Thread: Red shirt rally-10th April 2011 - Pasit to 'disclose more secret' at red-shirt rally

Originally Posted by BobR

I chose last night to drive from Surin to Sattahip. Before I reached the Bangkok turn off, I must have passed through 10 check points.

I know that feeling with guys with guns. But I dont fear Thai military ranks they are not actually like their leaders. I was just stopped only twice back to BKK fron Kanchanaburi and had no problems very polite kap. But I drive expensive car.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Some are though.....

Like who? In any case, I'm talking about TD members being able to keep more than one thought in their heads at a time - or do you think they're like


?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

I guess most people would consider Thailand a democracy,

I don't think so ....................................

^ Ditto

Getting rather stormy again in Bangkok, which I imagine might put a dampener on proceedings if it heads in the red shirts direction.

I was considering going down to the rally today, but I might not now, or go later.

Protest Intelligence (3): A well known “Democratic Activist” on last year “Bloody April”

Jaran Ditapichai’s statement on one year anniversary of April 10, dispersal!

by Ratchaprasong News on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 12:22pm

Statement on the First Anniversary of Red Shirts Suppression

10 April 2011 marks the first anniversary of the start of the suppression of people protest for democracy. The protest was organized under the leadership of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or the Red Shirts.

The peaceful assembly began on 14 March 2010 without weapons. They called for the government of Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the parliament, returning the power to the people through new election, the result— 25 deaths, and 800 injures.

The crackdown of the people derived from the strategy of not solving the political problems politically. They chose to use military force. Start with Internal Security Act. State of Emergency declared. More than 50,000 military and police personal deployed to surround the demonstrators. Armed with deathly weapons, sniper units, helicopters to drop tear gas, the crackdown continued until 19 May 2010, the death toll rose to 91, more than 2000 injures, and over 400 people arrested, dozens provinces throughout the country under curfew.

In the year past, the government not only not admitting the wrong doings in the cracking down of the Red Shirts, but also continued to use the Security Act to intimidate and made arbitrary arrests for months. Despite the setting up of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and many others ‘Reform Commissions’, it is a trick to legitimize the government, and none of the recommendations have any practical effect.

In the meantime, the UDD or the Red Shirt movement revived rapidly. It became the largest Democracy Movement in Thailand for genuine democracy. They called for the prosecution of those involved in 10 April and 19 May 2010 massacre. They called for fair trials for all of arrested leaders, not double standard as is usually employed.

The political crisis that stems from the conflict between the ruling elite and the people who cherish democracy remains after 4 years. To resolve the crisis— those responsible for the bloody crackdown on 10 April to 19 May 2010 have to be brought to justice. Parliament must enact Amnesty Legislation for all protestors of all political persuasion. Moreover, a new Constitution that is truly democratic must be drafted.

I urge the international community, both governmental and private, to pay attention to crisis in Thailand. Especially I urge all to support the upcoming election, and help ensure it is free and fair.

If Thailand were completely democratic, it would help stabilize Southeast Asian region, and will be beneficial to all International community.

A few pictures taken from various sources, uploaded so they wont vanish later...



And 3 from a gallery here...lots more at the link...

Democracy Monument - Red Shirt Rally - April 10, 2011 | Facebook







So, not big fans of the USA then? I may don my red shirt after all

Walked through the crowd about 5pm, the majority seemed to be mostly middle aged women. The police were keeping a respectable distance.

http://yfrog.com/h8jfmzsj

that be a sea of red .

Originally Posted by SteveCM

http://yfrog.com/h8jfmzsj

Nice find, great photo.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...7390T420110410

Thousands of Thai "red shirts" commemorate Bangkok unrest

By Ambika Ahuja and Jason Szep
BANGKOK | Sun Apr 10, 2011 5:24am EDT

(Reuters) - Thousands of red-shirted anti-government protesters gathered on Sunday in Bangkok's old quarter to mark the one-year anniversary of a violent confrontation with the military in which 26 people were killed and more than 800 wounded.

"We are mourning the loss of innocent lives a year ago. We are remembering the violence against Thai people last year. We are asking for justice," Nattawut Saikua, a protest leader, told Reuters in an interview.

No one has been declared responsible for the violence that began on April 10 last year when soldiers fought with thousands of protesters near the Phan Fah bridge and Rajdumnoen Road in Bangkok, near government buildings and the regional U.N. headquarters.

The red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a graft-convicted populist billionaire ousted in a 2006 coup, said they would continue to hold protests until the government takes responsibility for the violence.

Five soldiers and 21 civilians were killed, including Reuters television cameraman Hiro Muramoto, a 43-year-old Japanese national, on April 10 last year.

Witnesses reported seeing flashes of gunfire from troops but the government blamed civilian deaths on shadowy, unidentified black-clad gunmen who were filmed in the area.

"Today we pay tribute to Hiro's life but remain discouraged that the circumstances of his death are still unknown a year later. Hiro's family and Reuters colleagues deserve to know how this tragedy occurred and who was behind it," said Stephen Adler, Reuters editor-in-chief.

Police concluded on March 24 they had no evidence to indicate troops killed Muramoto, a reversal of preliminary findings by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) that a soldier may have fired the fatal bullet.

SEEKING JUSTICE

Authorities expect about 75,000 red shirts to gather until well past midnight, a turnout that would be the largest since unrest over April and May last year killed 91 people, wounded more than 1,800 and sparked widespread arson and rioting in Bangkok.

"I was here last year. I never thought I would see this kind of cruelty in Thailand. I came back today because no one has been put in jail for it," said one protester, 38-year-old electrician Samart Ngamwongyai.

Streets were festooned with banners bearing red-shirt slogans such as "fight for democracy" or "truth today." One read: "You can't kill us all." Another said: "If Democracy wins in Tunisia and Egypt, we can win here."

One person wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the red-dot of the Japanese flag next to a placard with the words "Who killed Hiroyuki?"

About 2,100 police were deployed to the area.

"They can gather as long as they want as long as it's within the law and it doesn't infringe on others' rights," Deputy Commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, Major General Amnuay Nimmano, told Reuters.

The mostly rural and urban poor United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, or the red shirts, took to the streets on March 12 last year demanding elections in festive rallies that descended into violence on April 10.

On that night, soldiers failed repeatedly in attempts to dislodge the protesters from the area, at first firing tear gas and rubber bullets before coming under attack with grenades and responding with live ammunition.
The government said soldiers used live fire only in self-defense and denied soldiers were responsible for any deaths or injuries.

Relatives of some of the dead and wounded have filed civil lawsuits against three state agencies. The government has also faced intense diplomatic pressure from Japan to identify who fired the bullet that killed Muramoto.

The red shirts accuse Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of lacking a popular mandate and coming to power illegitimately, heading a coalition the military cobbled together after courts dissolved a pro-Thaksin party that led the previous government.

Abhisit says he was voted into office by the same parliament that picked his Thaksin-allied predecessors. He plans to hold an election around the middle of this year.

The election is expected to be close between Abhisit's ruling Democrat Party and red shirts' parliamentary allies, the Puea Thai Party, and the outcome could be rejected by supporters of either party, fuelling more instability.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

You've no idea who I am

you come out with this time and again ,

you are like the rest of us , simply another anonymous poster on an internet board .

Originally Posted by Mid

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

You've no idea who I am

you come out with this time and again ,

you are like the rest of us , simply another anonymous poster on an internet board .

Indeed Mid, and that was the point I was trying to make, which you appear to have inadvertently made for me as well. Cheers!

From Twitter:


veen_NT veena T.

Thaksin to phone in at #redshirt anniversary at 8pm.

28 minutes ago

http://yfrog.com/h39aorxj

http://yfrog.com/h4m3xvmnj

http://yfrog.com/h4wjcbzj

http://yfrog.com/gywobeij

Pasit alleges Constitution Court lobbied to spare Democrat

BREAKINGNEWS »

Pasit Sakdanarong, former secretary to the Constitution Court president, alleged Sunday that the court had been lobbied to spare the Democrat Party in a party dissolution case.

Pasit alleged that someone sent a letter and made a phone call to Constitution Court President Chat Chonlaworn, urging him to help the Democrat escape solution.

Speaking during a red-shirt rally at Rajdamnone to mark the April 10 clash at the Kokwua Intersection, Pasit did not name the person who sent the letter and made the call.

But red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan tacitly alleged that Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda was referred to by Pasit.

"I would like to ask Prem if he sent the letter and made the phone call to Chat, asking the court president not to dissolve the Democrat. Pasit witnessed all of the events," Jatuporn said.


The Nation

From Twitter:


tulsathit tulsathit

RT [at]tukky_nt: Thaksin has spent around 20 mins for his phone-in to red shirts.


tulsathit tulsathit

"I hope to see you soon" is Thaksin's key msg to red shirts.

Thaksin called for red shirts to "be patient", saying justice and democracy r returning to Thailand.


tulsathit tulsathit

TR [at]jin_nation: Thaksin's ending remarks: "Thank you everyone, including the anonymous ones. I know you all. I'll go home soon"

Thaksin spoke in normal, non-aggressive tone, which seemed uncharacteristic.


tulsathit tulsathit

Thaksin told reporters he was calling "from the middle east".

7 minutes ago

Originally Posted by nostromo

Looking at Thai TV now, there is nothing on this. I looked all the channels up to 9. Gameshows, and some drama.

Now then what do you think about that lom? Why not support your claim that they can't reach 200,000? Oooohhh - they're coming for you and your chinese-thai friends, aren't they? Are you scared lom?

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Originally Posted by SteveCM

From Twitter:


Rajprasong_News Rajprasong_News
Robert Amsterdam will be speaking at the Red Shirt rally at 8.30 pm. today -one year on from Khok Wua, our campaign for justice continues.
28 minutes ago

That's right SD - he's copying your style. Now then you can feel either agrieved or vindicated. Frankly, I still feel all these Tweets are just superfluous.

Twitter is just like its name Twit(s). Oh but here's mine - #BKKTS - big fecking deal. How often do I tweet - and more to the very point WHO CARES?

Ah, you are being sucked in..it is addictive. I never thought it would be, but it is. I Tweet a lot more than I post here. Heading towards 14,000 tweets in 4 months. A lot are RT's but it is great for news.

Enjoy...Might see you on there...