Will the red shirts kick off in Pattaya?
This weekend is the start of the Asean Summit shite in Pattaya, we have had police every where for the last few days, loads of streets turned into 1 way and no parking, really is a pain, and a couple of days ago the red shirts kicked off at royal Cliff hotel.
Today out of the blue some of the girlfriends family have turned up to stay, they live in Phuket but joined the protest in Bangkok a couple of days ago, seems they are avid red shirt supporters, have their own foot clappers and red shirts, seems they are all off out in Pattaya this weekend to do some protesting, wonder how widespread this is and if it is orgainised in any way at all......
Red-shirts gather at summit venue
Red-shirts gather at summit venue
About 1,500 anti-government protesters have arrived at Pattaya's Royal Cliff Beach Resort where the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Plus Three and the East Asian summits are being held.
The protesters, led by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core member Arismun Pongreungrong, gathered in front of the venue, demanding for the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Mr Arismun said Mr Abhisit was not democratically elected.
Navy personnel formed lines to prevent the red-shirt protesters from breaking into the venue.
Bangkok Post
Pro-Thaksin protesters confront police at Asian summit in Pattaya
Pro-Thaksin protesters confront police at Asian summit in Pattaya
Around 100 Thai anti-government protesters broke through an army cordon and marched towards a hotel hosting a summit of Asian leaders here Friday.
The main crowd briefly clashed with police before some forced their way through a group of soldiers deployed about 500 metres (yards) from the luxury hotel.
A police deploying at an entrance of the hotel said that there were three police cordons to prevent the protesters from reaching the hotel.
As of noon, the protesters could break through the first cordon and are about 500 metres away from the hotel's entrance, police said.
Television footage later showed riot police and red-shirted protesters angrily pushing each other on a road leading to the hotel.
The Nation
Thousands of red shirts demonstrate as the ASEAN Summit begins.
^Is that near North Pattaya?
Thousands of red shirts demonstrate as the ASEAN Summit begins.
The Second Phase of the 14th ASEAN Summit and related Summits has begun at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Peach Convention Center, however instead of reporting on the first days activities; the news today is dominated by the anti-government red shirt protesters who have converged here in Pattaya. They are fully aware that the ASEAN Summit is being covered by journalists from around the world and it appears they are planning to seize the opportunity and show the World how they plan to force the incumbent Government to be dissolved, forcing fresh elections. The protesters began the day before daybreak at their makeshift base inside Soi Petragoon in North Pattaya, close to the Hollywood Discotheque. A few hours later they began their march towards the Royal Cliff Beach Resort along Pattaya Third Road. Anti-riot police had set up a number of road blocks and also parked Police coaches across the length of the street to prevent the Red Shirt’s from taking their trucks armed with sound systems to the Royal Cliff. It was clear that Police were outnumbered and were only carrying shields, suggesting they were not going to physically engage the protesters should they attempt to break through Police lines. This is exactly what happened and the Police coaches were also forced to withdraw. Police regrouped further down the road; however the red shirts managed to continue towards the Royal Cliff without much resistance. At the time of compiling this report we understand that around 2,000 protesters have reached the entrance to the Royal Cliff and there is now a tense standoff with the final line of defense, members of the Royal Thai Army dressed in full riot gear. A small group has now broken into the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Compound and is demonstrating at the steps of the Peach Convention Center. We are concerned for the safety of tourists and ex-pats residing here in Pattaya and suggest that you avoid the location around the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. We also suggest you do not wear any Yellow or Red colored clothing until the summit has concluded and although many here in Pattaya are frustrated by the protests, we strongly suggest no confrontation with any protester. Despite the protests, the Deputy Prime Minister, Khun Suthep has confirmed the ASEAN Summit will continue, however if the situation escalates any further this could change, especially now that protesters have entered the Royal Cliff Compound.
Pattaya One News
