on various occasions in the past, it would require the wholesale sacking of the Police force, to be followed by very careful recruiting of people of the right caliber to form a new respectable force.

It wouldn't do any harm either to resurrect some of the cases of individual officers who taken the law into their own hands to commit atrocities that have ultimately been swept under the carpet.

The end result would be a political and legal system capable of putting this country on the road to a truly democratic and law-abiding society.

[charliebru]

Bring in the military; the children have gotten out of hand.

[Chao Lao Beach]

"Chemically treated water?" Wouldn't that be considered to be a weapon of mass destruction by the UN?

what is this ?

[OMGImInPattaya]

problem with an election is that Yingluck would be re elected. They have the money to pay for the votes needed. I think most people would like the whole Shinawatra clan out of Thailand for good

The Thai one-percent certainly would...the other 99% not so much!

[Jasun]

I don't like the fact that I predicted this outcome several weeks ago, as I always felt that the situation would become so dire that YL would have no option but to resign and call for new elections. In any other democracy in the world this would have happened weeks ago, as there is no point in trying to hold on to power when it is clear that a huge proportion of the population is against you.

Fair point. But where are you getting these figures? I've only seen protest numbers in the tens of thousands, versus the 15,744,190 people who voted her in. I don't think there's a reasonable democracy in the world that would throw out an elected leader on those grounds.

[affen02]

A lot of rubbish written by a man with no what so ever understanding of how a democracy is functioning, fully in line with Mr Suthep. And a totally disregard and contempt for the 60 or so millions of voters sitting at home, people who have elected the present goverment in to office. We can all have conspiracy teories, but i think we should be careful to voice them so clearly. When the law is broken time and time again i think any elected government has the right under its constitution to defend itself, king and people. The people on the streets now and their leaders have by now broken all rules in the book, and have already given up their right in my opinion to be heard. And when i hear the proclamation of peoples committes to run the country, what comes to mind is Pol Pot, North Korea and the old Soviet Union, they all had and have people committes and we all know the result of that.

[Carl64]

I hope they leave the airport alone. Flying out on the 15th for a hospital visit in australia. this time of year will be impossible to reschedule.

[Thai at Heart]

A lot of rubbish written by a man with no what so ever understanding of how a democracy is functioning, fully in line with Mr Suthep. And a totally disregard and contempt for the 60 or so millions of voters sitting at home, people who have elected the present goverment in to office. We can all have conspiracy teories, but i think we should be careful to voice them so clearly. When the law is broken time and time again i think any elected government has the right under its constitution to defend itself, king and people. The people on the streets now and their leaders have by now broken all rules in the book, and have already given up their right in my opinion to be heard. And when i hear the proclamation of peoples committes to run the country, what comes to mind is Pol Pot, North Korea and the old Soviet Union, they all had and have people committes and we all know the result of that.

I think it's fair to say that neither side really gets democracy.