Red shirts turn out in large numbers to receive Apiwan's body
The Sunday Nation

A red-shirt supporter waves a placard with the image of late Pheu Thai MP Apiwan Wiriyachai, as security guards maintain order amid the huge turnout of red shirts at Suvarnabhumi Airport

BANGKOK: -- Red shirts gathered in huge numbers yesterday at a heavily secured Suvarnabhumi Airport to receive the body of Apiwan Wiriyachai, who died while receiving medical treatment in the Philippines.

Members of the crowd, dressed in black, included many key red-shirt leaders such as Weng Tojirakarn, Thida Thavornseth, Nuttawut Saikuar and Jatuporn Promphan.

They waited in front of the free zone in the airport terminal as hundreds of police and soldiers guarded all entrances. Police frequently warned the crowd not to express anything political in nature.

Thai Airways International flight TG621 from Manila arrived with the body at 3.20pm.

Jatuporn said he told national police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang that the gathering was non-political and the latter agreed to facilitate traffic management for the reception and transport of the body from the airport.

He said the gathering was not a symbol of any political agenda but an act of mourning and the situation would return to normal at the end of the funeral ceremony next Sunday.

The body of the former Parliament deputy speaker will be brought to the Bang Pai temple in Nonthaburi for the funeral ceremony, which starts today.

Colonel Apiwan, a former deputy House speaker, died on Monday at age 65 from a lung infection. An outspoken supporter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the UDD movement, he fled Thailand after the military coup on May 22.

Jatuporn said that many red-shirt supporters were likely to attend the funeral rites for Apiwan, as he had fought side by side with them. He said the gathering would proceed smoothly. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon warned last week that the funeral rites for the former Pheu Thai MP must be kept free of politics so that family and friends could pay their respects properly.

Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra was expected to attend today, Jatuporn said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Red-shirts-turn-out-in-large-numbers-to-receive-Ap-30245290.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-12

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

Jatuporn assured the gathering and funeral rites would be non-political and we all know what a fine, truthful and upstanding pillar of society he is.

Does anyone really believe with so many reds and PTP together there will not be whispering about forbidden topics ?

Mind you it's probably the lesser of two evils considering what might have happened has the govt said no reception committee and no funeral rites .

Wonder if Yingluck will be prevented from attending this one?

Of course the reds have the right to bury one of their own. It does show things are at a stalemate now. It is only temporarily. The present government has to do much work and must improve life standard for the Thai people to quiet down the red movement. Else history will repeat itself over and over again. Nobody would gain anything from that.

'...Jatuporn said...that the gathering was non-political...', yeah, sure, really someone who can be trusted, NOT, 'A red shirt supporter waves a placard...', in English, in front of foreign media photographers probably, non-political too I assume, yet another 'uncontrolled individual' I guess 'Mr' Jatuporn?

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

How have the army interfered?

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

yes a crying shame

Perhaps the police and army were there to facilitate the gathering and make sure there was as little disruption to the International airport and it's customers as possible - just a wild guess

Not to mention keeping them all safe from armed attack with assault rifles and grenades and maintain security

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

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

yes a crying shame

Perhaps the police and army were there to facilitate the gathering and make sure there was as little disruption to the International airport and it's customers as possible - just a wild guess

That is what the police are for. Not the Army. Army needs to get back to their barracks. So you guess wrong.

Off-topic posts and replies removed.

Please stick to the topic and the topic isn't about what you think of other posters.

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

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

yes a crying shame

Perhaps the police and army were there to facilitate the gathering and make sure there was as little disruption to the International airport and it's customers as possible - just a wild guess

That is what the police are for. Not the Army. Army needs to get back to their barracks. So you guess wrong.

you mean the same way they stood around and let the reds kill protesters or did nothing to stop them in 2010, maybe if they actually did their job the army would not have to keep on doing it for them or even better if the reds stopped killing innocent people they wouldnt be needed at all.

What i do now throw out my red shirts?, i loved their determination and rightly so i know a lot will disagree with me but i won't care lol bc i never return to a post once written.

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

Have you been on holiday for the past 10 years? I didn't see any interfering, but remember that Thailand is still under marshal law and, with that, keep in mind this group's penchant for political upheaval. As pointed out, this thing will not go away any time soon; it's just a matter of time.

A great loss, he was one of the great leaders who tirelessly led the fight for freedom and democracy. My wife and her family are also attending the funeral rites, I pray the Junta will keep their snouts out of this but highly unlikely RIP Apiwan, the fight will go on.

What i do now throw out my red shirts?, i loved their determination and rightly so

Yes, it's amazing the level of 'determination' money can buy. I keep my red shirts; floors and toilets always need cleaning.

A great loss, he was one of the great leaders who tirelessly led the fight for freedom and democracy. My wife and her family are also attending the funeral rites, I pray the Junta will keep their snouts out of this but highly unlikely RIP Apiwan, the fight will go on.

his own version of "freedom and democracy" and we all know what that was.

Jatuporn assured the gathering and funeral rites would be non-political and we all know what a fine, truthful and upstanding pillar of society he is.

Does anyone really believe with so many reds and PTP together there will not be whispering about forbidden topics ?

Mind you it's probably the lesser of two evils considering what might have happened has the govt said no reception committee and no funeral rites .

Some posters simply don't know,when it is time to shut up!

Save your anti-red mantras for another thread.

This is about recieving the body of a long time friend and colleague, not about political colours!

Jatuporn assured the gathering and funeral rites would be non-political and we all know what a fine, truthful and upstanding pillar of society he is.

Does anyone really believe with so many reds and PTP together there will not be whispering about forbidden topics ?

Mind you it's probably the lesser of two evils considering what might have happened has the govt said no reception committee and no funeral rites .

Some posters simply don't know,when it is time to shut up!

Save your anti-red mantras for another thread.

This is about recieving the body of a long time friend and colleague, not about political colours!

Statement of fact not anti-red.

i suppose your colour precludes recognition of he VERY serious charge he ran away from. I do not like to speak ill of the dead but isn't amazing how death can change a sinner into a saint or the Buddhist equivalent ?

& these idiots think they will just fade away & be happy subservient farmers!

& these idiots think they will just fade away & be happy subservient farmers!

Actually they are hoping that after they are weaned off the government tit, they might find economically rewarding employment.

they'll be back of course one day as anyone who thinks the millions of red supporters have 'gone away' are utterly stupid

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

its a shame this vile creature was part of problems here for last decade under the directions of his master

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

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

yes a crying shame

Perhaps the police and army were there to facilitate the gathering and make sure there was as little disruption to the International airport and it's customers as possible - just a wild guess

That is what the police are for. Not the Army. Army needs to get back to their barracks. So you guess wrong.

police your having a laugh aren't you police do their job here ??? which planet are you from

A great loss, he was one of the great leaders who tirelessly led the fight for freedom and democracy. My wife and her family are also attending the funeral rites, I pray the Junta will keep their snouts out of this but highly unlikely RIP Apiwan, the fight will go on.

another brainwashed forang i guess or you and your wife would see this vile person forv what he was but then i guess you think his master is a poor political exile who's only concern is the well being of thailand.

they'll be back of course one day as anyone who thinks the millions of red supporters have 'gone away' are utterly stupid

Not anytime soon...

It's a shame they can not receive the body of their friend without the Army interfering.

Let's hope that many photos were taken so that identification can be made. Usually you don't see most of these peoples faces, they tend to wear masks.

A great reception for funeral of a criminal suspect. This reflect the real mind of UDD, a criminal organisation

A great reception for funeral of a criminal suspect. This reflect the real mind of UDD, a criminal organisation

And what crime was he suspected of??

No matter what political colour, I think most people here will agree that the actual law is a little outdated?

The fact that this many people pitched prove that the reds are just waiting under the bed.

Why go to the Philippines for medical treatment?

Jatuporn assured the gathering and funeral rites would be non-political and we all know what a fine, truthful and upstanding pillar of society he is.

Does anyone really believe with so many reds and PTP together there will not be whispering about forbidden topics ?

Mind you it's probably the lesser of two evils considering what might have happened has the govt said no reception committee and no funeral rites .

Even if "whispering about forbidden topics" took place ( a fanciful, fearful assumption) do you really think the security of the Nation would be at stake? The spectre of Lord Valdemort na Dubai striking fear into the hearts of honest god fearing people.......................good grief .