Violence feared as red shirts ordered to protect poll

[webfact]

FEBRUARY 2 ELECTION
Violence feared as red shirts ordered to protect poll
The Nation


Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban wears a Chinese-style red shirt while addressing big crowds at the Asoke protest site yesterday. He plans to lead a march to Chinatown tomorrow, a day after Chinese New Year.

BANGKOK: -- The likelihood of a volatile confrontation during this Sunday's snap election has increased after a red-shirt leader yesterday urged government supporters to help ensure the voting would not be interrupted.

Thida Tavonseth, chairperson of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), made her appeal to the red shirts nationwide after the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) threatened to besiege all 50 district offices in Bangkok. This would make it difficult to transport ballot boxes, ballot papers and other voting equipment to the more than 6,500 polling stations in the city.

Thida said the red shirts should observe the election and help make sure that the voting can take place properly. "UDD [supporters] and democracy lovers must examine, push and lessen damage to the election to the least without confrontation," she told the red shirts during her daily press conference. However, she did not mention how they would do that, saying the local and central leaders would plan and cooperate with political parties locally.

Thida said the UDD's main rally in Samut Prakan's Bang Pu today was cancelled as the leaders had learnt some people might instigate the situation. The UDD leaders should not gather but stay scattered instead, she said.

UDD coordinator Salaktham Tojirakarn said Thida did not tell the red shirts to gather in groups "to protect the polling booths". He added that people who would camp out at polling stations to protect the venues are not red shirts, but they are "white shirts" who support the election.

Some critics claim many of the "white shirts" are actually red shirts.

Meanwhile, the authorities responsible for holding the Sunday election yesterday also took precautions against possible violence on voting day.

The Election Commission has asked the national police chief and the Metropolitan Police commissioner in writing to provide police personnel to help maintain law and order and protect officials at the polling stations.

A letter signed by deputy EC secretary-general Somsak Suriyamongkol, acting on behalf of the secretary-general, asked the police bosses to instruct police stations to deploy personnel to guard polling stations.

The police would focus on areas where there have been conflicts between local residents over Sunday's voting, according to Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Maj-General Piya Uthayo. He said rapid-deployment units would be sent out in case of an emergency.

He said national police chief Pol General Adul Sangsingkaew has instructed police personnel to help the EC in providing security during transportation of ballot boxes and papers, as well as during voting at the polling stations.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also has sought assistance from the Army in providing security to its officials manning the polling stations, according to Ninnart Chalitanont, the BMA's permanent secretary. She said the Army has promised to dispatch soldiers to all polling stations in Bangkok.

"The BMA is worried over the safety of our officials. This is the top priority. We instructed our officials to bring back the voting equipment and leave the polling stations if there is violence. Our officials are worried that they may be at risk," she said yesterday.

In response to the PDRC threat to besiege all of the city's district offices in a bid to block the voting, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday that it was not the BMA's responsibility to talk with the protest leaders. He added that the EC should take care of the matter.

In a related development, the red shirts have prepared a retreat for caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra should the military stage a coup d'etat to overthrow her government.

The plan is to relocate the Yingluck government to Chiang Mai, the home province of the Shinawatra family, with the northern city becoming the capital.

Red-shirt activist Mahawan Kawang said their movement is large enough to challenge the military, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. "We are not afraid. All the red groups will unite. We are willing to sacrifice our lives," said Mahawan, president of the alumni association of Yupparaj School in Chiang Mai where Yingluck was once a student.

"It is likely the government will move to Chiang Mai. We can defeat tanks because we have the numbers," he added.

Red-shirt supporters spread rumours that the military would intervene to quell the ongoing chaos in the country caused by anti-government protests.

UDD vice chairman of Chiang Mai, Supon Fumuljaroen, a former classmate of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, said: "The majority of red shirts really like the idea of a separate state. If they stage a coup, we can live without Bangkok."

Pinkaew Laungaramsri, a sociologist at Chiang Mai University, said the north-south divide meant that Thailand was breaking up. "If the government is kicked out, then Yingluck will be invited to set up a government here in Chiang Mai," she said.

However, some experts consider the government relocating as an unlikely prospect, the Post reported.


-- The Nation 2014-01-31

[EricBerg]

"UDD [supporters] and democracy lovers must examine, push and lessen damage to the election to the least without confrontation,"...

Guns and grenades can be picked up at your local red shirt leader.

[noitom]

Fear, rumor, uncertainty, risk, and innuendo are the key elements in the Thailand state of affairs.

[cdmtdm]

sunday will be like watching the grand final in football !! very entertaining ....

[NongKhaiKid]

The government's condemnation of the protest movement is never ending sometime justified sometimes simply anger at anyone daring to challenge them.

With highly charged suggestions of a separate state and of taking on the army will the government extend criticism to the red shirt leaders making these pronouncements, would they dare ?

[Bluespunk]

"Thida said the red shirts should observe the election and help make sure that the voting can take place properly."

Who decides that then Thida, UDD do have some funny ideas about the proper way to do things.

Suthep has no respect for democracy and neither does she.

Edited January 31, 2014 by Bluespunk

[focus27]

Time for the voters to challenge the lie that the Suthepistas are 'non-violent'. Stopping people who are merely doing their civic duty is violence - against the individual and civil society.

Take videos and immediately upload them to an online server for security.

[whybother]

Time for the voters to challenge the lie that the Suthepistas are 'non-violent'. Stopping people who are merely doing their civic duty is violence - against the individual and civil society.

Take videos and immediately upload them to an online server for security.

Some people have weird definitions of violence.

Sent from my phone ...

[Siripon]

Red shirts keep cancelling their rallies. Perhaps they're embarrassed by poor turnouts.

[Thailand]

Nice shirt Suthep but I don't think you will be getting any Chinese backing and god forbid any of your dumb Thaugs think you are a "red shirt" and take you out by mistake, that would be devastating for the country.

[Thailand]

The government's condemnation of the protest movement is never ending sometime justified sometimes simply anger at anyone daring to challenge them.

With highly charged suggestions of a separate state and of taking on the army will the government extend criticism to the red shirt leaders making these pronouncements, would they dare ?

Could the fact that the protestors have / and will be blocking Thai citizens from exercising their right to vote for whomever they choose without fear nor favor also be a small factor, or is that OK?

That said, Thida and a few of the idiotic red shirt higher echelon should also be keeping their mouths shut and let Suthep continue to do damage to himself and his credibility.

Allow the authorities, police etc to do their job if they can and keep right out of it. If they don't the military are itching to get in there and protect the "protestors".

[Suriya4]

Violence feared as red shirts ordered to protect poll? Look at the photo above.

Edited January 31, 2014 by Suriya4

[Scamper]

The brain cells are not being activated as of late in the world of the UDD. Any rational talk initiated is quickly shot down by capers of defeating tanks on the streets of Chiang Mai, creating a bunker for Yingluck, and moving the capital. ( The other alternative - later rejected by the UDD - is that Bangkok could drift into the South China Sea ).

[tomyummer]

Hate to say it, but the sandbox fight is inevitable. Let 'em at it. There's no way out, no end in sight at this point.

[crazykopite]

What the hell is wrong with those who want to deny normal folk to go and vote anyone found to be stopping people from voting should be arrested on the spot and locked up for at least 24 hours and I mean anybody regardless of what colour they support so let us start with rounding up all those leaders who have brought Bangkok to disruption rot the past month

[BillyBobThai]

I never thought the US would re-elect thier fool, so I figure Yingluck is good for another term. Very sad in both cases.

[worgeordie]

While its not right to stop anyone from voting,this election should never

have been held in the first place,its just going to result in all the same problems,

Better to have a full investigation into what this previous Government has been

up to,how much money has been wasted,how much has been lost through

corruption,who gained,put the facts plainly to the people,then let them vote.

regards Worgeordie

[Cuchulainn]

Red shirt/Pheu Thai democracy........................JACKBOOT STYLE.

[Thailand]

While its not right to stop anyone from voting,this election should never

have been held in the first place,its just going to result in all the same problems,

Better to have a full investigation into what this previous Government has been

up to,how much money has been wasted,how much has been lost through

corruption,who gained,put the facts plainly to the people,then let them vote.

regards Worgeordie

And all previous recent governments require similar investigation perhaps?

[FangFerang]

Violence feared? Violence feared?

The whole world saw the voter with a protester's hand around his neck to stop him from voting.

Yes, it is more complicated than that, and, no, that crap is not forgivable given any circumstance.

[Cuchulainn]

Thida said the UDD's main rally in Samut Prakan's Bang Pu today was cancelled as the leaders had learnt some people might instigate the situation as the projected turn out was pathetically embarrassing.

Methinks!

[Snig27]

The government's condemnation of the protest movement is never ending sometime justified sometimes simply anger at anyone daring to challenge them.

With highly charged suggestions of a separate state and of taking on the army will the government extend criticism to the red shirt leaders making these pronouncements, would they dare ?

Yes, I know, how evil of the government to want people to have access to voting booths in a similar way to billions of people worldwide.

I was at Asoke last night in the tiny crowd, maybe 1500 max, with at least a third of them being tourists. Suthep's racist ranting about Cambodians added another unpleasant layer to his already deranged raving.

[rogerdee123]

So how does Thida have the authority to order anyone to protect polls .... is she employed/empowered by the EC or the police who have responsibility for poll protection.

I guess another legal case against THida can be expected on this ... and if the Red shirts kill another protestor, Thida can be charged with ordering the killing.

[FangFerang]

This is bad talk of a level I have never seen in any years. Succession has made the issue a very real one, with both sides waving flags of sovereignty and democracy, and neither side being concise about what that means.

This battle is about what happens when the sad sun finally sets. All other arguments are superfluous.

We are seeing a princely reorganization. It is a mess...

[samba2014]

Neither side has a real solution. What a waste of time and resources.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Snig27]

Red shirt/Pheu Thai democracy........................JACKBOOT STYLE.

They want people to have access to voting booths - yes it's an incredibly vicious thing to desire. Happily there are democracy loving black shirt and ski mask wearing thugs sent by Suthep trying to save innocent Thais from having to go through this ordeal - ever again.

[FangFerang]

Red shirts keep cancelling their rallies. Perhaps they're embarrassed by poor turnouts.

After 2010, I think they have learned that rallies change nothing, despite the yearning for publicity on the part of leaders who want face time in the media. They have gone underground...and that is frightening because it means they believe the process has excluded them, and which it has...

In short, if you piss off several million people, they will retaliate. Short and simple, and dreadful.

Damn it.

People who refuse to share power always end up killing their supporters, and they never hesitate to do so.

[whybother]

Violence feared? Violence feared?

The whole world saw the voter with a protester's hand around his neck to stop him from voting.

Yes, it is more complicated than that, and, no, that crap is not forgivable given any circumstance.

Was there any story attached to that photo?

Was it possible that an angry voter was being held back from attacking anti-government protesters?

I am not suggesting that the anti-government protesters are right, but a photo with no context can tell a lot of lies.

[Spartakos]

Red shirts at polling stations, hmm what a good reminder for people of bangkok what pleasant fellows thaksins gangsters are.

[Emptyset]

So the EC has actually requested police help this time then instead of just telling officials to go home as soon as protesters in any number arrive leaving people disenfranchised? That's promising at least. Won't be so easy for the PDRC this time.