Thai Police in position to retake Bangkok rally sites

[webfact]

Police are blocking the Nang Leung section and plan to retake a rally site

/Bangkok Post

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RT @Saksith: TR @kowit_js: Royal Plaza area has a lot of police busses and trucks in morning @js100radio http://t.co/w9DZsUKUVU

RT @WilwithoneL: The calm before the storm? 100s of riot police chilling out near police station. #bangkok http://t.co/7Gp4fRbHZN

RT @PatricLand: Another the view of the police at Royal Plaza RT @Dr_Prawut: http://t.co/AYfciksDzc

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Thailand to launch operation to reclaim protest sites

BANGKOK, February 14, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand deployed thousands of riot police in Bangkok on Friday to try to reclaim the government headquarters and other areas occupied by protesters seeking to force the prime minister from office.

The authorities plan to re-take several sites including Government House and the interior ministry, National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut told AFP, saying officials would try to negotiate with the demonstrators first.

"We will re-take wherever we can and arrest protest leaders," he said. "It's not a crackdown on the protests -- it's enforcement of the law over the protest sites."

He said there was illegal assembly and possession of weapons at the sites.

The operation appeared to be focused on the government district rather than major intersections in the commercial centre that have become the main focus of the rallies in recent weeks as part of what protesters have described as the "Bangkok shutdown".

Riot police removed protesters' tents and warned demonstrators through a loudspeaker not to resist the operation, according to AFP reporters at the scene.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's government held a general election earlier this month in an attempt to assuage opposition protesters who have staged more than three months of mass street demonstrations seeking her resignation.

The main opposition Democrat Party boycotted the vote, saying it would not end a political crisis stretching back to a military coup in 2006 that ousted Yingluck's elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra as premier.

Demonstrators prevented 10,000 polling stations from opening in the vote, affecting several million people, mainly in opposition strongholds in Bangkok and the south.

Protesters have occupied major intersections in the capital since January 13, although disruption to people's daily lives has been limited.

Attendance has fallen sharply, with most sites nearly deserted for much of the day and several thousand people joining the rallies in the evenings.

The leaders of the anti-government movement had called for a big two-day protest starting on Friday.

There has been a series of grenade attacks and shootings in the capital -- part of a wave of political violence linked to the protests that has left at least 10 people dead and hundreds injured.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-02-14

[webfact]

RT @PatricLand: 7.30AM Police with rubber bullet gun reach Nang Leang Racecourse .. NSPTR Stage RT @MorningNewsTV3http://t.co/WfTZgGBA5a

[Thailand]

About time.

Hopefully it will go off smoothly without any problems.

[focus27]

Surely those guys are just contemplating the Buddhist precepts and preparing their minds for Makha Bucha.

I mean, this isn't Chicago, right?

[Jip99]

It is a shame they weren't as active in 2010.

[CraigSchuler]

Here come the farmers!!!!!!!!

[sam sen]

about time.

but how about less publicity and more action.

the protest sites at pan fah and asoke, which i pass daily, have very few protesters during the week. an unexpected, well planned and well co-ordinated police operationcould easily clear these areas of protesters. hang on a minute... we're in thailand its bound to be a big f*** up.

[iancnx]

About time.

Hopefully it will go off smoothly without any problems.

How on earth do you think an open confrontation with the police v peaceful protesters exercising their democratic right to demonstrate will go off smoothly and without any problems?

[Red Snake]

The first stage of the war on the shutdown of Bangkok has begun.

[iancnx]

about time.

but how about less publicity and more action.

the protest sites at pan fah and asoke, which i pass daily, have very few protesters during the week. an unexpected, well planned and well co-ordinated police operationcould easily clear these areas of protesters. hang on a minute... we're in thailand its bound to be a big <deleted> up.

Kindly refer to post #8

[sjjmmi]

About time

[dinom]

Surely those guys are just contemplating the Buddhist precepts and preparing their minds for Makha Bucha.

I mean, this isn't Chicago, right?

They are waiting for the ordered roses to present them to the protesters. After all it is Valentine's day.

[wxpwzrd]

That photo of the police relaxing is probably because they are awaiting confirmation of their "loyalty pay" from Dubai.

[taff33]

It is a shame they weren't as active in 2010.

That's all water under the bridge now.It's time to start fresh and learn from past mistakes.

[bkkjames]

It is a shame they weren't as active in 2010.

That's all water under the bridge now.It's time to start fresh and learn from past mistakes.

haha, a bit early in the day for comedy but that is the funniest post thus far this morning.

[rametindallas]

This is not how the Bangkok police will do it: South Korean Riot Police Training

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbFSVh1mmiw

[tomyummer]

Great. So now every Valentine's Day can be remembered as the Valentine Massacre. And on a Buddhist holiday nonetheless.

[JRSoul]

If they clear the protesters today, what is to stop them coming back in greater numbers tomorrow, and Sunday, and Monday,....................?

Are we going to see mass arrests and detentions? How will Thaksin's toady Surapong explain that to the world?

Wait, I've worked it out! The BIB could blockade those sites to stop protesters from re-entering. That'll show them.

[jollyman]

Well at least 3 of these sites have been deserted all week, all it needs is a JCB and a few trucks to take away the sand bags and stuff, its hard to see what the police would have to do at all

[Somtamnication]

The latest on tv is that they have pulled back, because the protesters were headed that way.

Interesting day it will be.

[draftvader]

Wondering if this will be repeated across Bangkok soon? I've noticed a large number of police prison vans up near Muang Thong Thani IMPACT Challenger for a couple of weeks now.

[Mackie]

Yesterday I had some business to do in Rajadmri Road. There is a corner shop selling new set of T-shirts for the Valentine's Day parade organized by PDRC. I observed what was going on in front of the shop for a while. There was a massive queue to buy T-shirts. They don't come cheap, 300 baht a piece. Yet hundreds of people were queuing up. My point is this weekend is/was going to get huge numbers out again. What's the best way to stop it?

As for violence. The only side who seems to be hoping for violence is this current government. Hence the riot police on one of the biggest Buddhist holidays. Anyway the Valantine's day parade organized by PDRC is clear and present danger as could potentially revive the protest so the best way to stop it is to try to intimidate people by sending out the police in numbers. Scare people off the streets. Let's see how it pans out. T-shirts are trendy, you should get yourself one.

[dinom]

Great. So now every Valentine's Day can be remembered as the Valentine Massacre. And on a Buddhist holiday nonetheless.

While Yingluck and her son are out of town merrit making...."it wasn't me"

[patjem]

The first stage of the war on the shutdown of Bangkok has begun.

Yes, you reds do like your violence, don't you?

[LuckyLew]

If everyone here was of the same mind and the same opinion and always agreed with everything then there would not be much of a discussion on most threads

IMO Police got nards if the are gonna take the students on the bridge first. One hut student protestors and you have what will be a lot of bloodshed. Tread carefully chalerm

[tomyummer]

This is not how the Bangkok police will do it: South Korean Riot Police Training

Wow. That's coordination!

[AlphMichaels]

There may be a great "Tent Sale" next week. Stay tuned!!!

Joking aside...., hope only the best for all.

[wealth]

oh-oh, the economic hitmen gave order out of Myanmar this time? - first string attached - retake by force the rally sites while YS forwarded the message to farmers to get paid next week. What an coincidence and timing ... buying time? so, how will they funnel the money into TH now and what other strings attached will be following?

I smell rats ...

[pete66]

Excellent. Execute the clear-out on a Buddhist holy day. There are no coincidences.

[petedk]

The police claimed they would only be armed with batons and shields but you can clearly see on TV that many have pistols and some are carrying automatic weapons.

Doesn't bode well.