Sutheps Declaration Of War On Police

[Specialist]

The outcome was decided weeks ago.

 

Suddenly hundreds of thousands of whistles show up? hand clappers? takes time to order/manufacture that stuff.

 

Who/how all this was going to be financed?

The word you are looking for is "logistics". It is related to "planning", on serious steroids.

 

When you see flawless execution of something with many, many elements, all of which have to come together at one point in time and space, you know that someone, somewhere, put a lot of time and money into planning it all.

[Flashermac]

Suthep speaking again. He has just called for the election of all provincial governors. He is wearing the King's armband today.

 

Now the speakers have announced tomorrow is clean up day. They will provide brooms etc to work together to restore the area to its clean appearance. I never heard that from the red shirts.

[WorldFun]

very interesting times indeed

[waerth]

About the whistles that was already reported in the beginning of November (you guys need to follow the news better). There was a scarcity of whistles reported in Bangkok after the protests kicked of then. So they have had a month to get new ones.

[gobbledonk]

For the sake of an old bastard like myself who doesnt want to revisit all of Waerth's posts in this thread, can someone confirm that Suthep is putting his toys back in the playpen and going home before the King's birthday ? Where does this leave the whole simmering 'We want you out, Yingluck !' movement ?

[Flashermac]

Tactical truce reached in Bangkok

 

 

The month-long political confrontation came to a pause yesterday as the nation prepares for His Majesty the King's birthday tomorrow.

 

In a televised statement, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra urged all Thais to unite, to show their love for the King, who will turn 86.

 

Yingluck said disagreements continued but she wanted to see all Thais, including the protesters, begin talks to try to provide real solutions.

 

"I would like to invite all Thais including academics, businessmen, protesters, and experts from all sectors to join the open forum to find solutions for political reform." She also called on the media to be constructive and avoid causing hatred.

 

The speech explained what happened in the morning. Police guarding two key strongholds - Government House and the Metropolitan Police Bureau - simply stopped their resistance against protesters attempting to breach barricade. This surprise move, caused an immediate halt to the growing list of casualties and caught all sides and pundits off-guard.

 

Meanwhile, Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity as secretary-general of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), unveiled his plans for "national reforms" for the first time last night. He said these would start with the setting up of a People's Assembly, which would initially act as a legislative body to set up reform policies and promulgate necessary organic laws before selecting a prime minister.

 

Under Article 7, if there is no provision in the Constitution, then the issue shall be decided in accordance with the Constitutional practice of a democratic regime with the King as head of state.

 

Speaking last night in front of a large crowd of PDRC supporters, Suthep did not provide a time frame for the process, but said it would be completed as soon as possible. This legislative body, or People's Assembly, would work out a master law to devise "people's reforms" and other laws, including those needed to regulate fair elections and anti-corruption efforts.

 

A non-politician would be selected as a prime minister to run an interim national government that would administer the reform policies, he said. The PDRC would, in the meantime, set up offices in all 77 provinces to accomplish the reforms.

 

Suthep went on to say that large-scale events with about a million people gathering to mark His Majesty the King's birthday tomorrow would be held at all three locations occupied by PDRC protesters, including the Finance Ministry compound and Democracy Monument.

 

But vowing to continue fighting against the "Thaksin regime", Suthep said PDRC gatherings would continue in Bangkok and elsewhere in the country.

 

Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, as the newly-appointed director of the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said the country would like to see what "Suthep's blueprint" is all about, and whether the general public would approve of it and in what way.

 

Bangkok police chief Pol Lt Gen Camronwit Toopgrajank said he made a decision to let the protesters enter the police compound, because he saw that protesters seizing many state offices around the country did not ransack or torch them.

 

At the police compound, protesters and police exchanged handshakes, embraces and took photos of themselves together.

 

Later, police were instructed to abandon their positions. Similar things happened at Government House. Some protesters entered and had lunch in the compound.

 

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and Public Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong later visited a number of people injured by police tear gas and projectiles at hospitals in another gesture of goodwill.

 

The two opposing sides looked relaxed yesterday. And the PM also appeared less tense. She was seen talking to Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha during an oath taking ceremony for His Majesty the King at the Army Club tomorrow. Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban also looked happy to learn about the symbolic sieges. He even had an ice cream after lunch.

 

The public, however, as well as the huge number of supporters for both sides, remained left in the dark on whether these scenes were a tactical retreat by the government and whether the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) could really claim victory, at least for now.

 

However, the fight is not over. An hour after these gestures at both locations, Suthep made a statement proclaiming a partial victory and vowing to continue with his efforts to dislodge the "Thaksin regime", calling on supporters, especially those who have travelled from the provinces, to remain in Bangkok.

 

Suthep, who has said he would not accept a House dissolution or resignation of the premier to end the protest, made it clear to the cheering crowds that the fight would continue to uproot both the regime and the government.

 

"Today we can enjoy our victory but it is only partial. Our fight will continue as (Prime Minister) Yingluck Shinawatra, her government and the tyranny of the Thaksin regime are still intact and effective," he said, in a statement in the Government Complex in Chaeng Wattana, still occupied by PDRC supporters.

 

He envisaged that if Yingluck resigns, her sister Yaowapa, or brother-in-law Somchai Wongsawat could take the reins. And that if she dissolves the Parliament, her party members would surely use any means to allow them to come back.

 

Caught in this impasse, Yingluck assigned Deputy Prime Minister Phongthep Thepkanjana and Justice Minister Chaikasem Nitisiri to open a forum and invite academics to discuss and help find a way out of the deadlock, government spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said.

 

Phongthep said a law or charter amendment may be needed in order to create a solution. He said Suthep had mentioned a legal amendment. He said the forum may have a format similar to a political reform forum initiated by the premier in August.

 

To date, the protests have led to 4 deaths and more than 100 people being injured. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn yesterday gave gifts to victims of the violence now in hospital, via her aides. Public Health Minister Pradit Sinthawanarong also apologised on behalf of the government for the casualties.

 

Director of the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order Surapong Tovichakchaikul, who is foreign minster, made a statement saying that peace had returned and thanked all Thais for their cooperation, as well as police and soldiers for doing their duty.

 

The political crisis in Thailand has drawn much international attention. A week after a message of concern from the US, the European Union's head of delegation and heads of mission in Thailand issued a statement, hoping that all parties will find a peaceful way forward within the democratic and constitutional framework of Thailand.

 

"We were saddened to see the loss of life and the violent escalation of previously peaceful demonstrations during this weekend. We were also very concerned to see the occupation of public office buildings, television broadcasting stations and intimidation of the media. We believe that the response of the Thai authorities has so far been restrained and proportionate," the statement said.

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Tactical-truce-reached-in-Bangkok-30221335.html

[Flashermac]

Jeh Poo is aging fast. Goes with the job.

 

[Flashermac]

Puzzled social media tries to get a grip on 'victory'

 

 

"Stunned" and "perplexed" were among the most commonly used words on social media yesterday after protesters announced "victory" in their clashes with police.

 

The sudden slowdown in protest activity followed a day of violent clashes on Monday and the abrupt end left many confused. Each side had blamed the other for the attacks - especially at the First Infantry Division - in which firecrackers and home-made bombs were thrown and police fired tear gas and sprayed water at protesters.

 

On Monday evening, protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban told his supporters that on the following day, yesterday, they would lay siege to the Metropolitan Police Bureau compound. Many people expected another wild confrontation, but the situation turned out differently when the police opened up the compound and let the protesters in.

 

On Twitter many revealed their confusion with posts such as @Suharit's: "All people are perplexed."

 

Another, @fuxsuxlux, replied to @Suharit: "All people in the world are perplexed."

 

@DrMichaelChick tweeted: "They're absolutely right. Foreigners will never understand 'Thainess'...."

 

On Facebook, Nanthasit Nitmetha posted an image of Thai photographers at the rally and asked: "Will we get a break or not? After [this] we are stunned."

 

On the Pantip website, Pohn Fha posted: "Thank you Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Suthep, red-shirt leaders and all protesters - you all made a new [style of] protest."

 

Pantip member number 1088253 posted: "New group

people stunned."

 

Tweeters created a new hash tag with the word "stunned".

 

Others posted and shared photographs of protesters and policemen greeting each other with flowers and hugs. There were reminders too that today is the big cleaning day at Rajdamneon Road in preparation for Father's Day [King's Birthday] tomorrow.

 

Social media was also full of analyses of what had happened with the anti-government protests and predictions of possible government action.

 

Some preferred to keep posting positive messages that they were happy both sides had turned to be good to each other, rather than continue fighting. Others jokingly posted a list of new Cabinet members, consisting of comedy superstars.

 

The tension, which has clouded the social media for weeks, disappeared immediately after the anti-government protesters declared their "victory".

 

 

http://www.nationmul...r-30221334.html