Thread: State Of Emergency declared in Bangkok

Anupong to convene urgent meeting as chief emergency enforcer









Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, chief enforcer of the emergency decree in Bnagkok, will call an urgent meeting of agencies concerned at the Army headquarters at 10 am.

Those to attend the meeting include Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Kowit Watana, Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan and First Army Area Commande Lt Gen Prayuth Chanocha.

The Nation

Originally Posted by britmaveric

Both sides are paying their supporters so in the end this cancels things out.

Proof?

Originally Posted by Wayne Kerr

Originally Posted by reinvented

no unfortunately im sat in mine

Wayne Jnr sent home from school with a message that school's closed for 3 days. We're off to the beach ... hopefully the sun is shining in Pattaya .

Nope, raining right now, but there are plenty of other activities - just leave the wife and kids in a shopping mall somewhere

Death on the street

(BangkokPost.com) The army stepped in early on Tuesday after pro-government demonstrators attacked opponents occupying Government House and killed at least one protester from the People's Alliance for Democracy. The government declared a State of Emergency, effectively putting the army in control of security throughout the capital

The emergency decree said restrictions had been imposed on media reports that "undermined public security". (Disclosure: No restrictions were place on this report nor on others on this web site on Tuesday morning.)

Shortly after dawn, and after a night of clashes, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej imposed a state of emergency on Bangkok. The announcement said Army Gen. Anupong Paojinda would be in charge of administering the emergency, and armed forces would have full police powers. National police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, will be his deputy.

The Emergency Decree specifically prohibits the gathering of more than five people for a protest, and could be used to force PAD protesters to disperse or be arrested. Media calling for public protests can be censored.

Spokesmen for the United front of Democracy against Dictatorship immediately announced they will end their rally centered at Sanam Luang. "We will obey the law and go home."

Suriyasai Katasila, the chief ideologue for the People's Alliance for Democracy, said the PAD leaders would consult on their next move.

The army commander stepped in after one man was killed and another 34 people were injured in the clashes between the UDD and the PAD, rusing four companies of about 400 soldiers to the scene.

"Soldiers must leave the barracks to help restore peace," said the army chief, Gen Anupong. Troops were armed with batons and shields as they arrived at the scene.

Police chief Pol Gen Patcharavat Wongsuwan said the army help was only temporary. There are enough police, he said, and he predicted there would be no state of emergency. He turned out to be completely wrong.

A senior police officer at the scene, who requested anonymity, told the AFP news agency:

"Thousands of protesters from Sanam Luang went to the scene and clashed.

"There were reports of gunfire, but police cannot confirm who fired or how many were injured. The police took about 15 minutes to break up the groups."

The dead man was shot in the chest and beaten around the head, reporters at the scene said. Friends said he was a PAD supporters from Nakhon Ratchasima, who had only arrived in Bangkok on Tuesday with a busload of friends, to support the demonstrations aimed at forcing the government to resign.

The condition of the other, injured protesters could not immediately be learned.

Dr Petchpong Kamjornkijjakarn, head of the Bangkok emergency unit of the Public Health Ministry, told reporters that the dead man and another protester had suffered gunshot wounds during the skirmishes. He put the number of injured at 34, and said four were in critical condition.

The clash occurred when police yet again failed to hold their lines separating pro- and anti-government protesters near Government House.

Shortly before 2am, attacking groups trying to oust the PAD crowds from Government House broke through the police lines to confront PAD guards. Both sides were mostly wearing motorcycle helmets and carrying sticks, clubs and PVC pipes.

After the army appeared on the scene quickly, order was restored and the two sides retreated.

The declaration is the first use of a controversial new Emergency Law passed in the dying days of the military government late last year.

It never has been used, and its use takes Thailand another giant step into previously uncharted political waters.

In charge of Bangkok security effective immediately is the Internal Security Operations Command, or Isoc. Mr Samak is the nominal head of Isoc, although the army and special Isoc commands will run its operations.

Hours before the clash, PAD core leader Sondhi Limthongkul charged that government MPs were paying anti-PAD demonstrators and bringing them to Bangkok by bus.

He claimed the "thugs" of the United front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) were being paid 200 baht a day.

"We will just hold the fort in a very peaceful way," said Sondhi. Early Tuesday morning that promise proved fruitless.

Full coverage and archives here.

bangkokpost.net

THREATS OF BLOODSHED

More violence feared as rival proterster still contront each other
Tue, September 2, 2008

Semblance of order is restored around Government House at around 5am Tuesday after clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters in which one man is killed and almost 40 injured.

Maj Gen Kattiya Sawasdipol, an army officer, said thousands of pro-government protesters were setting up tents near the army headquarter.

The area was only a few hundreds away from the Government House and was ironically very close to the first rally site of People's Alliance for Democracy when it attempted to oust former premier Thaksin Shinawatra more than two years ago.

"I do not know what would happen next because the rival protersters are very close to each other, Kattiya said.

Anti-riot police and soldiers who were sandwiched near the Government House at 3 am on Tuesday could control the situation after pro-and anti-government protesters clashed in the first outbreak of violence that killed at least one man and injured dozens.

Hundreds of soliders have moved into the clash area to help the police order amid extremely high tension.

TV reports said a man, Narongchai Kobthaisong, died of wounds after being hit by hard objects. It was not known for certain whether he was one of the protesters or which side he was on.

He was the first Thai to have died from violence stemming from the on-going political crisis. Details remained sketchy. The clashes between anti-government protesters belonging to the People's Alliance for Democracy and pro-government demonstrators took place in "several spots" around Government House which has been occupied by the PAD since last week.

Hundreds of anti-riot soldiers and police were deployed to the site to prevent more violence and confrontation. They were caught in between the rival protesters near the Makkawan Bridge. The protesters were shouting at each other but a semblance of order was restored before 4 am.

Latest hospital reports confirmed 38 people were injured, three of them by gunshots.

They were being treated at the Vajira Hospital, Ratchavithi Hospital, Central Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, Hua Chiew Hospital, and Mission Hospital.

A reporter told Thai PBS said he believed molotov cocktails may have been thrown.

A PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila said some of the pro-government protesters were armed with guns and they fired at PAD demonstrators.

"It was like the situations leading up to October 6," he said, referring to the infamous Thammasat massacre in 1976. An emotionally-choked Suriyasai said incidents leading to the clash were something Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej "must have been aware of".

"One PAD member was shot at," Suriyasai said. "I don't know if he's dead or not."

Army Commander in Cheif Gen Anupong Paojinda said the army will help police to handle the situaiton and prevent it from escalating.

"This should not have happened," he said.

He said he ordered deployment of hundreds of anti-riot soldiers armed with shields and batons to stop the clash and to prevent it from escalating.

However he said what the army could do for now is only to help police stop the clash.

At 1.20am, hundreds of pro-government protesters, armed with batons, axes and big knives, marched from Sanam Luang to the Government House. The pro-government rally at Sanam Luang began on Saturday, amid fears of violence.

After midnight (early Tuesday morning), the pro-government protesters managed to break through the police lines who guarded the area. Their proclaimed intention was to "seize back" Government House from the PAD.

As of 1.40am, when they arrived at Makkawan Bridge, they clashed with guards of People's Alliance for Democracy who were deployed to guard the area. The area is only a few hundred metres from Government House.

Shinawatra Pabunchart, leader of pro-government protesters claimed that his men have already surrounded the Government House at 2am on Tuesday in a bid to oust anti-government protesters from the Government House.

He said he will allow the protesters in the Government House to go out but wil not allow anybody to enter the compound.

He said his group has no choice but to do so because many people were disagreed with the PAD-led protests and its seizure of the Government House.

He claimed that more people from other provinces will travel to Bangkok to join the confrontation with the PAD protests.

He said his group had no choice but to move his people to the Government House as the government could not handle the situation.

PAD leader Suriyasai Katasila said the pro-government protesters attacked PAD's guards around the site.

He claimed that one of his men was shot and was rushed to a hosptial nearby.

A reporter confirmed that she heard several gunshots. She also saw the injured man who she said seemed to have gunshot wounds and his body was soaked with blood.

Suriyasai said that it is estimated that dozens of protesters of both sides were injured.

He alleged that police deploying near the site allowed the pro-government protesters to march to be near the Government House. Suriyasai bitterly accused Prime Minister Samak of turning a blind eye to obvious signs that violence was going to happen.

"I don't want to say he had a hand in this, but you know him and October 6," the PAD leader said.

Some of pro-government protesters were seen marching while some others rode on motorcycles.

nationmultimedia.com

Big greasy cluster fuck. Ain't no white hat's in this one.

Originally Posted by britmaveric

So the PAD thugs that invaded govt buildings, force take over of tele station, destroying airport property, blocking roads, storming police stations is acceptable behaviour?

was that achieved with Violence ? if it is achieved without Violence , it is acceptable behaviour

what is unacceptable is encouraging , facillitating , armed men to mobilise to bangkok and create violence.

Anarchy in the LOS

Has a certain ring to it.

Maybe someone will write a song....

You reap what you sow!!! PAD started this, and looks like govt will finish this. If you want to peacefully protest faire enough, but when you interfere with govt business/law/order it must be stopped.

Originally Posted by britmaveric

but when you interfere with govt business/law/order it must be stopped.

by the police I'd have thought.

As in the past, the ignorant are being encouraged to attack those who have real complaints against the government. Baldrick's note that most of the people who came to confront the PAD are men with club and attitudes. The PAD has protested for years now and never have they used violence to remove anyone. They might be aggressive in their tactics but as far as I have seen they never have used violence against any other humans first in this series of protests. They took over government house with sheer numbers and non-violent entry.

As for the PAD people being paid I doubt that very much. I sat with my wife at the last PAD protests against Thaksin before he was booted and no money was given out.


On a side note, the PAD protests can be very entertaining. Bands like Hammer, Marijuana, and others have played to entertain the crowds. Pongsit Kumpee and Nga Carawan also have participated at times. There are lots of smaller bands on the stage too. Not sure why so many entertainers support the PAD.

duplicate , appoligies

Originally Posted by ChiangMai noon

Originally Posted by britmaveric

but when you interfere with govt business/law/order it must be stopped.

by the police I'd have thought.

Well as you see they do nothing - the lot of them need to be fired or start wearing the hello kitty badge for non performance of duty.

^ but it would seem that they were not willing to act!

Indeed, dereliction of duty!!!

Originally Posted by good2bhappy

I heard him say there was a commitee of 3.
Who are they?

ISOC, Internal Security Operations Command, a nasty group with a nasty history.

interesting that action was expected of police sans batons against armed protesters .

it is the police's fault.
Now the army is left to pick up the pieces.
Who is happy now!

The game of chess is not over yet!

Well the Head of the BIB said they could not carry batons, only defensive shields? WTF???

Therefore they couldn't do anything and the army would be forced to act!

This would have been over in a few hrs if this was in the west.