Thai protesters launch 'final fight' as government clings on

[webfact]

Thai protesters launch 'final fight' as government clings on

BANGKOK, May 9, 2014 (AFP) - Thai protesters vowed Friday to besiege television stations and police positions as they launched a launched a "final fight" to topple a government that is on the ropes after its leader was dismissed.

Several thousand protesters left their main encampment in a park in the city's commercial district as their firebrand leader Suthep Thaugsuban issued a rallying cry for them to establish a parallel government.

"We will regain our sovereign power and set up a people's government and a people's legislative council," Suthep said before leading a march to Government House, which has been targeted by protesters for months.

"We will march on all television stations... we ask city residents to surround police cars and police headquarters to stop them from hurting our people," he added.

Suthep is known for his hyperbolic statements and, with the government weakened but still standing, the call for a unilateral administration appears to lack any legal ground.

Although buffeted by the removal of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday by the Constitutional Court on abuse of power charges, the current Puea Thai administration has staggered on.

It has appointed Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan as its new premier and won a reprieve on Thursday as the kingdom's anti-graft panel stepped back from hauling more cabinet members into a separate indictment against Yingluck over a costly rice subsidy scheme.

There were fears the agency could have moved against the remainder of the government to complete a "judicial coup" and create a power vacuum that could have been filled by an appointed leader.

Hundreds of police were deployed to manage Friday's protests, as fears simmered of street clashes between rival groups. Police said some 4,500 anti-government protesters were marching from their encampment at Bangkok's Lumpini Park.

Thailand's pro-government "Red Shirts" are set to rally Saturday in a Bangkok suburb, raising the risky prospect of the two protest groups being on the city's streets at the same time.

At least 25 people have died and hundreds more have been wounded in gun and grenade attacks linked to six months of anti-government protests.

Both sides have armed hardcore supporters and Thailand's recent history has been scarred by bouts of political violence.

Scores of people died in a military crackdown on "Red Shirts" occupying Bangkok's commercial centre in 2010.

Thailand has been bitterly divided since 2006 when Yingluck's billionaire brother Thaksin was ousted in a a military coup.

Three Thaksin-aligned premiers have since been removed by the nations' courts, sparking accusations that the judiciary is in cahoots with the anti-government protesters, who are drawn from the Bangkok establishment and royalist south.

They hate the Shinawatras who they accuse of fostering massive corruption and draining the kingdom's coffers to sweeten Thaksin's rural electoral base in the poor but populous north and northeast.

The opposition also accuse Thaksin of undermining the nation's beloved but ailing king.

Thaksin lives overseas to avoid jail for corruption convictions he contends were politically motivated, but still draws loyalty from his rural heartlands who have voted his parties into power in every election since 2001.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-09

[Local Drunk]

As very many nervous politicians pack their bags for their final flight.

[Tatsujin]

This is silly . . . it's too soon to be blockading anything . . . give PT enough time to hang themselves and let the Courts/EC deal with their recent illegal activities.

[webfact]

Human waves begin final battle



BANGKOK: -- Human waves of hundreds of thousands of anti government protesters headed out of Lumpini park at 09.09 a.m. today to begin what the PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban announced last night as the final battle to bring the stubborn Thaksin regime down forever.

Destinations of the PDRC today were not disclosed but there were strong possibilities protesters plan to lay siege to all free TV stations and Government House.

At 10.00 a.m. the protesters were in Rama IV road on the direction of Channel 3.

Earlier last night a PDRC leader Sathit Wongnongtoei indicated that the destinations are all related to the Shinawatra family group.

PDRC leader Suthep also said Friday night if the military still stay put and did not come out to do anything then he and protesters would act.

But he again assured that all actions taken would be non violent and without arms.

Only empty heads of the people would be used to bring down the evil regime and all its remnants, Suthep declared Friday night.

He called on all people to come out today saying this was the last chance or never to accomplish this significant task which would be once in the life time.

Earlier in the morning all subway stations close to the park were packed with passengers, mostly supporters of the PDRC, with authorities saying passengers could hardly exit but moved shoulder to shoulder out of the station.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/human-waves-begin-final-battle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=human-waves-begin-final-battle


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-09

[ikke]

Sutheps final attempt to tear the country totally down !

Let's all hope he does not succeed .

[tomyummer]

Today will also be known as National Traffic Day.

[Local Drunk]

I'm drinking from home today. I have no worries.

[Local Drunk]

Sutheps final attempt to tear the country totally down !

Let's all hope he does not succeed .

Actually, he isn't trying to tear the country down, he's trying to tear the Shin Dynasty down and let's hope that he succeeds.

[marko kok prong]

obviously a typo but 'only the empty heads of the people would be used' Suthep says,ha had to laugh at that one.

[catterwell]

I'm drinking from home today. I have no worries.

"Only empty heads of the people would be used to bring down the evil regime and all its remnants, Suthep declared Friday night"

A typo methinks

[maxme]

Sutheps final attempt to tear the country totally down !

Let's all hope he does not succeed .

Actually, he isn't trying to tear the country down, he's trying to tear the Shin Dynasty down and let's hope that he succeeds.

Yes let's hope that but if he does don't bother coming here whining about things didn't turn out as you wanted.

Ah, the will of the ignorant and the deluded.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Fat Haggis]

What do the courts have to say about obstruction of official services? it does appear that Suthep is attempting to get a military coup underway with his statements as he knows that's the ONLY way he will get his peoples council in.

He's far from giving anything up and anyone who thinks he will step aside is stroking the furry walls and is on the Jeffries !!

They already dismissed Abhisits plans for reform so it's all or nothing today tomorrow and the next day and so on and on and on

[harada]

Several thousand, 4500, hundreds of thousands ???

[fab4]

[bkkjames]

LOOK OUT:

RT @PravitR: Motorcade of thousands of reds from Samut Prakarn now entering Klongtoey area of Bangkok. Lets hope there'll be no clashes. 10.17

[WoopyDoo]

Good luck guys.

I hope your final battles bring you success.

Bring down the rest of this shambles of a government and give the people a proper government and much needed reforms.

Crush the shins and their reds forever.

[Som wat]

Any maps or info of locations?

I could really do with zipping along Prachachuen, past the interseaction with Chaeng Wattana, in the afternoon. It's all be fine there everyday since the problems began.

[Emptyset]

PDRC leader Suthep also said Friday night if the military still stay put and did not come out to do anything then he and protesters would act.

The military won't come out. The civilians behind the PDRC movement want a coup, but former military figures like Prawit Wongsuwan realize it'd play into PT's hands, which is probably true. Also Prayuth definitely doesn't want to stage a coup. Red shirt leaders are also against a coup, presumably realizing that if there was one, they'd be the first to be killed if they resisted or forced into exile or jailed if they didn't (hence Jatuporn's recent attempts to defuse tension). My guess though is that the govt thinks if it does go down, it might as well be from a coup. After all, that's what provides the most legitimacy when it comes to resistance and international condemnation. Of course, what's happening amounts to a coup whether by military force or otherwise. And once they lose power, I don't think they'll be getting it back so easily. If I had to say what Thaksin's chances of coming back to Thailand are now, I'd say zero or less than zero if that were possible. Still, I think most sane people would rather see compromise and a move to elections, even if it meant PT would stay in power.

[Local Drunk]

Sutheps final attempt to tear the country totally down !

Let's all hope he does not succeed .

Actually, he isn't trying to tear the country down, he's trying to tear the Shin Dynasty down and let's hope that he succeeds.

Yes let's hope that but if he does don't bother coming here whining about things didn't turn out as you wanted.

Ah, the will of the ignorant and the deluded.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

"Ah, the will of the ignorant and the deluded."

Don't be so hard on yourself... relax and enjoy the ride; you'll be a much happier camper.

[Fat Haggis]

Just to add isn't the Suthep plan to elect a people government not going to involve nepotism the very thing Yingluck was accused of?

[pedro01]

LOOK OUT:

RT @PravitR: Motorcade of thousands of reds from Samut Prakarn now entering Klongtoey area of Bangkok. Lets hope there'll be no clashes. 10.17

Well that pretty much guarantees there will be clashes.

[bkkjames]

LOOK OUT:

RT @PravitR: Motorcade of thousands of reds from Samut Prakarn now entering Klongtoey area of Bangkok. Lets hope there'll be no clashes. 10.17

Well that pretty much guarantees there will be clashes.

yea, unless they peacefully are just heading to the west for tomorrow's event of their own? .......

[h90]

Just to add isn't the Suthep plan to elect a people government not going to involve nepotism the very thing Yingluck was accused of?

Therefor it should be in power just 1 year and afterwards every member is banned from politics for 5 years.....Just to avoid any self serving ideas....

Edited May 9, 2014 by h90

[maxme]

Sutheps final attempt to tear the country totally down !

Let's all hope he does not succeed .

Actually, he isn't trying to tear the country down, he's trying to tear the Shin Dynasty down and let's hope that he succeeds.

Yes let's hope that but if he does don't bother coming here whining about things didn't turn out as you wanted.

Ah, the will of the ignorant and the deluded.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

"Ah, the will of the ignorant and the deluded."

Don't be so hard on yourself... relax and enjoy the ride; you'll be a much happier camper.

Thanks but unlike you I don't need to be drunk to think clearly. Gotta love keyboard warriors like you and your lot who wish for clashes but don't show your support by participating in them yourselves. Brave indeed after couple of brewskies and 5 min in front of the computer. Perhaps you should join them and if you do... Then I might just listen to your drivel.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Somtamnication]

Let's just call it what it is: The lastest of the lastest of the lastest fight.

[h90]

This is silly . . . it's too soon to be blockading anything . . . give PT enough time to hang themselves and let the Courts/EC deal with their recent illegal activities.

I guess Suthep has some informations we don't have. Maybe PT is planning something to get grip again. Or just not going and ignoring the CC and having the police on their side. The same time EC says that elections aren't possible. And starting to do things the caretaker can't do...

That would turn out to be a silent coup.

The last days look like this is their plan, or?

[Prbkk]

The govt is playing a winning hand, they have the high moral ground, playing with a straight bat and all the while making Suthep look like an hysterical fool. Keep it up!

[BlueNoseCodger]

Today will also be known as National Traffic Day.

Hardly!

Their Channel 5 mob:

Tv station

They've been going around TV stations protesting at the unfriendly TV coverage today.

Edited May 9, 2014 by BlueNoseCodger

[dinooz]

Today will also be known as National Traffic Day.

Hardly!

Their Channel 5 mob:

9-may-14-channel5.jpg

Tv station

9-may-2014-pdrc.jpg

They've been going around TV stations protesting at the unfriendly TV coverage today.

Please, no Blue, not another 24 hours of your numbers estimates,why didn't you post pics and guestimates of the previous Red rallies? Tommorrow you can spend all day giving us your unbiased guesstimates of the Red gathering.

[Prbkk]

..another mega flop in respect of the numbers.

Edited May 9, 2014 by Prbkk