Thai opposition protesters target government offices

[webfact]

Thai opposition protesters target government offices

BANGKOK, January 14, 2014 (AFP) - Thousands of Thai opposition protesters marched on government buildings in the capital on Tuesday as part of their "shutdown" of Bangkok aimed at derailing elections and toppling the government.

Demonstrators threatened to stop officials from going to work at several key ministries to intensify pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The protesters, led by a former opposition MP, want Yingluck to resign to make way for an unelected "people's council" that would oversee reforms to curb the political dominance of her billionaire family.

Their two-month rallies have pushed the government to call snap February 2 polls, but the protesters have rejected the vote in the latest twist of a political crisis that has gripped Thailand since Yingluck's brother Thaksin was ousted in a military coup seven years ago.

Several thousand demonstrators gathered outside the Thai customs department early Tuesday to try to prevent staff from going to work.

"We have closed the entire department, but not customs checkpoints. We will see how the situation develops," customs director Rakop Srisupaat told AFP.

Protesters on trucks festooned with Thai flags cheered and danced at the peaceful rally in an area of Bangkok home to many of the capital's working class Thaksin supporters.

They also planned to surround the labour and the information and communications technology ministries.

Many key junctions remained blocked in the Thai capital with loudspeakers broadcasting bombastic speeches into the city air after protesters launched the shutdown on Monday, causing widespread disruption to Bangkok's central retail and hotel districts.

The well-organised protest movement has vowed to occupy parts of the city of 12 million people until Yingluck quits, threatening to disrupt the election which it fears will only return the Shinawatra clan to power.

A hardcore faction of the movement has threatened to besiege the stock exchange and even air traffic control if Yingluck does not step down within days.

So far the shutdown itself has been peaceful, although eight people have been killed and hundreds injured in street violence in recent weeks.

The rallies were triggered by a failed amnesty bill that could have allowed Thaksin to return without going to jail for a past corruption conviction.

The billionaire tycoon-turned-politician has strong electoral support in northern Thailand, but he is reviled by many southerners, Bangkok's middle class and members of the royalist establishment.

The government has not tried to stop the protests, despite warnings that they could take a heavy toll on the economy and local businesses if they drag on.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-14

[webfact]

Protesters start second day of siege of government offices



BANGKOK: -- Anti-government protesters have started marching to lay siege to several government offices on the second day of their Operation Bangkok Shutdown to convince government officials to leave their jobs.

Government offices targeted to come under siege include Commerce Ministry, Finance Ministry, Information and Communications Technology Ministry, Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Labour Ministry, Revenue Department, Excise Department, Customs Department, Land Transport Department, Public Relations Department and Public Works and City Planning Department.

A core leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, Ms Anchalee Paireerat, said that the siege would be temporary and only meant to persuade government officials to defy the government by leaving their jobs. The protesters will return to their respective protest sites at seven locations in late afternoon, she added.

A complaint has been lodged with the PDRC by the Rajvithi hospital that some protesters went into the hospital and behaved improperly.

Former Democrat MP Thavorn Senniam who looks after the protesters at the Victory Monument promised to see to the problem. He claimed that most of the shopkeepers and vendors at the protest site were unaffected by the protests.

Meanwhile, it was reported that more protesters had arrived from the South to join the protests at Pathumwan protest site. They were greeted with whistlings from the protesters who were already there.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/protesters-start-second-day-siege-government-offices/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-14

[poisonus]

I have 2 machines on their way in from China as well as some spare parts and materials which should loaded onto planes about now and due for customs clearance tomorrow.

They are pretty important for us and our business, but I am happy if they get delayed by the protests because I believe in them, and if this small inconvenience results in the overthrow of this turgid government, then I am all for it.

[spare5]

I have 2 machines on their way in from China as well as some spare parts and materials which should loaded onto planes about now and due for customs clearance tomorrow.

They are pretty important for us and our business, but I am happy if they get delayed by the protests because I believe in them, and if this small inconvenience results in the overthrow of this turgid government, then I am all for it.

Very good. Thanks for your support and understanding. The delay could be until Yingluck leave Thailand for good.

No pain no gain.

[KunMatt]

I have 2 machines on their way in from China as well as some spare parts and materials which should loaded onto planes about now and due for customs clearance tomorrow.

They are pretty important for us and our business, but I am happy if they get delayed by the protests because I believe in them, and if this small inconvenience results in the overthrow of this turgid government, then I am all for it.

And replaced by who exactly? A political party who demands to be in power immediately, is overthrowing a democratically elected government and refusing to have early elections or any elections all at. A party who call themselves "the democrats" but are refusing any democratic solutions to any of this. These are the people who you trust and think will bring stability to Thailand?? It's the "douche and turd" scenario.

The PTP may be lying corrupt scumbags but they are lying corrupt scumbags who were voted in fairly by their own people.

We are all just tourists here. Just leave it all up to the Thai people to worry about and you just worry about getting your part on time tomorrow.

[Bakseeda]

I have 2 machines on their way in from China as well as some spare parts and materials which should loaded onto planes about now and due for customs clearance tomorrow.

They are pretty important for us and our business, but I am happy if they get delayed by the protests because I believe in them, and if this small inconvenience results in the overthrow of this turgid government, then I am all for it.

My business is also being affected by this wonderful protest... but my staff and I will go on... and we also are more than willing to take the loss if it helps Thailand to free itself from the Shinewatra clan and their corrupt practices... Go on Thailand... Every single Farang with common sense supports this anti-government protest...

[EricBerg]

When the protesters want to topple the government it's only logic that they target government buildings as well. ANd then there's always some collateral damage. Perhaps there can be a fund to compensate the companies that beyond doubt were damaged by the protests later. Would be nothing compared to the rice scheme.

When the reds wanted to topple the government there was much more damage.