Bangkok mass rally could be dragged on till February: NSC

[webfact]

NSC: The mass rally could be dragged on till February

BANGKOK, 17 Jan 2014 (NNT) - Secretary General of the National Security Council, Lieutenant General Paradon Pattanathabutr, expressed his concerns over the ongoing political protest in Bangkok being staged by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), saying that there is a good chance that the demonstration would be dragged on till February 2nd, the general election date.

The comment came after his meeting this morning with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and related security agencies.

Aside from the prospect of the rally being prolonged, Lt. Gen Paradon said he also worried about the possibility of a third party infiltration to instigate violence, harming protesters, officials and bystanders.

He brushed aside claims made by the PDRC's core member Suthep Thuagsuban that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kamronwit Thoopkrachang was the mastermind behind the men in black’s attacks on the PDRC guards.


-- NNT 2014-01-17

[antimuds]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

[poisonus]

Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), saying that there is a good chance that the demonstration would be dragged on till February 2nd, the general election date.

And beyond..... I can imagine the streets of BKK come election day.... I doubt all polling stations will be returning results. I can safely assume if these elections go ahead, the crowds will potentially block hundreds of polling stations. It won't just be the south that will have incomplete elections. .

[Spalpeen]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

.

In posts like this the term "The People" is always a euphemism for 'a minority of malcontents'. Also, anyone who casually bandies about the threat of a civil war needs their head examined.

Another way to look at it is.......he's absolutely right! The people of Thailand, who elected a government just two years ago, do not want an election now. They want the government they elected to continue to the end of it's term.

Edited January 17, 2014 by Spalpeen

[jpeg]

a minority of malcontents'

You're funny. And deluded.

[Valentine]

Seems like the violence is escalating so I cannot see it dragging on too much longer.

[Scamper]

" Aside from the prospect of the rally being prolonged, Lt. Gen Paradon said he also worried about the possibility of a third party infiltration to instigate violence, harming protesters, officials and bystanders. "

Perhaps the Lieutenant General should take note that that " possibility " is already happening. Although the silver lining for the administration is that they always have a convenient source of blame and for deflecting attention and/or inaction.

" He brushed aside claims made by the PDRC's core member Suthep Thuagsuban that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kamronwit Thoopkrachang was the mastermind behind the men in black’s attacks on the PDRC guards. "

Why brush it aside ? Has he conducted an investigation, or has he already reached his own conclusion ? He may wish to take note that three weeks ago the men in black on the roof of the Labour building were positively identified as policemen by none other than the national chief of police himself, Police General Adul. Perhaps the Lieutenant General ought to conduct one of the standard, token investigations, rather than give the appearance of looking the other way.

[ramrod711]

Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

Given the record of the police, i wouldn't expect to see them vs the army. Unless of course it's the unarmed soldiers in plain clothes.

[FangFerang]

Why is this article listed twice on the TV news forum?

[harada]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

[oldthaihand99]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

Nostradamus has spoken.

Or should i say son of Suthep?

Edited January 17, 2014 by oldthaihand99

[oldthaihand99]

Since the Dems won't be running in this election, it seems rather pointless for it to be held or anyone to vote in it. The reds would win & then what? Renewed demonstrations leading to another caretaker government? A coup? The judiciary rules YL must step down for violations? Or even her entire party? Then the reds decsend upon BKK again, as before?

[Smokemachine]

As we can forsee a diaster is coming.

It's going to be hell again in Bkk

They are ready.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=732126723472814&set=a.710968452255308.1073741827.704718532880300&type=1&theater

[metisdead]

Why is this article listed twice on the TV news forum?

A glitch I would say, same as why your post was listed twice and your duplicate post now removed.

[DMG333]

May be Thais will just accommodate to this inconvenience and get used to it, so what's the impact from this protest? They should just sit down and confabulated with the rest with possible solutions. Too much enmity and negativity locus on the fluffed avenue.

[kaobang]

this:

RT@Aim_NT: For people in Bkk, Suthep urges more of them to come out, to oust the Thaksin Regime.

not enough people.maybe tired of your childish arguments,like this:

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Yingluk is as bad as her brother. She is unhuman, having no respect for human

[oldthaihand99]

this:

RT@Aim_NT: For people in Bkk, Suthep urges more of them to come out, to oust the Thaksin Regime.

not enough people.maybe tired of your childish arguments,like this:

RT@Lerlaforever: Suthep: Yingluk is as bad as her brother. She is unhuman, having no respect for human

So the probe of her will actually be an alien probing.

[pipkins]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

read up.... half the army will not turn on reds this time.... That's why he can't move. So much information out there and you cling to the dreams of the Army putting Abhisit back in. Won't happen and if it did, it would be very short lived. None of you have got past the childrens book "Happy ever after" endings you dream of. The reality is very different and lets hope you don't find out first hand eh!!!

Due to the massive corruption of the BKK upper and middle classes, most of their kids dodge the army draft. Sooooooooo it has a very high percentage of people who are too poor to avoid National Service. and therefore Northerners. You think they going to shoot their own folks for ever? Dream on again with that.

There is a real hatred between factions of the military and the alighment would be.

Half the army at most, Dems and 20% of the people V Other half of army, red shirts and 50% of the people.

The what happens next for this could be a real change in the elite backers fortunes. Mass of people really have had enough of these cowards hiding behind the scenes. Luckily some are starting to feel the financial pinch already.

The soft city dwellers are going to come up very short in any kind of a fight if it got serious. They need the numbers to fight - 10 v 1 is normal for PDRC One to one, and they will run for sure......

Edited January 17, 2014 by pipkins

[Arkady]

The NSC hasn't figured out yet that protests will continue in some shape or form until the Shin clan has left politics for good, however many years that may take.

There are no third hands - just paid thugs on either side.

[pipkins]

Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), saying that there is a good chance that the demonstration would be dragged on till February 2nd, the general election date.

And beyond..... I can imagine the streets of BKK come election day.... I doubt all polling stations will be returning results. I can safely assume if these elections go ahead, the crowds will potentially block hundreds of polling stations. It won't just be the south that will have incomplete elections. .

They can block, wail, scream, bomb themselves, get stoned, lie cheat and plot coups, or even pull off a coup... BUT, they will still be a minority party and will achieve nothing whatsoever.

As now, their achievements are zero. Government in caretaker mode so all those state offices shut are not affecing PT. Suthep is such a megalomaniac that he sees this as a demostration of his power, not as a stupid act that is adversely affecting his own support base.

So, Ministrys shut, who does it affect? BKK people mostly who held a lot of white shirt candle sessions tonight. The one at Wongwian Yai was bigger than any of the protest rallies today, so they are starting to get the numbers coming out,

The protesters are starting to thin out and they once they break ranks, they will be dispersed. Takes time, but the pain is being felt almost exclusively by BKK businesses and people, many of whom are cheering him on so what is the rush to end this.

Let them keep on spending 10million baht per day. Nice that they have that much to spend on themselves. Not moved the Government and not affected anybody outside of the immediate area.

I'd say after 78day, it is looking like a failure. Or does somebody want to explain how 78 days in, this is a success? Please

[MaxLee]

It'll take for all eternity,....

[chadintheusa]

Of course the protests will last till February. Yingluck has been instructed not to step down, so the only option that the protesters will be left with is to disrupt the election and prevent the PT from being able to form a government with the required number of seats. That will then push this whole situation into uncharted waters. Yingluck will then have to step down as caretaker and like it or not the military might have to press reset just so that some version of a functioning government can exist so that the soldiers and police can continue to get paid.

[chargers2011]

I'm arriving in Bankok on January 20. Are the protests still going on? What areas should avoid? I'm looking at Agoda.com for a hotel and I see some great prices, but I don't want to be near a protest site.

[chadintheusa]

I'm arriving in Bankok on January 20. Are the protests still going on? What areas should avoid? I'm looking at Agoda.com for a hotel and I see some great prices, but I don't want to be near a protest site.

Yes the protests are still going on and are likely to still be when you arrive. The problem is that the protest sites are wide spread and could impact movement in any part of Bangkok. It would be best if you are able to spend your vacation outside Bangkok. If you must stay there pick a hotel with easy access to the skytrain or subway.

[chebbabbaro]

i want rallies for the next month too...maybe more, for the next year too... not enough ... forever ... grrr

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Tokay]

Tourism numbers should be up then.

[Zolt]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

Then why are there mass rallies supporting the election in 20 provinces? These are not people of Thailand?

[binjalin]

People of Thailand. . Don't want an election now. So forget about it. If the government still persist.. A civil war will surely broke out. Then you will see police and red shirt vs army and the people.

Then why are there mass rallies supporting the election in 20 provinces? These are not people of Thailand?

we seem to be breaking down into 'two' countries

'Bangkok and bits of the South' and 'the Rest of Thailand'

and that, no matter what your political leanings, is a disaster for Thailand

[Tarric]

The Bangkok Post is reporting today that according to a government house source Ms Yingluck has sent a signal she is ready to step down and postpone the election. She also wants assurances that her family will be safe.

They said. "What is the PDRC's demand? Will they accept her resignation and an election postponement? When there is no final answer from the PDRC, it is difficult for her to resign. Talks can't begin,"

The ball is well and truly in the PDRC's court, Yingluck is clearly willing to resign and restart the electoral process yet the PDRC isn't willing to compromise in any way.

Honestly it seems to me they are holding out for a coup because simply put they can't win in any other conceiveable way. If the protests do maintain their momentum and the protesters do continue to take and hold government offices Thailand will become a failed and ungovernable state and the military will be forced to step in to restore order.