Soldiers 'surround' Thai pro-government rally: protest leader

BANGKOK, May 20, 2014 (AFP) - Soldiers on Tuesday encircled a pro-government "Red Shirts" protest in Thailand's capital, the rally leader said, after the military declared martial law to quell months of political unrest.

"We have been surrounded by troops on all sides," Jatuporn Prompan told AFP.

The military is trying to convince the Red Shirts to end their gathering, according to Paradorn Pattanatabut, chief security adviser to Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.

"The military is negotiating with the Red Shirts to disperse," he said.

The Red Shirts were angered by the dismissal of prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra earlier this month in a controversial court ruling.

The movement has warned of the threat of civil war if power is handed to an unelected leader as demanded by the opposition.

A military crackdown on Red Shirts protests in 2010 under the previous government left dozens dead.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-20

Red shirts start return home after troops block Utthayan road

BANGKOK: -- Troops were deployed to close Buddha Monthon 4 Road and replaced police to keep security there. Following the arrival of troops, some red shirts started returning home.


-- The Nation 2014-05-20

Red shirts start return home after troops block Utthayan road

BANGKOK: -- Troops were deployed to close Buddha Monthon 4 Road and replaced police to keep security there. Following the arrival of troops, some red shirts started returning home.

-- The Nation 2014-05-20

Good news! Not many to see off the premises at any rate. Get things back to normal.

No problem with seeing this, but will they do the same with the PDRC anti-gov protesters?

No problem with seeing this, but will they do the same with the PDRC anti-gov protesters?

Hopefully, yes.

First, to deal with known trouble-makers, then a few words in the ears of the the PDRC leaders.

Juttaporn, Suthep, Tarit, Chalerm, Nuttawat all being arrested would be quite a story, but I won't hold my breath!

Good question! But the RED have violent tendencies and with the fanatic Jatuporn leading them the chances increase dramatically. Also there is the fact that Prayuth hates Jatuporn heehee.

Hard to say if the Army will do the same for the Dems. I think if they were going to do it them then they would have them surrounded already.

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Yeah so who has done the most blockading of bangkok for the last 6 months ??

Best leave them till later huh ?? Have a little polite word.. Ask them nicely.. With a good high wai.

There has got to be more to all this than we know; i guess we will find out as time goes by but meantime it's going to be an interesting week in a country where nothing remains stable from one day to the next !

Coup in progress. Step 1: disperse the Reds, but not the PRDC. Step 2: Senate replaces govt illegally. Coup complete.

To be confirmed.

Looks strange to me.

Like any normal human being I hate Thai army but I don't think they would dare to bother the Reds without bothering the Royalists. It would be the proof of the double standard.

Double standard now => The today's winners will lose for ever in the future.

IF they do not do the same for the PDRC thugs then the inherent bias will be clear to ALL Thais and the entire world

A post containing rumors has been removed from view. Future posts like this will result in posting holidays due to the current political situation.

Currently there is no Red / Yellow TV -- now only Army TV.

Martial law declared

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/19/world/asia/thailand-martial-law/index.html

The military is trying to convince the Red Shirts to end their gathering, according to Paradorn Pattanatabut, chief security adviser to Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.

We should all hope they will negotiate with PDRC to end their gathering(s) as well, as seen as they are gathering for the 6 past months.

But something tells me that won't be like that.

This might work. They can 'persuade' suthep to pack it in and go home, Senate can invite Peua Thai, as the previous election winner, to choose a suitable interim prime minister, agreeing on a cabinet made up of mild persons from both sides, protests can be temporarily outlawed, we can get on with reform with an election promised within 4 months.

The military needs to prove their "neutrality" by also surrounding the yellow camps. Otherwise, it is a total farce.

The military needs to prove their "neutrality" by also surrounding the yellow camps. Otherwise, it is a total farce.

I imagine the PTP caretaker govt wont last the day, hence dispersing the pro govt side.

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IF they do not do the same for the PDRC thugs then the inherent bias will be clear to ALL Thais and the entire world

I'm sure it will be spun off as being done for the red shirt's own protection. After all last time they brought arms into the capital heaps of them died.

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Currently there is no Red / Yellow TV -- now only Army TV.

BlueSky is still on the air. Abhisit is currently giving an interview. UDD TV and Asia Update are all still broadcasting.

IF they do not do the same for the PDRC thugs then the inherent bias will be clear to ALL Thais and the entire world

Why double standard?

The army's job is to disperse the bad people only, not the good people too.

"The army has ordered protest groups to remain at their respective sites and remain peaceful"

I was right.

Obvious double standard is a suicide for the Royalists.

This might work. They can 'persuade' suthep to pack it in and go home, Senate can invite Peua Thai, as the previous election winner, to choose a suitable interim prime minister, agreeing on a cabinet made up of mild persons from both sides, protests can be temporarily outlawed, we can get on with reform with an election promised within 4 months.

You don't seem to be paying attention. The ammart did not seize power in order to turn it back over to their enemies, the citizens who are the majority of the country. After the Senate has put their stooges in power with the Army preventing the Reds from gathering to oppose the coup, there will be a long period, years perhaps, of discussion and meetings about "reform." When the "reforms" are completed, the majority will find that either they can't vote at all or they cannot elect a government that will have any actual power. This will be achieved by increasing the anti-democracy provisions of the constitution including non-elected senators and, perhaps, representatives, "independent" agencies like the EC and NACC with increased authority to control or disband the elected government, etc. When elections are finally held they will be a sham.

The military needs to prove their "neutrality" by also surrounding the yellow camps. Otherwise, it is a total farce.

When those PDRC camps start throwing grenades on a daily basis onto red protest sites then the army will proceed with that.

The PDRC have netting and sand bags filled to protect them from the reds.

The reds have……..Well nothing. Because they are not being attacked.

Saying that - If the PDRC start bombing red shirt sites I sincerely hope the army treat them in the same manner as the red shirt threat.

Everything seems to go against the principles. Mr. Army, shouldn't you start out surrounding the protesters who caused chaos for the past 6 months first? You don't seem to hide your true color at all which side you're standing with.

Two sides fighting. They have surrounded the ones with the weapons (supplied by our lovely government as now proven) they will tell both sides to dispurse. Best thing to do in the situation.

To be confirmed.

Looks strange to me.

Like any normal human being I hate Thai army but I don't think they would dare to bother the Reds without bothering the Royalists. It would be the proof of the double standard.

Double standard now => The today's winners will lose for ever in the future.

Normal human beings do not hate the army. Many Thais love the army. Especially after all the help they provided during the floods.

You don't seem to be paying attention. The ammart did not seize power in order to turn it back over to their enemies, the citizens who are the majority of the country. After the Senate has put their stooges in power with the Army preventing the Reds from gathering to oppose the coup, there will be a long period, years perhaps, of discussion and meetings about "reform." When the "reforms" are completed, the majority will find that either they can't vote at all or they cannot elect a government that will have any actual power. This will be achieved by increasing the anti-democracy provisions of the constitution including non-elected senators and, perhaps, representatives, "independent" agencies like the EC and NACC with increased authority to control or disband the elected government, etc. When elections are finally held they will be a sham.

Let's hope your prediction is not true. However it appears that what you posted above is exactly what is happening right now.

People, please, crying foul play when nothing is happening hardly makes sense and posting wrong info does not improve the situation.

The military must address trouble makers and it is good to see them at work. Reds are obviously the ones that need cold water thrown on their overly hot attitudes.

It is completely their call as to who they surround as they are now the boss, they do not need to prove anything, just work towards quelling violence such as the Reds are famous for.