Published: 12/03/2010 at 03:06 PM
Online news: Breakingnews
A large number of red-shirts from Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces departed Udon Thani town on Friday afternoon on 500 pick-up trucks, police said.
They also had in a convoy 10 large trucks loaded with rice and food supplies.
Thousands of people stood on both sides of the road to see them off.
The vehicles caused a traffic jam on the Mitraphap Highway beween Udon Thani and Nong Khai. They were thoroughly searched at two checkpoints manned by provincial and highway police and soldiers from the 24th Army District.
Published: 12/03/2010 at 02:24 PM
Online news: Breakingnews
All Bangkok branches of the Government Housing Banks were ordered closed at 2pm on Friday for the safety of staff and customers, the bank’s president Khan Prachuabmoh said.
Some commercial banks also closed their branches in risk areas for the same reason.
The Bangkok Bank ordered the closure of its Phan Fa bridge branch on Ratchadamnoen avenue and Bang Na Intersection branches.
Krung Thai Bank closed its Samrong branch in Samut Prakarn.
Two branches of the Thai Military Bank, at Sri Pathum University and Rajabhat Phra Nakhon University, were closed at noon today.
The Bank of Ayuddhya closed its braches inside the PTT building on Vibhavadii road.
Tisco Bank closed its branch at the University of Thai Chamber of Commerce. The bank’s Old Siam branch will be closed on Sunday.
City Bank reported to the central bank that it will close its Bangkok branch on Sunday.
Published: 12/03/2010 at 03:34 PM
Online news: Breakingnews
The red shirts would roam all over the streets of Bangkok on Mar 15 if the government did not meet the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship’s House dissolution demand, Nathawut Saikua said on Friday.
If the government was still adamant, the red shirts would employ other tactics which would force the Abhisit Vejjajiva administration to finally concede defeat, he said.
Mr Nathawut said UDD leaders would hold a meeting to mete out next moves on Mar 15. He believed the siutation would force the government to hold the cabinet meeting on Mar 16 at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Command headquarters on Chaeng Wattna road.
He said the UDD had nothing to do with the explosions at many spots in Surat Thani on Friday morning, saying the incident might be the work of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban for some hidden purposes.
Mr Nathawut also claimed to have detected an unusual movement of thousands of people to Bangkok, where they would then put on red shirts and spark chaos and violence.
He suspected this could be the work of “an exorcist of Buri Ram” in an apparent referrence to Newin Chidchob of the Bhumjaithai Party.
Protesters converge for mass rally
Published: 13/03/2010 at 08:05 PM
Online news: Related Stories
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.
**RED SHIRT LEADERS TO ISSUE ULTIMATUM TO GOVERNMENT AT MIDDAY AMID THREATS PROTEST COULD SPREAD ACROSS CITY **
Published: 14/03/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
The countdown for the showdown between the red shirts and the government will start today when the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) gives Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva an ultimatum to dissolve the House.
GROWING: Red shirt demonstrators pack Ratchadamnoen Avenue to hear speeches by their leaders from a stage at Phan Fa Bridge last night. Police estimated that about 80,000 red shirts were present.
If the deadline fails, the UDD will up the pressure by spreading their protests within a 20-kilometre radius of their main site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, said one of its leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, who was confident that victory would be achieved within one week.
Government House, the Si Sao Thewes residence of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, the parliament and Suvarnabhumi airport will not be the targets, according to the UDD.
One of its rallies is planned at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen district, which houses the peacekeeping operation command.
At noon on Sunday, key UDD leaders will spell out their deadline for the government to accept their demands.
Supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra from the provinces converged on Ratchadamnoen Avenue last night where a stage has been set up at Phan Fa Bridge.
Pol Maj Gen Prawut Thavornsiri of the Royal Thai Police estimated the number of demonstrators at the bridge at no more than 80,000 last night.
But more are expected to come today, including some who will arrive in Bangkok by boat. Sources at the peacekeeping operation command believe the number of protesters will reach 100,000 or more today.
In a bid to ease growing tension between the UDD and security forces, Korbsak Sabhavasu, secretary to the prime minister, talked with leading UDD figure Weng Tojirakarn yesterday and said the government was ready to reduce the number of troops at the rally site by putting more police on duty.
An intelligence source said the government was considering invoking emergency law if the situation gets out of control.
The peacekeeping operation command at the 11th Infantry Regiment could be moved to the Supreme Command headquarters if protesters block the military compound in Bang Khen, the source added. Mr Abhisit thanked all parties for keeping the arrival of the demonstrators and their demonstration peaceful and promised the government was trying to ensure it would continue in an orderly way.
The prime minister urged demonstrators to cooperate with government officials for their own safety and prevent any party from starting unrest.
He urged people to inform security staff if they see anyone dressing like police or soldiers and carrying arms among the demonstrators.
“Government officials will not fight anyone but will maintain order,” he said, and denied plans to attack demonstration leaders or supporters.
“We respect constitutional rights. If people exercise constitutional rights, we cannot end their legitimate movements. But if the boundaries of the demonstration under the constitution are breached, provoking violence or legal violations, then we must do our duty by taking legal action to maintain order,” said Mr Abhisit.
Thaksin yesterday told his supporters to stay put as the rally to topple the government would be a long one.
In a surprise 10-minute phone-in to the UDD’s main stage, Thaksin thanked the demonstrators for joining the calls for justice and fighting against the elite bureaucracy, or amataya.
“The more you come out, the more I want to fight. I’m so grateful to all of you and I’ll go back [to Thailand] to pay you back,” he said while calling for unity and patience from his followers.
He also attacked the Democrat Party-led government, telling the crowd: “They came to power with the help of the coup-makers and the amataya.”
Yesterday red shirt supporters from the North and Northeast travelled in pick-up trucks, vans, buses and big trucks to the capital.
Police and troops searched all vehicles for weapons and demanded demonstrators show their ID cards before letting the convoys move on. Red shirt demonstrators cooperated with authorities.
Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, the army spokesman, said security authorities decided to compromise by letting red-clad demonstrators travel in their vehicles to Bangkok to prevent traffic congestion resulting from confrontations between the demonstrators and ordinary motorists.
Three red shirts in Pathum Thani were sent to hospital yesterday, the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand reported.
The three cases included two injuries caused by brawling and one person who passed out due to dehydration and heat when the rally started on Friday, said Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit.
Mr Jurin, who also chairs the medical and public health centre dealing with unexpected emergencies during the rally, said the centre still categorised the rally at level three, which means the number of red shirt supporters in the city was expected to be more than 50,000 and that the situation could be severe.
Hospitals in the city and neighbouring areas were fully prepared and on high alert for emergencies, he said.
Mr Jurin, however, called on parents to avoid bringing their children to the rally site. Any outbreak of violence could affect their mental health in the long term, he said.
Ceremony makesjoint call for non-violence
By The Nation
Published on March 14, 2010
Religious rite part of wider efforts to avert bloodshed as tensions rise.
Civic and youth groups from Bangkok and Chiang Mai yesterday held a religious ceremony at the October 14 Monument calling for nonviolence during the red shirts’ mass rally to oust the Abhisit government.
Gothom Arya, chairman of the Education and Development Centre for Peace of Mahidol University, and the Buddhika Network invited noted monks such as Wat Suan Kaew abbot Phra Payom Kalayano, Phra Paisal Wisalo and Phra Chan of Santi Asoke to hold a religious rite calling on the red shirts and security officials to give up arms or any equipment that can lead to violence, such as guns, gas trucks, golf clubs - and even fermentedfish bags.
Police Region One commander Pol MajGeneral Wichai Sangprapai and some redshirt protesters joined the activity.
Phra Payom urged both the red and yellow shirts to forgive and forget and not to go to war and then to hell together. "Do not forget that your leaders are not there every night for you,‘’ he said.
Prapas Saengpradab, chairman of the Urban Community Network, and representatives of all 50 Bangkok districts - wearing white shirts and holding placards with the message "Stop hurting Thailand, stop violence and stop the rally’’ - rallied from Klong Bang Bua in Bang Khen to Phaholyothin Road. They also called on the government not to use force to crack down on protesters.
More than 20 monks from Yasothon, Nan and Udon Thani turned up at the Army HQ to submit an open letter to Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, calling on him not to use force against the people.
In Chiang Mai, a youth group calling themselves “New Gen New War” distributed antiviolence leaflets calling on the people to take pictures with their mobile phones if they see any violence committed by any party.
PM rejects UDD demand, rallies continue
Published: 15/03/2010 at 11:01 AM
Online news: Local News
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has rejected the red-shirt ultimatum to agree to dissolve the House by noon on Monday or face mass anti-government demonstrations.
Mr Abhisit said on national television about 10am on Monday, two hours before the deadline, that he would not bow the demand of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announces he would not bow the demand of the red-shirts on Monday.
“The protesters have demanded that I dissolve the House before midday today, but the coalition parties agree that the demand cannot be met,” he said.
His statement came as thousands of red-shirt protesters this morning marched on the 11th Infantry Regiment, where Mr Abhisit has been staying since the protest began, to demand an answer to their 24-hour ultimatum.
Mr Abhisit reported to have flown out of the compound by helicopter after he issued the statement.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva leaves the 11th Infantry Regiment on helicopter on Monday.
The protesters left the Phan Fa bridge around 9am and planned to arrive at the barracks by midday to hear the prime minister’s answer.
“Midday today is the final hour we give Abhisit and his government. Abhisit says he won’t dissolve the House, but with the people power today he will have to reconsider,” said protest leader Natthawut Saikua, before the crowd departed.
The protesters travelled in convoy to the barracks in trucks, buses, cars and pick-up trucks, promising non-violence and vowing to return to the main rally site after their doorstop.
“We will come back here. We’ll keep fighting,” Mr Natthawut told the cheering red-clad crowd before it departed.
Chiefs of state security units reportedly gathered at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok’s Bangkhen district in the morning to discuss measures to deal with red-shirt protesters.
Security forces inside the 11th Infantry Regiment on Monday.
Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and acting police chief Pol Gen Prateep Tanprasert were reported to have arrived at the military camp about 9am. They did not give any interview with reporters.
Gen Anupong had on Sunday ordered troops providing protection at the 11th Infantry Regiment to refrain from using force to deal with the red-shirts.
Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said about 2,000 soldiers were manning the 11th infantry army barracks, with three helicopters on standby to whisk leaders away if needed.
“We will push out the protesters if they trespass into the base. The final step is that rubber bullets would be fired at them, but the army has no wish to disperse the demonstration,” Col Sunsern said.
The red-shirts had dubbed their rally a “million man march” but police estimated their numbers reached only 86,000. Protest leaders gave various figures, all far higher than 100,000.
Authorities have deployed a 50,000-strong security force including soldiers and riot police across Bangkok and surrounding provinces for the rally, having invoked the Internal Security Act that allows the military to ban gatherings and impose curfews.
:chin:Ik houd me buiten deze politieke discusie weet er gewoon te weinig van en op de achter grond hebben de (hoge) militairen na mijn weten de touwtjes nog in handen
ben te lui om dat na te trekken. Deze morgen is?? VR?? (het is nu ZO 21/3).
En omdat ik toch altijd zo graag letterlijk mag lezen: er zijn wel 100.000en rode hemden-te koop. De oude met data van Hua mark stadium en andere al lang geleden demo’s gaan voor een prikkie weg (liever-ze gaan niet weg-dat wordt nog dumpen). De voetenklappers kunnen ook echt niet meer-weggeefprijs 10 of 9 bt. Het moeten nu klappers met rode harten zijn-die doen 25 bt-maar zakken ook al.
Als je met dat woord de in een rood hemd geklede betaalde [en een enkele niet) demonstranten bedoelt (2000 bt van de organisatie bij vertrek-belofte 2-3 dagen-na 4/5 werden ze dat wel zat)-en nu schijnt de govmt. 500 bt+gratis ticket voor de ‘‘rot tour’’=nachtbus naar huis terug te geven. Waarom er dan nog bedelaars langs de straten zitten verbaast me-gratis eten en gratis een paarse 500-waarom zou je dan nog blijven zitten.
De meestal erg schuimbekkende pratende leider van de rooje is een soort beroepsrevolutionair, die ooit nog is vastgezet vanwege communistische sympathieen. Hij draagt meest een soort mao-jasje en Mao-pet met rode ster. De ander ziet er werkelijk nog erger uit als de allerergste niet-te-vertrouwen tuktukdriver. En daar werkt die bisnistycoon Thaksin nu (noodgedwongen??) mee samen-werkelijk een alleronwaarschijnlijk gedwongen huwelijkje?
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[li]Gepubliceerd: 24/03/2010 om 12:00 uur[/li][li]Krant sectie: Nieuws[/li][/ul]
Granaat ontploffing bij het Openbaar Ministerie van Volksgezondheid slechts een half uur na een onderbroken ministerraad hebben leidde tot een oorlog van woorden tussen de regering en het leger aan de ene kant en de rode shirts op de andere.
De twee granaat explosies gistermiddag gevraagd het leger naar de andere 13.000 troepen toe te voegen aan de kracht die de beveiliging van de hoofdstad, met een andere 17.000 meer gelegd op standby.
Waarnemend woordvoerder van de regering Panitan Wattanayagorn zei dat de explosies in de parking van het ministerie Emergency Medical Institute waren een poging om vervalt bloot in veiligheid van de staat maatregelen.
De parkeerplaats ligt op 700 meter van een gebouw waar premier Abhisit Vejjajiva en zijn kabinet hielden gesprekken tot ongeveer 30 minuten voor de explosies.
Niemand raakte gewond bij de ontploffing.
Het leger en politie ingezet hebben meer dan 34.500 officieren om recht en orde te handhaven in Bangkok sinds 12 maart, toen het Verenigd Front voor Democratie tegen de dictatuur lanceerde haar rally ter ondersteuning van de oproep tot de regering de Tweede Kamer te ontbinden en nieuwe verkiezingen bellen.
Sansern Kaewkamnerd, de woordvoerder van het leger en de handhaving van de vrede opdracht, het Centrum voor de administratie van rust en orde (CAPO), zei dat de granaat aanval was gericht op het in diskrediet brengen van de regering.
“De bedoeling is om de regering in diskrediet te brengen …” zei hij.
“Het publiek voelt de druk. Onschuldige mensen worden gegijzeld. De CAPO veroordeelt degenen die achter het incident.”
Hij ontkende de regering zelf achter de aanslag.
“Het is niet een handeling door de overheid ambtenaren om een situatie te creëren. De dader heeft niet brand tijdens de ministerraad, omdat we hadden ingezet soldaten naar buiten. Maar er was een kans als we trokken de troepen.”
Rood shirt leider Natthawut Saikua beschuldigde de regering van de lancering van de granaat aanvallen om te proberen de UDD uitstrijkje. Hij vroeg zich af waarom de granaten werden afgevuurd na de ministerraad als de aanvallers waren tegenstanders van de regering.
Er was ook een poging tot granaat aanval in Chiang Mai gisteren, maar het niet ontploffen.
De aanslagen kwam de dag keurde de regering de verlenging van de Internal Security Act tot volgende dinsdag.
Maj Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, een aanhanger van de afgezette premier Thaksin Shinawatra bekend als Seh Daeng, ontkende hij was achter de aanslagen op het ministerie, maar waarschuwde voor meer aanvallen op overheidsgebouwen zoals ze waren het symbool van de amataya, of bureaucratische elite.
Uren na de aanslag op het ministerie, de interne Security Operations Command voorgezeten door de minister-president gesprekken gevoerd en is overeengekomen om het aantal van de politie en soldaten bewaakten Greater Bangkok naar 47.000 tijdens de verlengde periode van ISA handhaving te versterken.
Soldaten zijn het invoeren van Bangkok vanaf Nakhon Ratchasima, Kanchanaburi en Prachin Buri, zei een bron. ISOC heeft ook 17.000 meer soldaten en politie op stand-by op hun eenheden.
De granaat ontploffing op het ministerie beschadigde de ramen en banden van drie auto’s samen met het dak van de parkeerplaats op. Politie rende naar de scène granaatscherf en beelden ophalen uit gesloten circuit camera’s langs de snelweg in de buurt voor onderzoek.
Een eerste onderzoek bleek dat de granaten werden afgevuurd vanaf de snelweg ongeveer 150 meter achter het ministerie, zei Pol Maj Gen Supakit Srichantranon, de Nonthaburi politiechef.
Pol Col Somsakchai Amornsongcharoen, Muang district politie commandant, zei de politie onderzocht ook een hoog gebouw met uitzicht op de snelweg aan dezelfde kant van Ngam Wong Wan Road, zoals het ministerie is het mogelijk binnen schietbaan.
De aanval was getuige Aueychai Moonsiri, 37, een ambtenaar met het Emergency Medical Institute. Hij zei dat hij hoorde de eerste granaat afgaan en zag rook uit de tweede explosie minuten later.
[ul]
[li]Gepubliceerd: 25/03/2010 om 10:03[/li][li]Online nieuws: Breakingnews[/li][/ul]
De regering zal vandaag de situatie opnieuw evalueren en beslissen of het veilig is om de troepen rond het parlementsgebouw samengestelde verwijderen, vice-premier Suthep Thaugsuban schreef op donderdag ochtend.
De heer Suthep benadrukte dat de inzet van militairen in en rond het parlement was ervoor te zorgen zou er geen herhaling van het geweld tijdens de rellen Songkran in april vorig jaar.
Hij bevestigde dat, ondanks een reeks van aanvallen granaat, de regering in staat is van het houden van de situatie onder controle.
Gevraagd over geplande discussie Puea Thaise voorzitter Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh van de politieke situatie met Banharn Silpa-Archa, adviserende voorzitter van Chartthai Pattana partij, de heer Suthep zei dat hij ervan overtuigd dat de heer Banharn zou blijven met de Democraten geleide coalitie regering.
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[li]Published: 26/03/2010 at 12:00 AM[/li][li]Newspaper section: Business[/li][/ul]
Prolonged anti-government protests could cost the Thai economy up to 100 billion baht and hamper the recovery, economists say.
Thanavath Phonvichai, an economist with the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), said losses could reach 70-100 billion baht in a worst-case scenario, cutting this year’s gross domestic product growth to between 3% and 3.5%.
“The rallies now affect consumption and tourism the most,” he said.
“But the economic recovery would stay on course if the demonstrations end soon and the government can proceed with economic stimulus and investment plans through the Thai Khem Khaeng programme.”
Protests could hinder the recovery, delaying disbursement of fiscal stimulus spending by two months, if they force provincial governors to focus on security rather than ensuring the Thai Khem Khaeng scheme runs smoothly, he said.
The UTCC warned after its latest business survey that Thailand would lose 21-38 billion baht from falling consumption, lost investment and reduced tourism revenue if the demonstrations last longer than one month.
Consumption was forecast to drop by 11-16 billion baht, tourism losses would total 10-20 billion and direct investment would fall by 1-2 billion.
This would cut 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off 2010 growth, currently forecast in a range of 3.3% to 3.8%.
The SME Development Bank yesterday expressed serious concerns about the effect the rallies could have on its customers in the tourism sector and their ability to repay debts.
“Everything is fine at the moment, but problems might arise in April if the protests are prolonged,” said president Soros Sakornvisava.
But the state-owned small-business lender would continue to issue loans to the tourism sector at an interest rate of 4% annually for the first two years of a six-year term, he said.
“We think they [tourism sector operators] will be able to pay back the interest since it is a low rate, and if the economy starts to revive they will be able to pay back the principal as well,” said Mr Soros.
Out of the 5 billion baht allocated for the sector, about 3 billion in loans have already been issued to almost 3,000 tourism-related businesses, about one million baht per loan.
In other developments, businesses are bracing for possible impact from another series of red-shirt rallies planned throughout the capital tomorrow.
There had been reports that the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) would consider protesting at the Ratchaprasong intersection, the capital’s retail hub. The UDD later said it would not target the area.
Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, executive vice-president for marketing at Central Pattana Plc, said all Central shopping complexes including CentralWorld at Ratchaprasong would remain open tomorrow. Safety and security measures were being stepped up and more security guards would be recruited, he said.
Mr Nattakit said a co-ordinating centre would also be set up to deal with tenants and affiliated shopping centres.
Pressure has been mounting on the red shirts to leave their main protest site. It was reported Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had ordered ministries located on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to seek a court injunction ordering the red shirts to vacate the area. Relate Search: [Thanavath Phonvichai](http://www.bangkokpost.com/search?keyword=Thanavath Phonvichai), [University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce](http://www.bangkokpost.com/search?keyword=University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce)
Uitgegeven:28 maart 2010 08:29Laatst gewijzigd:28 maart 2010 09:24
**BANGKOK - De Thaise premier Abhisit Vejjajiva heeft zich zondag bereid verklaard te spreken met leiders van de demonstraties tegen zijn regering. **
Hij hoopt daarmee de spanning in de hoofdstad Bangkok te bezweren. Dit hebben zijn naaste medewerkers laten weten.
Het gesprek heeft volgens de zegslieden zondag rond 11.00 uur Nederlandse tijd plaats. De betogers sturen naar eigen zeggen drie afgevaardigden naar de regeringsleider.bron: www.nu.nl
De tweede ronde van besprekingen tussen de regering en de anti-overheid Verenigd Front voor Democratie tegen Dictatuur (ULD) eindigde in een impasse op maandag nacht als ze niet eens konden worden over het tijdschema voor het oplossen van het Huis van Afgevaardigden.
De twee uur durende onderhandelingen begon rond 6.20pm aan het King’s Prachadipok Instituut. Het werd live uitgezonden op de nationale televisie en radio.
De regering en de rood-shirt teams waren ongewijzigd ten opzichte van de eerste ronde van gesprekken. Aan de zijde van de regering, was premier Abhisit Vejjajiva wordt vergezeld door zijn secretaris-generaal Korbsak Sabhavasu en de Democratische Partij plaatsvervangend secretaris-generaal Chami Sakdiset.
Op de rode-shirts 'hoek stonden ULD voorzitter Veera Musikhapong, Puea Thaise oppositie partij MP Jatuporn Prompan en politiek activist Weng Tojirakarn.
Tijdens het vroege stadium van de vergadering, de heer Veera vraagt de heer Abhisit of hij zal de ULD’s vraag naar het Huis van Afgevaardigden te ontbinden binnen 15 dagen te accepteren.
De minister-president opnieuw afgewezen hun vraag, met de redenering dat het land niet zou uit een huis ontbinding profiteren op dit moment.
De heer Abhisit, echter, zei hij kon de Tweede Kamer te ontbinden binnen negen maanden of per jaar het einde nadat het ontwerp van de fiscale begrotingsjaar 2011, de omstreden wijzigingen grondwet en het politieke klimaat worden afgewikkeld.
De vergadering wordt vervolgens besproken andere kwesties uit het verleden politieke protesten om de rol van de ingezette militairen rond de belangrijkste van de rode-shirt rally’s site in de buurt van Fa Phan brug.
Beide partijen zijn voorlopig tot en opnieuw bijeen te komen op donderdag toen de premier keert terug uit Bahrein.
De algehele sfeer van de bijeenkomst was vriendelijk of nonbelligerent net als de vorige praten op zondag ook al geen vooruitgang is geboekt.(bronvermelding:Bangkok-post)
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[li]Gepubliceerd: 29/03/2010 om 02:53 PM[/li][li]Online nieuws: Breakingnews[/li][/ul]
Twee explosies voorgedaan in Chiang Mai in het noorden op zondagavond in wat werd gezien als een poging om verstoring te creëren, aldus de politie maandag.
In het eerste incident was een M26 handgranaat gooide naar de compound van de administratieve rechtbank van Chiang Mai-Lampang weg over 10.30pm. De granaat landde op het achtererf van het gebouw en de explosie veroorzaakte een gat ongeveer 10cm diep.
In het tweede incident, een zelfgemaakte bom ontplofte over 11pm in de buurt van een telefooncel op de Maan Muang weg, waardoor een beetje schade aan het glas van de stand van partities.
Pol Col Sombat Supapa, adjunct-hoofd van de provinciale politie, zei dat de twee incidenten waren kennelijk bedoeld om chaos te creëren.
In de provincie Phayao, Dok Kham Tai wijk politie gemeld op maandagochtend dat de schutters het vuur openden op de Bangkok Bank tak en gooide ping pong bommen in samenstelling van de bank. Het gebouw werd getroffen door meer dan 20 M16 rondes, schade aan de muur en glas ramen.
De aanval kwam over 2am op 27 maart.
Pol Generaal-majoor Jarin Insuwanno, Phayao de politiechef, had de oprichting van een comite voor Dok Kham Tai wijk omdat politie onderzoekt de schietpartij plaats vond op zaterdag, maar werd niet gemeld tot maandagmorgen.
Phayao gouverneur Cherdsak Chusri op maandagmorgen ging naar onderzoeken de schade aan de bank.
**Huge rally called after talks fail to end House **
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[li]Published: 31/03/2010 at 12:00 AM[/li][li]Newspaper section: News[/li][/ul]
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship is stepping up the pressure on the government to dissolve the House within 15 days.
The decision comes as negotiations between the red shirt leaders and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ground to a halt on Monday.
Today, the UDD will organise 5,000 red shirts on motorcycles to drive around the capital before they head to the Election Commission headquarters on Chang Wattana Road.
The protest at the EC office is aimed at pressuring the commissioners to speed up an investigation into the Democrat Party allegedly obtaining a 258 million baht donation improperly from TPI Polene, UDD co-leader Veera Musikhapong said.
On Saturday, the UDD says it will hold another rally, which they say is intended to be another peaceful, mass demonstration.
“It will be the biggest red shirt rally and we will intensify our battle. But be assured that we will stick to non-violence,” said Jatuporn Prompan, another UDD leader.
Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday urged his supporters to join Saturday’s demonstration via a video-link from Russia.
He also urged more Bangkokians to take part and called on politicians serving bans for electoral fraud when they were with the now defunct Thai Rak Thai and People Power parties to come out and join other UDD leaders on stage to attack the government.
The UDD strategy was decided on after no progress was made in a second round of negotiations between three government negotiators led by Mr Abhisit and the three-man UDD team led by Mr Veera on Monday.
As the two rounds of talks ended in stalemate, there is no guarantee that another meeting will take place after the prime minister returns to Bangkok from a visit to Bahrain today.
The UDD issued a statement yesterday condemning the prime minister for not agreeing to its demands.
“Mr Abhisit’s rejection of complying with the red shirts’ proposal [that he dissolve the House within 15 days] shows that he has no intention to mend the rifts in society,” the statement said.
“We are disappointed with Mr Abhisit’s refusal to comply with our demand,” said Mr Veera. “And the prime minister must be prepared for the consequences of his decision.”
Mr Jatuporn, however, yesterday declared the negotiations had ended. He also said there would be no behind-closed-door talks either because the government’s position and the UDD’s stance were too different for any deal to be struck.
During the talks on Sunday and Monday, Mr Veera showed more signs of compromising with the government than his two partners, Mr Jatuporn and Weng Tojirakarn.
But Mr Veera yesterday told Thaksin supporters not to be worried about unity within the rank and file of the red shirts. The UDD leaders were still united and decisions on the next move have been agreed upon by all of them.
But Kwanchai Praipana, a UDD leader in Udon Thani, was angry that the UDD strategy had so far failed to pressure the government to dissolve the House.
Mr Kwanchai said the UDD had a chance to win the battle last Sunday when they rallied outside the 11th Infantry Regiment but the UDD leaders did not seize the opportunity.
“The UDD leaders wanted to negotiate so we failed. What the red shirts got from two rounds of negotiations is five hours on free television. There is nothing substantive. There is no [House] dissolution. I can say that we’re going home empty handed,” he said.
Chamni Sakdiset, one of the three negotiators in the government camp, reaffirmed yesterday the government was still open to more talks.
The government is mulling whether to try to get cooperation from civil groups and some moderate UDD members to find a solution to the impasse.
Panitan Wattanayagorn, the PM’s deputy secretary-general, said the government will bring the matter up with civil groups to discuss with Korbsak Sabhavasu, the PM’s secretary-general, who would coordinate with them
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[li]Published: 31/03/2010 at 04:30 PM[/li][li]Online news: Breakingnews[/li][/ul]
There is a strong possibility of violence during the red-shirt mass rally against the Democrat-led government on Saturday, Democrat Party deputy spokesman Warong Dejkijvikrom said on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Warong said he based in prediction on a report that key members of the pro-Thaksin United front for Democracy against Dictatorship in several provinces, especially in the North and Northeast, were encouraging their supporters to take to the streets in the capital to rally against the government.
“The key members claim that police and troops dare not harm the people, so the red-shirts can safely express extreme political views,” he said.
The deputy spokesman of the Democrats called on core leaders of the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship to control their supporters and ensure the demonstration will be peaceful.
Mr Warong said he had consulted with cabinet ministers, asking they double check the report and come up with measures to prevent the possible violence.
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[li]Published: 1/04/2010 at 12:15 PM[/li][li]Online news: Breakingnews[/li][/ul]
An M79 grenade exploded inside the compound of the provincial transport office in Chiang Mai on Wednesday night, damaging six cars and parts of the office building.
Assathai Rattandilok, director of the Chiang Mai transport office, and Pol Col Somsak Sirivej, chief of the bomb squad of the 33rd Border Patrol Police Division, examined the scene on Thursday morning.
It was the seventh location to be attacked with war weapons in the northern capital his year, he said.
Pol Col Somsak believed the M79 grenade was fired from a road behind the transport office.
Meanwhile, the Chiang Mai-based Region 2 national intelligence coordinating centre has provided training or about 100 security guards at hotels and other private estblishments on how to recognise objects that might contain explosives.
Pol Col Somsak said the secrity guards were encouraged to report any suspicious objects to authorities
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[li]Published: 1/04/2010 at 04:07 PM[/li][li]Online news: Local News[/li][/ul]
Samples of the blood that was splattered by the red-shirts at the gates of Government House and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s house on March 15 and 16 were found to have three kinds of highly contagious viruses - hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HiV.
The blood, which United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders claimed was all donated by red-shirt supporters, was also found to be mixed with the blood of pigs.
The results of the tests were released on Thursday by the Mahidol Brothers Group, led by Dr Kusol Prawichpaiboon. It comprised doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and experts in other fields.
They submitted a report on their findings to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva through his deputy secretary-general Issara Sunthornwat.
The report strongly condemned the red-shirts for using blood to attack their political opponents, even though the UDD claimed their actions were non-violent and constitutional.
The report said the leaders of the red-shirts showed no sense of responsibility for the hygiene and physical welfare of their fellow Thais.
The Mahidol Brothers Group proposed that:
Public health agencies such as the Disease Control Department go to see UDD leaders, explain to them that the infections found in the blood samples were highly contagious, and to try and locate the infected blood donors so they can receive proper treatment.
Agencies under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration organise a training course for protesters on how to look after their own health and hygiene, and environmental protection, to prevent them from developing and spreading diseases.
"The Mahidol Brothers Group has due respect for both the red-shirts and the government.
“But for the sake of the health and safety of society as a whole, we would like all concerned to cooperate to prevent the spread of these deadly diseases,” the report said.
