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

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Pitak Siam rally security a major headache for govt

According the the notion, that is. Just as both the paste and notion unabashedly backed the yellow shirt protests, the illegal and treasonous military coup (& subsequent judicial coups), and the occupation of Thailand seat of government and international airports- now they are publicising this nutcase protest movement which has openly stated it wants a military coup- out of all proportion to it's significance or popularity.

If one looks upon the Press as a mouthpiece for it's target audience, then the Bangkok Establishment consists of nothing but spoilt, petulant sore losers and serial cheats. Out of touch rich kids united by their impunitive greed and serial criminality. They do not give a flying toss about Thailand or it's people- and Thailand certainly deserves better. Then again, it is relevant to point out this is reflected in the election results- which, obviously, the Bangkok 'establishment' tries relentlessly to overthrow. Word is, even the Defence establishment has had jack shit of them now. Wonder why?

Ok. I have a mini-mart with free Y-Fi. 4 boys sitting waching u-tube and the cops go past in a pick-up, turn round and come back. They test the boys for yah-bah(meth-amphet.) and they ALL test pos. The penalty is 1yr in the monkey house.The pigs get them to the cop-shop then phone thier parents and tell them "You can have your kids back if you pay 5K baat each" but mum and dad cant go coz they have been smokin it too. we voted for the government oficial in the village, the one that got it was the one that payed the most for votes. Now they dont like wot they got, they want him out. ?????? My daughter is 6 yrs she is more of an adult than anyone here! My next door niebour has a 7yrs boy, i said "why has he not been in school for 2wks?" answer "he dosnt like to learn." ive been here for 8 yrs. in all that time ive been saying "yes,yes, yes,never-mind its ok"well im sick of it, im taking my kid and going back to the U.K. i dont want my kid to grow up acting infantile ignorant,racest,sexist

My guess they will remain throughout the censure debate and when that is lost they will move on the parliament.
In that event the police got to have water cannon as a backup to maintain order and overrule the BMA if need be to get it.
Remember back in 2008 the BMA wouldn't allow the police to use it as "people might get sick from non-drinking water!"
So they used the Chinese tears as that exploded.

Meaning tear gas
Not unintentional iPhone expletive

The Pitak Siam group has never called for the country to be closed to outsiders but only wants to stop corrupt politicians, Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit said on Sunday morning.

Oh really. So what day did he say this then-

"If a coup did take place, an interim government would be set up. If this was not acceptable to other countries, we could close the country. I don't know for how many years, but the closure should remain until all the bad politicians have been driven away. I have never seen a good politician. Soldiers are needed to take care of the country," Gen Boonlert said.

I'm not sure if Boonfart is one of those Asoke nutcases, but apparently most of the people at his rally were.

Police want soldiers backing them at rally | Bangkok Post: news

Police want soldiers backing them at rally

• Published: 19/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The national police chief is proposing the government use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to contain the anti-government protest planned by the Pitak Siam group in Bangkok on Saturday.

Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said he would propose to the National Security Council (NSC) Monday that it implement the security act to cope with the rally.

Use of the act, if approved, would empower the prime minister to order soldiers to bring the rally under control to maintain security.


Police fear Boonlert Kaewprasit, addressing the last Pitak Siam rally, may not be able to keep his word about a peaceful protest on Saturday.

Police will monitor the rally but will not obstruct the demonstration with checkpoints, Pol Gen Adul said.

He said his police force is still collecting information about the rally and did not yet have an estimate on the number of demonstrators likely to attend.

Meanwhile, pro-government red-shirts rallied in Bangkok Sunday to oppose Pitak Siam's plan of forcing the government to step down.

Red-shirt leader Sombat Boonngam-anong led about 100 participants on a protest against Pitak Siam at Bangkok's BTS train system.

The protesters told people at the Siam Square and Chatuchak stations that Pitak Siam's intention to oust Yingluck Shinawatra's government would "freeze" elections in Thailand for five years.

The protesters said those who oppose the government should fight in parliament under democratic rules.

Mr Sombat said red-shirt supporters would launch more activities to oppose Pitak Siam's protest.

He said red-shirt demonstrators in Nonthaburi province would rally in front of the Thaicom satellite earth station on Saturday to oppose Pitak Siam's rally, which will be held the same day.

A group of university students called the Group of University Students Who Love Democracy, rallied at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok to express their disapproval of Pitak Siam.

Thailand's reputation would be harmed if the elected government is overthrown, Nanthasak Poolpol, who led the group, said.

He said Pitak Siam's stance would be a violation of the parliamentary system. His group distributed stickers opposing what they called an attempt to "freeze Thailand".

Meanwhile Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the leader of the Pitak Siam movement, launched caravans of vehicles at the Royal Plaza yesterday to urge people to join his rally on Saturday.

Gen Boonlert said Pitak Siam had no intention of "freezing" Thailand, but instead wanted to freeze the country's corrupt politicians.

He declined to elaborate on what that could include.

Gen Boonlert reiterated the government is a failed proxy of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He said the government tolerates corruption and offences to the monarchy.

Ms Yingluck's government had come to power as a result of populist vote-buying, Gen Boonlert said, adding that Pitak Siam would demand the resignation of the government.

He said he would end the movement if it fails to get support from a targeted number of people.

Democrat Ong-art Klampaibul said yesterday the government had tried to counter Pitak Siam by accusing the movement of accepting money from a political party.

The government also tried to quell the rally by announcing the deployment of 50,000 police.

Neither tactic will work, Mr Ong-art predicted.


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Overestimating Pitak Siam's power | Bangkok Post: opinion

COMMENTARY - THINK PRAGMATIC

Overestimating Pitak Siam's power

• Published: 19/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

I couldn't agree more with Korkaew Pikulthong's objection to the proposed use of the Internal Security Act (ISA)in parts of Bangkok to deal with the Pitak Siam-initiated anti-government rally scheduled to take place this Saturday at the Royal Plaza.


Sqn Ldr Prasong Soonsiri, former secretary-general of the National Security Council, and Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, core organiser of the anti-government Pitak Siam rally. Red shirts are mobilising supporters to hold opposing rallies to coincide with Pitak Siam's next protest on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The Pheu Thai list MP said the special law would paint the government in a negative light in the same way it did with the previous Democrat-led government's decision to invoke the law to deal with the red-shirt protest at Ratchaprasong shopping centre two years ago.

He suggested the government should wait and only invoke the special law when the situation warrants it.

Mr Korkaew said he felt the government had overestimated the clout of Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, head of the Pitak Siam group.

If the government is so scared of the retired general, he suggested that it should file treason charges against him and hold him in custody.

The national police chief, Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew, who is in charge of crowd control, will ask the cabinet on Tuesday to invoke the ISA, reportedly to pre-empt violence allegedly being planned by "third-hand" elements.

But military chiefs have reservations about invoking the special law ahead of the rally.

Gen Boonlert was literally unknown among people outside the Royal Turf Club circle until he staged his first anti-government rally at the Royal Turf Club on Oct 28 which was attended by about 20,000 people, mostly members of the Santi Asoke sect, followers of the People's Alliance for Democracy and the multi-coloured group led by Dr Tul Sitthisomwong.

Even the government was caught off-guard by the unexpectedly high turnout.

The same groups of people and several other anti-Thaksin groups are expected to join the forthcoming rally at the Royal Plaza.

But there is no way that Gen Boonlert, also known as Seh Ai, will be able to mobilise the on million participants that he has targetted. If he can muster just one-tenth of that figure, it will indeed be a great achievement.

The only real threat from the retired general seems to be his words rather than his actions.

He said that the Nov 24 rally would be a "do or die" one-shot showdown, which means he will pack up and disappear if the protest fails to force the government to resign or collapse.

But the most nonsensical thing about his political utterances is his call for democratic rule to be put in the deep-freeze for five years during which Thailand will be governed by an appointed government comprising people well known for their honesty and integrity.

The remark itself is self-defeating and self-destructive as it goes against the very basis of democracy.

It sounds like a message from someone completely lost in a fantasy world, not someone who is leading tens of thousands people in a political struggle.

Whether Gen Boonlert is deadly serious about his hardline talk of overthrowing the government while insisting that the protest will be peaceful and about his dream of "freezing" democratic rule for five years or whether he is just bluffing remains to be seen.

But my guess is that he is just bluffing and this has been the weak point of Pitak Siam, which the government is making capital out of. A smear campaign has been launched by the government camp against the retired general as well as the Pitak Siam group.

Allegations of a six-billion-baht fund being pooled by an unidentified business group to finance Pitak Siam's alleged attempt to overthrow the government is part of the smear campaign.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship has also joined in the smear campaign by putting their followers on alert just in case the protest descends into chaos and is followed by a coup as earlier called for by Gen Boonlert. Red-shirt followers will gather in Bangkok's neighbouring provinces on the same day Pitak Siam stages its rally at the Royal Plaza.

The rhetoric from the two opposing sides - not the rally itself - seems to have unnerved the business community. They have called for restraint which, unfortunately, will likely fall on deaf ears as both sides are gearing up for a confrontation which, I believe, will be short-lived and will be over in one or two days once the protest leaders have taken to the stage to verbally vent their frustrations against the government.


Veera Prateepchaikul is a former Editor, Bangkok Post.

Prem's former aide joins Seh Ai's rally | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

Prem's former aide joins Seh Ai's rally

• Published: 19/11/2012 at 11:37 AM
• Online news:

BANGKOK - Admiral Phajun Tamprateep, a former chief of the office of the chairman of the Privy Council and statesman Prem Tinsulanonda, admitted he joined the Pitak Siam group's anti-government rally on Oct 28 and will do it again on Nov 24.

He said on Monday that he did so out of his love for Thailand and the monarchy.


Adm Phajun Tamprateep (file photo)

"Thaksin accused me of taking part in a meeting of Pitak Siam to plan for a rally. That's not true. I did not take part in a meeting of the group, but I joined the rally on Oct 28 and will do it again on Nov 24," Adm Phajun said, referring to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin on Sunday mentioned Adm Phajun joining Seh Ai's rally when phoned in to a rally of the red shirts in Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan province. He questioned why Gen Prem did not stop Adm Phajun from doing so.

"I am already retired. As an old soldier and a citizen, I can do that," he said.

Adm Phajun said his participation in the rally led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, or Seh Ai, had nothing to do with Gen Prem because he no longer works for the Privy Council chairman.

He also said he did not know Seh Ai personally, nor did he had anything to do with the multi-colour group of Dr Tul Sitthisomwong.

Adm Phajun was a Class 12 graduate of the Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School, so was Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, the national army chief, and Gen Thanasak Patimaprakorn, the supreme commander.

He worked as an aide of Gen Prem for 31 years.


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Pitak Siam challenges Abac Poll | Bangkok Post: news

Pitak Siam challenges Abac Poll

• Published: 19/11/2012 at 02:05 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Pitak Siam group is confident of getting support from the people of Bangkok and has challenged an Abac Poll survey which showed 94% of city people disagreed with the planned rally on Nov 24-25, AVM Vachara Ritthakhani said.

AVM Vachara, the group's spokesman, said he wanted the pollsters from Abac Poll to wait and see for themselves what the turnout at the Royal Plaza of Pitak Siam supporters will be.

From yesterday's campaign for support, the group received a good response from city people, he said.

AVM Vachara said that from Thaksin Shinawatra's phone-in to a rally of red shirts in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district on Sunday, it was obvious that the deposed prime minister was the real boss of the government, the Pheu Thai Party and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

Thaksin's order for the red shirts to be prepared to fight was not different from what he did in May 2010. If violence occurred, Thaksin must be held responsible, AVM Vachara said.

The Pitak Siam spokesman also explained that the group's line was not to close or freeze the country for five years as alleged. In fact, the group wanted to freeze politicians who were corrupt, bought votes, and used the people's tax money for personal gain.

Pitak Siam protesters will rally at the Royal Plaza only and would not move anywhere. The protesters will be well under control, AVM Vachara said.

He said he did not know whether Adm Phachun Tamprateep, a former aide to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, was interested in joining the Pitak Siam rally, adding that he could do so as a Thai citizen.


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UDD to rally against Pitak Siam | Bangkok Post: news

UDD to rally against Pitak Siam

• Published: 19/11/2012 at 02:37 PM
• Online news: Local News

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) will hold two big rallies on 23-24 Nov in opposition to anti-government protestors, the movement’s core leader announced on Monday.

Pol Lt Col Sa-Ngiam Samranrat, head advisor to the Secretariat of the Prime Minister and a core leader of the red shirt movement, said the rallies would be held in Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan provinces, which abut Bangkok.

The UDD leader insisted the red shirts will not gather in Bangkok, especially near Government House and the Parliament where the Pitak Siam movement plans to hold anti government demonstrations on Nov 24 and possibly Nov 25.

Pol Lt Col Sa-Ngiam said the Pitak Siam group’s plan to hold a rally in front of Government House is a ploy to lure the red shirts into a confrontation, which could ultimately lead to a military coup.

“It’s what they want and we are not falling for that,” he said.

“The red shirts will not move the rallies to Bangkok at any cost, even if they block the entrance to Government House and the Parliament and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cannot do her work,” the red shirt leader said.

Another UDD core leader, Suporn Attawong, known as "Rambo", said the movement is ready to gather 200,000 of its supporters in Bangkok to protect the government, if needed.

Mr Suporn, also deputy secretary general to the PM’s Office, said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had sens his “blessings” to the red shirts to help protect the government during his latest phone-in address to pro-government supporters.

“History has taught us to be cautious, we are ready to protect the democratically elected government,” he said.

He insisted that the red shirts will contain their demonstrations to Bangkok’s adjacent provinces during the 23 -24 Nov rally.

“But if the government needs us, we can gather our supporters across the country within 24 hours,” he said. “With the blow of a whistle we can call upon 200,000 red shirt supporters in Bangkok within two hours.”

“The red shirts have no army and no weapons, we are just normal citizens who want to protect the government,” he said.

Former aide says Prem not linked to Pitak Siam rally - The Nation

Former aide says Prem not linked to Pitak Siam rally

The Nation November 20, 2012 1:00 am

File photo : Prem

A former aide to Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday dismissed fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's suggestion that Prem was behind his participation in the anti-government protests.

Retired Admiral Phajun Tamprateep, former chief of the Privy Council president's office, said he joined the Pitak Siam rally on October 28 on his own, due to concern for the country. But he did not know its leader retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit.

Phajun said he would again take part in Pitak Siam's rally this Saturday at the Royal Plaza. "General Prem has nothing to do with my decision to join the protest. I no longer work for him. I went to the protest on my own, as someone who has concern for the country," he said.

"I don't know General Boonlert personally. But I joined the protest because I love my country. I am an old soldier but I still want to love the country and to protect the monarchy. I once vowed to preserve His Majesty the King's legacies with my blood," he said.

He rejected Thaksin's claim that he had plotted the anti-government rally with Pitak Siam leaders.

"That's not true. I didn't join any meeting [of Pitak Siam leaders]. I just took part in the rally."

In a phone-in to a red-shirt rally in Samut Prakan on Sunday night, Thaksin criticised Prem for "allowing" Phajun to join the anti-government rally. He questioned why Prem did not stop Phajun from attending.

Red-shirt leader Suporn Atthawong said yesterday that while Pitak Siam holds its rally on Saturday the red shirts would hold a parallel gathering in Bangkok's suburban areas but they would not get close to the Royal Plaza protest.

However, he threatened to mobilise red shirts from around the country within 24 hours - as many as 200,000 from Bangkok within two hours - to "protect the democratically elected government", if necessary.

Suporn, now a deputy secretary-general to the prime minister, said Thaksin told the red shirts to be ready for possible unrest due to the Pitak Siam rally.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who is in charge of the police, met yesterday with police chiefs and representatives from security agencies to discuss preparations for the anti-government rally.

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

I think the government should have moved swiftly against the old general on sedition charges - I know one person has done so - but it would have carried more gravitas is the administration/government moved swiftly against any undemocratic challenge. The concern over fake Reds launching an attack and the counter-intel is a good move.

The government needs to show it has the balls to cut off anti-democratic movements at the knees and it needs to show the public it's in charge, if the army wants to show otherwise, then the military is playing its own fiddle. The government is taking the wrong approach IMO. Indeed, it may be walking into a trap.

There are no influential pro democratic movements in Thailand.

It would be pointless to arrest him, as the general is most likely just a front-man, and arresting him will only create a further rallying cry. The skirmishing has begun, another long drawn out process of feints, maneuvering, bluffing, few bombs here and there, rallies etc for the foreseeable future, there are some people who just will not accept thaksin's return, and will not allow his government to be stable enough to inviegle his return; he doesnt deserve to come back anyway.

Red Shirt ?activist alert?: Don?t prejudge a man in red as a red shirt activist | MCOT.net



Red Shirt ‘activist alert’: Don’t prejudge a man in red as a red shirt activist

By Digital Media | 20 พ.ย. 2555 13:11

BANGKOK, Nov 20 – Pro-government Red Shirt activists have vowed to stay away from the anti-government rally by the conservative Pitak Siam group at the Royal Plaza on Saturday.

The announcement has apparently pacified order-keeping authorities but their relief was not for long.

The new challenge: How to differentiate bogus Red Shirters from genuine ones?

National Security Council (NSC) secretary general Paradorn Pattanathabutr today quoted an intelligence report saying that more than 4,000 red coloured shirts have been circulated in the market and that the authorities suspect some ‘third party’ instigators will disguise themselves as Red Shirt activists and mingle with non-Red Shirt demonstrators at the Royal Plaza on Saturday.

“We have yet to determine if the move is politically motivated. We cannot arrest them as it is not illegal to buy and sell red shirts,” he said.

Lt-Gen Paradorn would not conceal his jittery feeling on the possible infiltration by a “third party” in the mass rally, saying stringent security measures have been mapped out at the rally location while Pitak Siam leaders have been told to be on vigilant for the demonstrators’ safety.

Red Shirt activists will hold separate rallies to counter the anti-government activity but they will not get near the demonstration site at the Royal Plaza, the NSC secretary general said.

Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee said provincial demonstrators will not be barred from joining the rally in the capital but provincial governors have been instructed to discourage people in their provinces from travelling to Bangkok for the political activity.

He claimed that there have been offers at Bt1,000-2,000 each to rural people to join the mass rally on Saturday. (MCOT online news)

Boonlert and his mission impossible | Bangkok Post: opinion

Boonlert and his mission impossible

• Published: 20/11/2012 at 12:49 PM
• Online news: Opinion

Emotions are running high as Pitak Siam's anti-government rally draws near, with pro and anti-government leaders stepping up their rhetoric. For those still undecided about joining the rally, they should ask themselves whether they are willing to be led by a leader with outlandish political ideas.

The much-publicised Pitak Siam rally against the government is only four days away and emotions are already running high to the point of paranoia among red-shirt leaders as they order their people to be on “standby in their barracks”.

Even the “Man in Dubai” is so jumpy about the Pitak Siam protest that he can no longer hide his deep-seated mistrust of the amataya (elite) whom he suspects of being behind the protest and the conspiracy to overthrow the government. Addressing a red-shirt rally in Samut Prakan last weekend in a video phone-in from Dubai, he questioned why Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, didn’t stop his former aide, Adm Jun Tamprateep, from joining the protest.

By the same token, opponents of Thaksin might ask the same question. Why didn’t he stop the Palang Prachachon Party (predecessor of the Pheu Thai Party) executive members, including former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, from joining the red-shirt protest at Ratchaprasong shopping district two years ago?

My answer is that they are all grown-up men and mature enough to make their own decisions about whether to join or not to join a protest. After all, it is their constitutional right to free expression.

Besides those who hate Thaksin and the government and who are expected to join Saturday's rally, I believe that there are many others who, despite their opposition to the fugitive former prime minister and the government, are hesitant to join for different reasons.


Gen Boonlert "Seh Ai" Kaewprasit (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

First of all is the leadership quality of Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, aka Seh Ai, leader of Pitak Siam. As far as I am concerned, if I am to join a protest I must first be convinced that the protest leader must be credible and smart enough and be able to lead the protest toward success or its set target.

In this regard, it appears that Gen Boonlert has failed miserably from the outset with his outlandish hard talk of putting democracy in a deep freeze for five years during which Thailand would be governed by honest technocrats.

Would any sane man float such a crazy idea while he is about to lead a crucial protest? The idea has not only allowed the red shirts and the government to take full advantage of it to attack Pitak Siam and its allies as being pro-dictatorship and political dinosaurs but it appears to have also driven away many non-coloured people from joining the protest. Not to mention the prospect of Thailand being branded as a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community.

Gen Boonlert appears to be inconsistent about the planned protest. Originally he said that if the crowd turnout is less than a million, the protest will be called off. Of late, he said that if only 40,000-50,000 people show up at the rally, he will end the protest. If the turnout is much more, he said he would consider what the next move should be, but he assured that he had a “last solution” for the government.

But the red shirts and the government suspect that Gen Boonlert is just a front man or a puppet of some people pulling the strings from behind the scene. However, my question is: Are the puppeteers being smart to make use of a man like Gen Boonlert to pull off such an important mission as overthrowing the government? Or are they just as ignorant as the retired general because the mission is impossible from the outset?


Writer: Veera Prateepchaikul

50,000 southerners to join rally | Bangkok Post: news

50,000 southerners to join rally

• Published: 20/11/2012 at 12:07 PM
• Online news: Local News

At least 50,000 people from 16 southern provinces will join the Pitak Siam anti-government rally in Bangkok on Nov 24 and 25, Group of People from 16 Southern Provinces coordinator Sunthorn Rakrong said on Tuesday.

"The people from the South will take part in the mass rally because the government is a proxy of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and its populist policies are damaging the country.

"The government is also colluding with foreigners to sell Thai fuel cheaply, causing prices of farm products to slump," Mr Sunthorn said.

He said the 50,000 people will start moving to the capital on Nov 22 and 23.

The planned anti-government rally, to be held this weekend at the Royal Plaza, will be peaceful and no weapons will be involved, he added.

Meanwhile, National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr confirmed that there was an intelligence report warning that about 4,000 red coloured shirts had been bought by people from the anti-government group in an effort to create unrest during the rally this weekend.

"We cannot link this to any political group yet and we cannot arrest the people who bought the red shirts since its not illegal to do so," Lt-Gen Paradorn said.

Nattawut Saikuar, a deputy commerce minister and red-shirt core member, said he believed there would be an "invisible hand" trying to topple the government during the Pitak Siam rally.

"I can't help but be worried that the 'invisible hand' will use this opportunity to create a situation in order to bring down the government.

"I don't think the rally, to be held over a day or two, will topple the government, and I don't think Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit will have the authority or make key decisions," Mr Nattawut said.


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Complaint filed against Seh Ai | Bangkok Post: news

Complaint filed against Seh Ai

• Published: 20/11/2012 at 02:38 PM
• Online news: Local News

A Pheu Thai Party member on Tuesday filed a complaint with Crime Suppression Division police against Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the Pitak Siam group leader, and three other persons accusing them of rebellion and illegal assembly in connection with the Oct 28 rally.

Singthong Buachum, the complainant, was accompanied by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) lawyer Picha Wijitsilp.

The other three persons named in the complaint are Sqd Ldr Prasong Soonsiri, former National Security Council chief, Dr Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the multi-colour group, and Seri Wongmontha, a mass communication academic.

In the complaint, Gen Boonlert, Sqd Ldr Prasong, Dr Tul and Dr Seri were accused of violating Articles 113, 201 and 215 of the Criminal Code in their speeches at the Pitak Siam group rally at the Royal Turf Club in Nang Loeng on Oct 28 and at a press conference on Nov 10 to announce the plan to stage another rally at the Royal Plaza on Nov 24.

Pol Col Prasopchoke Prommoon, the CSD deputy commander, said the fresh complaint would be combined into one with others filed earlier by other people.

Red Shirts in Bang Pla
Nick Nostitz
20 November 2012



On Sunday, 18 November 2012, about 40,000 Red Shirts from central Thailand gathered at a United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) stage in Bang Pla, Samut Prakan, close to Bangkok.

With all the buzz over Obama’s visit and Pitak Siam’s looming rally, it appears to have escaped the attention of most media that this, together with the recent UDD rally in Udon Thani have been by the by far biggest Red Shirt gatherings in more than a year.



asiapacific.anu.edu.au

Thanks Mid

Perhaps Strontium Dog might follow up with some references to these rather large rallies from the Bangkok Press?

^ Perhaps you can post it yourself

Hands off the Saturday rally | Bangkok Post: opinion

EDITORIAL

Hands off the Saturday rally

• Published: 21/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The best outcome for Saturday's planned rally by the Pitak Siam group is to call it off. There is no urgent reason for it; it is extremely poorly timed. Organisers are taking advantage of democratic rights to try to destroy democracy. The very notion of halting all democratic reforms to allow years of regressive government is not just impossible, but zany.

The second best outcome is to allow the misguided Pitak Siam "leaders" to have their say, without interference. Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, better known in recent days as "Seh Ai", still claims to be a patriot. He has the same right as all Thais, to speak his mind in a peaceful manner. Authorities should stand well back, and let him have his say. If there is trouble, he must be held responsible. If he goes beyond free speech to call for violence, he must also be held responsible.

This is why it is encouraging to see wiser heads prevailing over those authorities calling for emergency rule of some sort around the Royal Plaza for Saturday's gathering. National police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew has expressed concern, as has Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak, deputy Bangkok police chief. They expect a large crowd, perhaps 100,000 people, and fear that some "third hand" could infiltrate the crowd and cause violence.

For this reason, police appealed to the government to invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) or a similar, restrictive law. That would allow the army to step in, at least as backup for regular police and riot squads. Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung made it clear the government would not approve such measures. Clear-thinking officials have realised the dual error of invoking the ISA.

The ISA, controversial in its own right, effectively allows the government and its security forces to suspend normal law enforcement. The call for a Saturday rally, however misguided and insupportable, hardly constitutes any emergency. Then there is the serious danger that the high profile of troops on full alert could, by itself, cause real fear and resentment among protesters. The threat of violent retaliation against the rally could, in short, cause rally members to call for violence.

As security forces already have demonstrated, it is impossible to predict the size of the crowd on Saturday. Pol Maj Gen Adul expects to see up to 100,000 protesters. The National Security Council expects half that number. Nor can the mood of the crowd be judged beforehand. It is hard to believe that serious people will support the crackpot call to suspend democracy for five years _ let alone the parallel call to appoint a council of dictators to run the country.

The government and its security apparatus are planning for Saturday in just the right way. Police will supply security at the rally _ but will not in any manner try to control or intimidate the protesters. Equally as clued-up is the decision by the leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to keep red shirts well away.

Seh Ai and his small group of Pitak Siam leaders have come dangerously close to law-breaking with calls for the violent overthrow of the government, including by the military. But there is no sign that serious people take them seriously. Pitak Siam should call off this Saturday rally. Otherwise, the group must be held firmly responsible for any violations.

No end in sight to Thailand's post-Thaksin crisis | The Japan Times Online

Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012

No end in sight to Thailand's post-Thaksin crisis

By PAVIN CHACHAVALPONGPUN
Special to The Japan Times

KYOTO — Thailand's political crisis has continued to deepen and might be heading toward a new round of violent confrontation.

Recently the Yingluck Shinawatra government went ahead with a Cabinet reshuffle for the third time in just over a year. And this time the new Cabinet looks a lot more "Thaksinite" than the previous incarnations. This signifies an ever-growing confidence on the part of Thaksin, the former Thai premier and brother of Yingluck, who is believed to be the real "mover" behind the current government.

Thaksin has planted a number of loyalists and promoted some of his most trusted allies in the Cabinet.

For example, Surapong Tovichakchaikul has been promoted to deputy prime minister while being allowed to keep his post as foreign minister. Surapong is Thaksin's half brother and has helped facilitate Thaksin's time abroad. Soon after taking up the foreign minister portfolio, Surapong returned Thaksin's passport to him, claiming that the charges against him were politically motivated.

Observers see the reshuffle as another bold attempt of the government to bring Thaksin home. Thaksin was ousted by a military coup in 2006 and sentenced to two years imprisonment for corruption — a crime that Thaksin has venomously denied. He is on the run from Thai law, but remains powerful in the political realm — so powerful that he was threatened with assassination during his planned visit to Myanmar's Tachilek, a town bordering Thailand. He later canceled his trip.

Admittedly, in the past year the Yingluck government has done rather well in terms of lifting the nation's economy and implementing effective populist policies solidly backed by its rural supporters. And it has been pushing for reconciliation. This suggests that Yingluck might be able to survive her full four-year term — a possibility that has further infuriated her political opponents.

To weaken the government, opponents launched the tired tactics of street protests to discredit Yingluck while calling for military intervention. In late October, rivals organized a rally at a horse-racing stadium inside the Royal Turf Club with an assembly of over 20,000 antigovernment protesters attending the event. Among them are also royalists who continue to denounce the rise of Thaksin and Yingluck as a threat to the Thai monarchy.

The leader of the antigovernment groups was retired Gen. Boonlert Kaewprasit who infamously called for a coup to topple the Yingluck government. He said, "I would love to see a coup." He also added that he wished to "freeze" Thailand for five years so that all "bad politicians" would disappear, paving the way for moral and ethical ones. Boonlert said that another rally will be held Friday and Saturday to kick out the Yingluck government.

In Parliament, the opposition Democrat Party has joined the antigovernment bandwagon, seeking to file a no-confidence motion against Yingluck and her Cabinet members. But since the possibility of winning the motion is slim, some Democrats have turned to vulgar tactics to taint the reputation of Yingluck, such as accusing her of being unable to speak proper English, or criticizing her supposedly inappropriate sense of dress.

The reshuffle is not the only reason why anti-Thaksin forces have re-emerged on the political scene. The Yingluck government — under immense pressure by Yingluck's supporters to bring to justice those who killed the red-shirt demonstrators in May 2010 — initially appeared to want to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to facilitate the investigation of that fatal incident.

However, the government finally gave up its attempt to ratify the ICC because it was not ready to confront the nation's military forces. So far, Yingluck has tried indefatigably to build a working relationship with the military. The ICC issue could wreck this relationship — and this could also mean an even smaller chance for Thaksin to return home.

Throughout the recent antigovernment protests, the military has kept quiet. The outspoken army chief, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has been unusually cautious about lending his support to the event at the Royal Turf Club. Prayuth has also distanced himself from the leader of the Democrat Party and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva despite the fact that they once worked in unison to overthrow Thaksin's political proxies.

The shrewd position of the army is understandable. While the Yingluck government still poses a threat to the military and the political position of the monarchy, staging another coup would be too devastating. The real challenge will derive from the red-shirt movement that first emerged in Thailand because of its anti-coup agenda. The mushrooming of "red-shirt villages" in the far-flung north and northeastern regions of Thailand has been inspired by a perceived need to eliminate the culture of political intervention by the military.

Could it be that the military is now playing two roles at the same time? One is to cooperate with the government on key issues, ranging from reconciliation, amnesty and even the improvement of Thai-Cambodian relations. The other is to discreetly endorse the moves by the antigovernment forces in undermining the Yingluck regime.

The key for the military is to work with the government but also to keep it weak and vulnerable. But this will not end the Thai crisis as long as antigovernment groups refuse to set down the extra-constitutional devices that they use to remove elected governments from power.


Pavin Chachavalpongpun is an associate professor at Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies.

Thai Red Shirts to Monitor Democrat Party-Backed March against Democracy | Robert Amsterdam Thailand

Thai Red Shirts to Monitor Democrat Party-Backed March against Democracy

Following a visit to Thailand by U.S. President Barack Obama in which he expressed support for the democratically elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Red Shirt groups are announcing plans to monitor and expose the financial supporters of an upcoming march against democracy by an extremist group backed by the Democrat Party.

According to Robert Amsterdam, lawyer to the Red Shirt group United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), this evidence gathering will also extend to any acts of violence, threats of violence and any other criminal enterprise associated with the anti-democratic extremists and its backers.

“This is a warning to all the extremists and their supporters that their attempt to sow instability and destroy Thailand’s hard-earned democracy will be made accountable before the law,” said Amsterdam. “Responsibility for this blatant assault on an elected government should also lie with those who stand behind the Democrat Party, such as Liberal International, who appear to have lost all sight of their principles and mission, standing by as their member party makes a mockery out of basic civil rights to vote and have leaders elected by the popular will, rather than by the end of a rifle.”

The protests against democracy in Bangkok are in part a response to the international recognition achieved by the current government that was never possible under the last coup-appointed administration of the former government. At a press conference Sunday 18th November President Obama stated he was “proud to stand beside the democratically elected leader of Thailand,” Prime Minister Yingluck, and that he was “very admiring” of the efforts of the Thai people to “restore and strengthen” democracy. Just one week earlier, Prime Minister Yingluck was granted audience with Queen Elizabeth II and met with UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

To conduct this process of evidence gathering this weekend, the UDD shall be employing legal monitors on the ground during anti-democracy protests and coordinating with the relevant authorities in Thailand to ensure, that should a coup or serious violence occur, those responsible are held to account by the international community. The purpose of the process is to catalogue, name and publish all the details of those involved with financially supporting the coup plotters. Once those funding the movement are revealed to the public, the UDD plans to call upon its +14 million members to boycott these businesses in Thailand.

Recent polls show that 94% of Bangkok citizens are opposed to the anti-democratic march.

Abhisit warns govt will be to blame if protest turns violent | Bangkok Post: news

Abhisit warns govt will be to blame if protest turns violent

Rumours swirl 'fake' reds will be used to stir chaos

• Published: 21/11/2012 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Opposition and Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva is demanding the government take responsibility if violence erupts at the Pitak Siam anti-government rally this Saturday.

Mr Abhisit said Tuesday the government claimed it knew of some parties who planned to create untoward incidents during the protest and, if it was aware of this, then it should take action to prevent violence.

Mr Abhisit was referring to remarks by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung and Lt Gen Paradon Pattanathaboot, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), that thousands of "fake red shirts" might be used to create incidents during the rally.

Mr Abhisit said if the government was aware anything untoward was going to happen, its duty was to ensure order.

The opposition leader also said it was strange for government authorities to make a claim about a fake red-shirt movement ahead of the rally, to be held at the Royal Plaza.

Mr Abhisit added that ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra seemed to be urging his red-shirt supporters to make a move in response to the Pitak Siam rally.

Democrat list-MP Ong-art Klampaibul yesterday criticised Lt Gen Paradon for mentioning the claim that fake red-shirt demonstrators were being deployed.

He said Lt Gen Paradon was acting as if he was the spokesman for the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rather than the NSC secretary-general.

Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut yesterday accused the government of trying to block people from joining the Pitak Siam rally.

He said the attempts included threats to local government officials and passenger bus and van operators in other provinces.

Meanwhile, the ruling Pheu Thai Party is preparing to deal with the rally.

Deputy government spokesman Pakdihan Himathongkam said Mr Chalerm has a nine-stage plan to handle the demonstration, nine Pheu Thai ministers are on standby to decide whether to use a special law to contain the protest, and 5,000-8,000 police will be deployed to protect Government House and important documents there.

The nine ministers are Mr Chalerm, Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana, PM's Office Minister Varathep Rattanakorn, Interior Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan, Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat, Deputy Transport Minister Prin Suwanatat and Justice Minister Pracha Promnok.

Mr Pakdihan said demonstrators would be brought from many provinces including Ratchaburi, Si Sa Ket, Samut Songkhram and Surin.

Pheu Thai member Singthong Buachum and Pheu Thai lawyers yesterday filed a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division against Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit and others.

They accused Gen Boonlert of treason and illegal assembly for announcing the staging of the anti-government demonstration.

Also accused were Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, Sqn Ldr Prasong Soonsiri, a former constitution drafter, political activist Dr Tul Sitthisomwong and communications academic Seri Wongmontha.

Deputy Commerce Minister and red-shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar said yesterday the anti-government rally would not be able to overthrow the government in one day without a "special situation".

He noted that such a special situation could happen with support from the party that had overthrown the past governments of Thaksin, Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat.

Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee claimed a big group of construction material producers and politicians were hiring people for 1,500-2,000 baht each to join the rally.

Pitak Siam spokesman AM Watchara Ritthakhanee insisted yesterday the planned rally would be peaceful.

Interior sets up rally watch centre | Bangkok Post: news

Interior sets up rally watch centre

• Published: 21/11/2012 at 03:12 PM
• Online news: Local News

The Ministry of Interior has set up a special watch centre to monitor the situation during the planned anti-government mass rally by the Pitak Siam group at the Royal Plaza on Saturday.

Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said on Wednesday that he had this morning called a meeting of high ranking officials of his ministry to brief them on policy and guidelines in coordinating with the ministry’s rally watch centre.

Deputy Interior Ministers Pol Lt-Gen Chat Kuldilok and Pracha Prasopdee also attended the meeting.

Mr Charupong said as there was a report that some ill-intentioned people would take the opportunity to incite unrest, it is necessary for his ministry to call the meeting to create a clear understanding on peace keeping measures among officials in the event that the rally turns violent.

He said both district and provincial level rally watch centres will closely monitor the situation and people’s movements in their respective areas and directly report back to the ministry’s centre in Bangkok on a daily basis.

State offices and enterprises under the supervision of the ministry had been ordered to beef up security to prevent them from being attacked or seized, he added.

All rescue and firefighting vehicles and close circuit television cameras must be in place and ready for use in any emergency, the minister said.


-----
UPDATE: Seh Ai summoned to testify | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

UPDATE: Seh Ai summoned to testify

• Published: 21/11/2012 at 05:08 PM
• Online news:

The Constitution Court has not yet accepted petitions asking that it consider ordering the Pitak Siam group to call off its Nov 24 rally, but instead decided to summon Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, the group's leader, and Air Vice Marshal Vachara Ritthakani, the spokesman, to testify tomorrow, court spokesman Pimol Thampithakpong said on Wednesday.

It was earlier reported incorrectly that the court had accepted the petitions for consideration.

The petitions were filed by former senator Ruangkrai Leekijwattana, Pheu Thai Party member Singthong Buachum, and lawyer Nuengdin Wimuttinant, citing Section 68 of the constitution.

Mr Pimol said the reasons given in the petitions was not adequate for the court to decide whether to accept them for consideration or not.

The court, therefore, sent a summonse to Gen Boonlert and AVM Vachara, asking them to testify tomorrow at 2pm.

The two had received the summonses and they said they would appear personally, he said.

After hearing their testimony, the Constitution Court judges would decide whether to accept the petitions for consideration, Mr Pimol said.

The spokesman said the court would decide later whether to order the rally to be called off, or not.

Sources said seven of the nine Constitution Court judges met for two hours after which they agreed to summon Gen Boonlert and AVM Vachara to testify before any decision could be made. The two judges who were absent were Chat Cholavorn and Udomsak Nitimontri.

Hands Off Our Democracy- Red Shirts Send Message to Pitak Siam

Posted by Ratch / November 19, 2012



Over the weekend, Red Shirts gathered in numbers first in Khon Kaen on Friday, and then in Bang Pla, outside of Bangkok, on Sunday. At both rallies, over 30,000 activists listened to UDD leaders discuss the rising threat of a coup d’état as the anti-government rally by Pitak Siam on November 24th approaches.

The main message from the leadership was that, while the Red Shirts should stay away from the Pitak Siam rally next weekend, they should be prepared to protest in the case of a real threat to Thailand’s democracy.
The UDD fully respect Pitak Siam’s democratic right to a peaceful protest, but Pitak Siam’s de facto leader Gen Boonlert, aka Seh Ai, has repeatedly stated that the rally means to oust the current, democratically elected, government.

UDD leader Tida said,

Pitak Siam and its supporters are unable to win in the democratic system, that’s why they have to stage a coup. They do not care about the Thai people. They are trying to convince us that the majority of Thais disagree with a government that was elected by the majority. It makes no sense.

Commenting on Seh Ai’s proposal to ‘freeze’ democracy in Thailand for at least five years, Red Shirt leader Jatuporn said

Red Shirts will not allow our country to be “frozen”… Their political ideas are stuck in the ice age.

The sentiment on stage was shared by the Red Shirts in the crowd. When Thai Red Shirts(TRS) asked one woman about her thoughts on Pitak Siam, she responded,

It isn’t right. Seh Ai is obviously backed by the amaat. He already tried and failed to stage a coup in the 70s and he will fail again. It’s the same group of people that supported the People’s Alliance for Democracy.

TRS interviewed another Red Shirt who said,

Pitak Siam is trying to slow this country down. Still, we have to be concerned because they have powerful supporters.

Back on stage, Jatuporn also cautioned Red Shirts not to fall into the trap of reacting irresponsibly to Pitak Siam.

We must be patient, we will not fight against coup provocateurs…There will be no Red Shirts in that area [where Pitak Siam will hold their demonstration]

Jatuporn, Tida, and Nattawut maintained that it is crucial that the Red Shirts stand united in this tense period. Red Shirts should be attentive to these three leaders this weekend and ignore other calls to rally that may cause the situation to deteriorate further.

Nevertheless, Jatuporn said,

If a coup happens, and communications are down, we must all gather at the democracy monument.

The Red Shirts view the upcoming Pitak Siam rally as yet another manifestation of the anti-democratic forces that supported the 2006 coup d’etat, which ousted the democratically elected government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin phoned in at Sunday’s rally to show his appreciation for the Red Shirts.
He said,

The current visits from American and Chinese leaders show that the world is watching Thailand…Prepare yourselves, but be sure to respect the rule of law at all costs…I am so confident that we will get through this.

Thaksin and the UDD leaders also sent a message to the government that they should not let anti-democratic forces distract them from moving forward with their work.

The top priorities for the Pheu Thai government should be to amend the post-coup constitution and to grant the International Criminal Court (ICC) jurisdiction with regards to the alleged crimes against humanity committed against protestors in April-May 2010, the Red Shirt leaders said.

UDD leader Nisit argued:

The Constitution must be for the people and by the people. If we succeed in amending the Constitution, the government will be stable.

Dr Weng and Jatuporn urged the government to issue a declaration granting the ICC jurisdiction as a means of deterring potential coup makers.
Jatuporn said,

Foreign Minister Surapong has an incredible opportunity to grant the ICC jurisdiction. Not only for government, but for the victims of 2010…Can you tell me that you will be with the Red Shirts on this?

All Eyes on Pitak Siam Rally- An Open Letter to the International Community

Posted by Ratch / November 19, 2012


The UDD has sent the following letter to foreign ambassadors in Bangkok, outlining the threat to democracy posed by the upcoming Pitak Siam rally on the 24th of November.

In the letter, UDD leader Tida urges the international community to pay attention to the Pitak Siam rally and asks individual governments to condemn any potential efforts to topple Thailand’s current, democratically elected, government.

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