Sporty Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 PM attends CRES meeting Published: 12/05/2010 at 09:32 AM Online news: Breakingnews Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday morning arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters on Pahon Yothin road to attend the meeting of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES), reports said. Earlier this morning, Deputy Prime Minister and CRES head Suthep Thaugsuban arrived at the Bang Khen army base to chair the meeting to discuss the red-shirt rally situation. Mr Abhisit yesterday warned leaders of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship to end their protest today and vacate Ratchaprasong rally site, or face tough measures. However, UDD core leaders yesterday insisted that they would prolong the anti-government rally if Mr Suthep fails to report to the Crime Suppression Division as they demanded. They were dissatisfied that he reported to the Department of Special Investigation.to acknowledge complaints against him by relatives of the red-shirt April 10 victims. [color:red] They said the prime minister had no right to give the ultimatum.[/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sporty Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 [color:red]Thai PM gives "red shirts" deadline, tension high[/color] (Reuters) - Thai anti-government protesters showed no sign of ending their two-month rally in Bangkok after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told them to quit by Wednesday and warned the public to expect trouble. World | Thailand Thousands of "red shirt" protesters remain in a fortified camp in an upmarket shopping district in the center of Bangkok. Music and speeches blared from powerful loudspeakers on their stage through the early hours of Wednesday as leaders tried to keep their supporters awake and alert. Most nights the volume is turned down a little until dawn. Abhisit has offered an election on November 14 -- just over a year before one is due -- to try to end a movement that began in mid-March with a demand for an immediate poll. Twenty-nine people have died in clashes and more than 1,000 have been wounded. The protesters, mostly supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a coup in 2006, have accepted the election date but are now pushing other demands, in particular wanting a deputy prime minister to be charged in connection with a bloody clash with troops on April 10 in which 25 people died. Abhisit's tone has hardened in the past two days and late on Tuesday he told reporters the cabinet had decided that the security forces needed to "take measures" quickly. "This may affect people in the area, not just protesters but also people who work there and people who live there," he said. "So we ask that the protesters make a gesture by going home tomorrow. Other issues can be discussed later if they are sincere about reconciliation." DILEMMA However, the authorities are faced with the dilemma of how to dislodge thousands of protesters, including women and children, from a fortified encampment sprawling across 3 sq km (1.2 sq mile) of the central Bangkok shopping district. Fresh supplies, including vegetables, meat and bottled water, were brought in on Tuesday and piled up under a large tent in front of the shuttered Four Seasons Hotel. "We are not going anywhere until the government shows they will take responsibility for the clash," said 39-year-old protester Panna Saengkumboon. "People lost their eyes, their legs and arms. Others paid for this with their lives." Disparate views among red shirt leaders, ranging from radical former communists to academics more inclined to negotiate, make it hard for them to reach a decision on how to end the protest. Some leaders harbor political ambitions and need to appease rank-and-file supporters. Others fear that ending the protest now will be a one-way ticket to jail. Some hardliners advocate stepping up the protests to win the fight once and for all. The red shirts say Abhisit's ruling coalition has no mandate after coming to power in a parliamentary vote 17 months ago orchestrated by the army. (Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Nick Macfie) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Rally to be denied power, water, food 11:35am Authorities will cut water and power supplies to red-shirt protesters camping in the Ratchaprasong area starting at midnight Wednesday to pressure them to end the anti-government rally and return home, Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd said on Wednesday. Telephone signals will also be cut off, he said. In addition, access to buses, trains and waterway services around the site will be cut off. "We will also block their food supply," Col Sansern said. [color:red]Those living in the area, including foreign embassies, would also be affected, he added.[/color] Rink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavanami Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 The hi-so living in adjacent buildings have been advised to leave... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Does that include the red leaders? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizardKing Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Of course. Do you really think they'd stick around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sporty Posted May 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Plan to cut off supplies postponed Published: 12/05/2010 at 11:25 PM Online news: Breakingnews The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation on Wednesday night decided to postpone cutting off water and power supplies to the Ratchaprasong area for fear of causing hardships to residents in the area. CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnard said authorities has to carefully consider the matter because there are a lot of important installations in the area such as embassies, schools and hospitals. The CRES had earlier announced the plan to cut off water and power supplies and cell phone signals starting at midnight Wednesday. Col Sansern said at night that the action could still be taken later on if it could be ascertained that the effects on residents in the vicinity are not too serious. The CRES has received a lot of phone calls asking about the planned water- and power-supply cutoff after the plan was made public on Wednesday morning. http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/177680/plan-to-cut-off-supplies-postponed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bar4 Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Why didn't they think of that prior to announcing the plan - once again - amazing thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardy641 Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 This becoming more and more ridiculous. We have a couple of dozen contractors booked in the Center Point at Lang Suan. Early afternoon their management called and informed that electricity and water will be cut off at midnight. We then relocated all wasting half a day of working time which is 24*25,000 THB not counting for administrative efforts and additional accommodation expenses. Then at 19:00 when everything the relocation has been executed , we have been informed that nothing will happen. Oh yeah great. The red are laughing their pants off. First they are warned 24h in advance to prepare generators and pile up water, than the whole thing is a called off. WFT???????? I have to walk through the red 'fortress' everyday and don't think there are more than a few thousand protesters left. Many of them are old and women or looking completely pissed in the early morning hours already. I can't believe that security forces are unable to clear the area even without (significant) human losses. Abhsit do you job and clean up that mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted May 12, 2010 Report Share Posted May 12, 2010 Don't underestimate the power of those old women. Any young soldier brave enough to lay a hand on one will be in deep trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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