Tensions grow as Thai protesters gear up for showdown

[Lite Beer]

Tensions grow as Thai protesters gear up for showdown

by Thanaporn PROMYAMYAI

BANGKOK, May 11, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's authorities warned Sunday that opposition efforts to hand power to an unelected regime risked unleashing new violence, as rival protesters prepared for a showdown over the fate of the crippled government.

Opposition demonstrators have delivered an ultimatum for a new leader to be appointed by Monday or they will step up efforts to topple a government clinging to power after premier Yingluck Shinawatra was ousted by the courts.

"Forming an unelected government is illegitimate and will bring more conflict and violence," warned Tarit Pengdith, head of the Ministry of Justice's Department of Special Investigation (DSI).

Officials will "step up law enforcement to solve the problems", said Tarit during a televised briefing by the government agency in charge of the security response to the six-month political stand-off.

Yingluck's removal -- for abusing her power with the controversial transfer of a senior security official -- has been denounced by her supporters as part of a "judicial coup".

The kingdom's long-running crisis broadly pits the Shinawatra family and its supporters -- mostly from northern Thailand -- against a royalist establishment with backing in Bangkok and the south.

The opposition says that the remaining caretaker government is no longer legitimate and that elections in the current climate will not solve the stalemate.

It wants an interim premier to be appointed to oversee vague reforms to tackle corruption before new elections are held in about 18 months' time.

The pro-government "Red Shirts", who kicked off a major rally this weekend on the outskirts of Bangkok, have warned that a power grab could lead to civil war.

"We will only stop our protest when justice is served," Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Sunday.

While the two groups of rival protesters have set up their camps in different parts of the capital, officials are on alert for possible clashes between the two sides.
Worsening violence could increase the chances of the coup-prone army intervening again.

- Deep political rifts -

Deep political divisions have riven Thailand since Yingluck's elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed as premier by royalist generals in 2006.

A military crackdown on pro-Thaksin Red Shirt protests against the previous government left dozens dead in central Bangkok in 2010.

Renewed political violence has left at least 25 people dead and hundreds wounded in gun and grenade attacks by shadowy assailants in recent months, mostly targeting opposition demonstrators.

The anti-government protesters want the upper house of parliament -- almost half of whose members are unelected -- to remove the weakened cabinet, including the caretaker Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.

In a provocative move, the opposition demonstrators have said they will set up a base inside the government headquarters, which has been besieged by protesters for months and is no longer used by the cabinet.

Thai courts have removed three prime ministers linked to Yingluck's family. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every election completed since 2001 thanks to policies such as universal healthcare, farming subsidies and microcredit schemes.

Thaksin lives in Dubai to avoid jail for a corruption conviction that he says was politically motivated, but he is accused by his opponents of clinging to power through his political allies at home.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-11

[terryp]

"We will only stop our protest when justice is served," Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Sunday.

which justice is that Red or the Country Laws?

[jayjayjayjay]

Who comes up with these ridiculous titles...

[TVGerry]

If both sides aren't willing to compromise, then the only way out of this would be for the military to step in. Distasteful as that may be, it sure beats battles among both the red thugs and the PRDC on our streets.

[Costas2008]

Who comes up with these ridiculous titles...

Never mind the titles.

Let's hope that not even one drop of blood will be shed, either in the red or yellow camps.

And let's hope the police and the army will at last do something to prevent that happening.

[winstonc]

every report they publish always spends half the page telling everyone what we already know they did leave out exile though awful reporting johnathon head would be proud unless its his story that he sold..

[krisb]

The only time red and yellow works together is when you get this...

[rebelplatoon]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

[harada]

My wife's community is in the heart of so called red shirt country, the majority of people that I have spoken to want the army to step in because they've had enough of the BS from both sides.

[Tom420]

Who comes up with these ridiculous titles...

Never mind the titles.

Let's hope that not even one drop of blood will be shed, either in the red or yellow camps.

And let's hope the police and the army will at last do something to prevent that happening.

I really do admire your positive and wishful thinking, however a wise-man once said - 'hope can be a dangerous thing'. Thais never seem to learn from their mistakes for the most part, and only fix things when they are broke. How broke does this country need to get before it needs 'fixing''

[coma]

Time to pull up a sand bag and tighten up ya chin straps me thinks.

[coma]

The only time red and yellow works together is when you get this...

They're all acting like clowns as well.

[The stuttering parrot]

Vague reforms?i haven't seen anything on the table yet.

Elections in 18 months time?

I've missed something somewhere.

[siampolee]

What was the matter with all involved in getting around the table to talk things over?

We are all well aware that certain factions from all of the political hues involved decided to boycott such discussions.

No doubt to orders from elsewhere given by those whose vested interests in power possible judicial outcomes and current and future income may well have been affected.

If all of these leaders who claim to represent popular feeling along with professing to love Thailand are unable or unwilling to sit and talk the only alternatives are civil disorder leading to a civil war or a military intervention to restore some semblance of stability to Thailand.

A number of individuals and organisations have written a format of proposals for discussion.

Words are thoughts and thoughts are dreams. Those dreams could nay should herald the Dawn of Change for Thailand, politically and socially where the people are served by the politicians.

If the fires of discontent and the violent rhetoric along with the now a noticeable increase in gratuitous violence this country are an indicator of things to come indeed Thailand and its peoples are doomed to a bleak future.

Let us look at what happened in some of our near neighbouring countries due to political dogma and personal political greed the lust for absolute power and the resultant corruption and nepotism due to rabid politicians with an engine of megalomania being their driving force.

We are rapidly now approaching the end game, the stake being Thailand and its peoples future.

Time to forget political aims and personal power, we need an administration comprised of nominated people from all political hues and backgrounds if the nation and its peoples are to survive. A specified time span and a dedicated programme of reform has to be implemented. We need to recall the lessons of the regions recent history or Thailand will be destroyed

Edited May 11, 2014 by siampolee

[bigbamboo]

Time to pull up a sand bag and tighten up ya chin straps me thinks.

Or time to go shopping with the family in Paris.......

[Just1Voice]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

You really do have a fanatical obsession with the "Sae Khu" name, don't you?

[Local Drunk]

"We will only stop our protest when justice is served," Red Shirts leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Sunday.

which justice is that Red or the Country Laws?

Then get ready to spend some time in prison Jatuporn.

[Scamper]

Forming an unelected government is illegitimate and will bring more conflict and violence," warned Tarit Pengdith, head of the Ministry of Justice's Department of Special Investigation (DSI). "

It's too late, because Pheu Thai have already picked someone from half a cabinet - something for which there is no provision in the constitution. A prime minister can only be constitutionally nominated through a quorum-filled parliament or through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. Not one Pheu Thai spokesman has sited any part of the constitution for what they're doing. Why ? Because there isn't any. The Senate, on the other hand, is indeed trying to fulfill it's constitutional duties. Only Pheu Thai won't let them function. Is that the DSI solution to the crisis - to prevent the Senate from functioning ?

[Lingba]

If both sides aren't willing to compromise, then the only way out of this would be for the military to step in. Distasteful as that may be, it sure beats battles among both the red thugs and the PRDC on our streets.

I say let them duke it out in the streets and televise so the whole world can watch the country in a meltdown...it should be quite amusing

[JAG]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

This "Sae Khu" business: according to Wikki ( yes I know, the last refuge of the ignorant) the name was born by an immigrant from China in 1860, who married a Thai and founded the Shinawatra family. They have been Shinawatras for a number of generations. Tell us, do you write Sae Khu because you cannot bring yourself to write Shinawatra, is to show us how clever you are, or does it perhaps reveal a slightly suspect racial antipathy to people of Chinese ethnic origin?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Soutpeel]

If both sides aren't willing to compromise, then the only way out of this would be for the military to step in. Distasteful as that may be, it sure beats battles among both the red thugs and the PRDC on our streets.

I say let them duke it out in the streets and televise so the whole world can watch the country in a meltdown...it should be quite amusing

So your suggesting the possibility of Women & children, innocent people being killed in the streets....amuses you, then your a sick person, one suggests you relocate from Thailand to Syria and please do report the "amusing" stories once you get there...

[Lingba]

If both sides aren't willing to compromise, then the only way out of this would be for the military to step in. Distasteful as that may be, it sure beats battles among both the red thugs and the PRDC on our streets.

I say let them duke it out in the streets and televise so the whole world can watch the country in a meltdown...it should be quite amusing

So your suggesting the possibility of Women & children, innocent people being killed in the streets....amuses you, then your a sick person, one suggests you relocate from Thailand to Syria and please do report the "amusing" stories once you get there...

Oh Lighten up...and no women and children being killed doesn't amuse me...but if the other knuckleheads feel that bashing each other brains in is the only solution, then go ahead and let them do it

[wandasloan]

Forming an unelected government is illegitimate and will bring more conflict and violence," warned Tarit Pengdith, head of the Ministry of Justice's Department of Special Investigation (DSI). "

It's too late, because Pheu Thai have already picked someone from half a cabinet - something for which there is no provision in the constitution. A prime minister can only be constitutionally nominated through a quorum-filled parliament or through the Senate in the event of a quorum-less parliament. Period. Not one Pheu Thai spokesman has sited any part of the constitution for what they're doing. Why ? Because there isn't any. The Senate, on the other hand, is indeed trying to fulfill it's constitutional duties. Only Pheu Thai won't let them function. Is that the DSI solution to the crisis - to prevent the Senate from functioning ?

Please do not spread this nonsense amongst the uninformed here. You just make the discussions worse because inevitably the uninformed pick it up as if it were true. I personally think you actually know that the constitution has a "part" as you put it, which justifies ANYTHING. It is typically Thai to have such a "part"; so many, many laws in Thailand individually have their owner version of it.

In fact Section 7 makes legal any action that is not otherwise covered. There's nothing to cover picking half a cabinet? Well, Section 7 does. Nothing says anything about a Lower House with no quorum? It's covered by Section 7. No mention in the constitution of what day to hold the gloveless muay thai finals? Refer to Section 7. Okay, that last one is silly. Nevertheless...

Have a read of Section 7 and tell us again that "no provision" covers Pheu Thai, Suthep, the senate, the Election Commision, the Constitution Court... covers any legal group to do anything that seems worthwhile. Or, as Section 7 puts it: "any case". The standard, accepted English translation for Section 7 is on Page 4 of the excellent English version of the constitution released through the Senate. It is technically CHAPTER I (General Provisions), Section 7 (of 309 total sections in the charter). It says, in full:

Whenever no provision under this constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of State.

Tell us what you think this section does NOT cover.

Meanwhile, the political groups and independent groups will only be arguing about how Section 7 covers what they want. Contrary to your post, Pheu Thai has specifically cited Section 7 for their proposals. As has the PDRC. And as well might they and everyone else who wants to go beyond what the constitution specifically covers.

.

[rebelplatoon]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

You really do have a fanatical obsession with the "Sae Khu" name, don't you?

I don't know, what is fanatical about calling it what it is. It's their real name. As I always say and ask people: Name ONE person in Government who is full Thai, not Chinese. Everyone is speechless. That shouldn't be able to happen. It is exactly the Chinese "Elite" that's keeping the farmers poor. They are the middle men. Wished people would see this. If they'd be cut out the farmers could finally start building a future.

[Tom420]

If both sides aren't willing to compromise, then the only way out of this would be for the military to step in. Distasteful as that may be, it sure beats battles among both the red thugs and the PRDC on our streets.

I say let them duke it out in the streets and televise so the whole world can watch the country in a meltdown...it should be quite amusing

So your suggesting the possibility of Women & children, innocent people being killed in the streets....amuses you, then your a sick person, one suggests you relocate from Thailand to Syria and please do report the "amusing" stories once you get there...

Oh Lighten up...and no women and children being killed doesn't amuse me...but if the other knuckleheads feel that bashing each other brains in is the only solution, then go ahead and let them do it

Empathy, nope I can't find it, can't detect a hint of it anywhere.

[noodle]

It would be amusing to have all the polis marched into a stadium and not allowed out until they have agreement:)

[Bluespunk]

"Deep political divisions have riven Thailand since Yingluck's elder brother Thaksin Shinawatra was deposed as premier by royalist generals in 2006."

No they didn't. He wasn't PM at time of coup. There was no govt as such at the time. Why can AFP not get this fact right?

[Prbkk]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

You really do have a fanatical obsession with the "Sae Khu" name, don't you?

I don't know, what is fanatical about calling it what it is. It's their real name. As I always say and ask people: Name ONE person in Government who is full Thai, not Chinese. Everyone is speechless. That shouldn't be able to happen. It is exactly the Chinese "Elite" that's keeping the farmers poor. They are the middle men. Wished people would see this. If they'd be cut out the farmers could finally start building a future.

You are so far removed from reality that it's almost comical. Your understanding of Thai society is negligible and your repeated references to race are both inappropriate and offensive...as well as WAY OFF the mark.

[rebelplatoon]

Funny that from afar it always looks different. Only Royalists and the South? Ask people in Surin, Khampaengphet, Chai nat, etc.etc. what they'll be voting next time around.... That's all middle Thailand. Now after the showdown at Trat I don't think there'll be many reds in Trat and Chantaburi left. So the line should now read: The Sae Khu family supported by the North and North East. And the Democrats by the middle, South and Bangkok.(Mind you: I don't say Suthep) Why did you think the farmers begged the Democrats to join the next election? Because they're not going to vote for them?

This "Sae Khu" business: according to Wikki ( yes I know, the last refuge of the ignorant) the name was born by an immigrant from China in 1860, who married a Thai and founded the Shinawatra family. They have been Shinawatras for a number of generations. Tell us, do you write Sae Khu because you cannot bring yourself to write Shinawatra, is to show us how clever you are, or does it perhaps reveal a slightly suspect racial antipathy to people of Chinese ethnic origin?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Nothing racial there, mate. It is their real name. They changed it. And it was in 1919. When Taksin's father got married. So not many generations. They are still from Chinese descent. So are you saying calling them Chinese is racial? Name one person in Government that is full Thai? They ARE the so much referred to "elite" they are the ones taking all the profits from the farmers. They ARE the middle men, with their cronies. Farmers should unite in co operatives and start making their own profits. The fact that his grandfather was into "tax farming" should tell you enough.

[h90]

Just on the Nation Tweeter:

tulsathit @tulsathit

Dozens of "red protesters" demand "unpaid" fees after being hired to join UDD protest. - Thai Rath