Thaksin Not Returning As Pm

[sriracha john]

[sriracha john]

Thaksin already has enough legal woes to preclude his ascension to becoming PM again... Now, another hefty personal lawsuit is just a filing away:

Six allege assault by Thaksin supporters

Six people yesterday described alleged attacks on them by suspected Thaksin Shinawatra supporters during clashes on Saturday at the opening of a Siam Paragon exhibition in honour of His Majesty the King.

They described the alleged assaults at a news conference at Chandrakasem Rajabhat University organised by an anti-Thaksin group led by economist Sangsit Piriyarangsan.

Yurachat Chatsutthichai - a university student who was photographed as he was punched by some of the prime minister's security staff.

He said he saw a five-year-old child shout out at Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Some of Thaksin's security team arrived soon after, grabbed his arms and punched him. He suspects the bodyguards thought he was the heckler.

The security staff also kicked the child before onlookers came to their aid.

"If it's this cruel in Bangkok, at Siam Paragon, in the heart of the city, in front of the prime minister and the media, what will happen to those disagreeing with the prime minister in remote areas? To be straight, I have begun to fear danger even in the city," he said.

Roong (pseudonym) - a woman described by Thaksin as mentally ill after his foot was stepped upon.

Roong learned Thaksin would open the exhibition at the shopping centre. She wanted to see and touch a billionaire. She claimed she accidentally stepped on the PM's foot as she was jostled by security. "I saw him. His skin was so fair it's pale. I wanted to be close to him and touch his hand but security blocked me and made me step on the prime minister's foot. [With respect] I wanted to tell him I didn't mean to step on his foot. And I'm not mentally ill," she said.

Kim (pseudonym) - a 10th grade student.

He was at the event but not participating. He heard someone shout "Thaksin cheats the country". After that, security staff hit him in the head and punched one of his friends. He alleged that after Thaksin's departure a group of men followed and attacked him and his friend outside a nearby restaurant.

Keng (pseudonym).

He visited Siam Paragon with his wife. He knew none of the others involved. He saw a young man (Kim) attacked and intervened. He claimed shortly after that he was followed by five men who hit him in the face and head.

Kate (pseudonym) - a woman with the child kicked by security staff.

The clash had begun by the time she arrived at the shopping complex. She shouted "Thaksin cheats the country". She was then kicked by others even though she was still holding her child.

She said staff had no right to harm her. Later she was allegedly followed by five men who fled when she tried to take their picture with her mobile telephone camera.

Phongsri (pseudonym).

She said she was smiling at three children shouting for Thaksin to resign. She heard people shouting "Thaksin fight on" so responded by shouting "Seller of the country". Security staff approached her and assaulted the nearby children.

The Nation

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Beating up women, youths, and children.... Well done, PM

[sriracha john]

Now, even a press conference held to denounce violence barely avoids ending in violence itself:

Thaksin’s supporters and detractors lock horns again

Sharp polarization between pro-Thaksin and anti-Thaksin groups surfaced again yesterday as a press conference organized to expose the heavy-handed treatment of anti-Thaksin protesters at Siam Paragon on Saturday was noisily disrupted by pro-Thaksin elements.

The press conference, called by the six people assaulted by caretaker PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s security guards and supporters, nearly turned into another clash between the rival groups when the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) was accused of masterminding the incident.

The Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party also fanned political flames yesterday afternoon by claiming that the incident was a PAD plot to cause social rifts.

Speaking to the media at Ratchapat Chandrakasem Institute, the six victims showed bruises they had sustained and recounted the events leading up to their being assaulted and forced out of the shopping mall for taunting Thaksin. Some of them will press charges against their attackers and possibly Thaksin on Wednesday.

ahhh ok, "the lawsuit a filing away" will happen in two days..

Pornsri, one of the four female victims, said she did not intend to incite violence but could not hold her tongue when she saw people cheering Thaksin’s arrival at the mall. “…he is looting the country so I shouted that Thaksin is a traitor.” Rung, another female victim, said she felt paranoid after Thaksin’s guards said they will check her background. “ was pushed to the floor during the commotion, that’s all.” Thaksin was at Siam Paragon on Saturday to preside over the opening of the exhibition commemorating His Majesty the King’s various Royal Projects. Ushered out of the mall shortly after the scuffle broke out, Thaksin later condemned the verbal ambush as unacceptable in a democratic society.

Sangsit Piriyarangsan, director of Chandrakasem University’s doctoral programs, hosted yesterday’s press conference, which doubled as the formal introduction of his newly established Social Network Against the Thaksin Regime. He said anti-Thaksin sentiment was growing rapidly around the country. Several known anti-Thaksin members of the former Senate, including Karun Saingam and Seree Suwanpanont, attended the conference and agreed with Sangsit’s assessment of the political situation, saying such clashes will continue until Thaksin resigns. “It was a human rights violation and since Thaksin condoned the assaults by his guards, he cannot evade responsibility either,” said Seree.

“The right to express opinions peacefully is guaranteed in the Constitution,” said Karun. “…it is criminal to assault people who have different political opinions.”

Karun and Seree, both legal experts, have volunteered to represent the assault victims in pressing charges against Thaksin.

Before the conclusion of the press conference, a group of around 30, calling themselves Network of People Who Love Peace and led by Pansak Sannu, appeared outside. Holding pro-Thaksin placards, the group blocked the building’s entrance and demanded that Sangsit be ousted from the institute. Speaking through a loud speaker, Pansak condemned Sangsit for inappropriate use of the institute’s grounds to hold the press conference. Further, Pansak told ThaiDay that he suspected the six persons had been instigated by PAD to taunt Thaksin.

PAD supporters at the conference quickly rushed outside to confront Pansak’s group. The two sides exchanged heated words and violence was averted only as police intervened when both sides began pushing each other. Several students on campus criticized Pansak for his attack on Sangsit. However, when challenged by a student to debate with PAD supporters in the conference room, Pansak declined.

When a PAD supporter noticed that a few members of Pansak’s group may be those found guilty of contempt of court last month for protesting the incarceration of three former election commissioners, the group left quickly. The court suspended their brief prison terms on the condition that they not partake in activities causing social rifts, and their actions may mean a breach of the court order.

Meanwhile, TRT Deputy Spokesman Jatuporn Promphan alleged that PAD had a role in planning the incident and targeted his criticism at Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD founder. Suriyasai, who attended yesterday’s conference, denied PAD’s involvement.

ThaiDay

[Ricardo]

"Thaksin later condemned the verbal ambush as unacceptable in a democratic society".

But it was TRT-supporters, who began the verbal demonstration, by chanting when they saw the acting caretaker PM in the shopping-centre, was that equally unacceptable in a democratic society ? I think we should be told !

When security guards can kick 5-year-old children, or gangs of thugs follow & threaten or assault people who merely exercise their democratic right to disagree with him, then Thailand under Thaksin's leadership is becoming a scary place. Almost a fascist regime.

Let's hope this receives wide publicity - and the voters show their disapproval at the next election !

[sriracha john]

Additional information:

Six injured by PM's guards call for justice

Six people physically assaulted by caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's security guards at Siam Paragon shopping centre on Saturday will lodge a complaint against the guards with Pathumwan police on Wednesday. The injured, led by Kornwiwat Thampinitchai, 52, a garment businessman, yesterday gathered at a meeting organised by Civil Society Networks against the Thaksin Regime and condemned the excessive use of violence and violation of freedom of expression. They said they were not involved in the protest but were attacked. Police should investigate the case fairly and bring the offenders to justice as quickly as possible, they said.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Aug2006_news03.php

[John K]

Thaksin failed to provoke violence all this year will rallies and gatherings, so now apparently decided to start the violence himself.

Prediction: First step to imposing martial law.

I hope I am wrong but I do recall some remarks Thaksin made when the PAD rallies started.

SJ I am sure you can find that faster than me in the archives.

[sriracha john]

Police restrain an angry supporter of caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as he exchanges heated words with anti-Thaksin groups at Ratchapat Chandrakasem Institute yesterday.

ThaiDay

[sriracha john]

STILL playing... Will I? Won't I? Maybe Yes? Maybe No?

PM Thaksin not yet decide on political future

BANGKOK, Aug 22 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has not yet decided on his political future, saying he has not made a final decision.

When presiding at a ceremony--held at the Police Club here Tuesday--to present the "Police Award" to 18 selected police officers with outstanding performance of the metropolitan police force, the prime minister partly said that he had not yet made up his mind on his political career.

"I still don't know whether I should retire from politics by the end of this year, or continue my political work in coming years," he indicated.

"Whatever a final decision I'll make, I'll, however, never retire from being a police officer," said the police lieutenant colonel-turned-leading politician.

Mr. Thaksin urged that police officers as law enforcers--and all other Thais--honestly observe their duties and be kind to one another, as advised by His Majesty the King, for the sake of national peace and order.

Responding to journalists at his Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party headquarters after the Police Club's ceremony, the caretaker premier said briefly that he was too tired to give any interview.

"Please don't ask me any question. I'm so tired at the moment," he told the reporters--apparently avoiding revealing any more information.

Security measures for the prime minister have been tightened following confrontations between the pro- and anti-Thaksin groups here over the past days, one at Siam Paragon--Bangkok's up-scale shopping centre--on Saturday, another at Rajabhat Chankasem University Sunday and the latest incident took place Monday at the Central World Building, where Mr. Thaksin presided a ceremony to inaugurate the "Digital TK Park", causing two injuries.

nice little slip-up..... "Thaksin's presiding over the ceremonies is the cause of two injuries".... TNNBPRD has competition...

Confrontations were also reported when the caretaker premier visited the country's northeastern and northern regions earlier this month.

- MCOT

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woe is me

can't you see?

i am not sure

what is the cure?

will i say yes?

or will i say no?

i just don't know

my mind is so slow

Edited August 22, 2006 by sriracha john