Chiang Rai: Northern red rally dismantled, TV station raided

[webfact]

Northern Red Rally Dismantled, TV Station Raided

By Khaosod English

CHIANG RAI — As nationwide martial law takes hold in Thailand, pro-government Redshirts in Chiang Rai province announced a "temporary" suspension of their political campaign, while a state-owned television station in Chiang Mai was raided by soldiers.

Local Redshirts had been organising a rally near Chiang Rai’s old city wall in league with the mass demonstration called by the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) on Aksa Avenue in western Bangkok.

But today’s declaration of martial law by Royal Thai Army commander-in-chief Gen. Prayuth led protesters to call off their demonstration - for now.

"We understand that the military imposed martial law because they want to see peace and order in the country," said Attakorn Kanthachai, leader of the local Redshirt group Love Democracy Network. "So we have to dismantle the stage for the moment. Also, we cannot broadcast the footage of the rally on Aksa Road, so there's no point in maintaining the stage any longer."

Nevertheless, the Chiang Rai Redshirts insist that their retreat is only temporary.

"If there's an attempt to find a neutral Prime Minister under Article 7, we will come out to protest such action," said Songtham Kid-an, another activist of the Redshirt group.

Mr. Songtham added that many Redshirt leaders in Chiang Rai province were summoned to meet with the military for "clarification" of the martial law at Meng Rai army base, but he said no futher information about date and time was given.

Meanwhile, armed soldiers raided the provincial television station of the state-owned Channel 11 in Chiang Mai province's Mae Rim district today. The raid was ordered by the army's newly-formed Peace and Ordre Maintaining Command (POMC), which has invoked its powers under martial law to censor the media to prevent information that might "mislead" the public.

After arriving at the Chiang Mai branch of the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT), the troops confiscated broadcasting equipment and ordered the staff to delete footage of the raid.

Director of Chiang Mai's NBT Duangman Srikitwilaikul and two of her assistants were later escorted to a military base. The soldiers left the station soon afterwards.

A local Redshirt "community radio" in Chiang Mai has been similarly taken off the air.

"The military has not seized power. We merely want to end violence," said Maj.Gen. Sarayut Sangsri, a commander of Chiang Mai military region, "I don't believe there would be violence, because the military is now resolving the problem."

However, Maj.Gen. Sarayut advised against political gathering of any kind in the meantime. "Unless it is really necessary, there should be no meeting or seminar related to politics."

Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces are major strongholds of the pro-government Redshirt movement.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1400578574


-- Khaosod English 2014-05-20

[Bangmod]

Great news, the rally wouldn't attract that much of a support anyway, but do this people not have to work??

The seizure of the local radio station, is the first in many stations who should be shut down for ever, other ways this one sided propaganda keeps going on and peace will never been installed in the country.

All media should report only facts, and no propaganda for any side involved

[Ned]

This is a military coup. The pro government people are in their sights.

[gemini81]

Hells yeah. Comes around full circle. Bye bye Red rouge!

[coma]

That's a bit unfair.

[Bkkbound]

As repeatedly predicted, the red shirt thugs have and will disperse quickly and the lunatic fringe professionally and quickly dealt with by the military. There will be no civil war. The question for the politicians is how to go foward without the shin clan influence distorting the businessof government. It may be a generation before the damage caused can be repaired.

[greg71]

Great news, the rally wouldn't attract that much of a support anyway, but do this people not have to work??

The seizure of the local radio station, is the first in many stations who should be shut down for ever, other ways this one sided propaganda keeps going on and peace will never been installed in the country.

All media should report only facts, and no propaganda for any side involved

The that would meaning shutting down all commercial channels 3 5 7 9 11 etc etc .How about facebook twitter etc as while your at it .

[Bkungbank]

The rights to expression are protected under constitutions but don't kill or harm others who disagree with us as the beauty of democratic are all different believed and ideology can sit down and express one's thinking .

[In Town]

Sad that anyone would defend suppression of speech. Of course different people have different political opinions, so who is to say what is propaganda.

[smutcakes]

Great news, the rally wouldn't attract that much of a support anyway, but do this people not have to work??

The seizure of the local radio station, is the first in many stations who should be shut down for ever, other ways this one sided propaganda keeps going on and peace will never been installed in the country.

All media should report only facts, and no propaganda for any side involved

Are you being ironic?

[dwcrist]

Glad to see some order being imposed. Hopefully the army can work with the EC to ensure elections are not disrupted by anti-democracy protestors.

[Now or Never]

GREAT NEWS. The money wasted on these radio stations can be used to help the farmers.

[seajae]

hopefully they will now continue all this with the reds and yellows so that all the bullsh*t propaganda they sprook is stopped and when the elections are to be held that other parties are allowed to campaign in red/yellow areas with the armies protection. No more of the violence etc we see when anyone other than their preferred colours are in their areas, that will make it fair elections.

[kimamey]

Sad that anyone would defend suppression of speech. Of course different people have different political opinions, so who is to say what is propaganda.

It does depend on what they were broadcasting. If they were inciting violence then it's probably justified. If it was just opinion then no it wasn't.

[kimamey]

Great news, the rally wouldn't attract that much of a support anyway, but do this people not have to work??

The seizure of the local radio station, is the first in many stations who should be shut down for ever, other ways this one sided propaganda keeps going on and peace will never been installed in the country.

All media should report only facts, and no propaganda for any side involved

The that would meaning shutting down all commercial channels 3 5 7 9 11 etc etc .How about facebook twitter etc as while your at it .

And us on TV of course. Some would have to turn to drink and sex to fill their days.

Edited May 20, 2014 by kimamey

[chainarong]

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

This is a military coup. The pro government people are in their sights.

I shouldn't think so .

[Scamper]

This must have been a difficult article for Khaosod to write. Thank goodness the UDD stations are down. UDD radio in particular was not only the source of so much misinformation but it actually routinely instigated unrest. Blue Sky TV is also down and Prayuth is to be commended for using a balanced measure here. It is to the UDD and their supporters continual advantage to pedal the idea of a more sweeping censorship of the mainstream media to come, but it won't happen. If it was going to, for sure those measures would have been released simultaneously. Prayuth knows precisely where the unrest originates - as does everyone else - and to fans of Channel 3, 5 and so on - will doubtless continue to see them, as will newspapers ( yes, even Khaosod ), and social media in full throttle. This is not a Chalerm move. It is a Prayuth move, and there is far more reason in the later than in the former. This is a very good maneuver, because it has brought security to Bangkok, calmed down the rallies, and most importantly released the Senate, the Constitutional Court, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission from the provocation they've been receiving. They can now proceed with safety, as they're supposed to.

[chotthee]

" and ordered the staff to delete footage of the raid"

Why delete the footage if the raid is done according to the law?

[In Town]

This must have been a difficult article for Khaosod to write. Thank goodness the UDD stations are down. UDD radio in particular was not only the source of so much misinformation but it actually routinely instigated unrest. Blue Sky TV is also down and Prayuth is to be commended for using a balanced measure here. It is to the UDD and their supporters continual advantage to pedal the idea of a more sweeping censorship of the mainstream media to come, but it won't happen. If it was going to, for sure those measures would have been released simultaneously. Prayuth knows precisely where the unrest originates - as does everyone else - and to fans of Channel 3, 5 and so on - will doubtless continue to see them, as will newspapers ( yes, even Khaosod ), and social media in full throttle. This is not a Chalerm move. It is a Prayuth move, and there is far more reason in the later than in the former. This is a very good maneuver, because it has brought security to Bangkok, calmed down the rallies, and most importantly released the Senate, the Constitutional Court, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission from the provocation they've been receiving. They can now proceed with safety, as they're supposed to.

Interesting you think this has calmed the situation. I would think rather that putting a lid on the tension in society will merely increase the pressure over time and possibly eventually lead to an explosion. I guess time will tell.

[icare999]

about time it is/was full of hate and BS worse than Goebbels propaganda against jews

[chainarong]

There is no place in a democracy for propaganda media, they all should have there licences revoked and the reforms should include this on the agenda , academic's please note.

[Civil War]

If it is indeed a nationwide martial law then it appears to be a breach of the constitution which only allows the military chief to declare martial law "in a certain location", as opposed to the King who can declare it nationwide.

Take that up with your local army commander. I am sure there is one near you.

PM me your location and I will ferret out his phone number for you.

We can't have the military breaking the law, you can quote the constitution article directly to him, he seems to have totally misread it.

You may even get a medal.

[Robby nz]

If it is indeed a nationwide martial law then it appears to be a breach of the constitution which only allows the military chief to declare martial law "in a certain location", as opposed to the King who can declare it nationwide.

From what I understand martial law needs to have a Royal Proclamation if they've done that they will have the king's approval. If they haven'tr it would seem to be unlawful and a stupid thing to do.

Who is the commander in chief of the army ?

Do you really think this would have been done without his blessing ?

[Civil War]

" and ordered the staff to delete footage of the raid"

Why delete the footage if the raid is done according to the law?

They ARE the law, and why release footage that is likely to create political rage?... sort of goes against the exact law they are trying to uphold.

On another note. Nice to see two of them get arrested and marched away to a nice cell in a military barracks.. Sends out a simple message that the army aint taking the red shi-t any more.... Now lets extend that to the leaders on the Aksa stage, as they are doing the exact same thing down in BKK. Or do they think the army won't dare?

[Smokemachine]

If they keep using violence to blackmail the country, of course they must prepared for today result. What's the army for? You mean they are gonna sit there and drink hongTong while watching them bringing heavy weapons into Bangkok and hurt the citizens as they like?

The red shirt ongoing activity is exactly the same as Ko Tee's statement in one particular video.

On the surface, they keep talking about election, at the back they are stocking up weapons for violence.

Like Ko Tee said in that video, on the surface they are talking about democracy, behind the scene, they are training their people to use guns, basically for killing.

They are really so democratic.....

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[AleG]

The headline says "... Rally Dismantled" to give the impression that the Army routed the Red Shirts, while the actual article tell that they themselves cancelled it, this is pure Yellow Journalism.

[GeorgeO]

Great news, the rally wouldn't attract that much of a support anyway, but do this people not have to work??

The seizure of the local radio station, is the first in many stations who should be shut down for ever, other ways this one sided propaganda keeps going on and peace will never been installed in the country.

All media should report only facts, and no propaganda for any side involved

The that would meaning shutting down all commercial channels 3 5 7 9 11 etc etc .How about facebook twitter etc as while your at it .

And us on TV of course. Some would have to turn to drink and sex to fill their days.

... and golf...!

[jennywren]

Hells yeah. Comes around full circle. Bye bye Red rouge!

The opposite is true.

the reds are still playing the butter would not melt in our mouth card. They are smart enough to play this out for longer yet. After all they have thwarted all Amart and PDRC and Court attempts for 7 months now. Slowly does it reds

Supporting the martial law to ensure the election proceed.

Army and PDRC still need violent clashes for them to go to the next (prefferred) level of an all out coup and appointed PM.

It is not happening for the moment, so the army's reasoning for couping is still not sufficient.

[klauskunkel]

"We understand that the military imposed martial law because they want to see peace and order in the country," said Attakorn Kanthachai, leader of the local Redshirt group Love Democracy Network. "So we have to dismantle the stage for the moment. Also, we cannot broadcast the footage of the rally on Aksa Road, so there's no point in maintaining the stage any longer."

K. Attakorn is basically saying that redshirt rallies are not peaceful and/or orderly - straight from the buffalo's mouth to the Nation of Thailand. Well done, dude...

[Gunna]

Hells yeah. Comes around full circle. Bye bye Red rouge!

You realize that "rouge" already means "red" right?

You should get out more, Yes in french but it also is blusher. ie painting your face with red blusher