Bangkok: Thousands of Police and Army personnel to oversee rival rallies

[webfact]

Thousands of Police & Army Personnel to Oversee Rival Rallies
By Khaosod English


PCAD protesters march in Bangkok's Chinatown on 5 May, 2014.

BANGKOK — Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Pol.Gen. Worapong Chiewpreecha, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police, told reporters today that the security operation will involve more than 100 companies of army troops and police officers, amounting to at least 15,000 security personnel.

The anti-government People's Committee for Absolute Democracy with the King As Head of State (PCAD) has promised a mass rally - referred to as "One Last Fight" by their leaders - in central Bangkok on 9 May. Meanwhile, the pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) is organising a demonstration of its own on Aksa Avenue in Bangkok's western suburb on 10 May.

The rallies will be the first held since ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted by the Constitutional Court yesterday for unlawfully transferring a National Security Council chief in 2011.

Although the rival protest groups have clashed in the past, core activists from both PCAD and UDD have vowed to avoid a confrontation next week.

Pol.Gen. Worapong said the authorities will remain vigilant throughout the demonstrations to ensure no clashes take place.

He also said that concerns over a possible confrontation might lead to a “reconsideration” of the government's recent request to decrease the number of troops deployed in Bangkok.

Pol.Gen. Worapong said he has not received any reports about arms being smuggled into Bangkok by protesters.

"I'd like to thank the leaders of both sides for declaring that they will not tolerate armed elements in their ranks, and that they will expel such persons from their rallies immediately," Pol.Gen. Worapong said.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1399536918


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-08

[Tatsujin]

Pol.Gen. Worapong said he has not received any reports about arms being smuggled into Bangkok by protesters.

Ah, so the shootings and grenade attacks are either from legally registered weapons or they are a figment of everyone's imagination. What another moron.

[winstonc]

police to stand by and just watch with no active participation no matter what occurs me thinks...just keeping up their brave tradition.

[WoopyDoo]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

[moonao]

Id like to see more mobile cctv surveillance around the protest areas, if violence does break out, everything needs to be captured as evidence for later investigations.

And extra footage around the PCAD guards of the fake monk, they are the worst. Ban balaclavas as well...

[JeremyBowskill]

This is going to go off like a Chinese firework factory fire!!

[chooka]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

I guess Suthep forgot to tell them that he has brought it forward.

[issanaus]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

I guess Suthep forgot to tell them that he has brought it forward.

They might have forgotten because "one last push" tends to blur into the "next last push"

[Scamper]

It must have been tough for Khaosod to publish this picture. I suppose on the UDD side of things there wasn't anything to photograph. The army will likely be far more effective than the police in keeping order. And although the army may have been asked by Surapong to decrease their forces, don't count on it. And as for Surapong and Chalerm - they've all but disappeared. One of the benefits of the ruling yesterday is that their press conferences don't have to be seen any more.

[Local Drunk]

Let's get it on...

[chainarong]

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police to stand by and just watch with no active participation no matter what occurs me thinks...just keeping up their brave tradition.

The Police have an important roll to play , nobody's figured out what it is yet.

[Torkmada]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

Sorry mate.

The army have been naughty boys so Uncle Sam has had to ban them from playing politics any more.

[Theoutsider]

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

police to stand by and just watch with no active participation no matter what occurs me thinks...just keeping up their brave tradition.

The Police have an important roll to play , nobody's figured out what it is yet.

What about army v police.

[cnxdefyer]

When these two group protest alone there are fatalities......it's silly to think that protesting together against one another that they will have self control. As for the no weapons policy, it's just plain arrogant to think the leaders can control a mob and enforce a no weapons policy. Things will happen, tempers will rise and things will escalate. The only sure outcome will be regret and sorrow for the injuries and fatalities. They will find someone to blame and there will be tears and the whole sob story, when they could easily avoid the confrontation. The anti-government protesters could stand down, they've already achieved some victory to some point. I seem to recall Suthep saying "if the reds come with weapons, we will go home". I wish he would be the bigger man and lead the people to safety, because we all know the kind of people the red's are. They have publicly stated that there will be blood if the PM is removed. Of course all reason and logic went out the window a long time ago so I won't hold my breath.

[pedrinho]

meanwhile, as these self-obsessed 'politicians' bicker back and forth, the country's economy, reputation and tourism further deteriorate. regardless of your view on suthep and his acolytes, the damage their prolonged action has caused the nation is unfathomable. it'll now be the other side that gets to hammer a fresh nail in the nation's coffin. it's terribly sad to see a great nation and people waste so much time and economic prowess on these silly personal political vendettas.

[BeforeTigers]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

Sorry mate.

The army have been naughty boys so Uncle Sam has had to ban them from playing politics any more.

Please explain that Uncle Sam comment.

[oldsailor35]

This will go for as long as Suthep is allowed to carry on like a geriatric nut case. The senile old fool thinks he is some kind of a pop star, maybe he is, but with supporters like his, they will be in for a big shock sooner than later. Yingluck tried her best to keep the lid on things, but now that she is not there, anything can and will happen. Her supporters have nothing to protect anymore. The Democrats and their Judicial lackies have destroyed Democracy, their selfish stupidity will be rewarded, but not to their advantage.

[zydeco]

This is going to go off like a Chinese firework factory fire!!

I don't think so. At least, not if you mean a civil war. There will be no civil war. There is not the determination or willingness to sacrifice for it. People have too much to lose. What I do fear is possible is that Thai society is mere inches away from unraveling. By that, I mean very soon bands/gangs of people are going to start thinking: "Let's just take whatever we want. There is nobody to stop us. And there is no punishment. Not even for murder and terror." They'll start seeing individuals as easy prey. Parts of Bangkok might soon look like Rio. Complete No Go Zones. I've seen this before in Central America. Gangs, warlords, militias set themselves up to take what they want and do what they want because there is nobody to stop them. Thailand is just about there. Probably the only thing stopping it so far is the religious tradition and the society's superstitions. But when those go, then this entire place could descend into another Guatemala or El Salvador as they existed in the 80s.

[Torkmada]

Forget the police... Just the army please.

The police are less than useless only good for traffic duties and that is reflected by Thailand having some of the worst roads in the world... That is how useful the police are.

As for this.......

Thousands of army and police personnel will be deployed to oversee the mass rallies called by pro- and anti-government activists next week, a top police commander said.

Erm...... It's happening tomorrow and Saturday..... not next week.

Sorry mate.

The army have been naughty boys so Uncle Sam has had to ban them from playing politics any more.

Please explain that Uncle Sam comment.

The Government of the United States of America

[FangFerang]

This is going to get very messy. I do not enjoy this at all.

Very messy.

[FangFerang]

This is going to go off like a Chinese firework factory fire!!

I don't think so. At least, not if you mean a civil war. There will be no civil war. There is not the determination or willingness to sacrifice for it. People have too much to lose. What I do fear is possible is that Thai society is mere inches away from unraveling. By that, I mean very soon bands/gangs of people are going to start thinking: "Let's just take whatever we want. There is nobody to stop us. And there is no punishment. Not even for murder and terror." They'll start seeing individuals as easy prey. Parts of Bangkok might soon look like Rio. Complete No Go Zones. I've seen this before in Central America. Gangs, warlords, militias set themselves up to take what they want and do what they want because there is nobody to stop them. Thailand is just about there. Probably the only thing stopping it so far is the religious tradition and the society's superstitions. But when those go, then this entire place could descend into another Guatemala or El Salvador as they existed in the 80s.

You are making a bad guess, and a guess is the best sad word for it. This is ugly and will get uglier.

[MaxLee]

Pol.Gen. Worapong said he has not received any reports about arms being smuggled into Bangkok by protesters.

Ah, so the shootings and grenade attacks are either from legally registered weapons or they are a figment of everyone's imagination. What another moron.

NOPE, you can buy guns for cheap at any market area,... even near Asoke, there's a stand which sells weapons on the open market, and the police doesn't give a damn....

[Stan7444]

Sometimes the house needs cleaning and getting rid of the worse element should be done. This is already civil war and only few casualties so far. Look at Syria, Libya, Brazil, Venezuela, Ukraine, etc. the people will rise, and I don"t mean the small number of elites but the masses who are tired on having a boot on their backs with no justice in the judicial system, no policing from the police force, unfair laws such as computer crime and other laws, people who are poor and powerless being jailed without bail while rich walk free, judges who are bribed, MPs who are corrupt, so-called independent agencies who are representatives of the elite therefore not independent, Navy involved in people trafficking, etc. The time has arrived for justice if there is every going to be a chance of democracy in Thailand. One problem is the people have no education in civic responsibilities and therefore choose the only course they know, that of violence to rid the scum from the earth.

[rabas]

Sometimes the house needs cleaning and getting rid of the worse element should be done. This is already civil war and only few casualties so far. Look at Syria, Libya, Brazil, Venezuela, Ukraine, etc. the people will rise, and I don"t mean the small number of elites but the masses who are tired on having a boot on their backs with no justice in the judicial system, no policing from the police force, unfair laws such as computer crime and other laws, people who are poor and powerless being jailed without bail while rich walk free, judges who are bribed, MPs who are corrupt, so-called independent agencies who are representatives of the elite therefore not independent, Navy involved in people trafficking, etc. The time has arrived for justice if there is every going to be a chance of democracy in Thailand. One problem is the people have no education in civic responsibilities and therefore choose the only course they know, that of violence to rid the scum from the earth.

Oh please, go elsewhere to write your little miss red riding hood pining in the rice fields for her first taste of democracy, with hands clasped across her small chest vowing to sacrifice herself to save her parents from being used as firewood by the evil ones. You haven't the slightest clue what real Thai people are about. Or, who they admire the most.

[rreddin]

meanwhile, as these self-obsessed 'politicians' bicker back and forth, the country's economy, reputation and tourism further deteriorate. regardless of your view on suthep and his acolytes, the damage their prolonged action has caused the nation is unfathomable. it'll now be the other side that gets to hammer a fresh nail in the nation's coffin. it's terribly sad to see a great nation and people waste so much time and economic prowess on these silly personal political vendettas.

The damage the PRDC has done to the economy can be measured by SCB's announcement last month that it had advised its very high net worth clients (that means seriously rich) to move their investments out of the country to get a return of 5% to 6%. You can bet Suthep's backers have moved their money. You know the solids are going to hit the air conditioning when bankers to the super rich advise their clients to move their money.

[Mentors]

A 'new Jugoslavia like tragedy ' comes nearer by hour. Housemade in Thailand this time

Edited May 8, 2014 by Mentors

[northernjohn]

Well what with Jatuporn trying to pimp Yingluck out I am very sure there will be a large turn out for the red shirt show.

The red shirts not being the brightest light in a box of 20 watt bulbs will probably think the best way to honor her is violence. Going to need a large guard on that one. I wonder if they will be instructed to stand around and do nothing. Just like they wanted the Army to do in their last failed coup attempt. Only this time it is not even a coup they already have the power. But that won't stop them violence is all they know.

Edited May 8, 2014 by northernjohn

[northernjohn]

A 'new Jugoslavia like tragedy ' comes nearer by hour. Housemade in Thailand this time

I doubt it. The red shirts don't have the power or enough backing. Now if nonsense was a weapon there would be a new nation called the Lanna nation.

I wonder if Thaksin would have enough guts to enter it. I am sure there are bullets there also with his name on them. Remember he would not even go into a Burmese city adjoining Mai Sai because of the fear of assassination and Mai Sai is a red shirt strong hold.

[Roadman]

meanwhile, as these self-obsessed 'politicians' bicker back and forth, the country's economy, reputation and tourism further deteriorate. regardless of your view on suthep and his acolytes, the damage their prolonged action has caused the nation is unfathomable. it'll now be the other side that gets to hammer a fresh nail in the nation's coffin. it's terribly sad to see a great nation and people waste so much time and economic prowess on these silly personal political vendettas.

The economic damage being caused is coming from both sides as it has in this spate since the courts failed to act to the Rule of Law and chose a populist leaning verdict to avoid their homes being bombed on Madam's borrowing of the butlers and maids names so the criminal Thaksin could hide his criminality in 2001. It is still being caused by both sides through patronage, mismanagement, incompetence, lawlessness and corruption more so currently from the governments side. Suthep is just another of the same irk. At least this time around the courts have the balls to carry through on the Rule of Law... but that is only part one and the thai system collapses because no one will then enforce the law...the Royal Thai Police as an identity and an enforcer of justice would have to be the most useless lot of cops in the world.

The economic damage to thai pride (or more importantly to thai political ignorance) has to be done and its at a gratifying time with ASEAN coming that Thailand will be and is going backwards while the rest of the ASEAN countries will be taking the opportunities. A failed political and economic platform is where Thaialnd may need to and is likely to go at the rate it is currently going before the lot of the garbage that poses as the thai political system and moreso the pathetic claim that they are democratic receives the hammering it deserves.

Agree sad for what could be a great democratic nation if the rule of law and the constitution was not p!ssed all over by those in power. A great people...the women are but then look at most of where the poor excuse for morals and values come from and it is mostly thai men and their (as you point out) pathetic politicial vendettas and mafia attitudes at the forefront of the mess.

Hopefully the human life toll over the next weeks and months is minimal and karma reaps it rewards to those most deserving. But where life of the non rich and non elite is worthless to those in power one would doubt it.

Edited May 8, 2014 by Roadman

[HeavyDrinker]

If this pointless show of khaki and meaningless stripey ribbons is the result of me lighting my farts at Lat Krabang, I apologise for the inconvenience.