Thailand Live Monday 13 Jan 2014

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Q&A on Thai political crisis - Facts

BANGKOK, January 13, 2014 (AFP) - Here are key facts about Thailand's political crisis, which entered a chaotic new phase on Monday as protesters paralysed parts of central Bangkok demanding Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696360-q-a-on-thai-political-crisis-facts/

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Protesters asked not to disrupt air traffic control



BANGKOK: -- Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has appealed to the anti-government protesters not to shut down or disrupt its operations saying that it will cause extensive damages to air travel and the country.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696363-protesters-asked-not-to-disrupt-air-traffic-control/

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RT@MimiSawitta:Suthep: They (Yingluck & co) think of the country as a toy... they think of money as a god and don't understand what it means to be human.

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RT@RichardBarrow: A small portion of the protesters in front of MBK taken from the Skytrain as it passed #BangkokShutdown pic.twitter.com/BcFrEDCJTE

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Reds set 500,000 baht bounty for Suthep’s arrest

BANGKOK: -- Red-shirt followers in the Northeast have set up a 500,000-baht bounty for the arrest of protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696375-reds-set-500000-baht-bounty-for-sutheps-arrest/

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RT@sunaibkk: PDRC: Postponement of election won't end #BangkokShutdown. Protest will be more intensified until Yingluck resigns.

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RT@DrRungC: Long line to buy tickets at MRT (subway) Phaholyothin. pic.twitter.com/5L7x27pUZB

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RT@RichardBarrow: Aerial shot at Victory Monument at 5pm - RT @Rawee_TRnews: #ภาพมุมสูง อนุสาวรีย์ชัยฯ pic.twitter.com/rkm0k3YIbx

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RT@RichardBarrow: Aerial shot at Lad Prao intersection at 5:30pm - RT @Rawee_TRnews: #ภาพมุมสูง 5แยกลาดพร้าว pic.twitter.com/AxrGZgHkOH

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Two months of anti-government rallies in Thailand - Chrono

BANGKOK, January 13, 2014 (AFP) - The following is a timeline of key events in Thailand's political crisis since demonstrations aimed at toppling Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government began more than two months ago:

October 31: Protests break out against an amnesty bill which critics said was aimed at allowing former premier Thaksin Shinawatra -- Yingluck's brother -- to return without going to jail for a corruption conviction.

November 1: The ruling party-dominated lower house of parliament votes in favour of the bill.

November 11: Amid growing outrage on the streets, the upper house overwhelmingly rejects the legislation.

November 20: In a new blow to Yingluck, the Constitutional Court blocks her party's attempt to make the upper house fully elected.

November 25: Opposition supporters march on state buildings, occupying the finance ministry. The government imposes a special security law handing police extra powers across the capital.

November 26: Protesters besiege several ministries while police issue an arrest warrant for rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

November 29: Demonstrators enter the army headquarters and urge the military to support their cause, but the army chief says troops will not take sides.

November 30: Opposition demonstrators attack a bus carrying government supporters. Several people are killed and dozens wounded in street violence.

December 1: Police use water cannon and tear gas on protesters who try to breach barriers to the government and police headquarters.

December 3: After several days of street clashes, the government instructs police to avoid further confrontation with demonstrators, calming tensions before the revered king's birthday.

December 5: King Bhumibol Adulyadej urges "stability" in a speech on his 86th birthday.

December 8: Opposition lawmakers resign en masse from parliament.

December 9: Yingluck calls early elections as demonstrators return to the streets.

December 21: Opposition announces election boycott.

December 22: Protesters stage massive anti-government rally in Bangkok. Police say 150,000 people attended but organisers insist the number is much higher.

December 25: Yingluck proposes "national reform council" but protesters reject the offer as insincere.

December 26: Government rejects call by the Election Commission to postpone the election after violent clashes between police and demonstrators seeking to prevent candidate registrations.

December 27: The army chief refuses to rule out a coup, saying "anything can happen".

December 28: An unknown gunman shoots dead one opposition protester and wounds several others.

January 7: An anti-corruption panel announces charges against hundreds of politicians, mostly from Yingluck's party, over the failed attempt to reform the upper house.

January 13: Tens of thousands of opposition protesters occupy major streets in the capital in an attempt to "shut down" Bangkok, vowing to stay put until Yingluck quits.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-13

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RT@DrRungC: Thais in Switzerland gathered to show support to anti-govt PDRC. pic.twitter.com/EdN5ywTFh9

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RT@veen_NT: Central Silom will be closed at 9.30pm today, and will be opened at normal hour tomorrow.

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RT@veen_NT: "@Airport_Link has added Express Train to cope with increasing passengers at Phaya Thai station from 6pm.

RT@RichardBarrow: Central World #Bangkok will only open on Tuesday from 11:30am-6pm due to ongoing protests at Ratchaprasong

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RT@RichardBarrow: MBK, Siam Center, Siam Discovery & Siam Paragon will all be closing soon at 8pm - TR @noppatjak: pic.twitter.com/87Xmz4urqc

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Pro-Election Rallies Organised In 16 Provinces

By Khaosod English

BANGKOK: -- Local Redshirts and other citizen groups in upcountry provinces have staged rallies and demonstrations to oppose the "shutdown" of Bangkok by anti-government protesters.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696379-pro-election-rallies-organised-in-16-provinces/

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RT@RichardBarrow: 6:30pm - RT @SashaSmaili: Long queue to get out of Asok BTS...only one exit! pic.twitter.com/8nvfWV74Kw

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RT@fratticcioli: #BKKShutdown 7pm Rajprasong stage. RT @grantthai: As we enter evening, it seems crowds growing at all locations. pic.twitter.com/4vqx7yGwtm

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RT@sunaibkk: @sunaibkk Talked to Spring News after doing phone interview. Suthep told them around 180,000 people joined #bkkshutdown today.

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RT@tulsathit: Rant: The crowds are massive, all right. But some1 should tell Suthep "Today's historic day" should b used a bit more sparingly.

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RT@fratticcioli: Suthep speaking in stage now. He says #BKKShutdown can even go on for months.

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RT@tulsathit: BTS says its service is opening and closing at normal times.

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Loud but orderly protesters take to streets of Phuket
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: Protesters gathered together today on Surin Road to support the anti-government protesters trying to “Shut down Bangkok”.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/696384-loud-but-orderly-protesters-take-to-streets-of-phuket/

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RT@Aim_NT: (Recap) Suthep repeated what he had said before, there would be no win-win situation, either his side or otherwise only.

RT@Aim_NT: This will be the first "people's revolution of Thailand carried out with empty hands (no weapon): Suthep.

RT@Aim_NT: If all the people come out, government officials must eventually come and take the people's side: Suthep.

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RT@Aim_NT: Suthep: Despite the Bangkok shutdown,shop owners could still sell goods as the protesters did not damage anything.

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RT@RichardBarrow: Don't make the mistake in thinking this was a one-day event. Numbers may drop overnight but they will be back again tomorrow

RT@RichardBarrow: The traffic on many roads around #Bangkok were fast moving. Taxis know where the roadblocks are so use them to get from Point A to Point B.

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RT@Aim_NT: M.1 student from Trang sent a letter to Suthep saying she was too poor to afford transport to join in the rally. she sent Bt160 as donation.

RT@Aim_NT: Suthep thanked the protesters and said he would visit the other rally sites. # end of his speech

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RT@RichardBarrow: All of the main shopping malls were open today & are expected to open again tomorrow, though probably with shorter hours if near rallies

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RT@Tulip_Oum: 8.05PM PDRC at Lumpini announces 7:30AM tomorrow, they will march to close Custom department at Klong Toey tomorrow.-@Phop_NTV

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RT@Tulip_Oum: 8:16PM at Victory monument.- @ittipat_Rw: pic.twitter.com/OZzsSB4vfz

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RT@Tulip_Oum: PDRC at Ladprao intersection to march to Labor ministry, ICT and dpt of Land Transport tomorrow.-@NTRadio_NBC