First army division commander says no troop reduction in Bangkok

[webfact]

First army division commander says no troop reduction in capital



BANGKOK: -- The commander of the First Army Division of the Royal Guards says there will be no troop reduction in the capital although the state of emergency will be lifted today.

Maj-Gen Wara Boonyasit, the commander of the First Army Division of the Royal Guards, said although the emergency decree was lifted today, on the part of the Army, soldiers will perform their duties as usual as long as there is no order from the Army chief to reduce troops or readjust strategies to take care of the people.

He said he would attend a meeting with the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) today but did have idea what would be discussed.

The First Army Division of the Royal Guards is in charge of deploying more than 5,000 troops to maintain peace and order in Bangkok.

It has increased 29 checkpoints in the capital to 119 following the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission.

Its task focused on foot and mobile patrol in areas inside and outside the protest sites of anti-government protesters to ensure safety for all sides of the people, and prevent perpetrators from getting near protest sites to launch grenade and gun attacks.

Earlier caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she would like the Army to remove army bunkers from the capital after the state of emergency was lifted citing the image of the country among the eyes of foreign investors and tourists as main reason.

(photo : blueskychannel.tv)

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/first-army-division-commander-says-troop-reduction-capital/


-- Thai PBS 2014-03-19

[seajae]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

[Scamper]

A breath of fresh air. The army are the only ones committed to actually protecting the public and the independent and judicial agencies. That's the real reason why Pheu Thai wants them off the streets, especially as they know a sea of red shirts are going to descend on the independent agencies - particularly the NACC, because they want to stop the impeachment investigation of Yingluck. So the army is a much needed presence, and if there was a referendum on that question in Bangkok, it would signal very clear populous support.

[sweatalot]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

quite interesting, that yingluck wants the army away

[HonestQuietBob]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

Maybe we now know why all these dud grenades keep getting lobbed at the Lumpini camp out.

Without these dubious attack the military has no reason to be in the streets anymore.

[dru2]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

quite interesting, that yingluck wants the army away

Clearly the presence of the army makes it hard if not impossible for the UDD goons to threaten the "independent agencies" about to impeach Yingluck and much of the PTP leadership. Thaksin will be grinding his teeth in distant Dubai, so I hope the army stays put.

Edited March 19, 2014 by dru2

[LevelHead]

Is the SOA is lifted the Army get out.

They are not a law unto themselves, they are only the army and they have to follow the law. The law is there is no troop deployment if there is no SOA.

So as the SOA is lifted there must be an order now to remove the troops. Or are the Army going to defy the Constitution and the Law of Thailand ?

He is correct they do not move until ordered, but once the order is given, they must get out.

All in my opinion of course.

[HonestQuietBob]

A breath of fresh air. The army are the only ones committed to actually protecting the public and the independent and judicial agencies. That's the real reason why Pheu Thai wants them off the streets, especially as they know a sea of red shirts are going to descend on the independent agencies - particularly the NACC, because they want to stop the impeachment investigation of Yingluck. So the army is a much needed presence, and if there was a referendum on that question in Bangkok, it would signal very clear populous support.

The armies current predicament?

Dressed in the Pulp Fiction gimp suit with one of those red ball things stuck in their mouth.

Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

[fab4]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

They don't seem to be doing a very good job - increased the checkpoints from 29 to 119 after the "upsurge in violence".

Strange, as the First Army Commander said there were 176 locations manned by 56 companies on the 28th February (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/More-patrols-at-rallies-30228025.html) and still attacks happen, despite the increased number of troops and patrols.

So maybe it's not only the police that are allegedly not looking after suthep and his fellow insurrectionists?

[StealthEnergiser]

The army have to do this due to police not doing their job i hope once this over a complete new force started sack the lot put them in jail for letting the country go to ruin.

ITs about time the army sat yingluck , chalerm , tharit & co down and started asking asking them straight to the point questions of whey they are letting the red thugs a police get away with these acts.

Maybe yingluck should have a pair of handcuffs thrown on her now it certainly looks like she is against democracy and other things .

Edited March 19, 2014 by StealthEnergiser

[fab4]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

They don't seem to be doing a very good job - increased the checkpoints from 29 to 119 after the "upsurge in violence".

Strange, as the First Army Commander said there were 176 locations manned by 56 companies on the 28th February (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/More-patrols-at-rallies-30228025.html) and still attacks happen, despite the increased number of troops and patrols.

So maybe it's not only the police that are allegedly not looking after suthep and his fellow insurrectionists?

Oh look, another one, near an army checkpoint as well.

"BANGKOK: -- Two grenades were hurled from the Thai-Belgian Bridge onto Rama IV Road near an Army checkpoint early Wednesday, Jor Sor 100 radio reported."

[Dogmatix]

Maj Gen Wara is about to be replaced by another no nonsense soldier, Maj Gen Apirat, son of the late Gen Sunthorn who was chairman of the National Peace Keeping Council in 1991-2. Apirat, as a colonel, was in command of the troops on the ground around Lumpini when Seh Daeng met with his unfortunate accident.

Maj Gen Wara was the commander who sent in unarmed King's Guard troops to rescue the students besieged at Ramkhamhaeng by Jatuporn's red shirt mob, after the police declined to take any action.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Dogmatix

[Fryslan boppe]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's. Plus generating explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election.

All of it to try and force their way into power via non-electoral means.............A surge of violence?.....Yeah right.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

Edited March 19, 2014 by Fryslan boppe

[Local Drunk]

A breath of fresh air. The army are the only ones committed to actually protecting the public and the independent and judicial agencies. That's the real reason why Pheu Thai wants them off the streets, especially as they know a sea of red shirts are going to descend on the independent agencies - particularly the NACC, because they want to stop the impeachment investigation of Yingluck. So the army is a much needed presence, and if there was a referendum on that question in Bangkok, it would signal very clear populous support.

Remember the Bkk flood... You couldn't find a cop if your life depended on it. The army was there.

[djjamie]

The army have made a wise move to retain the troops in Bangkok notably after the Ko Tee threats with reference to what his street gangs reaction will be if the NACC rule against yingluck not to mention the 200 000 strong terrorist militia being formed in the north with access to 10 million weapons. The army commanders would have not forgotten where the police allegiances lie as well and rest assured they are not on the right side of the law as Senior Sergeant Major Daeng who is also a UDD leader in Chon Buri made very clear in the "beat the war drum" meeting. It is a travesty and an indication of the true illegitimacy of the government when the army have to protect the people from the police in red shirts while Ko Tee robs banks and loots fuel from service station with impunity because the police are busy terrorizing the people.

The army are the last bastion of law and order in this political climate and yingluck wants them out. She is very vocal on that front. Silent on the threats by Ko Tee on looting and arson though. Silent on the threats of a 200 000 street gang being formed with access to 10 million weapons. Silent on condemning Senior Sergeant Major Daeng. Makes herself heard on national TV when she alludes to the courts being biased yet not a sign of her on TV to denounce terrorist attacks. All self serving attempts at clinging to power while making it very clear what she truly represents. That is that unaccountability and terrorist actions are acceptable.

If you want the army out speak up yingluck and tell the majority how you will deal with Ko Tee and Jatuporns street gang. Can you make assurances they won't come out, that they will respect the rule of law? No, because not only is the PTP official stance now is they will not respect the rule of law, but also that you have lost grip on power and as a defense minister this typifies your lack of control. You may be surrounded by dim witted minsters and advisors, but the army don't come from that same cancerous pool you chose your ministers from yingluck.

Edited March 19, 2014 by djjamie

[Fryslan boppe]

A breath of fresh air. The army are the only ones committed to actually protecting the public and the independent and judicial agencies. That's the real reason why Pheu Thai wants them off the streets, especially as they know a sea of red shirts are going to descend on the independent agencies - particularly the NACC, because they want to stop the impeachment investigation of Yingluck. So the army is a much needed presence, and if there was a referendum on that question in Bangkok, it would signal very clear populous support.

Remember the Bkk flood... You couldn't find a cop if your life depended on it. The army was there.

Yeah, I remember that public relations exercise, after their coup-rooted Govt. ordered attack in R'song, on many of the same people.

[bkkjames]

Is the SOA is lifted the Army get out.

They are not a law unto themselves, they are only the army and they have to follow the law. The law is there is no troop deployment if there is no SOA.

So as the SOA is lifted there must be an order now to remove the troops. Or are the Army going to defy the Constitution and the Law of Thailand ?

He is correct they do not move until ordered, but once the order is given, they must get out.

All in my opinion of course.

What is the SOA?

I have heard of SOE - ISA, CMPO, DSI, BBC, CNN and even VOA.

By the way, show me in the constitution the part where the army is defying it.

[Nickymaster]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's, plus generate explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election. Thereby needing to force their way into power via non-electoral means............. as a surge of violence, is ridiculous.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

So who should protect peaceful protestors if the police doesn't do it? Remember, 23 people got killed and the police have no clue who did it.

[djjamie]

Is the SOA is lifted the Army get out.

They are not a law unto themselves, they are only the army and they have to follow the law. The law is there is no troop deployment if there is no SOA.

So as the SOA is lifted there must be an order now to remove the troops. Or are the Army going to defy the Constitution and the Law of Thailand ?

He is correct they do not move until ordered, but once the order is given, they must get out.

All in my opinion of course.

What is the SOA?

I have heard of SOE - ISA, CMPO, DSI, BBC, CNN and even VOA.

By the way, show me in the constitution the part where the army is defying it.

After witnessing the State of Emergency and how ineffective it was he may be referring to it more aptly as the "State of Apathy"!

[Fryslan boppe]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's, plus generate explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election. Thereby needing to force their way into power via non-electoral means............. as a surge of violence, is ridiculous.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

So who should protect peaceful protestors if the police doesn't do it? Remember, 23 people got killed and the police have no clue who did it.

Demonizing the police is coup-monger agenda in order to justify the participation of their friends in the military......The MO being to denigrate the police, in order to aggrandize the military.

Not complicated.

[Crushdepth]

If people stop throwing bombs, threatening violence and raising private goon squads there will be no need for the army. Until then - get used to it.

[Crushdepth]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's, plus generate explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election. Thereby needing to force their way into power via non-electoral means............. as a surge of violence, is ridiculous.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

So who should protect peaceful protestors if the police doesn't do it? Remember, 23 people got killed and the police have no clue who did it.

Demonizing the police is coup-monger agenda in order to justify the participation of their friends in the military......The MO being to denigrate the police, in order to aggrandize the military.

Not complicated.

Nobody trusts the police to maintain order and that's a fact. Find something else to spin, you won't get far with this one.

[Nickymaster]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's, plus generate explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election. Thereby needing to force their way into power via non-electoral means............. as a surge of violence, is ridiculous.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

So who should protect peaceful protestors if the police doesn't do it? Remember, 23 people got killed and the police have no clue who did it.

Demonizing the police is coup-monger agenda in order to justify the participation of their friends in the military......The MO being to denigrate the police, in order to aggrandize the military.

Not complicated.

The police is not looking for people that killed over 20 protestors including children. That is a fact most agree to (except you of course because it doesn't suit your agenda).

Edited March 19, 2014 by Nickymaster

[thesetat2013]

Is the SOA is lifted the Army get out.

They are not a law unto themselves, they are only the army and they have to follow the law. The law is there is no troop deployment if there is no SOA.

So as the SOA is lifted there must be an order now to remove the troops. Or are the Army going to defy the Constitution and the Law of Thailand ?

He is correct they do not move until ordered, but once the order is given, they must get out.

All in my opinion of course.

Yes once ordered they must leave. So its a good thing YL doesnt have the power to order the RTA.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[chainarong]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

A breath of fresh air. The army are the only ones committed to actually protecting the public and the independent and judicial agencies. That's the real reason why Pheu Thai wants them off the streets, especially as they know a sea of red shirts are going to descend on the independent agencies - particularly the NACC, because they want to stop the impeachment investigation of Yingluck. So the army is a much needed presence, and if there was a referendum on that question in Bangkok, it would signal very clear populous support.

The army has a sworn allegiance to the crown, therefore it will do what is required to maintain piece, without fear nor favour.

[Mentors]

Slow-Motion-Putsch goes on...

[h90]

Is the SOA is lifted the Army get out.

They are not a law unto themselves, they are only the army and they have to follow the law. The law is there is no troop deployment if there is no SOA.

So as the SOA is lifted there must be an order now to remove the troops. Or are the Army going to defy the Constitution and the Law of Thailand ?

He is correct they do not move until ordered, but once the order is given, they must get out.

All in my opinion of course.

Which law tells no troop deployment if there is no SOA?

When driving to Cambodia or near Myanmar you pass army checkpoints and there is for sure no SOA and it is many km away from the border.

And who should order the army? A caretaker PM which is maybe not legally in office?

[MunterHunter]

"....the surge of violence against anti-government protesters and independent organizations such as the Court of Justice, the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Election Commission"

Who writes this stuff?....Surge of violence?

Trying to characterize coup-monger shenanigans, attempts to sow disorder and a sense of ungovernability in support of their anti-democratic agenda's, plus generate explosions in order to increase a sense of crisis that is fabricated by those who cannot win an election. Thereby needing to force their way into power via non-electoral means............. as a surge of violence, is ridiculous.

But simply re-emphasizes the participation of the military in these affairs, pretending to be some sort of security thing.

Reminds me of the Russian spin about needing to safeguard its' citizens in Ukraine from non-existent threats, as an excuse for territorial encroachment.

So who should protect peaceful protestors if the police doesn't do it? Remember, 23 people got killed and the police have no clue who did it.

Demonizing the police is coup-monger agenda in order to justify the participation of their friends in the military......The MO being to denigrate the police, in order to aggrandize the military.

Not complicated.

So you are satisfied that the police are doing a good job in the hunting down of those responsible for the attacks on both PDRC and UDD protestors? You are satisfied that several weeks later no suspects are being sought after several children where blown up in a crowded market? You are satisfied that the police could and would handle the UDD violence against the establishment that they are threatening (and increasingly doing so) and lastly you are satisfied with the police performance regarding the 'divide thailand up' that the UDD leaders (including a couple of MP's) have been spewing these past few weeks?

If you answer yes to any of those... then you sir, are an idiot.

[Roadman]

Yet more solid common sense from the RTA and loving delivered by Thaksin's nemesis the Queen's Brigade and thumbing their nose directly at the incompetent and out of her depth caretaker PM. She and her fugitive peoples court convicted criminal scum bag brother and their UDD thugs are being fully lined up by the Army. Perhaps the Army could have been more proactive in 2010 prior to Thaksin attack on the Army, the Thai people and Thailand, but then the additional four years have allowed more to see through the bull crap that is the Shinawtra's.

One can imagine the peoples court fugitive convicted criminal with the Dubai sand in his undies rubbing his little balls raw for the rest of his life screaming at the wimpy wheel chair bound puppet crying her eyes out, what the hell she has been doing as Army Commander that none of her subordinates will listen to her.

If one could look past all the damage that these Shinawatra scum have been and are delivering on Thailand one could not help but love the comeuppance that is being and is about to be delivered on this lot.

Well done again the Royal Thai Army. Keep up the good work.

[gemini81]

looks like they are aware thet the reds will up the violence if they leave, they are the only thing keeping it under check at the moment. The police will simply let the reds do as they please, this is the only way to go till the protests are abandoned, will certainly p*ss of the ptp and reds but....

Maybe we now know why all these dud grenades keep getting lobbed at the Lumpini camp out.

Without these dubious attack the military has no reason to be in the streets anymore.

Free reign of the police, PTP and UDD rouge/bums is more than reason enough.