Bangkok PM ready to impose emergency decree

[DrB0b]

PM ready to impose emergency decree

(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Friday the government is ready to impose an emergency decree in the capital if anti-coup rally tonight gets out of control.

"Security agencies have all the plans," Gen Surayud told reporters. "But if things turn violent, I am prepared to use an emergency decree."

Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit said soldiers will use peaceful approach to control the mob and will not carry guns to prevent any violent acts.

"Soldiers won't be armed," Gen Boonsang said. "We are not barbaric. We will control the mob using peaceful means."

On ousted premier's scheduled live broadcast to his supporters at Sanam Luang tonight, Gen Surayud said the government will not block the signal.

Mr Thaksin can speak to his supporters but his speech must not provoke anger or create problems, he added.
Bangkok Post Breaking News

[DrB0b]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't crowd control traditionally a police function in most circumstances. Batons, plastic shields that sort of deterrent.

Troops imply that firearms will be brought to the party.

Troops for crowd control aren't unusual here. Although 13,000 is an awful lot the govt say they won't be armed. I'd say they're worried about counter-coup attempts, bombs, guns, that sort of thing and using strong-arm tactics to make sure they stay in control and also, perhaps, exaggerating the threat in order to justify any actions they may take over the next few days. They've also agreed to allow Thaksin to speak (by video from London) to his supporters at the Sanam Luang rally at 9pm tonight and are probably worried about what he might say.

[Dougal]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't crowd control traditionally a police function in most circumstances. Batons, plastic shields that sort of deterrent.

Troops imply that firearms will be brought to the party.

Quis custodiet custodes ipsos.

[DrB0b]

Thaksin to Speak to Bangkok Protesters Via Satellite Tonight
By Suttinee Yuvejwattana and Beth Jinks

June 15 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand's ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will speak to anti-government protesters and his supporters via a live broadcast tonight, rally organizers said.
Thaksin will speak via satellite link from London where he lives in exile to "up to 100,000 people" expected to gather at Sanam Luang park in downtown Bangkok tonight, Jakrapob Penkair, a spokesman of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship, said by telephone.

The government will allow the broadcast provided Thaksin doesn't "arouse public anger'" or cause chaos, junta-installed Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said today after meeting with police and security officials.

Authorities will use "peaceful means" to control protests, he said, while reiterating emergency law will be declared if the situation gets "out of control". Surayud said earlier this week the government will impose a state of emergency as "only the last resort'" if anti- government protests become violent. Rallies are planned tonight and tomorrow. Thousands protested peacefully on June 9, demanding the resignation of army chief Sondhi Boonyarataklin and other military leaders and marching on army headquarters. Thaksin "will recap the situation that has happened before and after the coup", said Jakrapob, a former spokesman for Thaksin's government. "He said it's good that he will have a chance to talk and explain things to the public."

Organizers have "prepared many ways" to deliver tonight's broadcast, after being warned authorities intend to block it by cutting power or interrupting the satellite link, Jakrapob said. "This is a battle. You have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best," he said. "We don't want to let down the people who come to see Thaksin. This is symbolic of our fight." The government hasn't issued any orders to block the broadcast, scheduled for about 9 p.m., Information and Communication Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said in an interview with Business Radio today. It has routinely blocked television broadcasts featuring Thaksin since the coup. "We have no reason to do that as the Cabinet has already allowed political activities," Sitthichai said. "I believe Thaksin is a mature guy, a good guy, so he will not say something he shouldn't."

Thailand has been ruled by a military-installed government since a Sept. 19 coup ousted Thaksin. A military-appointed court last month dissolved Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party and banned him and other party leaders from politics for election wrongdoing. It acquitted the country's second-largest political group, the Democrat Party.

Investigators this week froze accounts held by the former premier and his family amid corruption probes.

Thaksin won't return to Thailand until the government guarantees his safety, his lawyer Noppadol Pattama said this week. The billionaire former leader has 60 days to appeal the asset freeze with the Asset Examination Committee.

Surayud on June 14 urged the public to check state television and radio networks for accurate information on security or protests, rather than listen to rumors.

To contact the reporters on this story: Suttinee Yuvejwattana in Bangkok at [email protected] ; Beth Jinks in Bangkok at [email protected]
Last Updated: June 15, 2007 01:16 EDT

[Wayne Kerr]

A big mob is gathering down on Ratchadamnoen Avenue ... just got caught up in traffic for over an hour as a result .

[The Ghost Of The Moog]

' Mob ' or crowd ?

[BKKBoet]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't crowd control traditionally a police function in most circumstances. Batons, plastic shields that sort of deterrent.

Troops imply that firearms will be brought to the party.

Quite simple realy, the military is in power and they overthrew a prime minister that had and problably still has 'influence' with the police.

[watterinja]

This is fun. Wonder if we can be of assistance?

[dirtydog]

Poll: 70% back emergency decree in capital

(BangkokPost.com) - More than 70% of people living in Bangkok can accept it if the government impose an emergency decree in the capital, according to a university poll.

The survey said 73.5% can accept the emergency decree while 26.5% cannot.

The majority of the respondants -- or 75% -- agree with police setting up check points to prevent mobilisation of mobs. About 24% disagree with the check points.

More than half of the people -- about 56.5% -- support the Assets Scrutiny Committee's order of freezing assets of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and family. About 43.5% disagree, saying that there is not enough evidence to convict him or that they are afraid that it may cause disunity.

The largest group of respondants -- 44.8% -- said Mr Thaksin should return immediately to defend his assets. Some 31.5% think Mr Thaksin should wait for a while before coming back. Some 23.7% said Mr Thaksin should never come back because his return may cause unrest or that they are fear for his safety.

The survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday among 1,661 people.



Bangkok Post


Govt is ready to issue state of emergency if situation gets out of control

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said his government will issue state of emergency in case the situation at Sanam Luang rally is out of control.


"I am ready to declare state of emergency if we could not control the situation," he said.

He was speaking after chairing an urgent meeting of security authorities to prepare for the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday.

Attending the meeting included Council of National Security's chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin, National police chief Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej.

Many worried about the escalation of situation now that exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to give a televised address from London to the demonstrators.

Surayud told reporters that there would definitely no blocking of air signals of Thaksin because Thaksin has rights to do so as long as his speech was not considered instigating violence.

"We will do anything according to the laws as well as freedom of expression. We wish that other people would abide by the same principles," he said.

He insisted that the security authorities overseeing the situation will not be armed.

The Nation

[watterinja]

Back to the future - Thai edition.

[Gerbil]

If they declare an 'emergency decree' in Bangkok, would anyone actually notice?

[beenaroundawhile01]

[DrB0b]

(Does anybody have any idea what the hell this means???)

Pro-Thaksin rally plans to stage self-demolition : intelligence source

Pro-Thaksin demonstrators plan to "stage" a self-demolition in front the headquarters Council for National security or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, according to informed intelligence sources.

The sources told The Nation that this plan was mapped out to impress the media, both local and abroad, which will cover the demonstration this weekend. "Whoever wants to burn himself will cover himself with wax to protect his body to escape immediate harms," said an intelligence source who is familiar with the tactics. The tactic was used during the Chatichai government from 1988-1990. "For them, it is a show, nobody wants to die," added the source.

The source said that demonstrators plan to break barricades and occupy the CNS headquarters. "If they break the barricade, we will arrest them and hand them to the police," said the source.The source was speaking on the eve of the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday. Thaksin who is now in London will give a televised address for his supporters at the rally at about 9pm.

They will gather again on Saturday at the same venue to demand that the military junta stepped down and returned democracy to the people. Security authorities worried that some ill-intentioned groups will try to use the rally to instigate violence.
The Nation

[Blake7]

(Does anybody have any idea what the hell this means???)

Pro-Thaksin rally plans to stage self-demolition : intelligence source

Pro-Thaksin demonstrators plan to "stage" a self-demolition in front the headquarters Council for National security or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, according to informed intelligence sources.

The sources told The Nation that this plan was mapped out to impress the media, both local and abroad, which will cover the demonstration this weekend. "Whoever wants to burn himself will cover himself with wax to protect his body to escape immediate harms," said an intelligence source who is familiar with the tactics. The tactic was used during the Chatichai government from 1988-1990. "For them, it is a show, nobody wants to die," added the source.

The source said that demonstrators plan to break barricades and occupy the CNS headquarters. "If they break the barricade, we will arrest them and hand them to the police," said the source.The source was speaking on the eve of the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday. Thaksin who is now in London will give a televised address for his supporters at the rally at about 9pm.

They will gather again on Saturday at the same venue to demand that the military junta stepped down and returned democracy to the people. Security authorities worried that some ill-intentioned groups will try to use the rally to instigate violence.
The Nation

self-imolation maybe?

[corvettelover]

Poll: 70% back emergency decree in capital

yeah right sure they do it amazes me the shite they print do they actually think that people swallow these stories.
TIT

[DrB0b]

If they declare an 'emergency decree' in Bangkok, would anyone actually notice?

All depends just how much of an "emergency" they think it is; https://teakdoor.com/thailand-news/14...tml#post325357

[DrB0b]

(Does anybody have any idea what the hell this means???)

Pro-Thaksin rally plans to stage self-demolition : intelligence source

Pro-Thaksin demonstrators plan to "stage" a self-demolition in front the headquarters Council for National security or Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, according to informed intelligence sources.

The sources told The Nation that this plan was mapped out to impress the media, both local and abroad, which will cover the demonstration this weekend. "Whoever wants to burn himself will cover himself with wax to protect his body to escape immediate harms," said an intelligence source who is familiar with the tactics. The tactic was used during the Chatichai government from 1988-1990. "For them, it is a show, nobody wants to die," added the source.

The source said that demonstrators plan to break barricades and occupy the CNS headquarters. "If they break the barricade, we will arrest them and hand them to the police," said the source.The source was speaking on the eve of the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday. Thaksin who is now in London will give a televised address for his supporters at the rally at about 9pm.

They will gather again on Saturday at the same venue to demand that the military junta stepped down and returned democracy to the people. Security authorities worried that some ill-intentioned groups will try to use the rally to instigate violence.
The Nation

self-imolation maybe?

I meant more in the sense of WTF???? (I think they're in for a big surprise when they find out that wax burns quite well)

[Wayne Kerr]

Just read an article published in the BKK Post a few hours ago. It was mostly codswallop, but the last sentence read:

It really depends on whether Mr Thaksin cares more about his own position and the interests of his family, or those of the country.

^ Shit I thought it was already quite clear what the situation was in this respect

[dirtydog]

Will they all be singing that Elton John record as they burn Like a candle in the wind


Groups call for peaceful means


Pro-people networks Friday called for all parties to using peaceful means to solve the country's problem or it might lead to bloodshed.

The People's Network for Elections (PNET), The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), and the Campaign Committee for Human Right (CCR), said in a joint statement that the political atmosphere in the country at the moment would be likely to lead to confrontation and using violence to solve the crisis would lead to riots and bloodshed.

They urged the Council for National Security to patiently solve the problem instead of using arms or violence.

They also called for the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) to reject the new draft before going to a national referendum stage because it was likely that people might reject it.

"To avoid wasting Bt2 billion for the referendum, the CDA should reject it," the statement read.

The Nation



BMA watch protests on 24-hour basis



The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has established an around-the-clock protest-watch centre, its Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said Friday.

Apirak warned that he might consider removing motorcycle-taxi stands of those riders who create violence at the anti-coup protest.

In preparation for the mass rallies to be held outside the Army headquarters yesterday through tomorrow, Apirak urged BMA executives and district directors to work with police in risky areas.

He also asked officials to inform local residents and taxi riders about the situation, suggesting that residents and riders not join the protest as violence might occur.

If taxi riders join the protest and create violence, the BMA - whose authority includes issuing permits for motorcycle-taxi stands - might revoke the permits and proceed with legal action against wrongdoers, he said.

The Nation

[Gerbil]

"Whoever wants to burn himself will cover himself with wax to protect his body to escape immediate harms,"

Yes, I've seen that show in Patpong as well.

[watterinja]

Self-emolution = live IQ test

[DrB0b]

Thaksin spoke. Summary of speech: "give me back my money, you bastards!"

[DrB0b]

Self-emolution = live IQ test

Lucky it wasn't a spelling test, eh?

[watterinja]

That was the point - precisely.

[kingwilly]

^ really? was it? i dont think so.