Bangkok overrun by huge protest

[webfact]

POLITICS
Bangkok overrun by huge protest
The Nation



Yingluck takes train from Udon to Nong Khai while mob rallies, including outside her home

BANGKOK:-- THAILAND'S VAST urban/rural divide was never more obvious than the contrasting images from the two major events yesterday - Bangkok overrun by a massive anti-government protest and the caretaker prime minister greeting admirers on a tour of the far Northeast.

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters staged another mass rally in Bangkok, including a protest outside caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's residence, to put pressure on the premier to resign while the premier toured her political stronghold. Protest leaders yesterday vowed in their speeches that they would mobilise large-scale month-long rallies to occupy Bangkok if Yingluck remained in power.

The protesters split into more than a dozen groups around the central part of the capital, including some main shopping areas. Several thousand protesters surrounded the PM's home, amid tight security, in Soi Yothin Pattana 3, parallel to Ekamai-Ramintra expressway, despite her being far away.

Yingluck, who dissolved the House on December 9 and scheduled an election for February 2, has been on tour in the North and Northeast since then. Pheu Thai supporters came to see her off and have shouted moral support during her travels.

However, she could not escape the whistle blowing, a symbolic gesture by opponents keen to oust her and her brother, the former PM Thaksin, from politics. She has faced them in almost every province in the current trip, from Surin, Yasothon, Buri Ram, and Nong Khai yesterday.

On the way to lunch in Nong Khai, around seven protesters greeted Yingluck by raising a Thai flag, blowing whistles and shouting "Get out! Get out!"

During her train journey from Udon Thani to Nong Khai, she monitored protesters' moves via iPad, which was linked to signals from a camera circuit at her home via the Internet. She admitted she was worried about the rallies in Bangkok, and passed a message to her staff to tell the protesters that the house's owner was not there.

Most of her activities in the provinces were visiting villagers and paying respect to revered monks and making merit. She appeared happy when surrounded by her supporters. After freeing fish in Nong Bua Lampu yesterday, she told a reporter with a smile "I'm now happier."

She was due to stay in Loei last night. A source from Pheu Thai said she would focus instead on making trips to the provinces, notably the North and Northeast, and may not come back to Bangkok until the New Year.

The PM posted a picture of her hugging her son with the caption: "I'm inspecting the work in many Northeast provinces and I have many missions to do each day. At least I have my son. We give moral support to each other."

Meanwhile, PDRC secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban led tens of thousands of protesters in a vibrant and lively rally through five major sites in Bangkok, blocking traffic and turning parts of city roads into crowded and noisy pedestrian zones a day after the main opposition party declared a boycott of the snap February election.

Suthep kicked off another mega rally by leading protesters on foot from Rajdamnoen Road to Wong Wian Yai and to seek support from Thonburi residents to oust the Yingluck government.

Both sides of roads that the protesters marched along were crowded with supporters waiting to cheer them on as they passed by. Some blew whistles and others waved the national flag, while others gave donations to Suthep, who carried a black bag to collect cash. Some onlookers joined the rally, which stretched longer the further it went.

Suthep greeted protesters and raised a fist as a gesture of a struggle. He led the crowd to join those at the Lumpini rally site by crossing Sathorn Bridge, then took a shortcut to north Sathorn and Silom. He joined four major sites - Asoke, Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan and Victory Monument - before returning to Democracy Monument.

Suthep said the number of protesters was higher than expected. And more would take to the streets to shut down the capital within another seven to 10 days if the government stubbornly clinged to power.

He had earlier changed a plan to take the BTS (Skytrain) and MRT subway and took a motorcycle instead, because the trains were too crowded.

Several protesters who spoke to The Nation said they would definitely join another rally if Suthep called one - even after the New Year. One said "We can't leave the matter half finished. I'll join this until the end."

Ratchaprasong was packed with protesters from morning. Most had arrived at the site by the BTS. Former model Ornapa Krisadee or "Mah" was among the actors and actresses who took to the rally stage.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai led colleagues from the party headquarters to Democracy Monument rally site.


-- The Nation 2013-12-23

[webfact]

Thai opposition protesters rally to heap pressure on PM
by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, December 23, 2013 (AFP) - Tens of thousands of Thai protesters rallied Sunday in their latest attempt to oust the prime minister, paralysing central Bangkok and vowing to block parties from registering for hotly disputed polls.

The protest followed a declaration by the main opposition Democrat Party that it would boycott a snap election called by embattled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for February 2.

At least 150,000 people had gathered at several sites across Bangkok by Sunday evening, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told AFP.

Protest leaders say the number is several times higher.

Thailand has lurched deeper and deeper into crisis despite Yingluck's attempt to dissipate the unrest by calling an election.

Demonstrators want to rid Thailand of Yingluck and the influence of her Dubai-based brother Thaksin -- an ousted billionaire ex-premier who is despised by a coalition of the southern Thai poor, the Bangkok middle classes and the elite.

They say he still controls the government from exile.

Firebrand protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, who has vowed to destroy the "Thaksin regime", dismisses Yingluck's call for an election, saying it will install another Thaksin-allied government.

Addressing a crowd of tens of thousands at the city's Democracy Monument, Suthep urged protesters to blockade the site where the Election Commission is due to hold party registrations from Monday.

"Whoever wants to go inside to register will have to pass through us," he said.

"If we do not hold the country by February 2, we will shut the country down. No one will go to vote," he added.

The self-proclaimed People's Democratic Reform Committee is calling for an unelected "people's council" to be installed to oversee sweeping but loosely-defined reforms before new elections in around a year to 18 months.

Earlier several thousand people -- mainly women -- gathered outside Yingluck's suburban house amid tight security, although the premier was travelling outside the capital.

Blowing whistles -- the symbol of the weeks-long protests -- and waving Thai flags, the crowd chanted "Yingluck get out!"

The premier, who was bounced into dissolving the house in early December after the Democrat Party resigned en masse from parliament, is in the northeast of the country -- the heartland of her ruling party.

Analysts say Suthep's bid is backed by powerful behind-the-scenes forces in a country which has seen 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932.

His movement was bolstered Saturday by the Democrats' announcement of a poll boycott.

The move dismayed the prime minister, who said elections must take place to secure Thailand's fragile democracy.

"If we don't hold on to the democratic system, what should we hold on to?" she told reporters Sunday.

"If you don't accept this government, please accept the system," she said, adding elections would allow protesters to be heard at the ballot box.

Suthep led a boisterous march of several thousand people to Bangkok's main commercial district, as demonstrators blocked traffic at several points across Bangkok -- including at a symbolic intersection occupied by rival "Red Shirts" in 2010 pro-Thaksin rallies which ended in bloodshed.

Suthep, who was then deputy prime minister for the Democrat Party government, faces murder charges over the crackdown which left scores dead.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has also been indicted for murder over the crackdown.

The Democrats have not won an elected majority in some two decades.

Their party previously boycotted elections in 2006, helping to create the political vacuum which heralded a military coup that ousted Thaksin.

Analysts say the current boycott could produce a similar outcome but also carries a major risk for the country's oldest political party, which could face a wipe-out if the polls go ahead.

The protesters have appealed for the support of the army to overturn the government, which is holding out despite the enormous pressure on the streets.

But the military has indicated it will not step in directly at this stage.

Thaksin is adored among rural communities and the working class, particularly in the north and northeast. But the billionaire tycoon-turned-politician is reviled by the elite, who see him as corrupt and a threat to the revered monarchy.

Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election since 2001, most recently with a landslide victory under Yingluck two years ago.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-12-23

[Nibbles48]

Bangkok Post said the security officials have estimated 270,000, and we all know being in the control of the government that the quote will be definitely played down.

So was it the big million + ??

Possibly.

[EricBerg]

Little sis won't step down. She's happy as she is in the northeast. Only the army can prevent the februari 2 elections and a new shinaclan government.

[webfact]

POLITICS
Huge crowd at gates of BTS stations
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE NUMBER of passengers using the BTS Skytrain yesterday was so great that operators at BTS stations such as Mo Chit, Siam, Asok, Sala Daeng, Chidlom had to open the gates and allow travellers to pass through without buying a ticket.

They paid for their tickets at the destination station, a source from BTS said. "We can't give the number of passengers until operations close for the day," she told The Nation at mid-afternoon yesterday.

However, the crowd was similar to that seen on December 9, when anti-government protesters went to Government House as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced the dissolution of Parliament. Passengers used the service for 767,305 trips on that day.

That was not the record in terms of passengers, but it brought in a record amount of revenue - Bt20 million in a day. Normally, BTS records revenue averaging Bt18 million-Bt19 million a day.


-- The Nation 2013-12-23

[Jay Sata]

So while the protests in Bangkok continue where is the boss?

During her train journey from Udon Thani to Nong Khai, she monitored protesters' moves via iPad, which was linked to signals from a camera circuit at her home via the Internet. She admitted she was worried about the rallies in Bangkok, and passed a message to her staff to tell the protesters that the house's owner was not there.

Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

So she has run away just like her brother who is stuck in a place where no one wai's him.

That must wind him up every day. Better punishment than an open hi-so prison in Thailand where he would have emerged a peoples hero.

She is no leader and brother Thaksin has run out of cash to fund the farmers who are waiting to be paid from the rice that is rotting and will take over half a decade to sell.

The Democrats are not prepared to pick up this hot potato and say the kitty is empty.

The mad building boom has to be financed but who will pay? With no stupid mega projects with borrowed money it looks like the house of cards is on the verge of collapse. Spain...Greece... Thailand?

Tourists move quickly unlike the infrastructure.

Edited December 22, 2013 by Jay Sata

[Bluespunk]

""Whoever wants to go inside to register will have to pass through us," he said.

"If we do not hold the country by February 2, we will shut the country down. No one will go to vote," he added."

Did Suthep really say this? I know the APP seems to take a pro govt line in most of its stories, but they don't make stuff up. Suthep's authoritarian, PT like attitude of "my way is the only way" is getting worse. Man's barking mad and gorged on power, dangerous combination. He will be no better than PT and their red stormtroopers if he carries out these threats.

[Jay Sata]

The country is fast approaching civil war especially if the glue melts.

[Bluespunk]

"Huge crowd at gates of BTS stations"

Who knew, or is that cares?

[blabth]

It becomes more and more a Thai soap opera, with bad actors. On one side a PM remote controlled but legally appointed and on the other side a corrupt politician with personnel hate towards TS claiming that he speaks for the Thai population. If this would be the case why not facing the election and than with a democrat lead government all the changes could be implemented.

He can't agree to that because he knows he would loose the election. Now he wants to block the election and ensure that nobody goes for voting taking away the basic right of each Thai to express their will. What is wrong with the people that they don't understand that on the end it could only mean a total split of the Thai society, ideas of unelected government different voting rights for different classes of Thai people is far from Democracy.

[tominbkk]

Bangkok Post said the security officials have estimated 270,000, and we all know being in the control of the government that the quote will be definitely played down.

So was it the big million + ??

Possibly.

Bluesky was reporting 3.5 million. police reported 135,000. so somewhere int he middle is probably correct. I would say about a million or more!

[noitom]

It's a circus. No one in Thai leadership is articulating a clear reform strategy and points. Man on the street Thais haven't got a clue what reform really means.

[theoldgit]

Flame removed, please cut out the insults.

[Yunla]

""Whoever wants to go inside to register will have to pass through us," he said.

"If we do not hold the country by February 2, we will shut the country down. No one will go to vote," he added."

Did Suthep really say this? I know the APP seems to take a pro govt line in most of its stories, but they don't make stuff up. Suthep's authoritarian, PT like attitude of "my way is the only way" is getting worse. Man's barking mad and gorged on power, dangerous combination. He will be no better than PT and their red stormtroopers if he carries out these threats.

Suthep is acting very foolishly. The problem is that as everybody knows, Thailand's future hinges on the reaching, or just approaching, a nexus-point of consensus between rich/poor urban/rural. Problem number two, this is the bigger problem, and the one which Suthep's mad scheme totally does not factor in, is that the rural majority want democratic votes, they are the majority and also the serf class and so they feel that having their votes respected is very important. Suthep overturning the elected Govt and essentially spitting on all those casted votes, is going to cause immensely bad feelings around the nation.

On a practical level, yes Yingluck is no good, yes Thaksin should face additional massmurder charges for the 2500 deaths he ordered, and his nepotistic plundering of the State Fund, there is no dispute from me. But what was good is that PTP were voted for, got into power, and so their supporters put down the pitchforks and said "ok we've got our electoral rights now" etc. And they then started gradually criticising their own PTP members for failing, which is totally natural healthy democracy, and heading in the right direction. Suthep derailed that slow but natural process. The rural / poor thinking that it was great they had got Government's ear, but they didn't like their leadership, for failing to improve infrastructure etc. So they would put more internal pressure on PTP to act like a political party not just insurgents. This is very slow process. Meantime, Dems were gaining popularity also from the PTP failing.

The problems can all be solved without any of the Suthep stuff.

Re; Yingluck abuse of the policy-making machinery, can all be solved by Parliamentary reform, Parliament as a concept is a fluid system which invites augmentation to "get around" nation-specific difficulties, overhauling the mechanisms relating to the power balance of the various parties, their floor-time, and also the policy queueing system of which needs to be regulated by an external body. Thaksin passport issue should never reach the debate floor, especially during flood crisis as it did, that is just ridiculous. This can be solved by strictly regulating policy-submission and queueing. Those reforms take a long time, it also takes a long time for radical new parties such as PTP to settle into more progressive models. Especially as they began as a hero-worship cult. But you have to work with the materials you've got.

However, to scrap the whole process above, and just say "your votes don't matter" (paraphrasing Suthep's conceptual Assembly idea) is inviting disaster. I hope to be proved wrong on all this.

edit: mister coffee & typos

Edited December 23, 2013 by Yunla

[NongKhaiKid]

I live about an hour's drive from Nong Khai had had absolutely no idea YL was in the area.

My area is most definately red yet I did not see a single supporter heading out unlike in the past.

Maybe to cold to be sitting in the back of a pickup bombing along on Highway 2.

[Prbkk]

Having FAILED to remove the govt by any of his moving feasts of final, absolute deadlines, he is now ThREATENING those who do wish to participate in the democratic process. What a sad and sorry excuse for someone meant to be serving the interests of the people ( corruption, insurrection and murder charges notwithstanding).

Yesterday's rally was a major flop for Suthep . It achieved nothing, so now he reverts to the previous policy of intimidation and implied violence. I wouldn't trust this guy for a second

[Nibbles48]

Bangkok Post said the security officials have estimated 270,000, and we all know being in the control of the government that the quote will be definitely played down.

So was it the big million + ??

Possibly.

Bluesky was reporting 3.5 million. police reported 135,000. so somewhere int he middle is probably correct. I would say about a million or more!

I would tend to agree with that.

I have been in 100,000 (and upwards) crowds on a few occasions in my time, namely Glastonbury festival, Wembley Stadium concerts etc...

I have stood at the top of Olympia watching 100,000 people come up from Wembley Stadium, and they were cleared within 15 minutes. But here they have been 1 hour + crossing a bridge, and just one part of the protests.

So based on experience and the photos we have from different venues, I think an easy 1 million minimum. Not sure about 3.5 million, but a safe mill.

Edited December 23, 2013 by Nibbles48

[Jay Sata]

Whatever happens over the next year the problems are not going to go away. The economy and infrastructure pretty much echo the Thai philosophy of building. Foundations don't matter because they cost a lot but cannot be seen.

However foundations support everything and I'm afraid to say the house will come tumbling down soon.

Everything in Thailand is like a house of cards or one of those games you see in resorts where wood blocks are removed.

I might be missing something but I don't see Thailand as a nation like South Korea with well educated industrious people.

In fact I'd say Thailand is the opposite. No oil,minerals or major export ability. It has been a cheap labour/cheap holiday destination but like Spain etc tourist trades move on to the next hot spot.

[Jay Sata]

I live about an hour's drive from Nong Khai had had absolutely no idea YL was in the area.

My area is most definately red yet I did not see a single supporter heading out unlike in the past.

Maybe to cold to be sitting in the back of a pickup bombing along on Highway 2.

I'd be impressed if she was doing that with her daughters eating somtam..

[NongKhaiKid]

I live about an hour's drive from Nong Khai had had absolutely no idea YL was in the area.

My area is most definately red yet I did not see a single supporter heading out unlike in the past.

Maybe to cold to be sitting in the back of a pickup bombing along on Highway 2.

I'd be impressed if she was doing that with her daughters eating somtam..

I thought she only had a son

[Nibbles48]

Whatever happens over the next year the problems are not going to go away. The economy and infrastructure pretty much echo the Thai philosophy of building. Foundations don't matter because they cost a lot but cannot be seen.

However foundations support everything and I'm afraid to say the house will come tumbling down soon.

Everything in Thailand is like a house of cards or one of those games you see in resorts where wood blocks are removed.

I might be missing something but I don't see Thailand as a nation like South Korea with well educated industrious people.

In fact I'd say Thailand is the opposite. No oil,minerals or major export ability. It has been a cheap labour/cheap holiday destination but like Spain etc tourist trades move on to the next hot spot.

'I might be missing something but I don't see Thailand as a nation like South Korea with well educated industrious people.'

That is because Korea got its civil war out of the way 60 years ago, and the country became divided.

The despotic power drunk populist and his minions in the north, and the democratic and more 'western influenced' in the south.

Then the border went up, and guess who came out on top?

If it ever went to a civil war, that would be the likely outcome.

[Jimi007]

It becomes more and more a Thai soap opera, with bad actors. On one side a PM remote controlled but legally appointed and on the other side a corrupt politician with personnel hate towards TS claiming that he speaks for the Thai population. If this would be the case why not facing the election and than with a democrat lead government all the changes could be implemented. He can't agree to that because he knows he would loose the election. Now he wants to block the election and ensure that nobody goes for voting taking away the basic right of each Thai to express their will. What is wrong with the people that they don't understand that on the end it could only mean a total split of the Thai society, ideas of unelected government different voting rights for different classes of Thai people is far from Democracy.

What's wrong with people who don't understand that a country that allows vote buying, position buying and buying "justice" is not a democracy?

[whybother]

The PM posted a picture of her hugging her son with the caption: "I'm inspecting the work in many Northeast provinces and I have many missions to do each day. At least I have my son. We give moral support to each other."

So it's OK for her to bring her son into politics, but not if anyone else mentions him.

[khunsiam]

I live about an hour's drive from Nong Khai had had absolutely no idea YL was in the area.

My area is most definately red yet I did not see a single supporter heading out unlike in the past.

Maybe to cold to be sitting in the back of a pickup bombing along on Highway 2.

Red Nongkhai is also the hometown of the well known and amicable academic Pramote Nakhonthap who wrote the Finland plot and was one of the people invited at the Sukhumvit residence (see coup 2006). He established an "international" college there but students were dwindling over the past years, only a few left.

[LomSak27]

Protest leaders have said they want to rid Thailand of the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the older brother of Yingluck.

That's an ambitious goal in a country where every election since 2001 has been won by parties affiliated with Thaksin, who built his political success on populist policies that appealed to Thailand's rural heartland

Uh uh, looks like the foreign press isn't cooperating ... again .... better protest them .. again, but it is good they have cut this twaddle about ridding the country of corruption and are admitting what their real goal is

Go Team yellow

Fight Team yellow

Win Team Yellow

[andygunther]

Having FAILED to remove the govt by any of his moving feasts of final, absolute deadlines, he is now ThREATENING those who do wish to participate in the democratic process. What a sad and sorry excuse for someone meant to be serving the interests of the people ( corruption, insurrection and murder charges notwithstanding).

Yesterday's rally was a major flop for Suthep . It achieved nothing, so now he reverts to the previous policy of intimidation and implied violence. I wouldn't trust this guy for a second

So you think Yingluck has more credibility ...

How many promises has she completed?

Additionally, I am not a big beliver on the elections here in Thailand, it's widely known how the red buying votes...

But even the poor rice farmers also been cheated of the promised money, so the dissatisfaction is increasing even among them.

Edited December 23, 2013 by andygunther

[smedly]

so she quoted all these legal reasons why she could not step down from her role a CT PM - but again has neglected her duty to that office - she is either CT PM or not, this woman refuses to take responsibility for any duties even as caretaker

I would charge with derelict of duty and submit it to a court

[Thait Spot]

Yingluck: "Dems must respect the system"

Cheat at house votes?

Block opposition debate?

Cheat with the documents!

Fail to recognise the constitution court?

No wonder the millions are upset

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tatsujin]

The PM posted a picture of her hugging her son with the caption: "I'm inspecting the work in many Northeast provinces and I have many missions to do each day. At least I have my son. We give moral support to each other."

So it's OK for her to bring her son into politics, but not if anyone else mentions him.

Of course, in the Shin world, it's "do as I say, not as I do".

[pisico]

Looks like failed politico Suthep does not want elections. He wants to seize power.

Another mad man using similar language managed to manipulated the people in a country with the highest level of general knowledge, science and technology of the time. Hitler was elected to office by the overwhelming voting majority of Germans. His speeches containing trigger phrases such as the "struggle of the people" and "power to the people" are similar to the language Suthep is using now to rouse Thais. It speaks volumes of the Thai mindset and character. They seem prone to become blind drones for one side or the other.

Why is it that in a country where vote buying (from all sides) is a tradition, a Democrat does not want elections but to seize power?

Those who believe what Suthep said about retiring from politics are in deep denial of the obvious. They might as well join the hordes of his drones.