The Reds to rally at least 4 times in October

**Tom Sawyer** · 10-10-2010, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Odd, a lot less than predicted.

I wonder if the recent bomb in Nonthaburi put a few folks off...?

Wonder all you like Mr Neutral.

**StrontiumDog** · 10-10-2010, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Odd, a lot less than predicted.

I wonder if the recent bomb in Nonthaburi put a few folks off...?

Wonder all you like Mr Neutral.

Thanks I will.

**Tom Sawyer** · 10-10-2010, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Red Shirts end Sunday demonstration without violence

Red Shirts end Sunday demonstration without violence

วันอาทิตย์ ที่ 10 ต.ค. 2553

I think that's Sombat in the middle - I hope this guy really emerges as a leader as I believe he's different to all the others as he was never an outright Thaksin supporter. He has many years as a NGO background not tied to the Hi-So like so many other NGO leaders are.. (though he's from a wealthy family I'll bet).

Let's see how long the amart put up with this guy.. I reckon he's more of a threat than some of the corrupted Red leaders, because he's representing the grass roots and their empowerment. (edit to say he's the guy in my avatar from a newspaper - though I'm getting bored with it)

**Butterfly** · 10-10-2010, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

So, it seemed like a fine rally, no problems - good.

Numbers? I thought that the police predicted 7-10k. How many folk were there? I think around the lower end of police estimates - 5-7k? Not sure.

Passed off without incident.

But the reds were suggesting 20,000 would go.

no doubt that with the on-going negotiation with Khun T, he might have started to "tone down" his financial rethoric, hence a lower number showing

but that doesn't mean anything, expect another 20,000 to show up as soon as Khun T is flashing those 500 THB notes again

**StrontiumDog** · 10-10-2010, 11:39 PM

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...f979b18cf3.6e1

Thai anti-government "Red Shirt" protesters gather around Democracy monument in Bangkok

'Red Shirts' rally in Bangkok
(AFP) – 5 hours ago

BANGKOK — About 6,000 "Red Shirt" protesters rallied in Bangkok Sunday to mark six months since a night of bloody clashes with the army, which left 25 people dead, during their two-month-long street protests.

Anti-government Red Shirts began with a Buddhist ceremony near the capital's Lumpini Park, before leaving to join fellow demonstrators near Democracy Monument, the main site of violence on April 10.

Police said an estimated 6,000 joined the non-violent rally, and more than 1,000 police were on hand to ensure security in the city, which has been rattled by a series of explosions since the protests ended in May.

The group, dressed in trademark red attire and carrying banners and flags, lay roses, flowers and pictures of those who died in the violence by the monument, where they were due to light candles before dispersing.
The Reds, mostly supporters of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a 2006 coup, took to the streets in mid-March demanding snap polls to replace the current government, which they say is undemocratic and elitist.

April 10 saw the first fatalities of the rally as troops attempted in vain to clear them from Bangkok's historic district.

The ensuing clashes were Thailand's worst political violence in almost two decades, killing 25 and wounding more than 800.

An army crackdown over a month later, on May 19, finally brought to an end the weeks of protests, during which clashes with the authorities ultimately left 91 people dead.

About 6,000 Reds, who are mainly poor and working class, gathered in Bangkok last month to mark four years since the coup that ousted Thaksin, and to commemorate those slain in the May crackdown.

The capital and three other provinces remain under emergency rule, which was introduced in early April in response to the mass anti-government rallies that peaked at 100,000 people.

Just hours after the decree was extended on Tuesday, four people were killed by a deadly blast at an apartment complex near Bangkok, which police said was a probably a bomb accidentally detonated while it was being assembled.

The government, which has stepped up security following a string of other minor blasts in Bangkok, was quick to blame the Red Shirts for the explosion.

The Reds deny any involvement in the unrest and have accused the authorities of a plot to justify tougher security powers.

Though no-one has been convicted, 19 senior Reds are currently in jail in Thailand on terrorism charges relating to the unrest during the protests, while others thought to have played key roles remain on the run.

**Keef** · 11-10-2010, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by Butterfly

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

So, it seemed like a fine rally, no problems - good.

Numbers? I thought that the police predicted 7-10k. How many folk were there? I think around the lower end of police estimates - 5-7k? Not sure.

Passed off without incident.

But the reds were suggesting 20,000 would go.

no doubt that with the on-going negotiation with Khun T, he might have started to "tone down" his financial rethoric, hence a lower number showing

but that doesn't mean anything, expect another 20,000 to show up as soon as Khun T is flashing those 500 THB notes again

Seems to be an obsession to play down the numbers of people attending red shirt rallies. Presumably to imply that a) the red shirts have lost support or b) the red shirts only turn up if they are paid, or both. You may remember this tactic was was employed at the last rally with laughably low estimates from CRES.

Compare and contrast with the 50,000 Pro monarchy supporters promised both in print and on TV at a rally organised by the Interior Minister to be held on the same day at Udon Thani as a counter demonstration. Funningly enough, there were no follow up reports of the rally, neither on TV, in the media or on the internet.

On October 7th PAD held a political rally, sorry, merit making ceremony in Bangkok to remember the events of two years ago. Similar follow up reports there i.e none, therefore no idea of numbers, apart from one spurious comment that there were more monks then protesters.

It seems as though enough people care that 93 people died in the April/May clashes (and no I am not claiming that all 93 were red shirt supporters, they were 93 people who deserve at least an honest attempt to explain how and why they died and not just be forgotten about) and these rallies are an attempt to keep that fact in peoples minds, not just thinking about how great it is to be having a new ice rink and a Krispy Kreme franchise opening up.

**StrontiumDog** · 11-10-2010, 09:28 AM

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...e-of-detainees

Red shirts call for release of detainees

Motor rally marks clash anniversary

Published: 11/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Red shirt demonstrators have used a motor rally around Bangkok to call for the release of almost 300 protesters who have been arrested and detained under the emergency decree over the past six months.

Redshirts remember April horror About 5,000 red shirt supporters join a candle-lit ceremony yesterday evening at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Klang Avenue. The activity was held to remember the April 10 clashes six months ago between red shirt demonstrators and government forces. THITI WANNAMONTHA

About 1,000 red shirt members yesterday joined the rally to remember the April 10 clashes six months ago between red shirt demonstrators and government forces at Khok Wua intersection. Twenty-six people were killed and over 800 were injured in the clash.

Police arrested red shirt supporters on April 10 and many more in rioting on May 19 when the red shirt rally in Bangkok was brought to an end.

They were charged with breaching the emergency decree and with terrorism, said Chaiwat Trakarnratsanti, coordinator of the Progressive Democracy Group (PDG), which organised yesterday's rally.

"We want the government to release all red shirt detainees immediately because they are not terrorists," Mr Chaiwat said.

"They are innocent civilians who just wanted to express their political stance."

The red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship set up camp in Bangkok's streets from March 12 to May 19 to demand that the Abhisit Vejjajiva government dissolve the House and call a general election.

The protest turned violent a second time after government forces reclaimed the main demonstration site in the Ratchaprasong area on May 19, bringing an end to the 67-day rally.

Clashes over the period claimed 92 lives and left 1,400 people injured.

The red shirts have been gathering every Sunday in Bangkok and other provinces since to commemorate the clashes.

A woman in her 40s who supports the red shirts said yesterday she and her friends joined the weekly gatherings because the government was treating red shirt supporters unfairly.

State agencies have closed red shirt websites for alleged violations of the Computer Crime Act, she said.

The PDG, an alliance of businessmen and academics, said about 300 red shirt supporters were being held in prisons nationwide.

The group said it would organise activities and gatherings to demand justice for families of the red shirt victims and to call for the release of all red shirt detainees.

Hundreds of uniformed and plain-clothed police were deployed at the rally sites yesterday.

The red shirts gathered at Lumpini Park in the morning to make merit for those who died in the April-May clashes.

They later moved to nearby Ratchaprasong intersection, where the motor rally was launched.

The motor procession moved from Ratchaprasong to Pratunam, Din Daeng, the Victory Monument, Phetchaburi intersection, Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue and finished at Khok Wua intersection.

Red shirt supporters lighted red candles and released lanterns into the sky to mourn those who died.

Traffic lanes around the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue were blocked for about an hour amid tight security.

Large crowds turned out.

Sombat Boonngarm-anong, another red shirt leader who organised the candle ceremony, demanded Prime Minister Abhisit apologise to relatives of red shirts who lost loved ones in the clashes.

"People must be held responsible for the violence," Mr Sombat said.

**StrontiumDog** · 11-10-2010, 11:36 PM

Red Australia organized a meeting on the 10 10 10 in Sydney [at]666

Ratchaprasong News's Photos | Facebook

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