Thread: Reds ready to counter Pitak Siam: Korkaew says anti-govt rally has Democrat links

Seh Ai toying with numbers | Bangkok Post: opinion

Seh Ai toying with numbers

• Published: 13/11/2012 at 12:07 PM
• Online news: Opinion

General Boonlert Kaewprasit appears to be fond of toying with numbers. Before Pitak Siam's Oct 28 anti-government rally at the Royal Turf Club, or Nang Loerng race course, the retired general said it would be the first but also the last if it managed to attract only a few thousand participants.

It turned out that well over 10,000 people joined in the protest, which was beyond his wildest imagining – thanks to the support of the Santi Asoke sect and the multi-coloured group, which chipped in with thousands of their members. The People’s Alliance for Democracy did not officially take part, but its leaders made it clear its members would participate if they so wished.

Buoyed by this unexpected high turnout, which also caught the government off-guard, Gen Boonlert has set his sight on one million participants for the second, mega rally scheduled for Nov 24-25 at the Royal Plaza. He said that if the target was not met, he would not organise another demonstration.

One million people? That is a hell lot of people. I have no idea whether the retired general seriously meant what he said or not, because, I bet, he could never mobilise such a huge number of people now or even in the future.

The Royal Plaza itself – the site of the planned second rally by the Pitak Siam group – can accommodate at best about 50,000 people. So how likely is it that one million people will gather together at one site?

The only time in my life that I witnessed such a huge crowd, estimated by various media at from 500,000 to almost one million people, was during the peak of the student-led uprising in October 1973 against the Thanom-Prapass-Narong dictatorial regime, when I was then a green reporter. The sea of human beings was simply breathtaking as it extended as far as the eye could see. ajdamnoen Klang road was jam-packed from Sanam Luang to Chalerm Thai theatre and into Rajdamnoen Nai road to as far as the Royal Plaza.

It took weeks for the student leaders then to mobilise such numbers. Even though it may take less time to mobilise such a huge number of people today, thanks to improved communications including smart phones and the internet -- which were beyond wildest fantasy some 40 years back -- the logistic problem of just bringing in one million people alone is a herculean task. If 100 people are to be transported in in one bus, at least 10,000 buses will be needed.

Gen Boonlert must have foreseen the transport problem, I believe. And the impossible one million target which he set seems to be a face-saving ploy to end the campaign against the government after the Nov 24-25 rally, which will have served the group’s objective – that is, to remind the government that the anti-Thaksin people are still a force to be reckoned with and should not be underestimated.

The retired general’s cheap talk about a coup to topple the government rings hollow and backfires on the Pitak Siam movement itself. Just as all the allegations about a plot to overthrow the government by the government people and Pheu Thai MPs are pure imagination and unsubstantiated or backed up in any way by any credible intelligence.

Talking about the credibility of the government’s intelligence network, one may wonder, surely, if their reports are credible, then how could the chief of the National Security Council Lt-Gen Paradon Pattanathabutr and Defence Minister Sukhampol Suwannatat believe in the alleged assassination plot against deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and toe the line of Panthongtae, Thaksin’s son, who claimed the arms seized in Tachilek in Burma were part of the conspiracy.

All the rhetoric about a coup plot and assassination conspiracy will disappear once the censure debate scheduled for Nov 25-26 is over.


Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul

Security alert at home of anti-govt rally leader - The Nation

Security alert at home of anti-govt rally leader

The Nation November 14, 2012 1:00 am

A giant firecracker exploded in front of the house of an anti-government rally leader ahead of a mass demonstration later this month in which some 50,000 policemen will be deployed to keep security.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday revealed that 50,000 force members would be used to keep law and order. He also told red shirts not to hold a rally to counter the November 23 protest.

The firecracker exploded in front of the house of General Boonlert Kaewprasit, leader of the Pitak Sayam movement, on Sukhumvit Soi 54 at 8pm Monday night.

But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Kamronvit Thupkrajang played down the firecracker explosion, saying it was a normal incident before the Loy Krathong festival.

A soldier guarding Boonlert's house alerted police when the firecracker was thrown on the road in front of Boonlert's house and exploded. Police rushed to the scene and found no suspect.

Boonlert has planned the second rally against the government at the Royal Plaza on November 24. The rally is expected to draw more protesters than the first rally at the Royal Turf Club last month where more than 10,000 people had gathered. The People's Alliance for Democracy has given the go-ahead for yellow-shirt people to join the Boonlert-led rally.

Chalerm said he was worried that a third-party group might create an ugly situation by causing violence during the rally hence he did not want any red-shirt group to hold a counter-demonstration in Bangkok.

Earlier, Sangiam Samranrat, a leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship in Chumphon, announced he would lead red shirts from his province to hold a demonstration to counter Boonlert's group.

Chalerm said Sangiam had been told by core Pheu Thai members to cancel the plan.

"I believe no red shirts would travel to the rally site. But what I am worried about is that intelligence operations of police and security agencies have learned that a third party may try to create a disturbance," Chalerm said.

He said if a third party caused a violent incident, it would be difficult for the police to control the situation.

Chalerm said he had assigned Police Commissioner-General Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew to be in full charge of the operations to keep security during the demonstration on November 24.

Chalerm said police and security agencies expected that there would be some 50,000 demonstrators so Adul would deploy enough policemen to control the situation.

Chalerm said police commissioners nationwide would gather at Government House and Parliament to monitor the situation on the demonstration day.

Chalerm said police would also prepare an exit for MPs to leave Parlia-ment if the Boonlert-led protesters tried to storm into the Parliament compound on November 25 when the Opposition holds a no-confidence debate against the government.

Phetchawat Watanapongsirikul, an adviser to the social development and human security minister, said his Rak Chiang Mai group had some 5,000 red shirts on stand by. He said if Boonlert's group created a disturbance, the 5,000 red shirts would reach Bangkok in two hours to counter the group.

UDD denies it will rally against Pitak Siam protest | Bangkok Post: news

UDD denies it will rally against Pitak Siam protest

• Published: 13/11/2012 at 03:30 PM
• Online news: Local News

The red-shirt movement has no plans for a mass rally on the same days as the anti-government protest by the Pitak Siam group on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza, United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Tuesday.

Mr Jatuporn was responding to an announcement by a UDD key member Pol Maj Sangiam Samranrat on Monday that the red-shirt people would also hold a mass gathering in front of parliament on Nov 24, ahead of the no-confidence debate scheduled for Nov 25 to 27.

Pol Maj Sangiam had said earlier the gathering would be aimed at preventing the anti-government protesters from seizing the parliament building compound.

Mr Jatuporn said on Tuesday that any decision for action by the UDD can be announced only by chairwoman Tida Tawornseth and the two other co-leaders, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar and himself.

The disqualified Pheu Thai list MP said he felt holding a mass gathering of red-shirts near the Royal Plaza on the same day risked a violent confrontation with the anti-government protesters led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, known as Seh Ai.


Jatuporn Prompan (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

He stressed that the UDD had no plans to for any political activity on Nov 24, saying that a mass gathering of red-shirts on that day could lead to severe political tension.

Petcharawat Wattanapongsirikul, a core leader of the red-shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, said his group was not opposed to Seh Ai's planned rally. All groups had the democratic right of expression.

The rally was good because the people would have a chance to get information about mismanagement by the government. If the Yingluck Shinawatra government had done anything wrong, people have the right to know, he added.

However, he warned Seh Ai that even if the rally is supported by hundreds of thousands of people, it must be peacefull and remain within the law.

If there was any violence, at least 5,000 members of his group were ready to travel to Bangkok to rally against a lawless protest in Bangkok, he said.

Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the multi-colour group, said his supporters will take part in the planned anti-government rally of the Pitak Siam group on Nov 24.

Dr Tul said his group would join the rally in a larger numbers than the last rally on Oct 28 because they want to point out mistakes in the government's administration.

He insisted the multi-colour group had not conducted activities with a political agenda in parallel with the Democrat Party as alleged. In the past, the group opposed many projects carried out by the Democrat-led government, he said.

Dr Tul called for the government to ensure security for the protesters.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said a total of 50,000 police will be deployed in and around the Royal Plaza and nearby areas to ensure peace and order during the Pitak Siam rally.

Mr Chalerm said intelligence reports warned that a "third hand" might take the opportunity to incite violence with bombs targeting the gathering people.


Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit (left) meets Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung meets at the Royal Turf Club on Oct 25, 2012. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

He insisted the government would oversee the rally, using crowd control measures in line with international standards.

Representatives from various independent organisations will be invited to observe the government's handling of the protesters, he added.

Mr Chalerm called on people who do not like the government to submit petitions to various judicial agencies instead of joining the protest.

The deputy premier in charge of security affairs said he had talks with the UDD's Pol Maj Sangiam, who had agreed to call off his planned rally.

He said national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew will be responsible for overseeing the protesters and ensuring law and order during the anti-government rally.

There would not be a war room set up to deal with the protesters, as speculated, he added.

Asked about a possibility that the protesters might move to surround the nearby parliament building compound, Mr Chalerm said officials at parliament have prepared urgent exits for cabinet members and MPs attending the censure debate.

Jatuporn warns over Pitak Siam | Bangkok Post: news

Jatuporn warns over Pitak Siam

UDD co-leader says govt at risk of ouster

• Published: 14/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The protest by the Pitak Siam group beginning on Nov 24 must not be ignored since it could potentially topple the government, red-shirt co-leader Jatuporn Prompan warns,


He urged the administration and the red shirts to manage the situation carefully.

Mr Jatuporn told the Bangkok Post in an exclusive interview Tuesday that about 30,000 protesters are expected to turn up on the first day of the rally at the Royal Plaza and another 40,000 would be there on the second day, bringing the total number to 70,000 _ large enough to fill the entire plaza and extend all the way to parliament.

"They want to play a fast game and want to end it as soon as possible," he said.

The disqualified Pheu Thai list-MP said the worst-case scenario could see the rallygoers storm and seize parliament and Government House.

"We don't know how far things will go, but we will not underestimate them," he said.

Mr Jatuporn said the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship would carefully handle this sensitive situation.

"We know, if we go out and confront them, it will bring about a coup. If we don't do anything, the government may be toppled by an undemocratic power," he said.

So the red shirts might hold a mass rally elsewhere to demonstrate their power and to avoid a direct confrontation with the Pitak Siam protesters.

He said those behind the Pitak Siam group do not want the Pheu Thai Party-led government to remain in office any longer.

"They don't have much time. At this rally, they must finish it _ to overthrow the government. If they don't, they will lose," Mr Jatuporn said.

After the Democrat Party was defeated by Pheu Thai in the general election on July 3 last year, former deputy prime minister and former democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said the Democrats did not lose to Pheu Thai, but to the red-shirt movement.

Therefore, Mr Jatuporn said, the Democrat Party also wants to launch tit-for-tat moves against the Pheu Thai. The party has taken its anti-government campaign to the provinces and set up its own television (Blue Sky) channel.

Mr Jatuporn said over the past year, the Democrats have established a supporter base on a par with the red-shirt movement. He said what Boonlert Kaewprasit, the Pitak Siam leader, has said and done is well scripted and meticulously planned.

Mr Jatuporn said the censure debate by the Democrat Party from Nov 25-27 is timed to coincide with the Pitak Siam rally to put maximum pressure on the government which has to face a grilling from an opposition trying to employ parliamentary tactics to throw the government off balance. He said Pitak Siam comprises the same group of people who toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat administrations.

"This may be the same situation that unseated former prime minister Somchai _ when the People's Alliance for Democracy announced that Mr Somchai would not have an audience [with His Majesty the King] on Dec 4, 2008. As it turned out, the Constitution Court ruled to dissolve the People Power Party on Dec 2, 2008," Mr Jatuporn said, adding that crunch time for the Yingluck government is likely to be before Dec 5.

He said if the prime minister calls on other ministers to answer questions on her behalf or if she cannot answer questions herself, she will face mounting pressure from protesters outside parliament, who will not accept the outcome of the censure vote, Mr Jatuporn said.

The prime minister will survive the no-confidence vote anyway because of the government's overwhelming majority in the House.

Mr Jatuporn said if the Pitak Siam group attracts enough support, it could try to petition independent organisations to take legal action against Ms Yingluck over pending cases. He did not give any further details.

Meanwhile, up to 50,000 police officers will be on duty at the Pitak Siam rally, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said yesterday.

PM tells Brits democracy will triumph | Bangkok Post: news

PM tells Brits democracy will triumph

Yingluck addresses UK business figures

• Published: 14/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

LONDON : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday assured the British business sector that her government will overcome the anti-democratic movement in Thailand.

The prime minister gave an address on "2013: The Year of Opportunity in Thailand" at a lunch attended by British and Thai business operators at London's Grosvenor House Hotel yesterday.

Ms Yingluck, who is on an official visit to the United Kingdom, said she would do her best to ensure Thailand will continue to build on its current political stability and democratic foundations by strengthening the rule of law and good governance.

"The Thai people have given my government a strong mandate with a landslide victory in the election last year," she said. "With continuous support from the international community, we will work to push back the anti-democratic groups that still exist in Thailand."

Ms Yingluck said the government recognised that political stability serves as a strong foundation for investment and economic growth.

"Under my leadership, we will move forward in promoting national reconciliation based on the rule of law and in encouraging dialogue among all parties concerned. Political differences must be settled in parliament, not in street protests and violence," she said.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Multi-colour group to join Seh Ai's rally | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Multi-colour group to join Seh Ai's rally

• Published: 13/11/2012 at 11:39 AM
• Online news:

Members of the multi-colour group will take part in the planned anti-government rally of the Pitak Siam group under Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit at the Royal Plaza on Nov 24, group leader Tul Sitthisomwong confirmed on Tuesday.

Dr Tul said the group would join the rally in a larger numbers than the last rally on Oct 28 because they want to point out mistakes in the government's administration.

He insisted the multi-colour group had not conducted activities with a political agenda in parallel with the Democrat Party as alleged. In the past, the group opposed many projects carried out by the Democrat-led government, he said.

Dr Tul called for the government to ensure security for the protesters.

According to Nick Nostitz sometime ago when Dr Tul and his friends first rallied he witnessed them trying to lynch some passing redshirts but now Tul asks for security for his own people.
hypocrites the lot of them.
Interesting to note that when the yellowshirts rallied and occupied the parliament for 3 months when eventually the police disbursed them not one yellowshirt was shot despite the fact that the thai police could have been armed.
We know one yellowshirt blew themselves up and Abhisit got the police chief removed.
Remember at the airport siege the police were unarmed.
I heard that the army had already visited police stations and confiscated their weaponry.

Chalerm: Govt won

Chalerm: Govt won’t invoke special law for Pitak Siam rally

• Published: 14/11/2012 at 05:37 PM
• Online news: Local News

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said the government will use peaceful means to ensure law and order during the planned anti-government rally on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza, without invoking any special law.

Mr Chalerm insisted that authorities will refrain from using force against the supporters of the Pitak Siam group, which plans a mass protest against the government.

He said national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew will be responsible for overseeing the protest and maintaining law and order during the rally.

There was no need to invoke any special law.

The deputy premier in charge of security affairs said he will call a meeting of senior police to discuss preparations for the rally at police headquarters on Thursday.

In addition to inviting representatives from various independent organisations to observe the government's handling of the protesters, representatives from the United Nations and foreign media will also be invited as observers, he added.


Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

However, Pol Gen Adul said he will propose the cabinet invoke the Internal Security Act to oversee Pitak Siam's second mass rally on Nov 24.

Pol Gen Adul confirmed that reports that a group of people had contributed a total of six billion baht to a fund for the ousting of the Yingluck Shinawatra government matched information in a Special Branch Police intelligence report.

He said the same group also supported the "anti-government rallygoers", but declined to give further details.

The initial assessment was that most of the attendees at the rally would would come from other provinces. Police had been in direct contact with the organisers of the rally and the issue of whether the protest would be prolonged or how the group would mobilise and control its supporters had been discussed, Pol Gen Adul said.

Security would be tight at all government buildings in the area. Special ladders would be in place along the parliament’s walls for use if an emergency situation arose during the censure debate scheduled for Nov 25 to 26.

The police chief said the planned deployment of about 50,000 police during the rally would be subject to change depending on the protest situation. He had emphasised that his men must follow standard operating procedures in handling any incidents during the protest.

Meanwhile, Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol confirmed on Wednesday the censure debate will be held over three days, from Nov 25 to 27, and the voting will be on Nov 28.

This was agreed on during today's meeting of government and opposition whips, he said.

Of the total 42 hours of scheduled debate, 30 hours would be for the opposition and 12 hours for the prime minister and three other ministers being grilled to defend themselves.

The debate will be televised live on Channel 11.

Jurin Laksanavisit, the opposition chief whip, said he was concerned the government and opposition MPs would take too much time protesting about and interrupting each other, so whips of both sides had been told to make sure that they strictly observe the House regulations.

Witty new Pheu Thai leader is wary of Pitak Siam movement - The Nation

Exclusive interview with Minister Charupong

Witty new Pheu Thai leader is wary of Pitak Siam movement

November 15, 2012 1:00 am

Ladders are tested over a wall at Parliament building yesterday to act as a getaway exit, while a wooden ad-hoc stairway is put in place in case anti-government rallyists on November 24 surround the compound. Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan raised


Charupong Ruangsuwan is no Chalerm Yoobamrung, but in Thailand's political context, the soft-spoken - albeit witty - new leader of the Pheu Thai Party seems to have hit the ground running. During a two-hour meeting with Nation Multimedia Group executives and senior editors yesterday, he demonstrated just enough of why he was selected for a job that requires a great balance of assertiveness, loyalty and flexibility in front of the media.

Combining satire and respect for opponents may be one of Charu-pong's strong points. "It's old wine in an old bottle with just a new cork," he said of the Pitak Siam movement, which is gearing up to hold what threatens to be the biggest anti-government protest to date on November 24, one day before the no-confidence debate begins. "We are watching them closely and never under-estimate them. The lesson was learned in 2006."

Thaksin Shinawatra failed to contain yellow-shirt protests when he was prime minister. The rest is history. Charupong said the government would do its best to make sure that wouldn't be the case. He trusts the military to stay in the barracks but admits that there are too many factors involved to completely dismiss the possibility of another coup. At the risk of sounding a bit like Abhisit Vejjajiva when the red shirts were descending on Bangkok in early 2010, Charupong vowed to let Pitak Siam rally "as long as it's within the scope of the law". He beat several favourite contenders to take Pheu Thai's helm after Yongyuth Wichaidit became a high-profile casualty of the Alpine golf course scandal. Whether Charupong was prepared for the job is one thing; whether he's prepared to counter questions portraying him as a nominal figure is another.

"How much say does a Pheu Thai leader have when it comes to a Cabinet reshuffle?" he was asked. Refusing to fume, he replied: "Changing the Cabinet formation regularly is our corporate culture, so to speak. [To explain the rotation] we have a lot of qualified people in the party. On how much say that I have had about the look of the new Cabinet, let's just say I was right about more than 50 per cent of the changes."

He stood firm on the "merits" of the rice price-pledging policy, but conceded that some key changes are needed to tighten up the loose ends. For example, the programme has inadvertently excluded the very poor farmers who don't have title deeds to qualify themselves for full benefits of the scheme and this has to be corrected. Instead of waving off corruption as a trivial problem in the programme, Charupong acknowledged it and declared graft as priority problem to be tackled when the government goes ahead with the new phase of the policy.

The new Pheu Thai leader expects the opposition Democrats to pull no punches against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in the upcoming censure debate, saying the omission of the commerce minister from the censure motion despite the rice controversy indicated a clear intention to single her out. But he warned that, before asking Yingluck questions, the Democrats should first tackle the uncertainties surrounding Abhisit's MP status following his "removal" from the Army.

The Defence Ministry's dishonourable discharge of Abhisit, who was given the rank of sub-lieutenant for serving as an Army lecturer, has raised constitutional questions about his MP status. He has denied using any falsified documents to get the lecturer job, which effectively helped him avoid conscription.

Charupong all but confirmed questioning whether Abhisit is constitutionally fit to lead the grilling of Yingluck. "If the Constitution clearly prohibits it, it's interesting to see how they can do it," he said.

When it comes to Thaksin, his ultimate boss, diplomacy goes out the window. "I'd like to do anything I can to bring him back home. That's justice. He's a Thai and has a lot of good points, so he belongs in Thailand. It's just about the question of timing."

When pressed on "What's the best timing", even a witty man like Charupong seemed to be at his wits' end, though. And he virtually laughed off the question.

Pitak Siam calls on govt to give up power ahead of rally | Bangkok Post: news

Pitak Siam calls on govt to give up power ahead of rally

• Published: 15/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Pitak Siam protests are intended to cause an abrupt change in the country's government, said the group's spokesman AM Vachara Riddhagni.


A staff member at parliament tests the strength of a make-shift ‘‘emergency exit’’ for MPs, senators and staff. The specially-built ladder is part of security preparations for a possible confrontation between rival groups who may hold a mass rally during the censure debate on Nov 25-27. PATTARACHAI PEECHAPANICH

However, he said the group did not want to bring about the change through a coup. Instead, Pitak Siam wants the government to give up power.

AM Vachara said the group's rally on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza will not be protracted and will not move to other locations from there.

The group does not plan to lay siege at any state buildings, he said.

"These are things that [Pitak Siam leader] Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit insists on as the group's policy," he said.

AM Vachara claimed Pitak Siam now has about 500,000 registered supporters.

Army Commander Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday called on army officers to not join the anti-government rally being held by Pitak Siam.

Gen Prayuth said military officers serve the state and must act with discipline and in accordance with supervisors' orders.

"Soldiers are state officials and as long as we have a government and a constitution we must act with discipline," he said.

Gen Prayuth said some soldiers may secretly join the rally but they would face disciplinary action if they are discovered.

National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanathabutr said a large number of people will join the rally but the number is unlikely to exceed 50,000.

"The government won't do anything to challenge them," he said, adding there have been no reports that any protesters intend to provoke violence.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said provincial governors and district chiefs nationwide have been told to monitor the situation.

He said state authorities will not prohibit people from taking part in the rally but they need to keep their eyes open.

"I'm not threatened," Mr Charupong said. "I'm not worried. But I am taking precautions."


(continues at the link, but same as earlier report mostly)


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Seh Ai: No siege of parliament | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Seh Ai: No siege of parliament

• Published: 15/11/2012 at 12:16 PM
• Online news:

Protesters at the anti-government rally on Nov 24 will definitely not lay siege to the parliament, Pitak Siam group leader Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit said on Thursday.

Gen Boonlert, also known as Seh Ai, said if the rallygoers broke into the parliament compound and it became violent he would take responsibility.

A censure debate is scheduled in the parliament on Nov 25-27, followed by the vote on the no-confidence motion on Nov 28.

Seh Ai said the rally would not be prolonged. He expected it to last no more than two days and one night.

Gen Boonlert also said he did not believe a "third-hand" would interfere in what he described as a fight between the Pitak Siam group and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The rally would be his last, he said. Either the government would go, or he would.

He denied claims that the rally was being funded by the same group who financed the Sept 19, 2006 coup that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra government, or with money from illegal casinos or the drug trade. The rally would be purely voluntary, he added.

The Pitak Siam group was preparing a letter to be submitted to Asean and United States President Barack Obama confirming that the rally would be peaceful.

A spokesman for the group said the rally would remain strictly within the scope of the law and would not cause trouble to the public.

Seh Ai, is his last name Heeah?

Pitak Siam: No siege of parliament | Bangkok Post: news

Pitak Siam: No siege of parliament

• Published: 15/11/2012 at 05:50 PM
• Online news: Local News

Protesters at the anti-government rally on Nov 24 will definitely not lay siege to the parliament, Pitak Siam group leader Boonlert Kaewprasit said on Thursday.

Gen Boonlert, also known as Seh Ai, said if anyone at the rally broke into the parliament compound and the situation became violent he would take responsibility.

A censure debate is scheduled in the parliament from Nov 25 to 27, followed by the vote on a no-confidence motion on Nov 28.

Seh Ai said the rally would not be prolonged. He expected it to last no more than two days and one night.

Gen Boonlert also said he did not believe a "third-hand" would interfere in what he described as a fight between the Pitak Siam group and fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The rally would be his last, he said. Either the government would go, or he would.

He denied claims that the rally was being funded by the same group who financed the Sept 19, 2006 coup that toppled the Thaksin Shinawatra government, or with money from illegal casinos or the drug trade. The rally would be purely voluntary, he added.

The Pitak Siam group was preparing a letter to be submitted to Asean and United States President Barack Obama confirming that the rally would be peaceful.

A spokesman for the group said the rally would remain strictly within the scope of the law and would not cause trouble to the public.

The Pheu Thai Party has asked the Constitution Court to order a halt to the planned anti-government rally.

The request was made in a letter submitted by Pheu Thai member Singthong Buachun, who was accompanied by party lawyer Picha Wijitsin.

Mr Singthong said the planned rally was an offence under Section 68 of the constitution since it was intended to topple a democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The letter was accept for consideration by Panya Udchachon, deputy secretary-general of the Constitution Court.

Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, the national police chief, has issued an order prohibiting police from taking part in the protest, warning they would face severe disciplinary action.

Deputy police spokesman Thana Chuwong said the order instructed police commanders at all levels to make sure their subordinates understand that joining the rally would be a violation of Section 68 of the charter.

Violators of this order are liable to administrative and disciplinary action, Pol Maj-Gen Thana said.


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Court asked to stop Seh Ai's rally | Bangkok Post: news

Court asked to stop Seh Ai's rally

• Published: 15/11/2012 at 02:52 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Pheu Thai Party on Thursday requested the Constitution Court to order a halt to the planned Nov 24 anti-government rally by the Pitak Siam group.

The request was made in a letter submitted by Singthong Buachun, a Pheu Thai member, who was accompanied by party lawyer Picha Wijitsin.

Mr Singthong said the planned rally was an offence under Section 68 of the constitution since it was intended to topple a democratically elected government under led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The letter was accept for consideration by Panya Udchachon, deputy secretary-general of the Constitution Court.

Pheu Thai member seeks court order to stop anti-government rally | MCOT.net



Pheu Thai member seeks court order to stop anti-government rally

By Digital Media | 15 พ.ย. 2555 17:11

BANGKOK, Nov 15 – A sole member of the ruling Pheu Thai Party is seeking a Constitution Court order to thwart the planned anti-government rally led by the Pitak Siam group set for Nov 24.

Party member Singthong Buachum and his lawyer submitted the petition to Constitution Court deputy secretary-general Panya Udchachon asking the court to order Pitak Siam leader Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit to call off its planned mass rally in the Thai capital.

Mr Singthong argued that the protest, which its leaders said was aimed to oust the elected government, was unlawful and tantamount to an attempt to topple the constitutional monarchy.

Mr Panya said the court will verify all documents and forward them to the Constitution Court president and court judges. He said the consideration should be finished soon as the issue is in the public eye.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Lt-Gen Parinya Chansuriya said a crowd-control plan dubbed 'Korakot 52' will be used to handle the anti-government rally led by Pitak Siam on Nov 24.

Gen Parinya said 50 companies of police will be deployed to maintain security at the rally site, Royal Plaza, Government House, Parliament and government buildings to prevent any intrusion and disorder set off by a third party.

Gen Parinya said the rally is expected to be peaceful and would not be prolonged, but it will affect traffic in the area as about 50,000 persons, many of them from upcountry, are expected. (MCOT online news)


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Police will use crowd-control plan to cope with anti-govt rally | MCOT.net



Police will use crowd-control plan to cope with anti-govt rally

By Digital Media | 15 พ.ย. 2555 15:11

BANGKOK, Nov 15 - Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said today a crowd-control plan dubbed 'Korakot 52' will be used to handle the anti-government rally led by the Pitak Siam group in the city on Nov 24.

Gen Kamronwit said he was not worried about the planned demonstration as retired Gen Boonlert Kaewprasith, the Pitak Siam group leader, earlier pledged that it would be a peaceful gathering.

The metropolitan police chief stated the public could rest assured that the situation would not spiral out of control.of the police.

Gen Kamronwit's assurance came after Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said United Nations representatives and international media will be invited to witness the Thai police’s peace-keeping measures during the Nov 24 political rally.

He said the government will leave crowd control to the Royal Thai Police, under the leadership of national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew, to single-handedly control the situation.

He repeated his concern on the possibility of “third party” involvement in the political activity and instigating violence and disorder.

The deputy premier will meeting with the Royal Thai Police today to discuss their preparations for the rally.

“We must deploy a large number of police to avoid confrontation among disputing groups. The government, however, finds it unnecessary to enforce any special legal measures to cope with the rally,” he added.

He quoted an intelligence report as saying that the demonstration will be supported by four groups of financiers. (MCOT online news)

^ Some curious and awkward developments.

A very large amount of police being deployed for such an event, that is billed as being not that big or significant.

Going to court to halt it on somewhat spurious grounds also looks very bad, this is supposed to be a democracy (even if that's a joke most of the time). People are allowed to protest, just ask the red shirts. Some irony that this is being done....

Anyway, general whats-his-face has said again and again it will be his last rally. So what's the bother? Just let it go quietly and let these individuals slink off to wherever it is they call home. Job done.

Rivals must follow path of democracy - The Nation

burning issue

Rivals must follow path of democracy

Avudh Panananda
The Nation November 16, 2012 1:00 am

The government and its Pitak Siam opponents have proclaimed to be protectors of democracy but they should not have done so.

Only an undemocratic regime would need vanguards of the political system.

Instead of heeding the people's voice as evidenced by the balloting outcome, organisers of Pitak Siam protests have decided to take the matter into their own hands in order to rectify what they see as false democracy.

The government and its red-shirt supporters are flaunting their mandate to govern the country as if they want to pour oil into the Pitak Siam fire.

The red shirts have been crying foul ever since the Democrat-led government branded them as terrorists. Are they different from the Democrats as they are now accusing Pitak Siam leaders of treason?

The point is not which of the rival camps is right or wrong but the refusal of both sides to engage one another in resolving the differences as it should have been in a true democracy.

The Democrats refuse to talk to the ruling Pheu Thai Party. The reds turn their back on the yellow shirts and any splinter groups, including Pitak Siam. The pro-Thaksin camp blames the anti-Thaksin camp for undemocratic spirit and vice versa.

Pitak Siam has no justification to "freeze" the democratic rule in order to complete the political cleansing. And the ruling party too has no justification to shun and silence its opponents.

If the Democrats have made a mistake in trying to silence the red shirts, then the government is about to go down the wrong path in dealing with Pitak Siam.

At issue is how to pacify street protests from spiralling out of control.

Successive leaders from Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej, Somchai Wongsawat, Abhisit Vejjajiva to Yingluck Shinawatra harboured false hope that security forces could rein in the crowds.

Since 1973, all major protests to overthrow a government ended up in bloodshed or power seizure or both. None got resolved in a peaceful manner.

If Pheu Thai leaders think they have a magic formula to overcome the Pitak Siam protesters, then they might need to think again.

The minor clashes between the red and yellow shirts in 2008 should serve as a warning of the dire consequence in mobilising the mobs against the other crowds.

Learning from the 2008 botched crowd control, the Democrats thought they had closed all the legal and operational loopholes. Still violence happened and blood spilled in 2010.

The government should, at least, try to reason with and pacify Pitak Siam. Thus far, it is unfortunate that coalition leaders opt to see their opponents as enemies to defeat rather than partners to work with.

Of course, Pitak Siam is totally off course in calling for a coup. But would it have played the military card if it can have a dialogue with the government?

Based on anti-Thaksin figures backing Pitak Siam, the charter rewrite is at the core of the dispute. The window of opportunity remains open for the rival sides to work out on how to improve the political system.

If the talks fail, then the government should call a snap election for a fresh mandate rather than crack down on protesters. If they are true democracy advocates, the rival camps should fight through the ballot box and not in the streets.

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Thaksin Shinawatra failed to contain yellow-shirt protests when he was prime minister.

Erm, some nice Press amnesia there. Thaksin was actively prevented from containing yellow shirt protests when he was in power. The rest is recent history.

Pitak Siam opponents have proclaimed to be protectors of democracy

Press gem of the morning.

http://englishnews.mcot.net/site/con...9#.UKXIEoXw7x6



Thailand's Internal Security Act slated for Nov 24 political rally

By Digital Media | 16 พ.ย. 2555 09:11

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – As a political rally by the anti-Thai government Pitak Siam movement draws closer, police in the capital have moved to enforce the Internal Security Act to nip it in the bud.

The mass rally will be held on Nov 24 as planned but police want to activate the act to take full control of the situation. Approval will be sought from the cabinet next week.

National police chief Adul Saengsingkaew said the act will be implemented in specific areas prior to the demonstration. There was no decision on the duration of the enforcement.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said police have been instructed to be lenient in dealing with the demonstrators.

Pol Gen Adul said police will work closely with various ministries: interior, justice, transport, public health and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO). (MCOT online news)

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Just let it go quietly and let these individuals slink off to wherever it is they call home

I agree.

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Just let it go quietly and let these individuals slink off to wherever it is they call home

I agree.

I also agree. But maybe the strategy is to show the majority what fascist cnuts these yellow brigade types are. A sort of calling of bluffs that exposes them while also enraging the majority. There is still a threat to democracy here on various levels and we know the sakdina-military-corrupt bureaucracy triad hasn't gone away or given up the fight for their corrupt privileges

the 24th is coming soon.

may they please come and go quietly.

Pitak Siam rally security a major headache for govt - The Nation

Pitak Siam rally security a major headache for govt

Attayuth Bootsripoom
The Nation November 17, 2012 1:00 am

The Yingluck Shinawatra administration's concerns about next week's scheduled anti-government rally by Pitak Siam seem to be increasing daily. One clear sign of this is the change in attitude of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is known to command a large intelligence network.

Before the group's first rally on October 28, it was dismissed as being likely to draw only a small number of people. But more than 10,000 showed up, dealing a slap in the face to intelligence officers.

Emboldened, Pitak Siam leader General Boonlert Kaewprasit declared that either he or the government would have to go after his group's second rally on November 24.

Although it took a little time, Chalerm has now ordered the highest level of preparation for the rally, including the deployment of 50,000 police officers to maintain order. In the meantime, he has ordered National Police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew to take charge of the situation personally.

Adul himself can draw on lessons from the past. He has asked the government to invoke the Internal Security Act, not only to give the officers a mandate to manage the situation more aggressively, such as by announcing area or weapons restrictions, but also to allow him to request military support in the event of serious incidents or emergencies.

More important, the imposition of the law would establish a hierarchy of command. Responsibility would fall not only on the operating officers. The previous government of Abhisit Vejjajiva imposed the act just befpre the red shirts' rally in March 2010, before elevating the security situation to an emergency decree.

At Parliament, closed-circuit cameras have been installed while vans and emergency ladders have been prepared in case Prime Minister Yingluck, ministers and MPs need to be evacuated.

The question is, what is frightening the government so badly? Has the government received some sort of signal?

The estimated numbers of protesters planning to attend vary according to the source, but at a minimum, 50,000 are expected. The Royal Plaza cannot contain that many protesters, and they will likely spill over to occupy an area stretching as far as Parliament House, where the censure debate is scheduled to start on November 25, the day after the rally starts.

The protesters will include the "old faces" who joined previous anti-Thaksin rallies, and the "newcomers", potentially including middle-class voters who have lost patience with the government or Thai politics in general, as well as farmers disappointed in the government's administration.

A large turnout itself might not be a problem, so long as the protest goes peacefully. A bigger worry is possible interference by a third party with an agenda, which could create an emergency.

The government might be less worried about Boonlert's group than about other groups secretly supporting the protesters. It must also keep an eye on the red shirts, who are preparing counter-protest mobs in Bangkok's adjacent provinces.

The government cannot be blamed for taking precautions and making preparations. But there is a danger that heavy-handed measures could backfire and instigate more people to come out.

The more people who show up, the greater the chance for ill-intentioned people to cause incidents.

At the moment, the protesters might have the advantage. Assuming the government is not ousted, if the rally goes peacefully, the people can gear up for the next rally. The government on the other hand will be responsible if any violence occurs.

Reading the situation wisely while preparing thoroughly will be the only way out for the government.

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Military chiefs oppose using Security Act - The Nation

Military chiefs oppose using Security Act

The Nation November 17, 2012 1:00 am


Police can handle crowd at anti-govt rally, Yingluck assured; Pitak Siam hopes for thousands to attend Nov 24 demo

The Army chief and the armed forces supreme commander have opposed a suggestion by police and the National Security Council (NSC) that the government invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) to deal with a mass rally planned for this month.

Supreme Commander General Thanasak Patimakorn and Army commander-in-chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha raised their objections at a meeting of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, top military commanders and the national police chief at Government House, according to a well-informed source.

Also attending the meeting were Navy commander-in-chief Admiral Surasak Roonrerngrom, Air Force commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong and Police Commissioner-General Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew.

The meeting was held to give the police chief and military leaders an opportunity to analyse the situation relating to a rally planned for next weekend by the Pitak Siam group, which is led by retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit.

The security-affairs source said Yingluck also consulted the military leaders on steps for enforcing the ISA to deal with the protesters.

Invoking the ISA would allow the government to deploy troops as law enforcers to assist police in dealing with the situation. If the ISA were not invoked, police would have to deal with the protesters on their own.

The national police chief earlier announced he had prepared 50,000 officers to maintain law and order during the demonstration at the Royal Plaza on November 24.

Thanasak and Prayuth told Yingluck they wanted the government to use the normal laws to deal with the demonstration, because the military had monitored and analysed the situation and did not expect any untoward incident during the rally, the source said.

The two top commanders also told the prime minister they did not think that a third-party group would make a move to create a problem, so it would be unjustified for the government to enforce the ISA.

They told her that troops would not get involved in controlling the demonstrators.

However, Yingluck was informed that the NSC, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and Special Branch Police had conducted intelligence operations and found that the situation would be serious enough to warrant invoking the ISA.

The source said the meeting yesterday was inconclusive, so the prime minister would meet with representatives of the NSC, NIA and other security agencies to discuss the situation on Monday before making a decision.

According to the source, the security agencies recommended invoking the ISA on three main grounds.

First, they were not certain that Boonlert would be able to control the demonstrators, who would come from several groups.

Second, they feared that a third party might create a situation by using M79 grenade launchers to fire on the crowd.

Third, police were worried that they would be held responsible and be come the subject of legal action if the ISA was not enforced to exempt the law enforcers from responsibility in case of violence.

In a related development, Sunthorn Rakrong, a coordinator of the Group of People from 16 Southern Provinces, said his group, which supports the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, would join the Boonlert-led demonstration.

Meanwhile, Pitak Siam spokesman Watchara Ritthakhanee sent representatives to submit a letter to the prime minister. The letter insisted that the rally on November 24 would be peaceful, in line with provisions of Article 63 of the Constitution.

Watchara said the organisers of the rally would be careful about possible interference by a third party.

In another development, former senator Ruangkrai Leekitwattana filed a complaint with Crime Suppression Division police yesterday accusing Boonlert of sedition for leading a previous anti-government rally on October 28.

He said Boonlert's attacks against the government and his call for its removal were tantamount to attempting to overthrow democratic rule.

Red Shirts warned against getting near rally site | MCOT.net



Red Shirts warned against getting near rally site

By Digital Media | 16 พ.ย. 2555 18:11

BANGKOK, Nov 16 – Pro-government leaders announced today that Red Shirt activists will not stage any gathering during an anti-government rally organized by the Pitak Siam group on Nov 24.

Thida Thavornseth, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the Pitak Siam movement is not strong enough to topple the government, but the situation would worsen if Red Shirt activists moved to confront Pitak Siam.

Red Shirt supporters who contemplate any movement must consult three core leaders, she said. In addition to Mrs Thida, Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua are two other top leaders.

She called on Red Shirts to refrain from any movement or confrontation which will endanger the government’s stability.

Mr Jatuporn said he received a report that anti-government activists will mass produce 5,000 red shirts so that some of the demonstrators will disguise as red shirts and mingle with the crowd.

This alleged action is intended to create misunderstanding and unrest which will lead to confrontation with police, he said, discouraging Red Shirt activists from travelling to areas near parliament, the Royal Plaza and Government House. (MCOT online news)

Ice-cream protest mocks Boonlert | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Ice-cream protest mocks Boonlert

• Published: 16/11/2012 at 04:22 PM
• Online news:

A red shirt activist says he's come up with a cool way to counter the Pitak Siam anti-government movement.

Sombat Boonngamanong says he will stage "flash mob" events at which like-minded people will gather to eat ice-cream.

Confused? Here's the scoop: The ice-cream eating is intended to poke fun at Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit and his pledge to "freeze the country".

Gen Boonlert has said he wants to see a military coup, followed by a five-year "time out" from politicians to give Thailand a chance to recover from the effects of corruption and bad policies. He plans to lead the next Pitak Siam rally on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza

Mr Sombat has launched Facebook pages dedicated to mocking the Pitak Siam leader's bluster.

He said he would use social media to start a new movement aimed at taking a stand against "people who are trying to freeze the country".

On Sunday, he plans to hold a "Freeze Thailand" campaign from the Siam to Chatuchak BTS stations, beginning from noon.

He said participants would wear jackets, sweaters and wrap themselves in blankets to protect themselves from the chill of a Boonlert-style freeze.

"Then we'll go and get some ice-cream," he said.

got to wonder if the nation will double the size of the crowd again.

and if the general has a bit of staying power, then the flash mobs could put on some weight.