ApocalypseNigh?:PAD'sArmy Vs DAAD'sArmy

[GWR]

Watch this space for any untoward incidents that might occur as a result of the following warning by PM Samak Sundaravej. Please feel free to add your own observations and analyses of events in the interim:

Samak vows to use force to end protest
By The Nation

Tension heightened at the rally ground of the People's Alliance for Democracy at the Makkhawan Bridge after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej announced on TV Saturday that the government may use force to end the demonstration.

Samak made the announcement on NBT Channel in a special live broadcast at 8:50 am.

"I'll take action to remove them from the area. They have been accumulating criminals there. You, all, [PAD leaders] will have to take responsibility for what you have done. I will not tolerate it and police and soldiers will not tolerate it either," Samak said on TV.

Samak urged the public not to support the rally.

"Those who join the rally must pull out and I don't know who the five PAD leaders are," Samak said.

"I must speak today instead of speaking during my programme tomorrow because I'll go for a break with them today.

"I will not allow you to this because the country belongs to me and all people."

Samak made the urgent announcement after the PAD announced late Friday night that it had upgraded its goal from opposing charter amendments to campaigning to oust the Samak government.

The PAD said it had to campaign for Samak government's ouster because it regarded the government as being a puppet of the Thaksin regime.

Police apparently briefed up its forces at the bridge while the PAD leaders announced to the demonstrators to get prepared for resisting a possible crackdown.

A PAD leader advised protesters to arm themselves with bags of human excrement and urine to fight off police.

Following Samak's announcement, police briefly scuttled with protesters when they tried to prevent a group of people from joining the rally. They gave in after some 200 protesters came to confront them at the police line.

Samak said the demonstrations at bridge had caused severe damages to the country.

He blamed the PAD for trying to undermine the attempts of his elected government to solve the country's problems.

He said his elected government came to office by contesting the election under the democratic rules and it assumed the office during the time of the economic crisis.

He said he had done a lot as the prime minister and visited several countries but the government critics still accused his government of not doing anything.

Samak said the measures to solve the country's problems were going well until the PAD came out to protest against the plan to amend the Constitution.

"But where were these people when the constitution was abolished?" Samak asked emotionally.

"Now, they seized roads and marched to surround Government House and embarrassed the country in the eyes of the International Community. They play it hard and try to find fault with me to pressure me to leave office. When they could not find issues to attack me, they cited the old issues during the time of the Thaksin government."

He said the protesters were illegally blocking the roads and he thought the protesters were trying to incite the military to stage another coup.

"But the prime minister who is called Samak is also the defence minister. I work with the military commanders and I have good understanding with them … All people know me so who will stage a coup against me?" Samak said.

Samak said the protesters were building up forces like an army.

He said the protesters used rude and abuses to attack the government so he would no longer tolerate the PAD-led protesters.

"As the prime minister, I cannot sit idly by. I am not that good to stand being attacked that severely. They linked me to [former] prime minister Thaksin [Shinawatra] and said I am Thaksin's puppet and is about to turn the country into a republic. … What evidences they have to say that I am changing the country to a republic?" Samak said.

He said he had learnt that the protesters armed themselves with baseball clubs. "I don't know whom they will fight with."

"The country needs peace but you, the five PAD leaders, caused disturbances and damages. You have created deep wounds to the country during the past seven days.

He said the five PAD leaders have caused a lot of problems to the country.

"You can demonstrate but don't cause hardship to the people and do not challenge the government," Samak said.

While Samak was speaking on air, the demonstration site at the Makkahwan Bridge erupted in boos and jeers.

The protesters booed now and them while they were listening to Samak through loudspeakers.

After Samak finished his special programme, the PAD leaders vowed to stay put. They vowed to regroup and stage another rally if the demonstration was broken up.

Chamlong Srimuang, a PAD leader, also urged the protesters to carry digital cameras and take photos of police if they use force to try to end the rally.

Chamlong also urged protesters to ask questions with police what they were doing.

Chamlong said pictures and replies from police could be used as evidences for taking legal action against them later.

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Boonsang vows to follow PM's orders
By The Nation
Supreme Commander Gen Boonsang Niempradit said Saturday he will have to do what Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej orders.


However he dismissed earlier reports that forces were prepared to disperse protesters rallying at Makawan Rangsan Bridge.

"It is duties of an officer to follow what PM, who is also defence minister, will order. However there is no preparation of forces yet," the general said.

Samak has threatened to use forces to end the protest led by People's Alliance for Democracy at the Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge.

He made the announcement on NBT Channel in a special live broadcast at 8:50 am.

"I'll take action to remove them from the area. They have been accumulating criminals there. You, all, [PAD leaders] will have to take responsibility for what you have done. I will not tolerate it and police and soldiers will not tolerate it either," Samak said on TV.

Samak warned the public not to support the rally.

"Those who join the rally must pull out and I don't know who the five PAD leaders are," Samak said.

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Urgent: Metropolitan police chief says protesters to be dispersed today

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Assawin Kwanmuang said the protest at the Makkhawan Bridge would be dispersed within Saturday.

He said he could not specify the timing of the operation to use force to end the rally.

He was speaking to reporters at 2 pm before attending a meeting of senior police officers at the Metropolitan Police head office.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30074470

PM issues ultimatum

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Saturday ordered the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to end their street protest by nightfall because it is blocking normal movement. The supreme commander said troops have not been ordered to use force - yet.

Core leaders of the protest movement were meeting Saturday afternoon to decide their next steps. They announced on Friday they would continue their protest in order to topple the government. Several thousand demonstrators remained at the protest site.

In a nationally televised speech on Saturday morning, Mr Samak said the week-long protest had created troubles for other people, including blocking traffic.

Demonstrators must leave the area "within today", said Mr Samak, and police and soldiers were on standby to act if needed. He said there was no question he would yield to protesters' demands to step down.

Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit told reporters on Saturday morning that he had not ordered troops to prepare to use force to disperse the PAD protest. He said he has not discussed the situation with Mr Samak directly, but that he has been monitoring news about the rally closely.

He said soldiers have the duty to follow orders, and that they will have to follow the premier's order if he gives one.

The PAD had earlier demanded the impeachment of government MPs and senators who had endorsed the government's plan to amend the 2007 constitution.

The government's motion to amend the charter, written by military-appointed legal and constitutional experts, was automatically dropped on Friday after more senators withdrew their support for the charter rewrite motion, and automaticatically lost legal status.

Some members of the People Power Party, led by Mr Samak, vowed to try to would renew the bid to rewrite the charter and collect signatures of supporting MPs later.

The PAD protesters and supporters have demanded that the coalition government resign because it is nothing but a puppet government under the direction of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

They also said they would move the site of protest - now near the UN building in the old area of Bangkok - to nearby Government House. (BangkokPost.com, TNA)

http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstorie....php?id=127919

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More than 200 riot police stationed at Education Ministry

(BangkokPost.com) - More than 200 riot police arrived at the Ratchadamnoen Venue on Saturday afternoon to wait for further order from their superiors.

The police, all armed, came on 10 buses and stationed in front of the Education Ministry at 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, more than 100 supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) formed line around the area of the protest to guard the venue.

They reportedly have shields made of wood in their hands.

Five PAD core leaders announced that they are ready to be arrested but the rallies would continue.

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[GWR]

The 5 PAD leaders might just decide to give themselves up to the police, but the PAD has apparently chosen replacement leaders already.

Police to ask protesters to move to new location

Police will try to ask protesters to move to a new location and try their best not to use force to disperse the rally, Channel 7 reported.

The station said the top police officers resolved to talk to the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy to change the rally location intead of using force against the protesters.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30074474

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Police offer to help PAD relocate rally site


Deputy police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Surapol Thuanthong said police were talking to the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy to help them relocate to a new rally site.

Surapol said police offered to help them move the stage and al belongings of the protesters to a new site of their choice.

He said the PAD could continue their rally at the People's Ground at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's head office, Chatuchak Park or Lumpini Park.

The spokesman said police would not use force against the protesters because police did not regard them as criminals.

However, if the negotiation fails to come up with an agreement and the protest caused damages to other people, it would be up to the prime minister to decide whether to order police to use force, Surapol said.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30074475

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Line of confrontation

(BangkokPost.com)
Hundreds of riot police and anti-government protesters faced off across a narrow no-man's land in the Saturday night rain, as demonstrators defied an order from Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to end their week-long street protest.

About 1,200 riot police assembled at the demonstration site at the Makawan Rangsit Bridge. As darkness fell, a line of helmeted police armed with truncheons and shields stood at a barricade placed across the width of the bridge, site of murderous violence in the 1992 pro-democracy uprising.

A line of protesters with homemade plywood shields faced them from behind a barrier formed from chained traffic fences about five metres away.

The anti-government protest, complete with throwback cries of "Samak ok pai" (Samak Get Out!) continued just behind the protesters' skirmish line.

Despite the possible violence, the protest scene was remarkably calm.

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niumpradit told reporters that Mr Samak has yet to issue an order mobilising soldiers, but that the military would comply if an order is given.

"I am convinced that the prime minister will use only police forces. He will only use the military if the situation is very critical, because in most cases the result is tragic," he said.

A police official said 1,000 reinforcements from nearby provinces were expected to arrive in Bangkok by midnight.

In a Saturday morning speech, Mr Samak ordered the demonstration to break up by nightfall. He said the protest was interfering with movement by residents and business.

Demonstrators, under the banner of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) defied the order, and said they would continue until his government was toppled.

"I will not yield to your demand," Mr Samak said in a televised speech early Saturday.

"I have prepared police and military forces. You must find another place to rally that will not affect or violate other people's rights," he said, stressing that obstructing traffic was illegal.

"Who do you want to stage a coup this time? If you want to fight, we fight in parliament," Mr Samak said.

The protest group's leader, media baron Sondhi Limthongkul, vowed to defy the dispersal order.

"PAD will not abandon any of you. I will not run away from death. I want to tell you that whatever happens to me, please take revenge for me," Sondhi told the cheering crowd.

"If government decides to use force to disperse the protest, then we have to defend ourselves and we are ready," PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila told reporters.

An aide to the prime minister, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency that the prime minister would consider declaring a state of emergency if the situation spun out of control. "If lenient measures fail to break up the rally, an emergency decree would be a last resort," AFP quoted the unnamed aide as saying.

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43 state enterprises join anti-PM rally; threaten electricity, water cuts

BANGKOK, June 17 (TNA) - Reiterating that they would continue to provide moral support to the ongoing marathon rally against the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in central Bangkok, leaders of 43 state-owned and operated enterprises on Tuesday pledged to adopt latest tactics by cutting off electricity, water and allowing the public to travel at no cost on trains and buses.

In a move seen as greatly increasing political 'temperature' and pressure by directly challenging the four-month-old government, leaders of the 43 state enterprises said they would continue to cooperate with the anti-government rally organised by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and that they were prepared to adopt the PAD's "civil disobedience" strategy.

The PAD has been demonstrating near the gates of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the UN's regional headquarters, since May 25, demanding that Mr. Samak to leave his post.

Sathit Kaew-wan, secretary-general of the Confederation of State Enterprises Labour Union, said his organisation has decided to join the PAD rally, ready to implement its "civil disobedience" programme and that its members are awaiting an instruction of PAD core leaders.

The strategy, said Mr. Sathit, involves allowing people to travel on state-run trains and buses operated by Bangkok Mass Transit Authority at no cost and cutting off electricity supply to government agencies.

A deputy labour union chairman of the government-run Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) said the civil disobedience would start at the Interior Ministry because it has not paid electricity bills for several months. At present the ministry owes more than Bt13 million to the MEA.

The electricity authority wrote to the ministry on June 11, asking that it settle the bills quickly but there is no response so far.

Mr. Sathit said the union members would stop their work immediately if the government uses force in breaking up the PAD rally.

The government has failed to achieve its task of administering the country, especially in regard to solving the current rising cost of living, he said. (TNA)

Political News : Last Update : 18:20:58 17 June 2008 (GMT+7:00)

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=4797

[GWR]

[Photo: MCOT]

Today's Top Stories
On to Government House

Thousands of protesters poured through leaky police cordons on Friday afternoon and began to close their own siege of Government House.

The demonstrators of the People's Alliance for Democracy outwitted almost all police blockades to force their way to Government House.

At Misakawan intersection, the last police blockade, police trucks in the middle of Phitsanulok Road were unable to block protesters.

Minor skirmishes were reported at some of the police cordons, and seven policemen were injured as protesters poured past them.

Within an hour of the beginning of the protest march, (PAD) core leaders Sondhi Limthongkul and Somkiat Pongpaiboon joined colleague Chamlong Srimuang at the Nang Lerng intersection near the Royal Turf Club on Phitsanuloke Road on their way to Government House.

Police won a Phyrric victory: PAD loudspeaker trucks were not able to pass police blockades with the protesters.

Police fought with the leading edge of a crowd of protesters, while other PAD supporters simply ran past the ineffective police lines and approached Government House. Spokesmen said seven policemen suffered injuries in the clashes.

Protesters sat down in the middle of the road within sight of the prime minister's office. They did not actually enter Government House, and did not appear to try.

All staff at Government House were sent home early on Friday afternoon. Schools in the area were ordered closed on Thursday in case of violence.

Police had water cannons and tear gas but did not use them. Police officers said they would not use violent means to disperse the demonstrators, who outwitted them easily.

A PAD leader said he expected 400,000 demonstrators by Friday afternoon. An estimated 10,000 showed up.

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PM calls urgent meeting with security chiefs

(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej called an urgent meeting with National Police chief and the heads of the armed forces on Friday afternoon at the Army Club as supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) reached Government House.

Presumably, the meeting was held to discuss the PAD rallies and assess the situation, but there was no official announcement.

Army chief Anupong Paochinda earlier said the army would keep its distance and that political problems should be resolved through political means.

The protesters demand that Mr Samak and cabinet members step down from office.

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_....php?id=128377

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Spokesman: PM not to use force against protesters

(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will not use force against supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who gathered in front of the Government House to demand the ouster of the premier and cabinet ministers, deputy government spokesman Nattawut Saikua said Friday afternoon.

He also said that Mr Samak vowed to continue to administer the country, and will protect the sovereignty of the people.

Mr Samak himself escaped an army of reporters who were waiting to interview him at the Army Club, where he called an urgent meeting with chiefs of armed forces and national police chief.

He reportedly switched to a new car to avoid being followed by reporters.

First Army Commander Prayuth Chan-ocha said after the meeting that it was aimed at informing the premier about the rallies, and that Mr Samak did not give any special orders.

"Nothing much," he said. "We just reported him about current situation."

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Chavalit suggests PM to resign to end rifts


(BangkokPost.com) - Former premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh suggested three options for the government to end political confrontation, and one of them is for Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign.

Gen Chavalit, speaking at a seminar in Khon Kaen, said the other options are for Mr Samak to dissolve the parliament to allow a new election, or for the national government to be set up.

He also said that the rallies of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) are done following the democratic process, and that they could lead to make-or-break situation.

Without a talk between the government and the PAD, military coup would be the only way to end ongoing rifts, he said.

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PAD blocks entire Rajdamnoen Road

The People's Alliance for Democracy Friday morning blocked all lanes of Rajdamnone Avenue instead of allowing traffic flow on the rightmost lane.

They blocked the entire road with barbed wife and had a dozen of guards block the road.

Usually, the PAD allowed vehicles to use the rightmost lane from 8 am to 5:30 pm before blocking the entire road.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30078976

Surely an oportunity for DAAD's Army to deploy Da Bangalore Torpedo!

Some 5,000 PAD-led protesters rally in front of PTT head office

About 5,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy rally in front of the head office of PTT Plc Friday morning.

The protesters gathered there at about 9 am.

Three PAD co-leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart Pongpaibool, arrived at the rally site at 10:30 am.

The protesters demanded the government to delist PTT and seize its back as a state enterprise.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30078975


[Photo: MCOT English News - See report below from The Nation below.]

Some 10,000 people rally in support of Sondhi

Traffic on the Sri Ayudhaya Road came to a standstill Thursday morning when some 10,000 rallied in front of the Metropolitan Police head office in support of Sondhi Limthongkul.

The people began rallying there since 8 am.

Sondhi, a co-leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy, surrendered at the Metropolitan Police head office at 9 am to face lese majesty charge.

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/brea...ewsid=30078870