Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Pathumwan Intersection sealed off At 7.55pm, the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)'s guards have taken control of the Pathumwan Intersection. They set up a barricade on the roads and closed off the skywalk, blocking entry to the BTS station. Some 1,000 protesters led by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee have started rallying at the Pathumwan Intersection tonight ahead of Monday's Bangkok Shutdown. A spokeswoman at the Democracy Monument rally stage that the PDRC decided to send the protesters to seize the area to set up a stage for fear that police would try to block them on Monday. http://www.nationmul...f-30224114.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 AOT's alternative road maps to Don Muang Airports of Thailand (AOT) has provided alternative road maps to and from Don Muang airport to get around traffic problems caused by the demonstration beginning on January 13. Passengers are also advised to reach the airport three hours in advance for international flight check-in and two hours for domestic to ensure smooth departures. For information and assistance, call Don Muang Coordinating Centre at 02 535 3861. http://www.nationmul...g-30224118.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Michael Yon: Festive mood. Few children. Alcohol forbidden, unlike 2010. Lumpini park. Central World now https://twitter.com/Michael_Yon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Protesters close Ratchaprasong Intersection Protesters led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee closed the Ratchaprasong Intersection Sunday night. They started occupying the intersection at 7:30 pm. http://www.nationmul...n-30224120.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneSoup Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 I remember back in 2008, when the Yellow Shirt mobs 1) Seized the airport; 2) Invaded the Royal Cliff resort in Pattaya to shut down an international conference; and 3) Barricaded roads for a day or two - including Sukhumvit at Prakhanong BTS Station - and basically, nothing happened to the protesters. At the time, I remember shaking my head, and saying "Idiot government - by not aggressively prosecuting this, you are basically guaranteeing the emergence of "mob rule" as a primary method of exerting political influence in Thailand." And - sure enough - the other side went mainstream with mob rule in 2010 - culminating in the "burn the city down" finale in May 2010. Again, not much happened to discourage the tactic. While not effectively achieving its immediate objective, the mob ultimately got the election it wanted. Mob rule was thus legitimized as a fundamental and routine method of exerting political influence - which bring us to the 2014 incarnation of that practice. The trend seems to be toward ever-larger mobs. Everyone seems to be hoping for the investiture of their ideal vision of a "benevolent dictator". Well, that seems like a reasonable, high-probability outcome .....NOT. One week from tonight - next Sunday night - I wonder what this week will look like i hindsight. Cheers! SS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 PDRC protesters occupy Victory Monument Protesters led by the People's Democracy Reform Committee set up their personal tents and occupied space at Victory Monument at 10pm Sunday. A few trucks were parked there and they played a march song, Soo Mai Toi, which has become an anthem of the protesters, on the sound truck. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/PDRC-protesters-occupy-Victory-Monument-30224121.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 I remember back in 2008, when the Yellow Shirt mobs 1) Seized the airport; 2) Invaded the Royal Cliff resort in Pattaya to shut down an international conference; and 3) Barricaded roads for a day or two - including Sukhumvit at Prakhanong BTS Station - and basically, nothing happened to the protesters. At the time, I remember shaking my head, and saying "Idiot government - by not aggressively prosecuting this, you are basically guaranteeing the emergence of "mob rule" as a primary method of exerting political influence in Thailand." The yellow shirts seized the airports in 2008, but it was the red shirts who invaded the Royal Cliff to break up in East Asia Summit in 2009. But yes, the yellow shirts started it. When they got away with it, everybody decided to give it a go - and every protest is bigger than the one before it. Also, in 2009 Sondhi Limthongkul, the yellow shirt's leader, was lucky to survive an assassination attempt when over 100 rounds were fired into his car by gunman. Sondhi was himself wounded in the head. Does Thaksin really think it will ever be safe for him to return here? If he does, he must believe he is immortal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo_bill Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 Mob rule was thus legitimized as a fundamental and routine method of exerting political influence - which bring us to the 2014 incarnation of that practice. The trend seems to be toward ever-larger mobs. E Mr Stonesoup , when earlier complaining about taking the Kindgdom hostage I have been accused of not having spent enough time in the country to understand the innocence of the enlightened Suthep and followers and so forth . Your very words are warming my heart . One can only hope the Redshirt troops keep staying at home . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jitagawn Posted January 13, 2014 Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Flasher- "Does Thaksin really think it will ever be safe for him to return here? If he does, he must believe he is immortal. " Years ago my best Thai friend was his very very high up in the Thaksin business administration for internal Thailand real estate and AIS business and I met the entire crew...ugh Yes ... he thinks he is immortal and and above all. Obviously in my view he is avery unbalanced man.My friend and I had lunch together and our not yet visible but possible fear is that if it does not Thaksins way eventually he will create/start a serious civil war. My friend left his employ many years ago to protect his own reputation. Well I am holded up over here in Thonburi area and we will see what we see. Mob rule again-bizarre. I am supposed to have to go to Sala Daeng to day for business no so sure about that. YOu are one of the best reporters around so keep us tuned in. Na Krab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 13, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2014 Medical workers support Narong in fight with govt Thousands of medical workers yesterday gave support to senior Public Health Ministry officials who last Thursday rejected the Yingluck administration's right to govern, saying they did not want to work with the government. The group of medical workers - the so-called "Public Health Society" comprising 20 public health communities - include the Thai Federation of General and Central Hospital Doctors, the Director of Rural Hospitals Society, the Public Health Society of Thailand and the Dentistry Society. Yesterday they visited the Public Health Ministry to back its permanent secretary, Dr Narong Sahamethapat. Last week he was warned by caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about publicly expressing his political stance, and over his joining the society to issue a statement against the government. Prachumporn Boonchareon, a member of the society, said Narong had done the right thing in opposing the government. She said the government did not have the moral right to run the country. Medical workers at the Public Health Ministry would only follow orders from Narong and opposed any intervention from the government, she said. Previously, caretaker Public Health Minister Pradith Sinthawanarong issued an order designating the deputy permanent secretary to take charge - instead of Narong - of overseeing the emergency medical services operation during the political turmoil. Pradith also issued an order prohibiting health officials from taking leave or joining any political movement. Pradith said he would set up a committee to investigate the facts behind Narong's political stance, but said the permanent secretary would not be punished for his actions. Pradith said all officials had the right to express their political opinions and were free to take leave and join the protest. Meanwhile, Narong said he wanted to thank the health officials for their support, adding that he believed he had done the right thing to serve the public. However, he would not quit the top position at the ministry, he said. http://www.nationmul...t-30224102.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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