Bangkok: Anti-government protest 'resumes Friday'

[webfact]

Protest 'resumes tomorrow'
THE NATION

SUTHEP INVITES PUBLIC TO CELEBRATE THE KING'S BIRTHDAY AT ITS 3 RALLY SITES TODAY

BANGKOK: -- THE ANTI-GOVERNMENT People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has halted its month-long rally to celebrate His Majesty the King's Birthday today, and plans to resume the protest tomorrow.

However, the group encouraged people to celebrate at three of its rally sites: Democracy Monument, and the besieged Finance Ministry and Government Complex.

A merit-making ceremony will be carried out starting with the giving of alms to 99 monks at 7am, followed by the offering of a meal to the monks. At 5pm, there will be a chanting ceremony and at 6.30pm PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban will lead the protesters to wish HM the King a happy birthday at the three rally stages in Bangkok, and at other sites in the provinces.

Suthep on Tuesday night said the group would continue its protest against the so-called "Thaksin regime" tomorrow. The protesters at Democracy Monument on Rajdamnoen Road yesterday took a break from demonstrating and organised a Big Cleaning Day.

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha deployed five military teams to help clean up areas used by protesters and beautify the place with flowers to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday.

Officials at Government House returned to work, after the anti-government protesters broke into the compound and declared their victory on Tuesday, before leaving.

Police conducted heavy security checks on cars entering the compound, with anti-riot police stationed at all entrances and exits. Military personnel were spotted resting inside Government House. Workers were also seen cleaning up and picking up garbage in the compound.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday went to Government House for a meeting, before attending another meeting at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. A group of protesters also gathered outside Government House and later decided to move to their base at Nang Lerng Intersection.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal |officials checked burnt buses and |cars before moving them out of the area. Phitsanulok Road was closed to traffic for a cleanup operation.

Navy commander Narong Pipatthanasai yesterday said the Navy and other armed forces have been careful not to get involved in politics.

He admitted the military had talked about the current political situation and decided it would not stage a coup if both sides could not come to terms. "We have learned the lesson and we do not want a repeat [of the violence in 2010]. The situation has improved and it will be back to normal soon," he said.

He denied the military forced Yingluck and Suthep to the negotiating table on Sunday night to find a solution to the ongoing political crisis.

Narong said the military helped coordinate to bring both sides out to talk. "We did not force them or set any conditions. We only helped them bridge the gap. It was a good sign. After that meeting, the situation has improved on one level," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-12-05

[Thailand]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

[binjalin]

Give it up! it's the 5th and the government are still there so the only things that's "over" is Suthep's delusional "dream"

[waza]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

[backtonormal]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

2 arrest warrants, thats nothing. His outspoken mate Sondhi has been sentenced to over 20 years and hes still doing TV appearances (admittedly hes been off air since the trouble started...does not want to be seen breaking the conditions of his bail)

[Thailand]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

[backtonormal]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

No point in dissolving anything. State your case in writing and your demands (which Suthep is very vague about), the reasons and evidence of any claims of mal-pratice. Lets not bleating about rice scams and 2.2 trillion baht etc and come together around the table. They have nearly 2 years before the next election. Put a proposal to the people and let them truly decide. By the people I dont mean the 100,000+ who turned up for a jolly in Bangkok (dwindling daily). Lets ask the full electorate what they want.

[binjalin]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

That's debatable - if governments collapsed every time some ex-DPM decided he's better and attempts a coup it would be chaos around the world. Democracy has been fought for with millions of lives and it's something that should be cherished and defended.

Edit : of course the downside of democracy is that sometimes you lose and this is a lesson Suthep should learn to take with grace

Edited December 5, 2013 by binjalin

[kriswillems]

No point in dissolving anything. State your case in writing and your demands (which Suthep is very vague about), the reasons and evidence of any claims of mal-pratice. Lets not bleating about rice scams and 2.2 trillion baht etc and come together around the table. They have nearly 2 years before the next election. Put a proposal to the people and let them truly decide. By the people I dont mean the 100,000+ who turned up for a jolly in Bangkok (dwindling daily). Lets ask the full electorate what they want.

I don't think Suthep wants the full electorate choose anything.

The full electorate includes Isaan (which is on the red side).

He wants to change the constitution in such a way, he's sure the extreme conservative group will win the next elections.

There are 2 way to do this:

- you gives the bigger provinces less representatives in the parliament.

OR

- you don't do direct elections, but you let people choose representatives, which on their turn will choose the people that control the country.

More than once he indicated he's in favor of the second system.

What's for sure is that he wants to reduce the power of Isaan, so the Thaksin regime will be replaced by an extreme royalist conservative group.

The system he proposes is in my opinion less democratic, but maybe a democracy doesn't work in Thailand ... I have no idea.

Edited December 5, 2013 by kriswillems

[englishoak]

seems to me this clown Suthep is even trying to hijack and overshadow someones birthday celebrations now.

[MAN2SIN2BKK]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

2 arrest warrants, thats nothing. His outspoken mate Sondhi has been sentenced to over 20 years and hes still doing TV appearances (admittedly hes been off air since the trouble started...does not want to be seen breaking the conditions of his bail)

The authorities didn't even take away Sondhi's passport as he was seen being given the VIP treatment at BKK passport control a short while back

[Thailand]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

Just to clarify. Saying and doing are two different things. If telling Suthep what he wants to hear,again,saves lives then I am all for it. No reason to actually do it.

[Bluespunk]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

That's debatable - if governments collapsed every time some ex-DPM decided he's better and attempts a coup it would be chaos around the world. Democracy has been fought for with millions of lives and it's something that should be cherished and defended.

Edit : of course the downside of democracy is that sometimes you lose and this is a lesson Suthep should learn to take with grace

The upside of democracy being that the govt should be accountable to the rules of law and good governance. If PT had followed this principle, this barking mad loon might never have been able to get to the position he is now in. Suthep is dangerous and delusional, however PT gave him all the reasons he needed to get people out on the streets. If they had governed in a legitimate manner rather than the corrupt, self serving one they have followed this insane situation would not have arisen.

[Bluespunk]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

2 arrest warrants, thats nothing. His outspoken mate Sondhi has been sentenced to over 20 years and hes still doing TV appearances (admittedly hes been off air since the trouble started...does not want to be seen breaking the conditions of his bail)

The authorities didn't even take away Sondhi's passport as he was seen being given the VIP treatment at BKK passport control a short while back

They're probably hoping he'll run away like mr T did. Edited December 5, 2013 by Bluespunk

[Artisi]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

2 arrest warrants, thats nothing. His outspoken mate Sondhi has been sentenced to over 20 years and hes still doing TV appearances (admittedly hes been off air since the trouble started...does not want to be seen breaking the conditions of his bail)

Not like some other "red" people who incited mayhem and violence - but of course that's ok - the fugitive has deemed it so.

[GeorgeO]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

But then how can they justify the likes of Jatuporn and Nattawut still enjoying their freedom, despite obvious breaches of their bail conditions?

[Artisi]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

That's debatable - if governments collapsed every time some ex-DPM decided he's better and attempts a coup it would be chaos around the world. Democracy has been fought for with millions of lives and it's something that should be cherished and defended.

Edit : of course the downside of democracy is that sometimes you lose and this is a lesson Suthep should learn to take with grace

Don't think Suthep has any great problem with democracy - he just wants, and rightly so, the convicted criminal and fugitive from justice running the country permanently removed from the scene so Thailand can get on with developing itself instead of bring know as Nakhon Shinawatra.

[Artisi]

2 arrest warrants and the old fool is still out there gearing up the remaining "protestors" for further assaults on gov buildings etc.

Lighting the fuse to further violence and disruption.Most, all? other countries he would either already be in custody or more likely no longer around to cause the problems.

The gov should have the balls to carry out the warrants on him and his senior cronies and then deal peacefully with the remaining headless protestors.

2 arrest warrants, thats nothing. His outspoken mate Sondhi has been sentenced to over 20 years and hes still doing TV appearances (admittedly hes been off air since the trouble started...does not want to be seen breaking the conditions of his bail)

The authorities didn't even take away Sondhi's passport as he was seen being given the VIP treatment at BKK passport control a short while back

They're probably hoping he'll run away like mr T did.

Yeah, but Mr T has no balls.

[GeorgeO]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

Just to clarify. Saying and doing are two different things. If telling Suthep what he wants to hear,again,saves lives then I am all for it. No reason to actually do it.

no reason to actually keep your word if your sole raison d'etre is to inflame the situation even more...!!

[Richard Hall]

What a hypocrite Khun Suthep is inviting to celebrations at three prostest sides while His Majesty has already called for unity of all Thais in his last year's birthday speech as his sincerest wish.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Richard Hall

[mrfill]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

No point in dissolving anything. State your case in writing and your demands (which Suthep is very vague about), the reasons and evidence of any claims of mal-pratice. Lets not bleating about rice scams and 2.2 trillion baht etc and come together around the table. They have nearly 2 years before the next election. Put a proposal to the people and let them truly decide. By the people I dont mean the 100,000+ who turned up for a jolly in Bangkok (dwindling daily). Lets ask the full electorate what they want.

About 500Bt each I reckon

[simple1]

What a hypocrite Khun Suthep is inviting to celebrations at three prostest sides while His Majesty has already called for unity of all Thais in his last year's birthday speech as his sincerest wish.

HM has also called for the end of government coruption, whilst government is paying lip service, it has been ignored.

It was today reported that only 370k tonnes of rice have been shipped to China out of the contracted 4.8 million tonnes via the government to government deal. Government agencies are refusing to supply the documentation of shipments from the warehouses to NACC for investigation. Yet another coverup of a large scale corrupt government transaction.

[pookiki]

How do you tell a politician is lying? Their lips are moving!

[DGIE]

'protest resumes tomorrow'

disgusting

[DGIE]

Everybody pays reverence to the King. And so by both sides, anti-government and pro.

As if they are sincere.

[hellodolly]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

What save 10 lives today at the cost of 100 tomorrow

Thai logic at work.

It is time to end this crooked regime. So far it has cost thousands of life's over 5,000 in the south alone. Over 90 in 2010 and 2.500 in it's supposed crack down on drugs 1,500 of them who were innocent. Yet they bear no responsibility for any of it. Just try to white wash the man who has been running the regime for 13 years.

Two years wasted on white washing such an evil man.

It is time to put an end to it once and for all. No more sit tight for a year or two and work behind the scenes we will have you back at the controls soon.

Suthep has a great idea to do this. The problem is it is unconstitutional and where would they get enough honest men with the power to sit on the counsel and back up it's decision's for this they would need the military who have already in a small way declared them selves with the government Army sent in to bolster police. Helicopter flying over protestors dropping arrest warrants for Suthep.

Going to be interesting tomorrow to see how Suthep uses the latest corruption ratings. The government and the red shirts can accuse hin of any thing they want maybe a lot of it true but those ratings have nothing to do with him and they will affect the people. That is the ones with an IQ higher than room temperature in a room on the highest mountain in Thailand during the winter time.

Edited December 5, 2013 by hellodolly

[JetsetBkk]

Nice to see people on the TV news channels waving flags, cheering, crying... what a wonderful expression of their love for their king.

And tomorrow? Back to the barricades, throwing Molotov cocktails, etc.

What a country!

[mojorison]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

That's debatable - if governments collapsed every time some ex-DPM decided he's better and attempts a coup it would be chaos around the world. Democracy has been fought for with millions of lives and it's something that should be cherished and defended.

Edit : of course the downside of democracy is that sometimes you lose and this is a lesson Suthep should learn to take with grace

Don't think Suthep has any great problem with democracy - he just wants, and rightly so, the convicted criminal and fugitive from justice running the country permanently removed from the scene so Thailand can get on with developing itself instead of bring know as Nakhon Shinawatra.

If they got rid of " all the convicted criminal and fugitive from justice running the country " there would be no one left.

Oh, and thank heavens Suthep opted to not politicize the King's Birthday...

[waza]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

Just to clarify. Saying and doing are two different things. If telling Suthep what he wants to hear,again,saves lives then I am all for it. No reason to actually do it.

no reason to actually keep your word if your sole raison d'etre is to inflame the situation even more...!!

"Thai PM Yingluck Shinawatra Says She Is Willing To Do ‘Anything,’ Even Resign, To End Protests"

Well strange thing is the protest is still on and all she is doing now is inflaming the situation with her impersonation of a flip flop.

Its good to see news out let that has a handle on the real situation in Thailand..........

"The protest movement in Thailand is not triggered by class differences as described by many foreign journalists. It is, in fact, inspired by the discontentment towards the unprecedented levels of governmental corruption, the elective dictatorship in parliament, and doubts about the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's expertise and competence to lead the country based on good governance and respect for the rule of law. In 2001, many middle class Thais voted for Thaksin Shinawatra believing that he entered politics to contribute to the development of Thailand. However, it turned out that he came to power to exploit the country for his personal business interests. Thaksin’s era can best be described as the era of unprecedented nepotism and corruption. The self-exiled former prime minister has many corruption and political malpractice charges currently pending in the Thai courts, charges from which he has intentionally fled." http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/12/protesting-against-thailand-big-brother-20131227421913272.html

This article is succinct, eloquent, accurate and clearly explains why the anti government protests started and why they must continue in order to save Thailand and its people from a decent into a failed state. Suthep has taken what was already there, public discontentment and dissatisfaction with a corrupt government, but in a fractured disorganise structure and gave it unity and momentum.

"The Thais have a legitimate right to protest against a corrupt and unlawful government. It has done enough damage to our beloved country. We cannot allow them more time in power to cause more damage." Kasit Piromya

Edited December 5, 2013 by waza

[Bluespunk]

I guess that's means Yingluck will display another elegantly executed backflip and say she is willing to step down and dissolve the government again on Friday.

I guess if it will save lives then well worth it don't you think?

That's debatable - if governments collapsed every time some ex-DPM decided he's better and attempts a coup it would be chaos around the world. Democracy has been fought for with millions of lives and it's something that should be cherished and defended.

Edit : of course the downside of democracy is that sometimes you lose and this is a lesson Suthep should learn to take with grace

Don't think Suthep has any great problem with democracy - he just wants, and rightly so, the convicted criminal and fugitive from justice running the country permanently removed from the scene so Thailand can get on with developing itself instead of bring know as Nakhon Shinawatra.

If they got rid of " all the convicted criminal and fugitive from justice running the country " there would be no one left.

Oh, and thank heavens Suthep opted to not politicize the King's Birthday...

Do you really think he had a choice?