Suthep vows to carry on protests peacefully in defiance of emergency decree



BANGKOK: -- Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed to carry on with the protests in a peaceful manner in spite of the state of emergency which will become effective as of Wednesday.

Addressing a crowd of protesters at the Lumpini Park this evening, the secretary-general of People’s Democratic Reform Committee, said that if the police try to break up the protests he would ask the protesters to sit down, pray and let the police to make the arrests.

And if the police set up a roadblock, he would lead the protesters to walk through the roadblock, said Mr Suthep, adding that whatever the measures to be meted out by the government in enforcing the Emergency Decree, he said the protesters would stick to their ahimsa principle.

However, Mr Suthep said he would like to question the government’s justification to invoke the Emergency Decree. He said that the protest situation now which has been relatively peaceful was totally different from the situation about four years ago when the red shirt followers resorted to violence prompting the Abhisit administration then to declare state of emergency in Bangkok.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/cabinet-declares-state-emergency-bangkok-wednesday/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-22

In Thailand, "History" always repeats itself !

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Isn't there a warrant out for his arrest? He should try and be careful

Emergency Decree invoked, protesters vow to fight on
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Jan 21 – The Emergency Decree will be invoked in Bangkok and parts of outlying provinces, effective for 60 days starting tomorrow, in a strengthened attempt to deal with protesters who have been involved in anti-government rallies for almost three months.

The decision came after a spate of violent attacks which killed nine people and injured several hundreds since the protest began in early November.

Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the government decided to enforce the Emergency Decree in light of intimidation and unlawful activity by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) which has cut power and water supplies, coerced state officials and businessmen to blow whistles at other people, and successively created unrest.

Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung was appointed director of the newly-formed Centre for the Administration of Peace while National Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew is chief of the centre.

The Emergency Decree covers Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Bangplee district of Samut Prakan, and Lad Lumkaew district of Pathum Thani.

Mr Surapong said the objective of the Emergency Decree was to take action against supporters of rallies so that the democratic process and Thailand will move on, adding that the protests have escalated and violence was triggered by ill-intentioned people.

He said the government will abide by international standards and avoid using weapons against protesters.

Foreign diplomats in Thailand will be invited to a briefing tomorrow, he added.

Mr Chalerm said the government will strictly abide by the law and the democratic system in solving the problems and allow protesters to exercise their constitutional rights with peaceful and unarmed demonstrations.

The authorities will negotiate with protesters rather than suppressing them with force, he said.

Paradorn Patanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council, said government authorities will convince protesters to disperse from the rally site on Changwattana Road.

Government authorities will be assigned to guard the government’s Kurusapa printing house to ensure a smooth general election while the Bluesky TV channel, the key media for the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), will not be closed, he said.

Election ballots are printed at Kurusupa printing house. It was seized by PDRC protesters last week.

PDRC secretary general, Suthep Thaugsuban, said the caretaker government was not empowered to invoke the Emergency Decree to deal with unarmed protesters who have been demonstrating peacefully.

He said the decree showed the government’s determination to suppress protesters while violent incidents were triggered by the government itself.

“We will fight on. If the government suppresses people, it is committing offences in the eyes of Thai people and the world,” he said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-01-22

Suthep it near the end of the road. Take what you won and go home to the farm. You continue this you not only hurt yourself you will hurt your followers. Save you fight for another time.

It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

Based on lessons from the past there is now a high probability the peaceful protesters will need armed guards to protect them.

Suthep is only the front man, highly protected. He's going no-where until the Shins are off stage.

Suthep ... Please stop your invective and urge a united Thailand ... just as enunciated in His Majesty's birthday wish.

Suthep has nowhere to go hes stuck until his paymasters tell him its over, I see Abhisit has made a quiet exit the last few days. lol

Well since the Mussolini approach didn't work, let us try the Gandhi way!!

The good news for the taxpayers are, that the police will only need a couple of pick-up trucks to drive the protesters away!!

@PravitR Urgent! #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #aerothai which control air signal tomorrow. 20.55 ht INN https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/732532736756956

here is for "peacefully"

It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

6 Million sounds too many. But it was definitely more than 75.000 surely somewhere between 500.000 and 5.000.000. There are the videos made from the air and all streets, places, sois were packed full with people on 7 places.

All our staff went there and just 2 customer called that day as most of our frequent customer closed office or had just emergency staff there (1-2 people).

@PravitR Urgent! #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #aerothai which control air signal tomorrow. 20.55 ht INN https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/732532736756956

here is for "peacefully"

The "fun" part starts tomorrow then..

@PravitR Urgent! #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #aerothai which control air signal tomorrow. 20.55 ht INN https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/732532736756956

here is for "peacefully"

what is not peaceful? If he can do it without fighting it is peaceful

coerced state officials and businessmen to blow whistles at other people ... scandalous, they should be shot on sight ...

Shutting down air traffic control would be a HUGE mistake .. not just for what it is BUT for not keeping his word..

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It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

6 Million sounds too many. But it was definitely more than 75.000 surely somewhere between 500.000 and 5.000.000. There are the videos made from the air and all streets, places, sois were packed full with people on 7 places.

All our staff went there and just 2 customer called that day as most of our frequent customer closed office or had just emergency staff there (1-2 people).

Well, I did about 5 BTS stops on one of those"mega" days....and I just couldn't see how that was the case...but even if it had been 200,000...that was the peak and the "good people" have gone home because they are scared....reasonably so

Peacefully? He just said that he will show down air traffic control:

RT @fratticcioli: RT @PravitR: #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #AeroThai which control air signal tomorrow.

How will he explain if 2 passenger jets collide over Thai airspace?

Don't worry Suthep, the Government will not use the same method you used to killed protesters. How did the red shirt followers resorted to violence in 2010? You know very well what had you done to escalate what started off a peaceful demonstration demanding the return of power to the people for a new mandate to a violent one. The life of the people is not your concern, but the power to control and continue your corrupt practices.

Nobody believe you except those who have no choice but to turn to you caught by your manipulation and the maneuvering of their life.

I am sure the government will appeal for leniency for those who were caught by your manipulation and the maneuvering of their life if they surrender now.

It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

6 Million sounds too many. But it was definitely more than 75.000 surely somewhere between 500.000 and 5.000.000. There are the videos made from the air and all streets, places, sois were packed full with people on 7 places.

All our staff went there and just 2 customer called that day as most of our frequent customer closed office or had just emergency staff there (1-2 people).

You're right. But he keeps lowering his number, in the hope people will believe that no one really opposed the Shin clan.

If so few people opposed them, why did they feel the need to dissolve parliament and pretend to withdraw the amnesty bill?

The next con on numbers will be to try to pretend the rice scam hasn't really made a big loss, just a drop in the ocean and that all the money paid out went to farmers.

None of this is ever verified - figures are plucked from thin air to support whatever PTP say.

Serious announcment. In the Photo, one of the four looks to have a Smug Look on their Face

It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

6 Million sounds too many. But it was definitely more than 75.000 surely somewhere between 500.000 and 5.000.000. There are the videos made from the air and all streets, places, sois were packed full with people on 7 places.

All our staff went there and just 2 customer called that day as most of our frequent customer closed office or had just emergency staff there (1-2 people).

Well, I did about 5 BTS stops on one of those"mega" days....and I just couldn't see how that was the case...but even if it had been 200,000...that was the peak and the "good people" have gone home because they are scared....reasonably so

Scared by unidentified and as yet uncaught (apart from one female) thugs shooting and bombing them you mean.

Great excuse to invoke a SOE isn't it.

That's not a photo of last night's Lumpini Park stage!

That was taken at National Stadium the first days of the protest, look at the MBK center.

Last night there was about 500 people at Lumpini.

Good timing by the Government, only a few old ladies and a couple of hundred southern thugs to break up.

Walk in the park

Serious announcment. In the Photo, one of the four looks to have a Smug Look on their Face

I'm Back !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just needs his axe and he's away.

Peacefully? He just said that he will show down air traffic control:

RT @fratticcioli: RT @PravitR: #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #AeroThai which control air signal tomorrow.

How will he explain if 2 passenger jets collide over Thai airspace?

The person who posted that has since retracted it.

Nice pic of the crowd.

They have spread out to try and fill the space in front of the stage, but quite clearly they are very thin on the ground.

The pic has also been blurred so it appears a large area full of many people. It is not.. It is a very small area and no where near full. Halfway between the stage and the tents, they thin right out.

I'd say 2,000 at most. And that with a lot of onlookers leaving the park at that time of night anyway. Go home Suthep.

Pics today. less than 300 and somebody counted 207 in one of them. Take out 40 bodyguards. few bewildereds caught up (i was one of them) press, etc. and he was less than 200... on the march.

PR and dressing and photo suppression of PDRC not working. Twitter and Instagram awash today with hundreds of pics (6,000,000 at least I'd say ) of empty streets and stages. Press tried hard to make it look well attened, but the truth outs.... It wasn't!!!

@PravitR Urgent! #Suthep vow 2 shutdown all air traffic in #Thailand by taking over #aerothai which control air signal tomorrow. 20.55 ht INN https://www.facebook.com/UDDInternationalNews/posts/732532736756956

here is for "peacefully"

what is not peaceful? If he can do it without fighting it is peaceful

It is not peaceful to shutdown a freight service it is a form of insurrection, it dosnt have to be physical to be violence.

vi·o·lence (v-lns)

n.

1. Physical force exerted for the purpose of violating, damaging, or abusing: crimes of violence.

2. The act or an instance of violent action or behavior.

3. Intensity or severity, as in natural phenomena; untamed force: the violence of a tornado.

4. Abusive or unjust exercise of power.

5. Abuse or injury to meaning, content, or intent: do violence to a text.

6. Vehemence of feeling or expression; fervor.

This is a violent act in 2 3 4 5 and 6 what isnt violent about the threat to close off airfreight and business affecting peoples income and lives thats about as violent as it gets before physical in my book it wont happen anyway the elite wont allow it to affect their business after the last airport farce

It was pretty obvious a few weeks ago that they didn't have wide support. That point was made very clear when they started lying about the number of protesters, trying to turn 75000 into 6 million.

Yes I am sure you counted everyone as well to ensure your figure of 75 000 was accurate. Even the PTP put the figure at more than that.

That aside your comment "they didn't have wide support" highlights why we need reform. Your comment above highlights why we need an educated voter base. The voter base needs educating to ensure that even if the vote for the Shinawatra regime they understand the ramifications of it (this is where I disagree with Suthep. Don't remove the Shinawatra's. Educate the people as to the damage the Shinawatra's have done). The voters voted for a rice pledging scheme which in light of current events highlights their lack of foresight and lack of education. With education they would have seen what the DEMS, the DEM supporters and the majority of farangs on TV saw 3 years ago. A failure in the making.

A broad section of popular support is called democracy. A narrow supporter base is called dictatorship and the rice farmers come under that extremely narrow section. So narrow in fact it looks like a red line! Now the rice farmers are starting to come to their senses and seeing the true colors of the PTP things may change. But will they? All the principles of democracy that the PTP abused in the last 3 years went unnoticed by the farmers simply because the farmers are not affected by the abuse of those principles. They spout "we understand democracy" and "respect our vote" and I say power to them...but they don't understand what the PTP did in the past 3 years. They don't care because they wanted 40% above market value. AND that is falling apart now.

So back to "Will things change?" Simply…..No. Which is why reform is needed. Not because PDRC hate democracy. They hate post ballot box lack of democracy. People are blind and they need to see.

The farmers have an excuse. A lack of education. What excuse to educated westerns have that have access to all the information. None.

My contempt for the gullible is only surpassed by my pity for them. I wish I could help them all by setting up a shelter. Maybe then people like Jeff Savage and Connor Purcell ( 2 fanatical red shirts that followed the shadows of democracy and incited violence under the name of it) could have been saved.

Just remember tomorrow will be 1 more principle of democracy swiped from the Thai political scene. The right to peaceful protest. Why? The militia arm of the PTP incited and directed so much violence towards the protestors the PT could justify it.

Take care and try not to get caught up by supporting one principle of democracy to ensure the others can be abused. Support all of them.

Serious announcment. In the Photo, one of the four looks to have a Smug Look on their Face

I was thinking that he looks like he has been into the ear medicine a little too heavily already today.