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hillbilly

Udon Thani - A supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy was killed and 20 others were injured when PAD-led protesters clashed with their opponents in this northeastern province Thursday afternoon.

Police said about 1,000 anti-PAD people armed with sticks, machetes and iron bars, stormed into try to demolish the stage of the PAD at about 1:30 pm.

PAD guards tried to fight back and the man was killed in the clash.

The injured people were sent to the provincial hospital.

Bangkok's Independent Newspaper

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Norton

PAD ventured too far into enemy territory me thinks! Having what amounts to an anti Thaksin protest in Isan is not recommended.

Unlike the Bangkok crowd, those Isan folk are expert at recognizing bullshit.

baldrick

whaaa? would you like to know the lucky lottery numbers for next week ?

gratefuldev

I passed through the protest site in Bangkok again yesterday on my way home from work. There were tons of people there and it was only Thursday. I can't imagine how many people will be there on Saturday night. I can't help but think that this situation is going to get worse before it gets better.

Rattanaburi

The people who were protesting in the park in Udon were attacked by a bunch of wild animals. The police are just fucking worthless criminals for doing nothing. Guess what if the police continue to do nothing the army will step in. There's plenty of video of the perpetrators and leaders of the thugs so people must be arrested; if not, then Thailand is going down the tubes or into a new coup.


Some video but not as clear as on TV of course This is Udon
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Bugs

Yea, that's why the Thai elite have been so successful at keeping the great northeast poor and uneducated for centuries - great bullshit meters on that lot.

Issan? More like the land of mushrooms (LOM) - kept in the shit, and in the dark, by the powers that be.

gjbkk

it is crazy that a brother of a cabinet member led the attack. the brother of Mr. Theerachai Saenkaew, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives should be charged for inciting violence.

Samak should step in now and set an example to prevent further acts of violence but I expect he wont

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mediamanbkk

Pro-government activist admits on TV he led protests to beat up PAD protesters in Udon Thani
Kwanchai Praiphana, leader of the Udon Thani Guard Group, admitted during an interview on Channel 3 that he let his supporters to beat up protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Kwanchai vowed to lead his supporters to beat PAD protesters again if they hold another rally in the northeastern province.

On Thursday, Kwanchai led hundreds of protesters demolish PAD's stage and beat up PAD protesters, seriously injuring two of them.

Kwanchai said he had warned local PAD supporters several times not to organise a rally in the province, because he regarded that anti-government rallies damaged the province's reputation.

"Yes, I did it and I am not afraid of legal action because I will be charged only public brawl charges," Kwanchai said.

"I've warned them several times that they must not come here."

Just got this in a news alert from the Nation

ray23

You know when the truck driver was nearly beaten to death in LA over Rodney King, the LAPD didn't step in why? They were ordered not to. Something to think about.

I wouldn't be so quick to draw and quarter the cops. Theres is a fair chance there i lot more to this then we know.

A few weeks earlier this same group protested in front of a local Pad leaders buisness. The cops kept the groups apart.

I see the Pad has called for it's followers to stop in the Proviences and go to Bangkok.

This is a very sad state of afffairs. But, it is not the first time this country has been down this road.

gdk

yes most of the police here are CARTOON figures like Wald disney

Mid

Udon Thani governor calls on villagers to reunite

(BangkokPost.com) - Udon Thani governor Supoj Laowansiri called on local villagers to reconcile after a clash took place at Nong Prachak Silapakhom public park in the municipal area, where around 150 People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters were gathering.

Mr Supoj said he is concerned that there would be a revenge.

He also denied reports that there was a man killed in the clash on Thursday.

He insisted that authorities did not ignore the clash, but members of anti-PAD demonstrators were more than expected, thus went beyond the control of the authorities.

bangkokpost.com

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killerbees

I watched a bit of the footage from Udon today... have to say it was not the nicest behavior I've seen. There's something about seeing someone laying defenseless on the ground and begging for mercy only to be beaten by club-wielding goons. In one choice bit of footage a policeman was standing in front of a guy laying on the ground... the cop was trying to wave people off and men with clubs were going around the sides of him to get in a good crack before running off. Don't know where the policeman ended up but he scuttled off not long thereafter, leaving the poor guy to take more kicks on the ground.

What's with that? People like to fight so long as there are overwhelming odds? It's like most of the barfights I've seen over here. (I realize that I'm painting with very broad brushstrokes, and I apologize for that.) I mean, people were running up to smash these guys who were already unconscious and lying on the ground and then running off.

Is there a big protest planned for this weekend? I know it's a pretty much non-stop thing but is it supposed to be bigger than usual? That would probably be a pretty good place to stay the hell away from if possible.

Where's Khun Thaksin these days, anyway?

paulsmithson

yes I too saw the footage of the guy being knocked down then beaten by the big brave Taxin employees.

Even as a farang ,had Ibeen there I would have been compelled to take a stick off one of these conts and attack them myself.
The police were absolutely hopeless----There will be repurcussions for this I am sure.
I know several Thai soldiers who when off duty attend PAD meetings in BKK and have publicly stated that they are there to trounce the police if they ever start on the people.

Tahad Thai dee kwa mi?

Norton

With all due respect to your superior knowledge of Isan your post is typical of the very mindset the "Thai elite" have had for so long. The people of Isan and the North voted and when tallied put the TRT in power resulting in a challenge to the power of the Thai elite. The reaction of the elite when contemplating the impact of actually having the unwashed ignorant Isan folks have a say in how Thailand is governed is as predictable as Mugabe's was. They immediately began whining and attacking the TRT in an attempt to nullify the election. Failing that, the PAD was formed for the express purpose of causing enough trouble to "compel" a coup. The coup leaders then set about banning the TRT and changing the constitution to rig the next election so the unwashed would be severly handicapped.

As in our little TD world, the TRT popped back on the scene with a new nic. Much to the chagrin of the "elite" the guys with the new nic won the election again.

What do do, what to do? Those ignorant, unwashed Isanites are getting away with the unspeakable crime of electing another bunch who might actually give a shit about Isan. They must be punished!

Here's an idea, let's try a repeat of what worked so well the first time. Accuse all the winners of corruption and get them removed from office. Reform the PAD led by the same disgrunteled losers as before and march around the streets claiming how Thailand is going down the sewer. We may even be able to get the Army involved and have another coup. Oops, the Army isn't interested in a repeat performance! Ok, we will make demands of the government. Oops the governement has accepted our demands. Ok, let's have a few more demonstrations showing how we are all for Democracy! Oops, nobody is buying it.

OK, let's go to Isan and convince the ignorant the error of their ways. Oops, they sure are an angry bunch up there. Wonder why?

The PAD is not interested in anything but returning the country to rule by Bangkok. Even the "ignorant" have got this figured out!

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paulsmithson

MM Norton---yes there was an election and yes the present government were voted in.
12 months ago I felt abolutely as you do now.
I have however been given so much information ( by PAD people ) that I am now unsure about my previous beliefs. The les majeste speech made by the PAD opposition was a deciding factor for me.I personally think Taxin is pulling the strings with Samark and for sure none of then give a flying fock about the poor in Issan.
The way things are going it will be very good for farang exchange rates but to see the level of violence in Udon Thani---not only many beating a fallen person with clubs but then going round to another mans home and dragging him out and leaving him unconscious on the ground---with on camera at least 3 tamruad stood watching. Well that is unfiorgiveable. If PAD here want to visit udon then I think I will tag along and show these cowards what an arse kicking is .

Texpat

^^Good post Norton. I agree wholeheartedly.

PAD is nothing more than sore losers.

KunJackpot

Spot on Norton!
PDP are the Loonies no Doubt! They are trying to Renig on the election results.Instead of working with them.And waiting 3.5 years to "Run" for election.
Sonti,Aphasit and Phantamit.All Rich .All Mouth(calling farangs nasty things and saying Isan folk are"Ignorant and Uncooth").And all Lazy.PDP should shut mouth and SHOW they can work!In time to try to WIN the next election!

Mid

Provincial police reprimanded for indifference to prevent clashes

BANGKOK, July 25 (TNA) – National Police Chief Pacharawat Wongsuwan warned Friday he would take disciplinary actions against provincial police officers who failed to prevent clashes or violence between conflicting activists in their political demonstrations.

Pol. Gen. Pacharawat' harsh announcement came on the heels of two separate clashes between pro- and anti-government activists in the northeastern provinces of Udon Thani and Buri Ram -- the incidents he described as a "dear lesson" for the local police.

He blamed them for their indifference to the situations and announced that wrongders must be arrested.

Hundreds of protestors of the so-called Udon Thani Guard Group on Thursday stormed into the People’s Alliance of Democracy-led rally in the province and demolished its stage. Some chased and beaten up the PAD supporters, causing two of them serious injuries.

Udon Thani provincial governor Supoj Laowansiri on Friday expressed concerns over the confrontation following a similar event in Buri Ram.

He said 15 people were injured in the melee but no one was beaten to dead as earlier reported. Four of the injured victims were hospitalised.

Meanwhile, Democrat party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said it was a regret that such a violence took place during the demonstration. He called on the government to hunt for those masterminding the attack.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew strongly denied his involvement in the clash following a report that his brother was the anti-PAD group leader. (TNA)

enews.mcot.net

Mid

Police to take action against attackers on PAD supporters
Mon, July 28

Udon Thani police will take action against two leaders of last week's attack on supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy during their anti government rally, the provincial police chief said Monday.

Maj Gen Permsak Paradon, the Udon Thani police commissioner, told a press conference that an initial investigation found that Kwanchai Sarakham (also known as Kwanchai Phraipana) and Uthai Saenkaew led troublemakers who stormed into the PAD rally at a park in the northeastern province last Thursday.

Uthai is a younger brother to Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew from the ruling People Power Party.

Udon Thani Governor Supot Laowansiri told the same press conference that he would not tolerate such a law violation and any perpetrator would be punished.

After the press conference was completed, Kwanchai and Uthai turned themselves in at the provincial police bureau. They were accompanied by their lawyers and some 150 members of the Udon Thani Patriots Club.

Kwanchai said he and Uthai showed up to show their innocence in the case and rejected all the charges against them. He also threatened to "drive away" any future rally by the PAD in the province.

Kwanchai said that he was ready to be removed from his position as a political appointee at the Prime Minister's Office as a result of the matter. He said that he had never abused the position for his benefit.

nationmultimedia.com


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Udornt Thani group affirms it will not desist from clashing with PAD
28 July 2008

Udornthani Enthusiasts group leaders Kwanchai Phraipana (ขวัญชัย ไพรพนา) and Uthai Saenkaew (อุทัย แสนแก้ว) emerged from over 2 hours of questioning by police concerning a recent clash with the People's Alliance for Democracy. Both leaders assured that they had only traveled to meet police as a sign of their innocence and both were released without bail or collateral. The leaders denied police claims that they were an unlawful and have threatened to counter sue such claims as well as warning that they will not cease to defy the PAD and attempt to deny them from rallying in Udornthani.

Provincial Police Commander, Police Major General Permsark Paradornsak (เพิ่มศักดิ์ ภราดรศักด) said that the two men have been processed according to law and have received all charges against them. Udornthani Enthusiasts group leaders Kwanchai Phraipana (ขวัญชัย ไพรพนา) and Uthai Saenkaew (อุทัย แสนแก้ว) emerged from over 2 hours of questioning by police concerning a recent clash with the People's Alliance for Democracy. Both leaders assured that they had only traveled to meet police as a sign of their innocence and both were released without bail or collateral. The leaders denied police claims that they were an unlawful and have threatened to counter sue such claims as well as warning that they will not cease to defy the PAD and attempt to deny them from rallying in Udornthani.

Provincial Police Commander, Police Major General Permsark Paradornsak (เพิ่มศักดิ์ ภราดรศักด) said that the two men have been processed according to law and have received all charges against them.

thainews.prd.go.th

ray23

Well last I heard PAD has another demonstration planned for this weekend in Udon.