Protesters Storm Ministry And Army Headquarters

[pdogg]

 

November 25, 2013

Protesters Raid Compound of Thai Finance Ministry By THOMAS FULLER

BANGKOK — Antigovernment protesters raided the compound of Thailand’s Finance Ministry and entered the grounds of the Foreign Ministry on Monday, in the latest escalation of a long-running battle between supporters and opponents of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire former prime minister, whose party has a commanding majority in Parliament.

 

Tens of thousands of protesters, who staged one of Thailand’s largest demonstrations in years on Sunday, split into a dozen groups early on Monday and marched through Bangkok chanting, “Get out!” — apparently directed at Mr. Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the current prime minister, and others in Mr. Thaksin’s circle.

 

Late on Monday, Ms. Yingluck responded by expanding the application of a security law to cover all of Bangkok and some surrounding areas, giving her powers to “prevent, suppress, eradicate and overcome” threats to national security.

 

“It is necessary for the government to enforce the law,” she said on national television. “But I would like to insist that the government will strictly not use any violence against people.”

The invasion of the two ministries on Monday recalled protests against Mr. Thaksin and his allies in 2008, when demonstrators occupied and shut down the prime minister’s office and Bangkok’s main international airport.

 

Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister and a leader of the current protests, led the takeover of the Finance Ministry, shouting instructions from atop a large truck.

 

“Everyone get in the building!” Mr. Suthep said as his supporters blew ear-piercing whistles. The protesters turned off the electricity in the building at his urging, “so that the police will not receive their daily allowance.”

 

Protesters could be seen in two of the ministry’s conference rooms in the afternoon, and by evening, they were starting to camp out in the courtyard. No riot police officers were visible in the compound.

Mr. Suthep said protesters had chosen to occupy the Finance Ministry because it is at the heart of the government. “From now on, this government can no longer transfer money,” he said. “Not a single coin will be used by the Thaksin regime anymore.”

 

Protesters also entered the grounds of the Foreign Ministry, but did not gain entry to the main building. There, too, the protesters planned to stay overnight in the courtyard, organizers said.

Mr. Suthep has not detailed specific goals for the protests, but he has said that dissolution of Parliament or resignation of a few government ministers will not satisfy him.

 

“We will not stop fighting until the Thaksin regime is entirely eradicated from Thailand,” he told the crowd on Sunday.

 

Mr. Thaksin, who has lived overseas since a conviction for abuse of power in 2008, maintains strong support in the populous northern and northeastern provinces of Thailand. Many analysts, including some of his opponents, say that his party, Pheu Thai, would probably win an election if one was called.

 

Mr. Thaksin’s opponents say that they are concerned that he has accumulated too much power in Thailand, and they are angry that he appears to be making policy decisions from abroad.

 

The current protests began several weeks ago, in what proved to be a successful effort to force the government to withdraw an amnesty bill that would have eased Mr. Thaksin’s return to Thailand. But to the chagrin of some business associations in the country, which fear economic fallout from the protests, the demonstrations have continued despite the amnesty bill’s defeat.

 

Independent analysts have criticized what they say appears to be an open-ended protest. “The protest leaders need to clarify their demands,” Yuttaporn Issarachai, the dean of political science at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, said Monday on Thai television.

 

Mr. Yuttaporn said he worried about the possibility of clashes between rival protesters. Thousands of government supporters have gathered at a stadium in Bangkok.

 

Mr. Thaksin, who was prime minister from 2001 until the military removed him from power in a coup d’état in 2006, cemented his support in the northern rural areas through policies such as universal health care and microloans to villagers.

 

Ms. Yingluck has continued to put populist policies in place in her two and a half years in power. Some of those programs have come at a great cost to the country’s finances. News agencies reported Monday that the government was having trouble finding enough buyers for 75 billion baht, or $2.3 billion, in bonds that it needs to sell to finance a program that pays farmers well above market price for rice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/26/world/asia/bangkok-protesters-raid-finance-ministry-compound.html

[rxpharm]

Visitors to LOS should keep monitoring this situation. If the protests resume after the King's Birthday, then this can become a prolonged situation which will likely cause instability and the possibility of physical conflict between the Red Shirts and the current anti-Thaksin protestors.

 

In the meantime avoid any sites were the protestors are gathered.

[SiamSam]

We're supposed to go to Bangkok on December 16th and my Thai partner (from Europe) is very concerned about the situation and getting cold feet. I have experienced these political disruptions before and all went well. However she has the heebie geebies about the scene presently and feels things will get worse. Beat's me. Perhaps we'll avoid BKK completely and move south after we land.

 

Any comments from people on the ground?

[rxpharm]

SiamSam - my Thai friends also feel that it will become worse. Probably the best option to soothe her concerns would be to fly to Phuket, either directly depending on the airline, or shortly after landing in Bangkok.

[Luung]

It'll all be over by the King's birthday!

[xyzzy]

I'm in BKK the day after the big guy's birthday staying for a few days. I expect it to be OK even if the protests continue. But if I'm wrong I'll just head elsewhere when I land.

[4:17]

Other than a few bus routes having to be changed, life in BKK has been normal; remember, these aren't the same folk who protested last time (the pro-Thaksin party Red Shirts) but their opposite number (although they haven't donned yellow shirts this time). In fact the opposition party is being lead by the former PM that signed the order to crack down on the red-shirt protesters and clear them out of the city in 2010.

 

People on both sides are getting a little fed up with the protests now that the Thaksin amnesty bill was voted down, which was originally the protesters' main goal; protest leaders haven't really made clear what the reasons/goals are behind the continued demonstrations -- even opposition leaders in parliament have begun to question what's going on; protest leaders have naturally stopped short of saying they want to overthrow the government (although I think it's pretty obvious that's what the ex-PM wants). Now that the government has authorized peace keeping measures if necessary throughout Bangkok, it will be interesting to see if the protesters -- mainly middle- and upper-class Bankok residents (as opposed to last time) -- have the fortitude to continue to man the barricades.

 

I was riding the Skytrain on Sunday night from Victory Monument, and a bunch of protesters were heading back home after the demonstration -- strange seeing hi-so Chinese Thai demonstrators in dockers and polo shirts with the collars turned up, 555, comparing photos on their smartphones, as opposed to the rural farmer Red Shirts of a few years ago -- as I say, a huge contrast (I was living in Thailand at that time as well, and was in Bangkok the weekend after the crackdown). Given the fact that most of the protesters come from Bangkok white-collar backgrounds, it seems unlikely the protests will turn violent; but then you get a bunch of people in one place all riled up; it doesn't take much.

 

As we say, TiT ...

[rxpharm]

4:17, thanks for the on the ground reporting. I don't think the risk of the current anti-gov't protestors of resorting to violence is that high. The problem is if there is a miscalculation on the part of the Pheu Thai to send the Red Shirts to confront the anti-gov't protestors. If that happens, then all bets would be off for a peaceful ending.

 

It is quite revealing that the size of the Red Shirt crowds is significantly less this time, and much smaller than the anti-gov't groups.

[pdogg]

 

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship will stage a mass rally on Saturday to pass a judgement on anti-government protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban, said UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth on Wednesday.

 

In a prepared statement announced to the red-shirt followers at Rajamangala stadium in Hua Mark, Mrs Thida accused Suthep of committing a serious crime for ordering the seizure of government offices across the country which has caused widespread chaos among the officials.

 

Because of Suthep’s action, she said that the UDD would change its slogan from “Coup by the Constitution Court” to “Stop Hijacking Thailand”.

She also urged the protesters to stop harassing local and foreign media.

 

Jatuporn Promphan, another red-shirt leader, said that it was necessary for the red-shirt  followers to be on the full alert to counter the anti-government protesters.

 

He said that the red shirts would stop their rally only when the protesters end their protests.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/udd-stage-mass-rally-saturday/

[pdogg]

There are reports that the protesters have cut the power to Police Headquarters in Bangkok.

[rxpharm]

Hopefully this is not the beginning of violence, but with the spread of demonstrators to the provinces and the massive crowds showing up at the water project hearings, this could cause the Pheu Thai to call for more help from the Red Shirts.

 

 

3 injured by red shirts in Pathum Thani

• Published: 28 Nov 2013 at 21.21
• Online news:

PATHUM THANI - A woman filed a complaint with police Thursday that she and two others were severely attacked by red-shirt supporters in Muang district.

Pol Lt Col Warut Thairatratchathewin of Muang police station said the injured identified themselves as Dara Napawet, 44, Wicharn Usar, 56, and Supsawat Panpoka, 35, all of whom are against the government. A pickup truck that the victims were in was also heavily damaged.

A red-shirt group led by Wuthipong Kachatham passed by her parked truck, said Ms Dara. Mr Wuthipong recognised her vehicle and announced to his associates that the people inside it are whistleblowers. 

She said another vehicle then cut in front of her truck. Seven armed individuals then surrounded them and repeatedly hit her vehicle and severely beat her and Mr Wicharn and Mr Supsawat.  

They were taken to a nearby hospital. 

Earlier, around 200 red-shirt supporters confronted about 100 anti-government protestors in front of a mall near the provincial hall.

Conflicts erupted after the Pheu Thai advocates allegedly yelled insults, threw water bottles and shot rubber bands at their adversaries, who were on their way to meet provincial authorities.

Over 200 police officers were deployed to take control of the situation.

Prior to that, the pro-government group visited the provincial hall to present flowers to Pathum Thani Governor Pongsathorn Sajjacholapan and Pol Maj Gen Smith Mukdasanit, commander of Pathum Thani provincial police.

 This is from Bangkok Post.

[pdogg]

 

 

 

8:10am UK, Friday 29 November 2013

 

Around 1,200 protesters have broken into Thailand's army headquarters, calling on the military to help topple the government.

 

The crowd broke the padlocked gate at the Royal Thai Army compound and forced their way inside, saying they wanted to submit a letter to the army chief, army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

 

"We want to know which side the army stands on," one protester told Reuters.

http://news.sky.com/story/1175264/thailand-protesters-break-into-army-hq

[rxpharm]

Gunshots, 1 dead and 5 wounded. Keep an eye on the situation in case it deteriorates further. Stay away from any areas where there are crowds of protestors.

 

 

Clashes at Ramkhamhaeng stoke fears Published: 30 Nov 2013 at 20.32 Online news: Local News One person was confirmed killed as gunshots rang out Saturday night near Rajamangala Stadium...between anti-government protesters and red-shirt supporters intensified on the eve of major protest...

 

Read the rest here at Bangkok Post

 

Let's hope that the situation does not spiral down into more violence.

[bumblebee]

It looks like today is the day the protesters make their big move.  They are trying to gain control of the PMs office and provoke the police into action.  It seems the thinking behind this is to draw the army into the situation and stage a coup.

[pdogg]

 

(CNN) -- In order to understand the turbulent world of Thai politics, you have to start with one name: Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

The former prime minister has dominated the country's political scene for more than a decade despite going into exile after his ouster in a 2006 coup.

Back in 2010, deadly clashes took place between security forces and Thaksin supporters who had occupied central Bangkok. They were demanding his return.

 

Now, his sister is in power and she recently tried to pass an amnesty law that could have allowed his return. The attempt failed, but it provided fuel for the current protests shaking the capital.

 

Here's a quick primer to make sense of it all.

Thai protesters stage huge rallies

Tensions tighten in Thailand

Thailand PM defies critics

1. Who is Thaksin?

He's a deeply polarizing figure -- a billionaire telecommunications mogul who built his political power on policies popular with Thailand's rural villagers. His success ruffled a lot of feathers among the country's established elites, and critics accused him of corruption and autocratic rule. He was prime minister between 2001 and 2006, when the military deposed him in a bloodless coup.

 

2. What happened in 2010?

Thaksin's ouster spurred the protest movement that developed over the years into the widespread "red shirt" demonstrations that occupied upscale parts of Bangkok in 2010. By that stage, the movement had broadened to represent other issues, including resentment at the military's involvement in politics and economic inequality. The crackdown by security forces on the red shirts resulted in clashes that left around 90 people dead. It has been described as the worst civil violence in Thailand's history, and the country remains severely scarred by the experience.

 

3. Could the current protests lead to a repeat?

The situation is different this time.

Those protesting are opponents of Thaksin rather than his supporters. His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, is now prime minister. Her government is under pressure after widespread anger over its recent failed attempt to pass a bill that could have granted amnesty to Thaksin and others.

Although the public has generally moved on from the conflict over the amnesty bill, the opposition Democrat Party is trying to use the issue to bring down Yingluck's government, says Paul Quaglia, director of the Bangkok-based risk assessment firm PQA Associates.

"The government is facing probably a countdown until it will have to dissolve and hold new elections," Quaglia says. "But it doesn't look like it's a replay of 2010 when we're going to see violence in the streets and an extended takeover of central Bangkok."

 

4. What has Thaksin been up to?

He has been living in exile in a number of different places, most recently Dubai, while continuing to play an active role in Thai politics.

He briefly returned to Thailand in 2008. Later that year, he was convicted by a Thai court of corruption and sentenced in absentia to two years in prison over a controversial land deal. Courts have also frozen billions of dollars of his assets, but he is believed to still have a great deal of money held elsewhere.

He's also stayed heavily involved in Thai politics over the years, communicating with supporters via social media and video messages. With his younger sister in power since 2011, his influence remains strong. Critics say Yingluck is Thaksin's puppet, but she insists she has always been independent.

 

5. What is happening this week?

After weeks of demonstrations, thousands of protesters have gathered around government buildings in central Bangkok, occupying some of them for varying periods of time. Yingluck has expanded the area in and around Bangkok covered by an internal security law that gives police extra powers to disband protesters. In parliament, the Prime Minister is facing a "no confidence" motion against her. And police have issued an arrest warrant against protest leader, Suthep Thaugsuban.

For most of Bangkok, business as usual despite protests

 

6. What's at stake for the region?

The demonstrations are bringing instability once again to Thailand, a key regional economy and popular tourist destination. The protests are centered on Bangkok, a vital transportation hub, especially for air travel. So far, the protests are concentrated in specific parts of the city. More than a dozen countries have issued travel warnings for citizens to avoid areas near protests in Bangkok.

 

7. What do the demonstrators want?

Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister under the previous Democrat-led government, has said the demonstrations "will not stop until Thaksin's regime is wiped out." Such an aim seems ambitious. Yingluck's government was democratically elected and her Pheu Thai party retains support in its core areas. The current protests have echoes of 2008 when demonstrators opposed to a pro-Thaksin government occupied Bangkok's main airport and government offices.

 

8. Where are the protesters getting their support from?

Opposition to Thaksin and Yingluck is strongest among the urban elites and middle class. That means the capital.

"Bangkok is the ground zero for anti-Thaksin protest movements," Quaglia says. "The rest of the country, other than southern Thailand, is either in his camp or sort of politically neutral." That's why the recent demonstrations have been concentrated in the streets of the capital.

 

9. What's the government's support base?

Thaksin's traditional support comes from the populous rural areas of north and northeast of Thailand. The government's botched amnesty move may have hurt its standing in those areas, but not fatally.

"Despite the pictures of thousands of people in the street that doesn't necessarily mean the government will go -- or if it does go, that it will lose the next election," Quaglia says.

 

10. What is likely to happen next?

Questions remain over the ability of Yingluck's government to maintain order in the capital and weather the heavy political pressure in Parliament. Some observers are concerned that government supporters, tens of thousands of whom rallied in Bangkok on Sunday, could clash with opposition demonstrators.

Yingluck has said authorities would "absolutely not use violence" to disperse the demonstrators.

Even if Yingluck survives the "no confidence" motion against her, the situation appears unlikely to calm down soon.

"We're going to see political instability here for some time," Quaglia says.

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/26/world/asia/thailand-protests-explainer/

[rxpharm]

Good summary, except that point 8 is not entirely correct this time. In some of the Northern and central provinces where the huge 3.2 billion Baht water management projects are going to built, there are now massive crowds against the government. These were formerly areas where PT was popular - but the way the projects are being put through - first with no public consultation, then with "sham" consultations when ordered by the courts they had to be held. The "public" had to register for the meetings on the internet, and only a select number of the "public" were allowed to attend. So this has frustrated the people who have valid concerns about their homes, and livelihoods being threatened.

[pdogg]

 

December 2, 2013 10:56 am

Police fired tear gas at protesters gathering near Metropolitan police bureau on Si Ayutthaya road on Monday.

The protesters dispersed, covered their face and poured water to clean the gas.

 

 

 

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Police-fire-tear-gas-at-protesters-near-Metropolit-30221132.html

[pdogg]

 

December 1, 2013 10:04 pm

Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha told protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra that the armed forces did not want to see the people killed or injured. Prayuth said during a meeting of Suthep and Yingluck that the armed forces would stand by the country.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Army-chief-tells-Suthep-Yingluck-armed-forces-do-n-30221122.html

 

Interesting choice of words here. 

 

Seems as if the Army is less willing to quell the protest than the Police.

[ArchieBunker]

In all the things I have read aboutthis terrible situation, they NEVER mention the "elephant" in the room.........

[pdogg]

Head of research for Thanachart says 50-50 chance of a coup.

 

Thai police are trying a new tactic to deal with anti-government protesters in Bangkok. On Monday they fired tear gas at protestors, but today they removed barriers in front of police headquarters, Bloomberg News reports, in a bid to defuse tensions.

 

The bad news is the anti-government forces seem eager for Thailand’s security forces to take sides in the conflict—no small thing in country that has had nine military coups since 1946. Suthep Thaugsuban, the protest leader who was deputy prime minister under the previous government, has called on police to support the movement to depose the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, sister of exiled former Premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

 

Pimpaka Nichgaroon, head of research for Thanachart Securities in Bangkok, warns that the current unrest could end as it often does in Thailand, with the generals intervening. Chances of a military coup are now 50-50, according to Pimpaka. The anti-Yingluck forces “want some kind of national unity government to help reform the political system before the country has a new election,” she wrote in a report published yesterday. However, that kind of regime change is unlikely “without some kind of military intervention or a coup, a risk we see rising from only 5% a month ago to a 50% probability now.”

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-12-03/will-the-generals-intervene-again-in-thailand

[pdogg]

 

Shots were fired and ping pong bombs were thrown at two protest sites of the anti-Thai regime demonstrators last night at the Democracy Monument and the Finance Ministry, wounding two security guards and a youth.

 

The first violence broke out at the gate of  the Finance Ministry where demonstrators were still occupying. Several shots were fired and ping pong bombs were thrown at the security guards protecting the demonstrators at the Klong Papa canal.

One guard was injured.

 

But Bang Sue station police said they still did not establish the wound was caused by gunshot or by the ping pong bomb explosion as they still could not yet enter the scene for inspection for safety reason. They said they would inspect the scent this morning.

 

Meanwhile at the Democracy Monument, security guards of the demonstrators also clashed with a motorcycle gang of youths who tried to enter the area from Yaek Kokwua intersection but was stopped by the guards. The angry youths then hurled several ping pong bombs at the guards, wounding one guard identified as Sornchai Tuksuwan, 36, and a youth.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/anti-thaksin-guards-shot-wounded/