Bangkok Shutdown: 7 PDRC sites modelled on main rally

[webfact]

MASS RALLY
7 PDRC sites modelled on main rally
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The main rally stage on Rajdamnoen Avenue will be used as a model for the seven new protest sites across Bangkok for the shutdown on Monday, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PRDC) core leader Buddhipongse Punnakanta said.

He added that PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban had called a meeting on Wednesday with the group's committee to work out how the stages - at Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, Ladprao intersection, Victory Monument, Pathum Wan intersection, Lumpini Park, Asok intersection and the Ratchaprasong intersection - would be set up.

"We spent a lot of time discussing the Bangkok shutdown plans, including safety, traffic, food and drink as well as camping areas. We will allocate PDRC leaders and staff to these sites to keep things under control," he said.

The rally stage at Pathum Wan intersection will be the main stage controlled by PDRC core leader Satit Wongnongtaey once the one on Rajdamnoen Avenue is dismantled on Monday morning. According to Suthep, the BlueSky TV channel will cover the protest.

Meanwhile, PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan said that protesters from the provinces have been asked to go and wait at the rally site of their choice and that PDRC protesters in Bangkok would march to the relevant site on Monday morning.

PDRC core leader Witthaya Kaewparadai said the worst-case scenario is if the police decide to step in and disperse protesters. He said it was possible that the number of protesters might drop on the second day of the shutdown.

"We want to end the game as soon as we can, but we cannot guess what Bangkok residents' emotions will be like. How long their patience will last. Seven days of paralysing Bangkok traffic should be enough, but this is not a festival with an end date - it is a struggle for the nation," he said.

Takerng Somsup, director of the BlueSky Channel, said the Pathum Wan intersection was the best location for his team as there were buildings nearby that could be used as a rest area, there was space for a kitchen to be set up and it was in a central location.

The occupation of Victory Monument might be risky as it was the main support base for the government, which is why core PDRC leaders Thaworn Senneam and Somsak Kosaisuk had been chosen to lead this site, Takerng said. He added that the PDRC was concerned about this site because of three reasons - it was close to the Din Daeng flats, was a central station for transport vans and there were too many tall buildings and the Skytrain station, which would make it difficult to maintain security.

Somsak said the PDRC had set up seven security teams of 2,000 each to keep a close eye on the protests and ensure that no third party tries to disrupt the peace. The PDRC will also have a team of 200 guards on motorcycles.

The People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime and the Students and People's Network for Thailand's Reform (STR) have said they will not be joining the PDRC rallies. Sources say that STR is likely to set up its own stage at Ratchathewi intersection, while the People's Army will move from Government House to the foot of Rama VIII Bridge. The two groups will later join the PDRC mission to close ministries.


-- The Nation 2014-01-10

[pumpuiman]

A 14,000 member security team.

I'm sure all are level headed and well trained individuals.

[Jasun]

Hard to believe the authorities are going to sit back and let people erect semi-permanent structures in the middle of Bangkok's busiest intersections for an indeterminate length of time.

[FangFerang]

What happened to the 20 rallies? That's what I want to know. Maybe something to do with "we cannot guess what Bangkok residents' emotions will be like".

Both sides are sitting pat, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[webfact]

Suthep to shut down 7 main intersections on Jan 13 Occupy Bangkok Day



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced to shut down only seven major intersections and roads in the capital to cripple the caretaker government and force the resignation of Ms Yingluck Shinawatra.

He also made clear that two Bangkok’s international airports, Don Muang and Suvarnabhumi, as well as subway and sky-train services, normal train services, public transport, bus service and seaports, central bank, stock market, commercial banks will not be affected.

These services will be allowed to go on as usual, he assured thousands of supporters at the Democracy Monument last night.

Seven key intersections to be shut down, seized and turned into the strongholds of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), he said, are Chaeng Wattana, Ha Yaek Lat Prao, Victory Monument, Pathumwan, Lumphini, Rajaprasong, and Asoke.

Other roads which are not mentioned would not be affected, he said and advised that protesters listen only to the PDRC if more roads have to be shut down.

Suthep said that protesters will use these seven locations as bases to rally enough support before marching out to seize all government offices near each locations as well as houses of the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet ministers.

But he said the seizures of all these places would be ended before dusk and all protesters return to their bases to relax and restart again the next morning. This was for safety reason as protesters might be attacked by political hooligans at night, he said.

Such seizure will be repeated daily until protesters achieved victory, he said.

He also told government officials not to go to work during the protest saying if they do not listen, they will only find that they cannot enter their offices as they are all blocked.

The protest last night drew several hundred village headmen, kamnan and kamnan inspectors from Chumphorn and Samut Prakarn to join the PDRC in addition to participation by their colleagues in Surat Thani earlier last Sunday.

The participation of these village headmen from Surat Thani prompted the Interior Ministry to order an investigation with threat of serious disciplinary action and dismissal. Threat by the minister angered village headmen from other provinces to defy his order and come out openly to defy him. This included village headmen from Phra Pradaeng district of Samut Prakan which is considered the stronghold of the red-shirt and supporters of the government.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/suthep-shut-7-main-intersections-jan-13-occupy-bangkok-day/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-10

[millwall_fan]

There will quickly come a point where ordinary Bangkokians turn against Mr. Suthep's shutdown. Many people will be laid off work - and in Thailand, no work means no pay.

[CockneyGit]

seize all government offices near each locations as well as houses of the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet ministers.

''houses of the caretaker prime minister and her cabinet ministers''

Whoa. Surely these are private residences.

If he does this, then that is WAY overstepping the mark!

[CockneyGit]

Protest in front of the PM's house is all fine and dandy. Trying to ''seize'' it is not.

Yes, Abhisit's house being "seized" and having blood thrown WAS overstepping the mark!

If ever I am accused of anything, if someone tries to enter my family home they will have a serious problem!

[h90]

There will quickly come a point where ordinary Bangkokians turn against Mr. Suthep's shutdown. Many people will be laid off work - and in Thailand, no work means no pay.

Well first many people will get a free day.....

[givenall]

Hard to believe the authorities are going to sit back and let people erect semi-permanent structures in the middle of Bangkok's busiest intersections for an indeterminate length of time.

What authorities. Thai government runs based on gangs model and they have their own territories and don't care about the nation as a whole

[diehard60]

I guess the security teams are the ones that stole the weaons that the cops are looking or they brought them from the south with the radicals to join in in the fun.