Thai Army, police break up red-shirt, PDRC clash on Chaeng Wattana

[webfact]

Army, police break up red-shirt, PDRC clash on Chaeng Wattana
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Many red-shirt supporters arrived on motorcycles and in vans yesterday to challenge the anti-government protesters rallying on Chaeng Wattana Road.

Tensions rose at around 11am when the red shirts arrived en masse, announcing through a public address system that the rally at Chaeng Wattana was inconveniencing passenger van operators and local residents.

The red shirts gathered about a hundred metres from the barrier set up by the security guards of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

Gunfire was reportedly heard in a confrontation between the red shirts and the PDRC guards, causing the motorcyclists and vans to back out before regrouping later.

Army officers then rushed in to stop the confrontation, and police officers also stepped in to help. The clash eventually came to end at around 12.30pm. About half an hour before that, an explosion was heard from the side of the Prapa Canal causing protesters and reporters to dash for cover behind the PDRC barrier.

Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo, spokesman of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, said police have already arrested several suspects at security checkpoints set up around Bangkok. He said the Metropolitan Police commissioner and commanders of all police stations in Bangkok have been instructed to give top priority to keeping peace at rally sites as well as strictly enforce the law.

Meanwhile, deputy Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwaree warned Pathum Thani red-shirt leader Wutthipong "Ko Tee" Kachathamkul to stop organising rallies to provoke violence and confront PDRC protesters.

Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence.

He said that Wutthipong's threat of taking action against protesters if the Pathum Thani governor was unable to end the PDRC rally in the province within three days was unacceptable.


-- The Nation 2014-01-18

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Provocateurs looking for a fight, but the people of Bangkok will let not them in again after what they did 2010.

[Nowhereman60]

It's a shame protesters have the right to block roads and bridges in the city, but normal citizens do not have the right to use those roads and bridges. And you wonder why you have violence.

[Tatsujin]

Why are the Police so incapable/inept at keeping these large groups apart? It can't be that hard to have enough of a Police presence to keep them physically separated or indeed stop them/move them to different areas before they even get close.

[Thailand]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

[pedro01]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

[Nowhereman60]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

That's right. Protesters have no right to protest the protesters

[pedro01]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

That's right. Protesters have no right to protest the protesters

They have no right to attack them. There is a difference.

[Nowhereman60]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

That's right. Protesters have no right to protest the protesters alt=facepalm.gif pagespeed_url_hash=4031585225 width=24 height=18>

They have no right to attack them. There is a difference.

Show me where they attack them?

[Cnxforever]

"Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence."

hahaha................. not that I agree with this Wutthipong law enforcement should deal with the protestors

- ..... but the stupid comment of not being able any longer to tolerate Wutthipong

...but we can tolerate Suthep's act of intimidation and holding Bangkok hostage as long as he likes!

Great attitude! Like I said before give everything the army is supposed to get to the poor - the Thai army is a useless bunch of clowns!

[pipkins]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

I mentioned that yesteday. Why would the Reds dispese otherwise. Answer clearly is the gunshots coming from PDRC... Also, the Army moved in quick to defend them again. Pity the didn't move in and stop the PDRC from setting up shop in the first place.

Looked pretty easy, Army game, reds went. Next try it on the PDRC please or it's just more proof of who is behind this coupl

[icommunity]

Excuses me, who have been intimidating and threatening government officials, ordering them to stop works and join their protest. Did the Army make statement condemning them?

Send from my Mobile

[noitom]

This is not about Thai democracy, individual freedom, law and order, free press, equal vote for all. It's about two Thai gangs fighting about the money, the gold, the drug networks, prostitution, foreign sex trade , counterfeit intellectual property, and other scams.

[icommunity]

The Army's statement is provocative. If any violence, it is the Army that should be responsible.

Send from my Mobile

[millwall_fan]

This situation is unbelievable - well it would be anywhere else on the planet: "Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence". The act of closing down Bangkok against the will of the majority is an act of intimidation, Preventing civil servants from attending their place of work is an act of intimidation, beating up people they dont like the look of is an act of intimidation....and yet it is Wuttiphongs intimidation that must be dealt with according to the army. This is the people against almost every agency of the Thai state.

[ramrod711]

Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence.

Reds coming back to the big city to wreak havoc. No surprise, their usual tactics, guns, bombs, grenades, intimidation and general thuggery. The farmers are desperate, the roof is caving in on the government and all the thugs can do is what worked for them in the past. No decent human being would support the maiming and killing of fellow human beings, those that do should be ashamed.

[Cricketnut]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

That's right. Protesters have no right to protest the protesters

They have no right to attack them. There is a difference.

That's right and the yellow shirts have not been attacking anyone either have they now!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Cricketnut]

This situation is unbelievable - well it would be anywhere else on the planet: "Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence". The act of closing down Bangkok against the will of the majority is an act of intimidation, Preventing civil servants from attending their place of work is an act of intimidation, beating up people they dont like the look of is an act of intimidation....and yet it is Wuttiphongs intimidation that must be dealt with according to the army. This is the people against almost every agency of the Thai state.

It should have read The Army can no longer tolerate SUTHEPS acts of intimidating government officials etc!

Sent from my i-mobile i-STYLE 8.2 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[djjamie]

I remember a DEM rally in Khon Kaen where the red shirts came out and threatened and intimidated rally goers. This included families with children. Elderly citizens as well. No one was left out of this tirade of intimidation.(no police presence of course which incidentally is a principle of democracy called equally protection under the law) You know what the fanboys excuse was. If you don't want to be intimidated then don't hold a rally in reds shirt country, Khon Kaen. That argument suited their agenda and quite noticeably the intimidation was not only overlooked, it was defended. That argument suited their agenda of demonizing the opposition which is what all good demagogues do.

Now we have the above scenario where the reds (concerned citizens, haha) are in a place some would say would instigate a confrontation and THIS TIME instead of saying "the reds shouldn't hold a rally in front of the PDRC" or "that location is only asking for trouble", they say "That's right. I assume the Protesters have no right to protest the protesters " (I assume the hand to the head highlights the realization of the hypocrisy in the statement) This argument suits their agenda. of demonizing the opposition which is what all good demagogues do.

Now if you changed the names of the PDRC and the red shirts around in the above the gullible fanboys would be defending the PDRC and denouncing the reds.

They call the PDRC terrorists when they blow a whistle, but defend a militia that attacked Abhisits car, raided ASEAN summit, threatened to blow up LPG truck, grenade attacked at Thai banks, attached Thai charity with grenades, stormed parliament, attached NPP and TPI buildings with M16 and grenades, stormed police hospital, stormed TV station, bomb attacked on electricity pylons, 2 police taken hostage, destroy CCTV cameras, dumped tyres on sky train tracks, using children as human shield.

If the PDRC did the above I too would call them terrorists. It seems that actions of any nature are defended by fanboys IF the person wears a red shirt. It seems that actions of any nature are denounced by fanboys if they wear a yellow shirt (or are pro 15 principles of democracy)

Those fighters of 1 out of 15 principles of democracy are a confused bunch me thinks.

Edited January 18, 2014 by metisdead
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[diehard60]

I guess it will hit the fan real soon. Many people are tired of the PDRC. Suthep wants a dictatorship and wants to be the dictator. he needs to arrested. There many warrents out for his arrest.

[noitom]

"Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence."

hahaha................. not that I agree with this Wutthipong law enforcement should deal with the protestors

- ..... but the stupid comment of not being able any longer to tolerate Wutthipong

...but we can tolerate Suthep's act of intimidation and holding Bangkok hostage as long as he likes!

Great attitude! Like I said before give everything the army is supposed to get to the poor - the Thai army is a useless bunch of clowns!

alt=biggrin.png pagespeed_url_hash=14303579 width=20 height=20>

And the Thai Army was pretty tolerant of the PAD when they closed Bangkok airport - the greatest international security breach in the world.

[LotusBoy]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

That's right. Protesters have no right to protest the protesters

Surely, the protesters still have the right to protest the protesters even though the protest is still under the protesters protest, but if the protesters did protest the said protesters, then the protest will be void of the protesters or the actual protest.

What do you think? Double Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[trainman34014]

All you red and yellow lovers arguing your points of principle and biting each others legs on TV do not make one scrap of difference to what is going on here, and for all the good it would do you may as well take your own fight onto the streets and see the reaction of local people when you do.

No point in getting upset about it all; chill out and have another beer as you won't change anything.

[diceq]

Provocateurs looking for a fight, but the people of Bangkok will let not them in again after what they did 2010.

But occupying government buildings and trying to disrupt the democratic process is not provoking. Love the hypocrisy there. And back 2010 Thailand was a dictatorship. Something that you probably prefer.

[pipkins]

"Winthai said the Army could no longer tolerate Wutthipong's act of intimidating government officials, which has led to violence."

hahaha................. not that I agree with this Wutthipong law enforcement should deal with the protestors

- ..... but the stupid comment of not being able any longer to tolerate Wutthipong

...but we can tolerate Suthep's act of intimidation and holding Bangkok hostage as long as he likes!

Great attitude! Like I said before give everything the army is supposed to get to the poor - the Thai army is a useless bunch of clowns!

alt=biggrin.png pagespeed_url_hash=14303579 width=20 height=20>

And the Thai Army was pretty tolerant of the PAD when they closed Bangkok airport - the greatest international security breach in the world.

These posts and quotes are fantastic and the more airing they get the better.

It is plainly obvious to most and becoming plainer to many that the Army is trying to get back in. Every day, in every way they keep proving this and this last Army outrage shouts it from the top....

This works against them and the Coup Plotters by keeping the spotlight on them. Most of this posturing is for Thai Consumption and they are just trying to swing enough fascist behind them to enable them to try again.

Luckily, it is all over the internet and as it is a stream of concerted co-ordinated court cases and rantings from the Army, when it is all pulled together by foreign media look more and more like a plot.

To try and offset this deluge of information pointing to collusion, people are sent out to discredit the journalists, foreigners, media etc. but it is just not working this time for them.

Many very reasonable post just attract idiot comment these days and with the vote for Suthep as person of the year, is showing a very immature and badly thought out social media campain. One thing to get all these posts out, but as the look co-ordingate, all use the same juvenile words in them and reference the same sources..... its badly done.

many do not yet know that the press reports can work against them as well, so they just keep talking and talking and talking... The more they talk, the more theu turn people off. And a few orchestrated Social Medial campaigns is never going to win them public support or ELECTIONS!!! Not ever.

[Acharn]

Red shirts?

The way it reads is that people who's lives are being affected tried to protest against the PDRC, or is any opposition to Suthep considered red?

Gunfire caused the so called reds to disperse so I guess they were not shooting at themselves?

The way it reads is red shirt leader Ko Tee led a group to attack the PDRC protestors.

He should have been arrested.

No, the way it reads is that in an entirely separate, unrelated incident, Pol. Lt. Col. Wintai warned Ko Tee to stop doing stuff he was accused of doing. It did not say Ko Tee had anything to do with the counter-demonstration. I speculate the editor decided to throw that unrelated item in there because it makes he Red Shirts look bad. Common propaganda technique.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Provocateurs looking for a fight, but the people of Bangkok will let not them in again after what they did 2010.

But occupying government buildings and trying to disrupt the democratic process is not provoking. Love the hypocrisy there. And back 2010 Thailand was a dictatorship. Something that you probably prefer.

Dictatorship, really? Are you living in another Thailand compared to the rest us?

[djjamie]

Provocateurs looking for a fight, but the people of Bangkok will let not them in again after what they did 2010.

But occupying government buildings and trying to disrupt the democratic process is not provoking. Love the hypocrisy there. And back 2010 Thailand was a dictatorship. Something that you probably prefer.

Dictatorship, really? Are you living in another Thailand compared to the rest us?

I say again. Confused bunch.

If I could have any pet in the world I would have a fanboy. Maybe a cross between a Jeff Savage and a Connor Purcell. I would ensure it was muzzled and chained up lest it burn something down and blame someone beginning with the letters "dj". It would however provide me with hours of laughs.

[Mr Yim]

Provocateurs looking for a fight, but the people of Bangkok will let not them in again after what they did 2010.

But occupying government buildings and trying to disrupt the democratic process is not provoking. Love the hypocrisy there. And back 2010 Thailand was a dictatorship. Something that you probably prefer.

Dictatorship, really? Are you living in another Thailand compared to the rest us?

Dictatorship maybe a bit strong, but the government at the time of the 2010 protests had not been elected by the people. It was installed by the military. Very different to the current protests, where the government was democratically elected by a big majority.

[poisonus]

I really do hope that the shots were fired by the protesters at the reds.

The protesters have proven for almost 3 months now that they intend to use methods that are non-violent. But will fight back if attacked.

The protesters should not be the sitting ducks that they have been allowing themselves to be. I say that any aggressors to the protesters should be quite simply put down by any means, and if that means shooting the bastards dead, then so be it.

It is time for the PDRC to protect themselves. If the reds want to come forward to precipitate violence, then they should accept to have the favour returned in the name of defending the protesters.