Red Shirt protest in Thailand

nightzip SG

The weapons could jolly well be planted by the army personnel just to justify to the people, there! you got peasants with weapons.

Yo! Remember the army general that was assasinated by Akhisit's army? Its just because he was not pro- or hail- Akhisit, and he was killed?

He could have used his influence to equip the people with more firepower. And bear in mind that NOT all army are pro-Akhisit's policies..

Remember that there was a time where the different armies or brigades are split on which government to support? Thus, it is natural that those who do not see Akhisit's policies right, do not support him and could be pro-people, thus there are weapons at people's HQ right?

I think we all need to read more news about Thailand from countries like China, India, etc where they reported a more balanced view.

And SG government is laying low without comments because all governments have their own benefits to consider if either of one is the PM of thailand. Most acads in SG knows that.

nightzip SG

Thai renegade general dies

BANGKOK - THAI news reports say a renegade army general who worked for Red Shirt protesters has died of gunshot wounds in hospital Monday, five days after he was shot by a sniper.

Channel 9 television, Thai Rath newspaper and other media outlets said Maj. Gen. Khattiya Sawasdiphol died on Monday. Maj. Gen. Khattiya was the military strategist of the Red Shirts. He was shot in the head on Wednesday.

The attack triggered widespread street fighting between anti-government protesters and the army in central Bangkok. At least 36 people - all civilians - have died in the violence.

The Red Shirts have been protesting since mid-March demanding the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the dissolution of Parliament and new elections.

Violent clashes in Bangkok have left 35 people dead, officials said Monday, after the government ruled out foreign intervention to end the two-month stand-off.

The worsening violence has turned parts of the city into no-go zones as troops use live ammunition against anti-government demonstrators, who have blocked streets with burning tyres, and fought back with homemade weapons. --AP, AFP

Can I ask who shot him? He was assasinated? Just like Sun Yat Sen?

Did the thai government/army assasinate him?

nightzip SG

Italian journalist, two 'Reds' killed in Bangkok protests
Posted: 19 May 2010 1215 hrs

BANGKOK : Thai troops battled with anti-government protesters Wednesday, after smashing into their rally zone using armoured vehicles and tearing down towering barricades of tyres and razor wire.

Gunfire was being exchanged in clashes in the protest encampment, which the "Red Shirts" have occupied for six weeks, defying a military containment operation launched last Thursday that left 39 dead.

An AFP photographer saw two protesters lying dead inside the camp, while hospital officials said an Italian journalist was also killed in the clashes. At least seven others were wounded and sent to hospital.

In the face of the barrage, some 100 other protesters fled towards the movement's main rally stage in the heart of their sprawling encampment, which has shut down Bangkok's main shopping district.

Reds leaders tried to quell a rising sense of panic among some 5,000 supporters including many women and children who are still inside the rally base despite the violence and orders to leave.

Some were openly crying and others put on face masks in fear of tear gas attacks.

"Please stay calm today, no matter what happens we will stay here together," leader Nattawut Saikuar said from the stage where protesters were gathered for safety, directing them to a nearby Buddhist temple if necessary.

"Those who fear for your life go to the temple, but those who volunteer to stay here you are free to do so."

The government said the offensive was aimed at establishing a secure perimeter around the protest base, but the military offensive now appeared to be aimed at completely closing down the camp.

"The operations are designed to make sure that the security officers can provide security and safety to the public at large. The operations will continue throughout the day," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn.

"We would like to reassure the citizens and residents of Bangkok that the operations are designed to make sure that we stabilise the area," he said in a televised address.

A senator involved in failed last-minute peace talks said he feared the military operation, launched after the Reds defied a Monday deadline to disperse, would cause serious loss of life.

"The government has chosen to decisively enforce the law. The signals are that absolutely the army will win, but the losses will be unbearable," said General Lertrat Rattanavanich.

"Certainly based on all the signs that I have seen there will be a crackdown, not containment," added the senator, who was one of a group in the upper house who tried to act as mediators.

Hundreds of army and police advanced towards the protest zone in the pre-dawn hours, with trucks dropping off troops wearing balaclavas and carrying weapons and riot shields, while a helicopter circled overhead.

Several large fires broke out at barricades and major buildings around the protest zone, sending out massive clouds of black smoke that obscured the Bangkok skyline.

Dozens of soldiers crept along Wireless Road, which runs parallel to the protest zone, crouching behind trees and poles and scurrying up foot bridges near the US embassy, which has been closed.

"Danger zone," one soldier said, waving reporters back as muffled cracks rang out from nearby Lumpini park, which the protesters had spilled into during an occupation that has forced hotels and shopping centres to close.

Security forces have battled with the Reds since last Thursday as they attempted to seal off the rally base, turning parts of the city into no-go zones as troops used live ammunition against protesters, who fought back mainly with homemade weapons.

The Reds are campaigning for elections to replace the administration of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, which they consider illegitimate because it came to power with the backing of the army in a 2008 parliamentary vote.

They are mostly supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup. A controversial court ruling ejected his elected allies from power, paving the way for Abhisit's government to be appointed.

Many countries have warned their nations against travelling to Thailand. Australia Wednesday said travellers should not visit Bangkok, citing the deteriorating security situation. – AFP/jy

So, who killed the red shirts and the italian reporter? Did the Akhisit's government ever apologise?

Arapahoe SG

I think there is no point in finger pointing about weapon cache or Thaksin

A political resolution should have done long ago and not let protest lead to a life of its own. Self defend is only a natural evolution.

I think for a real reconcilation....Akhisit government needs to call for an election for a better moral mandate. Or else people will only see the military behind his speech its hard to have a real reconcilation.

Cynical view of the govt will be the real outcome ........rather than reconcilation.

zocoss SG

well said...but....then why thaksin tio coup last time leh... the army and yellow shirt can't wait ar? what's the hurry?? and yes red shirt are armed... but... what about the other side?? they are armed with tanks and m16 hor..... bottomline is... what thaksin did for the country was alot more than what this new government have done....

Thaksin tio coup is of his own making mah... You really think the so called yellow shirts alone can do it if enough high ranking army officer was not unhappy with his dictatorship style as well? Under him, Thailand lost their Press freedom, something a true democratic gov should not suppressed. But Thaksin's did.

There was corruption, favouritism to his own people and tax eavsion just to name a few... But probably the most important, he was disrespectful to the monarch... This probably upset the army leaders more than anything else.

Insider trading was also said to have taken place benefitting his family members... Imagine the Thai Stock Exchange allowed Thaksin to avoid paying capital gain tax on Shin Corp while he was PM. I don't know how much it was in total but I recalled reading back then it was in the billions... and I am not just talking about bahts, in US$ too...

Imagine Shin Corp was just a computer business but it soon became the country's biggest telecommunications company during his time... How they got their prized satellite and mobile telephone licences we have to wonder... not to say there was anything illegal but just wonder lor...

And if you care to read, his human right record is far worst than the present gov too...

Let me say I am not a fan of the Abhisit gov. I just felt it was wrong the way the so called red shirts went about it that's all. Not too long ago, leaders were supposed to have a summit meeting in Chiang mai or somewhere and this red shirts appear and totally trash the place up thinking it was fun when they appear on tv. I guess believing they are really that powerful, they took on Bangkok this time totally disregard the law...

I just feel the Abhisit gov has its term to serve so let it serve its time out. If the Army don't like it, another coup could happen anytime removing him along with it. And if you want to compare to the so called yellow shirts, well, the very least they were more peaceful. Cos we can't deny never before in past protest have we seen the used of weapons and fire used like the last one.

And when you talk about tanks and m16s. Well, look at this, these are the army basic weapons isn't it? The tanks were used as shields for the protection of the soldiers from the red shirts militia groups attacking them. It's not as though it's used like in the Tainanmen where they came in by surprise in the dark of the night and in high speed... Even rolling over protestors in their way... Here it was only used as a defensive rather than an offensive machine and it moved in very slowly.

Maybe you are not aware but the present Thai economy is in a far better sharp than some think and it's all down to the Abhisit gov... Their stock market is much better now, the country is getting back on it's feet... So why disrupt them from completing their job now?

Let me just say this... Whatever the outcome, Thaksin is still the winner here. The sentiments those red shirts have towards the gov now will only benefit him even more... He probably won't care who died or who lost a family member... He is more concern about getting power back thats all... And to some of those ignorant country folks (Not all) who thought going to Bangkok to protest was like going to a party... Unfortunately, they were only pawns to a power play who was dispensable to their leaders...

Hugh Hefner SG

Aiyah. Next time the Red Shirt should arm themselves with Russian made RPG. Can easily rip the guts out of those flimsy cardboard Thailand APCs.

Singapore not easy lar. Got powerful Leopard tanks and Apache helicopter. Thailand army is useless. Actually Red Shirt should have organize into sniper batallion (15 person), AK-47 batallion (350 person), Machine gun nest batalion (30 person), RPG-7 batalion (50 person), Molotov cocktail batalion (300 person), Firebomb batalion (100 person), Rioter batalion (10,000 person), Human Shield batalion - women, old people and children (10,000), Bodyguard batalion (200 people), Pistol wielding batalion (200 people), machete wielding batalion (300 people), Medic and doctor batalion (400 people), Leader and coordinator batalion (400 people), IED suicide bomber batalion (60 person), Grenade throwing batalion (30 person), Motorbike, car and truck bomb batalion, logistic and food batalion (1,400 people) and mortar batalion (100 person). Only then they can thrash the Thai Army.

I-like-flings(m) SG

And if you care to read, his human right record is far worst than the present gov too...

huh??? lost freedom of speech?? corruption?? economy better now?? ..... i got nothing to say already if that is what u think.. really funny i can only say..... oh ya.. one last thing... i believe thaksin already rich rich when he become the pm.. not after.....

Clivebenss SG

Thaksin was too good for his own good. Haiz..

QX179R SG

Thai govt extends curfew

BANGKOK - THE Thai authorities have extended a curfew in Bangkok and 24 provinces for seven days because of concern about possible unrest, an army spokesman said on Monday.

'We have information that there are groups and individuals who still want to create chaos in some areas,' Sansern Kaewkamnerd told a news conference.

The curfew, from midnight to 4 am, must be formally approved by the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, he added.

The curfew came into effect on May 19 after riots and arson broke out across Bangkok following an army crackdown to disperse anti-government protesters occupying a commercial district in the capital. -- REUTERS

~PEPPER~ SG

Thai govt extends curfew

BANGKOK - THE Thai authorities have extended a curfew in Bangkok and 24 provinces for seven days because of concern about possible unrest, an army spokesman said on Monday.

'We have information that there are groups and individuals who still want to create chaos in some areas,' Sansern Kaewkamnerd told a news conference.

The curfew, from midnight to 4 am, must be formally approved by the cabinet at its weekly meeting on Tuesday, he added.

Still contnue. omg

zocoss SG

Wah... Looks like you hardly read up on Thailand or Thaksin's actions all those years... Thaksin rich already or not got nothing to do with his actions as PM. Rich doesn't mean he can't be corrupted, rich also doesn't mean he does not become greedy and want more. But he definitely became a lot more richer than before he was PM though... Even his children schooling in UK became very rich as well during his time as PM...

And yes, Thaksin indeed started to muzzle the free press when he came to power... I suggest you should read more on it so as to understand the case better... serious...

I-like-flings(m) SG

And yes, Thaksin indeed started to muzzle the free press when he came to power... I suggest you should read more on it so as to understand the case better... serious...

ya same to u too.. pls read more lah... oh ya.. read the correct things too... hehe..... i never say rich ppl cannot be greedy but u the one that say he become rich when he become pm leh.....thailand doing better now compare to under thaksin.... hahahaahahahaha.... u mean in sex trade is it? ... and free press?? it's see how u define it only..... oh ya.. by the way... some lee family in sg also very rich now, they also anyhow sue reporter...and sg is also doing very well now... so that mean army coup is coming??? or do we wait for the next election to come ar???

zocoss SG

Wah... you serious or not? Can come up with this kind of reply? I read a lot on this that is why I am telling you lor... Looks like you can't read my post correctly also... No wonder lah... When did I say Thaksin wasn't rich before he became PM? Search my post in all my replys to you and I don't see it, how come you can see leh?

And did I say you said rich people cannot be greedy? Never what... It's you the one who said "i believe thaksin already rich rich when he become the pm.. not after....." So that is why I told you "Rich doesn't mean he can't be corrupted, rich also doesn't mean he does not become greedy and want more" Correct? And also "he became a lot more richer than before he was PM though..." Hope you understand what i mean by "a lot more richer than before" and don't misconstrue my meaning...

Sex trade, is that all you think about? Go back and read again... I was referring to the Economic and Financial crises this last 2 years... Don't always everything sex, ses, sex lah...

Press freedom means you don't anyhow go and sue others... Are you aware Thaksin also like to use the court to sue people?

On Sg, What's the problem? They rich cos they deserved to be what... Lee family got not pay tax or try avoiding paying tax? Never right... What coup you talking about? Wait for the election lah what so difficult? The red shirts should have just followed this...

Maybe you mind telling us what you know about the Shin Corp thing lor. Like how much he sold it for and what's his profit gain and stuff like that. And also if he did pay tax on it or not? And how come can don't need to pay leh?

And finally, please read carefully lah... and don't anyhow say i said this and that later when I never said it at all...

zocoss SG

Arrest warrant for former Thai PM

A court in Thailand has approved an arrest warrant for Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's former prime minister, on "terrorism charges".

He is accused of financing recent red-shirt protests in the Thai capital that left 88 people dead and thousands wounded following a military crackdown.

The court in Bangkok on Tuesday heard evidence from the government's department of special investigations, the agency charged with investigating the protests.

Thaksin was ousted in 2006, and currently lives in self-imposed exile to avoid jail time for corruption.

The government accuses Thaksin of spending nearly $1.5 million per day to finance the protests, and claims he helped the red shirts smuggle weapons and fighters from Cambodia.

mancha SG

The protest was supposed to be a peaceful one. The peasants were told to protest peacefully. On that basis the rural peasants lend support to the Red Shirts.

But....no way the organisers want the protest to be a boring one. They planned for the drama that followed.

QX179R SG

Thai authorities lift curfew

BANGKOK - THAILAND'S premier on Saturday lifted a curfew imposed across about one third of the country, including Bangkok, in the wake of deadly anti-government protests, saying the situation was now under control.

But Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there was no plan yet to revoke emergency rule following the end of two months of mass rallies by the 'Red Shirts' that left almost 90 people dead in a series of clashes with troops. 'The curfew will be lifted but the state of emergency will remain in place,' Mr Abhisit told reporters.

He said security officials had proposed ending the night-time restrictions on movement 'as the situation is under control.'

The measure was imposed in Bangkok and 23 provinces, out of a total of 76, on May 19 after enraged protesters went on a rampage of arson following an army crackdown on their rally, which had paralysed the retail heart of the capital. Protest leaders surrendered after armoured vehicles backed by armed troops firing live rounds smashed through towering barricades made of tyres and razor wire that the Red Shirts had erected around their sprawling base.

But militant protesters angered by the outcome set 36 major buildings ablaze including the stock exchange and Thailand?s biggest shopping mall, Central World, which now stands in ruins. The unrest also spread to several cities in the Red Shirts? stronghold in Thailand?s impoverished northeast.

While Bangkok has tried to get back to business this week, authorities on Tuesday extended a midnight-to-4am curfew for four more nights as the government sought to restore order. Anyone violating the curfew had faced up to two years in jail, and the measures had made life hard for people who usually work during the night and put a damper on the capital's normally lively nightlife. -- AFP

QX179R SG

'Red Shirt' guard arrested

BANGKOK - THAI police said on Tuesday they had arrested a 'Red Shirt' guard in connection with an arson attack on the country's biggest shopping mall in May, which followed two months of anti-government protests.

Saichon Paebua, 28, from the central province of Chainat, was arrested in Bangkok late on Monday for his alleged involvement in the fire at the capital's Central World mall, which was left gutted by the blaze and partly collapsed.

A Bangkok district court issued his arrest warrant on June 1 after he was seen in photographs breaking glass windows and walking inside the mall on the afternoon of May 19, the day of the blaze.

Saichon, who was employed by the 'Red Shirts' as a guard during the rally, confirmed he was the person in the footage but denied arson charges.

'He can deny but police will send him to the court as we have clear evidence against him,' King Kwangwisetchaicharn, commander of Chanasongkram Police station in Bangkok, told AFP.

Police have issued three other warrants for suspected arsonists. -- AFP

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