gobbledonk Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 I really hope this continues to be the butt of our jokes, not the beginning of the kind of nastiness that some on BOTH sides of the red/yellow line would like to see erupt. Here in Pattaya, its just another day - have to wonder how long it will be before Thais are outnumbered by Farang retirees here anyway ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 All political factions have their goon squads, hired thugs who act as their storm troopers. They are the ones to watch out for. Keep your fingers crossed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 13, 2010 Report Share Posted March 13, 2010 Protesters converge for rass mally Supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra have reached the capital and gathered at Phan Fa bridge on Saturday night ahead of Sunday's anti-government rally. Police said early in the evening an estimated 12,000 protesters had already arrived at the bridge, which is their meeting point. "The official number at the bridge now is 12,000, but 50,000 protesters and about 7,000 vehicles have gone through the checkpoints," police spokesman Maj Gen Prawut Thavornsiri said. Red-shirts from all regions in the country began their journey to the capital on Friday Thousands of vehicles from the North and Northeast flowed toward Bangkok through Ayutthaya province on Saturday morning, causing heavy traffic congestion along the way. The influx prompted authorities to declare a security red alert, the highest level, in Bangkok late Bangkok afternoon. National Security Council secretary-general Thawil Pliansri said he believed up to 100,000 protesters would join the rally due to begin on noon at Sunday. UDD leader Jatuporn Promphan declared on a stage set up at Phan Fa bridge that the protesters would move to an important location 20km away if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva refuses to dissolve the parliament soon. Mr Jatuporn, an opposition Puea Thai Party MP, said the UDD will officially demand the government to dissolve parliament and will also unveil the new protest location on Sunday. "I believe we [the red-shirts] will triumph within four days. "But if the government still clings on we will protest even more and the parliament will be dissolved within a week," Mr Jatuporn said. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier rejected the group's demands to step down. "We should not be complacent because there are some groups of people still wanting to create violence and cause confrontation," he said. The atmosphere at the red-shirt rally along Ratchadamoen avenue was peaceful. Leaders of the UDD took turns getting on stage trying to convnice passers by to join their campaign, while anti-government songs were played to stir up their supporters. Puea Thai Party MPs led by deputy leader Plodprasop Suraswadi showed up at the rally site late afternoon, claiming they visited the protesters because the party had received reports that the government had planned to crackdown on the protesters. Puea Thai MP for Nakhon Phanom Paijit Sriworakhan expected the number of protesters to be around 500,000 by Sunday. He said that about 200,000 red-shirts were coming from the Northeast, while Puea Thai MP for Phrae Worawat Ua-apinyakul said more than 80,000 demonstrators were travelling from the North and they should arrive in Bangkok around midnight Saturday. Traffic around the rally site was more congested after protesters shut Ratchadamnoen Klang avenue from Jor Por Ror intersection to Phan Fa Lilat bridge and Misakawan intersection. Metropolitan Police commissioner Santhan Chayanon said earlier the day that he is concerned that a third party might try to incite violence and some protesters might be able to sneak weapons to the demonstration. Authorities have deployed 50,000 security forces to patrol the city and to maintain peace and order. Rink to panoramic view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Ministry: 46,000 people attend UDD rally A total of 46,377 people took part in the mass rally organised by the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Bangkok, the Ministry of Interior reported on Sunday evening. The figure was combined from the protest venues in Sanam Luang, Phan Fa bridge and King Rama V Equestrian Monument at 1 pm. Of the total, 23,569 Red Shirts were from the Northeast, 11,127 from the North, 4,190 from the central region, 3,667 from the East, 2,990 from the West and 834 from the South. The demonstrators entered the capital in 13,385 pick-ups, 3,385 cars, 36 trucks, 60 buses, 17 e-tan farm trucks, 137 motorcycles, 115 vans and three trains. The number of protesters at the Red Shirt rally was expected to peak on Sunday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Hi, "A total of 46,377 people took part in the mass rally" Well close enough to a million, right? Pretty pathetic really. Less than 5% of the figures they claimed they would get. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 A total of 46,377 people took part in the mass rally.... Of the total, 23,569 Red Shirts were from the Northeast, 11,127 from the North, 4,190 from the central region, 3,667 from the East, 2,990 from the West and 834 from the South. What about the protestors who live in Bangkok or any that walked or parachuted into Bangkok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanddawg1 Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Depends on what news agency you look at??? I think the government is trying to keep the numbers down. From Yahoo The crowd estimated by police at more than 100,000 rallied peacefully under a blazing sun. Loud pop music and rural delicacies such as spicy papaya salad competed with fiery rhetoric for their attention Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 I think this is a picture of them all so if someone would like to try and count how many people are in the picture then this would resolve any disagreement as to the actual number of protestors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 Hi, "more than 100,000" Even that is pathetic compared to their claims. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted March 14, 2010 Report Share Posted March 14, 2010 << rural delicacies such as spicy papaya salad competed with fiery rhetoric for their attention >> Yeah ... you just can't find somtam in Bangkok. And I'm sure the folks from the north and Isaan are delighted to find something so rare in the big city. Way to go, reporters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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