UDD calls for rally leading to pre-Songkran victory

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

8 Apr 2010

 

 

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has placed Bangkok, Nonthaburi and parts of four neighbouring provinces under emergency decree, admitting the Internal Security Act had failed to deter violence and threats to national security.

 

Mr Abhisit said in a televised address early last evening that despite the government's attempts to strictly enforce the ISA, the red shirts had escalated their protest with increasing violations of the law, obstructions of law enforcement and the storming of the parliament.

 

"A special cabinet meeting today resolved to declare the state of emergency in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces," Mr Abhisit said.

 

"The meeting also agreed to set up a centre to tackle the emergency situation."

 

[color:red]The decree on emergency rule bans political public gatherings of more than five people and attempts to instigate disorder. It also prohibits the spread of disinformation or news which could instigate fear or misunderstanding. It gives the authorities sweeping powers to restore order as instructed by the prime minister.[/color]

 

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has been appointed to supervise the use of emergency rule and head the Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations, established following the declaration of the state of emergency to control the situation.

 

Mr Abhisit said enforcement of the law would serve four purposes: to restore normalcy, to stop the spread of disinformation intended to incite violations of the law, to enable prosecution especially of protest leaders, and to ensure the effectiveness of other measures to prevent acts of sabotage and violence.

 

The declaration of emergency rule came hours after red shirt protesters led by Arisman Pongruangrong laid siege to parliament, where Mr Suthep and other ministers were working.

 

Earlier in the day, cabinet resolved to extend the use of the ISA to April 20.

 

Mr Abhisit said the government had no intention of using the law to crack down on people. "The objectives of the government are to return normalcy and uphold sanctity of the law," he said.

 

"In fulfilling the objectives, any actions to be taken will be in accordance with the laws and international standards."

 

He also urged people not to take part in the red shirt rally and said he expected the full cooperation of the public to resolve the emergency situation.

 

"Let me assure you again, the government considers everyone a compatriot. But it is duty-bound to maintain the laws for the benefit of the country and public at large.

 

"The government will take swift and effective actions in restoring peace and normalcy for the public."

 

The state of emergency also covers parts of Samut Prakan, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom.

 

The government also issued a number of announcements.

 

These included the appointment of people including all armed forces leaders, the national police chief and the permanent secretaries of selected ministries as members of the committee tackling the emergency situation.

 

A government source said the appointment of military officers as committee members was intended to ensure their full involvement. "The government wants to involve military leaders in the operations," the source said.

 

"They cannot refuse to act if the government is to break up the rally."

 

Undaunted by the enforcement of emergency rule, the red shirts last night announced a plan to mobilise people to join its "biggest" rally tomorrow.

 

[color:blue]Leader Natthawut Saikua called on supporters to come to Ratchaprasong intersection and put up one more fight to knock the government to the floor. "We will celebrate Songkran and victory," he said.[/color]

 

UDD supporters yesterday parked pickup trucks and six-wheel trucks at four main locations around the gathering site at Ratchaprasong intersection, which the UDD has occupied since Saturday.

 

Chart Thai Pattana Party leader Chumphol Silpa-archa, who joined the meeting with the prime minister to declare the state of emergency, dismissed speculation about a crackdown.

 

"We've raised the legal framework to deal with the situation and to be better prepared," he said. "There is no talk about breaking up the rally."

 

 

 

Rink

[Flashermac]

Business leaders support emergency rule

 

 

 

Business leaders are offering cautious support for the government's decision to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok, but warn that any violence would prove a massive setback for the country's economy and global image.

 

[color:red]The tourism sector, one of the industries hardest hit by the red shirt protests, said action was needed to break the deadlock. Hotels and shopping malls at the Ratchaprasong intersection are reporting losses of hundreds of millions of baht since tens of thousands of red shirts took control of the streets last Saturday.[/color]

 

Charoen Wangananont, a spokesman for the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations, said yesterday he believed the majority of the public was waiting for the government to enforce the law and control the protests.

 

[color:blue]He said protecting the fundamental rights and freedom of the majority was the main duty of the government.[/color]

 

"The state of emergency is needed because the protesters broke the law and the public is worried that the situation will erupt into violence, just like during Songkran last year," he said.

 

Widespread riots by the red shirts, led by supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, disrupted the Asean summit in Pattaya and forced a state of emergency in Bangkok in April 2009.

 

Mr Charoen said the government should take action against the rally-goers as they had violated the law and abandoned their peaceful protest by forcibly entering public buildings and parliament.

 

Apichart Sankary, a former president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, said a state of emergency would be useless without actual enforcement.

 

"Declaring a state of emergency isn't really a significant event," he said.

 

"Many foreign tourists have already cancelled and put off their trips to Thailand since the protests began. But [the announcement] is better than letting the political strife drag on."

 

But Prakit Chinamourphong, the president of the Thai Hotel Association, warned that the tourism sector and the country's image would be set back by at least six months if the situation erupted into violence.

 

At the Tourism Authority of Thailand, deputy governor Prakit Piriyakiat said foreign countries would likely revise their travel advisories in light of the latest developments.

 

"What we can do right now is just update our announcements to our overseas offices and closely monitor the situation," he said.

 

While recent economic data show steady improvements in the Thai economy, the political conflicts that have lingered over the past several years have taken a toll.

 

"The main risks for the Thai economy are whether the global economic recovery will be sustained," said Suchada Kirakul, an assistant governor at the Bank of Thailand.

 

"The [red shirt] demonstrations have impacted tourism, and we need to monitor closely whether consumption during the Songkran holidays will be affected as well."

 

Fukujiro Yamabe, vice-president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok, said the latest move by the government would certainly affect the country's international image.

 

"I'm not sure this is the right solution but at least the government has made more efforts towards dealing with the current situation," he said.

 

 

 

Rink

[Julian2]

Where are the yellow shirts?

Skulking in fear in their rat holes?

Brave enough to cost Thailand billions by shutting airports down but faced with a bit of a punch up they become all law abiding.

[Flashermac]

Good on ya, mate! I was waiting for the Redniks to blame everything on the Yellow Shirts. Thanks for renewing my faith in mankind.

 

Seems to me the Yellows did a bit of scrapping against Somchai's gummint, ya remember ... when the cops killed a few and injured more?

 

Power to the people! Burn Bangkok to the Ground! Isaan forever! Welcome to the People's Republic! Blah blah blah ...

 

I suppose that means the bars and knocking shops will soon close down. The BGs will go home, since their famiies will all be made millionaires. No more sick buffaloes.

 

 

 

[Julian2]

I blame it all on the coup... the khaki shirts.

[Flashermac]

Yeah ... hadn't been for that coup in 1932, none of this would be happening!

 

(copyright TB)

 

 

[Torneyboy]

You are welcome..

[Torneyboy]

Where are the yellow shirts?

Skulking in fear in their rat holes?

Brave enough to cost Thailand billions by shutting airports down but faced with a bit of a punch up they become all law abiding.

 

 

Yeah that..no action/fines etc for the airport shutdown ..just a disgrace.

[WorldFun]

TB FYI the court cases against the airport closure accused are 'in progress' so it's not entirely true nothing has been done OK? :neener:

[TokBet]

 

Red shirts jailed for murder

 

* Published: 9/04/2010 at 12:00 AM

* Newspaper section: News

 

Chiang Mai Court has sentenced five men to 20 years in jail for the murder of the father of a key member of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy.

 

One of those convicted is the chief security guard of the red shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, Niyom Lueangcharoen, who has jumped bail and forfeited 100,000 baht. He remains at large.

 

Niyom, better known as DJ Lae, was seen on the stage of the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally yesterday at Ratchaprasong intersection. The four others turned up to hear the court verdict yesterday. They were immediately sent to Chiang Mai prison after the ruling.

 

They are Nopparat Saengphet, Prayut Bunwikrit, Phayom Duangkaeo and Daeng Puanmoon.

 

The five were among about 200 members of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group who surrounded the Wihok Radio community radio station run by the yellow shirt King's Musketeers group at 7pm on Nov 26, 2008.

 

The prosecution said the murder victim, Settha Chiamkitwattana, 60, the father of Therdtsak, a leader of the King's Musketeers group, was killed after his pickup truck was surrounded by red shirts and he was dragged out and beaten. A gunshot was heard and Settha was found dead at the scene.

 

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/35810/red-shirts-jailed-for-murder

 

Yes... the Reds are brave whereas the Yellows are cowardly.