PM narrowly avoids protesters' attack / Furious UDD supporters vow to `fight to the death'12/04/2009
Bangkok Post Reporters
Military and police forces were on alert Sunday night as the government stood firm behind its order for rioters to clear the streets or face harsher measures under a state of emergency.
Armed soldiers supported by armoured personnel carriers and police in riot gear were deployed across the city on Sunday as members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship vowed to fight to the death to overthrow the Democrat-led government.
The government declared a state of emergency over Bangkok and surrounding provinces after red shirt protesters went on a rampage, attacking senior government officials, bodyguards and police.
The prime minister narrowly escaped himself after protesters stormed the Interior Ministry where he had just addressed the nation on television.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned in his television address that the red shirts had crossed the line and this required a firm response.
"I want to tell protesters that you have no right to break the law or to restrict other people's rights," Mr Abhisit said. "Otherwise the government must implement further measures under the state of emergency.
"I ask the public to remain calm. I'm confident the government will restore normalcy to our country."
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban also appeared on television, telling soldiers and police to strictly enforce the law against the protesters.
"I am now in charge," he said. "I will take full responsibility for your actions in enforcing the law to restore peace."
The trouble began when the demonstrators blocked traffic in front of the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek road and the Royal Thai Police Office on Rama I road to demand the release of a key UDD leader, Arisman Pongruangrong, who was arrested at his home yesterday morning.
Bands of red shirt protesters, angered by the arrest, held rallies in several areas of the capital to demand his release.
The government replied by declaring a state of emergency over Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya.
About a thousand red shirts responded by surrounding the Interior Ministry in a bid to capture Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep who used the venue to make their televised announcements.
The two narrowly escaped the protesters who stormed into the ministry compound and smashed the prime minister's limousine and other cars with wooden sticks and pavement slabs.
They believed the leaders were in the vehicles The attack caused serious damage to the vehicles but the prime minister and Mr Suthep managed to slip out of the compound in a separate car unharmed.
A gunshot was heard as the crowds were trying tried to stop the motorcade. The prime minister's limousine was able to get away but a station wagon belonging to his bodyguard was stopped and smashed.
One of the prime minister's security guards and a police officer were assaulted and taken to the red shirts' demonstration site at Government House.
A dozen other people including red shirt protesters were also injured in the brief clash.
The prime minister's guard and the policeman were locked in a container close to the UDD stage at Government House before being given first aid and released.
Also attacked and injured was the prime minister's secretary-general, Nibhon Phromphan.
Mr Nibhon was taken to hospital after red shirt protesters chased his car as it was about to leave a parking building inside the Interior Ministry compound.
They dragged him from the car and beat him. His driver was also injured.
After leaving the Interior Ministry, Mr Abhisit was reached by a reporter on the telephone.
"I am safe and unhurt but my people were arrested," the prime minister said. "The gunshot was an accident ... a guard's gun was being snatched and it went off accidentally. We did not mean to fire at people."
Despite the possibility the army and police might use force to disperse them, demonstrators continued to join the UDD rally at Government House and separate rallies at intersections throughout late yesterday.
Some rioters seized at least two armoured personnel carriers from troops who were sent to guard public areas, while others seized public buses to set up road blockades.
More road blocks were also reported at key intersections around the main rally ground as night fell, in open defiance of the government's order for the protesters to disperse.
The demonstrators' spirits were kept high by UDD leaders' speeches and phone-in messages from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
In one phone-in, Thaksin said he would return to Thailand if authorities dispersed his supporters using violence.
Thaksin said he was closely monitoring the state of emergency.
"I will monitor the situation and if necessary I will return to Thailand and lead a long march of people. I will not allow them [authorities] to use force," Thaksin said.
Armed soldiers supported by armoured personnel carriers and police in riot gear were deployed across the city on Sunday as members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship vowed to fight to the death to overthrow the Democrat-led government.
The government declared a state of emergency over Bangkok and surrounding provinces after red shirt protesters went on a rampage, attacking senior government officials, bodyguards and police.
The prime minister narrowly escaped himself after protesters stormed the Interior Ministry where he had just addressed the nation on television.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva warned in his television address that the red shirts had crossed the line and this required a firm response.
"I want to tell protesters that you have no right to break the law or to restrict other people's rights," Mr Abhisit said. "Otherwise the government must implement further measures under the state of emergency.
"I ask the public to remain calm. I'm confident the government will restore normalcy to our country."
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban also appeared on television, telling soldiers and police to strictly enforce the law against the protesters.
"I am now in charge," he said. "I will take full responsibility for your actions in enforcing the law to restore peace."
The trouble began when the demonstrators blocked traffic in front of the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek road and the Royal Thai Police Office on Rama I road to demand the release of a key UDD leader, Arisman Pongruangrong, who was arrested at his home yesterday morning.
Bands of red shirt protesters, angered by the arrest, held rallies in several areas of the capital to demand his release.
The government replied by declaring a state of emergency over Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya.
About a thousand red shirts responded by surrounding the Interior Ministry in a bid to capture Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep who used the venue to make their televised announcements.
The two narrowly escaped the protesters who stormed into the ministry compound and smashed the prime minister's limousine and other cars with wooden sticks and pavement slabs.
They believed the leaders were in the vehicles The attack caused serious damage to the vehicles but the prime minister and Mr Suthep managed to slip out of the compound in a separate car unharmed.
A gunshot was heard as the crowds were trying tried to stop the motorcade. The prime minister's limousine was able to get away but a station wagon belonging to his bodyguard was stopped and smashed.
One of the prime minister's security guards and a police officer were assaulted and taken to the red shirts' demonstration site at Government House.
A dozen other people including red shirt protesters were also injured in the brief clash.
The prime minister's guard and the policeman were locked in a container close to the UDD stage at Government House before being given first aid and released.
Also attacked and injured was the prime minister's secretary-general, Nibhon Phromphan.
Mr Nibhon was taken to hospital after red shirt protesters chased his car as it was about to leave a parking building inside the Interior Ministry compound.
They dragged him from the car and beat him. His driver was also injured.
After leaving the Interior Ministry, Mr Abhisit was reached by a reporter on the telephone.
"I am safe and unhurt but my people were arrested," the prime minister said. "The gunshot was an accident ... a guard's gun was being snatched and it went off accidentally. We did not mean to fire at people."
Despite the possibility the army and police might use force to disperse them, demonstrators continued to join the UDD rally at Government House and separate rallies at intersections throughout late yesterday.
Some rioters seized at least two armoured personnel carriers from troops who were sent to guard public areas, while others seized public buses to set up road blockades.
More road blocks were also reported at key intersections around the main rally ground as night fell, in open defiance of the government's order for the protesters to disperse.
The demonstrators' spirits were kept high by UDD leaders' speeches and phone-in messages from former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
In one phone-in, Thaksin said he would return to Thailand if authorities dispersed his supporters using violence.
Thaksin said he was closely monitoring the state of emergency.
"I will monitor the situation and if necessary I will return to Thailand and lead a long march of people. I will not allow them [authorities] to use force," Thaksin said.
25 comments:
នេះគឺជាលទ្ធផលដែលពួកចោរឈ្លានពានទទួលកម្មពៀរដែលពួកវាបានសាង ធ្វើបាបប្រជាជនខ្មែរ ឈ្លានពានទឹកដីខ្មែរ ។ សូមព្រលឹងដូនតាខ្មែរជួយថែរក្សាការពារទឹកដីខ្មែរ និងប្រជាជនខ្មែរអោយជួបតែសេចក្តីសុខ ជាពិសេសកងទ័ពនៅជួរមុខអោយឈ្នះអស់សត្រូវឈ្លានពាន ។ សូមអោយបារមីស្តេចនាគថែរក្សាប្រាសាទព្រះវិហារកំចាត់ចោរសៀមឈ្លានពាន ។
បាងកករលំ ភ្នំពេញរលាយ(តែពួក អាហ៊ុន សែន) បាត់ដំបងខ្ចាត់ខ្ចាយ សប្បាយ អង្គរវត្ត
Come on our beloved Khmer, learning from the red shirt.
ជនជាតិខ្មែរគឺជាជនជាតិមួយដែលមានដើមកំណើតចេញពីអំបូរខ្មែរមន ដែលអរិយធម៌ខ្ពង់ខ្ពស់ ថ្លៃថ្នូរ ដូច្នេះយើងទាំងអស់គ្នាជាកូនចៅជំនាន់ក្រោយត្រូវរក្សាភាពថ្លៃថ្នូរនេះ ទាំងការនិយាយស្តី និងការបញ្ចេញយោបល់ ។ សូមអោយព្រលឹងមេទ័ពឌីកំចាត់ចោរសៀមឈ្លានពាន ៕
Learning from Red-Shirt? In siam you can but in Cambodia cannot. I used to do like in 98. I quarantee in Cambodia 24 hours you will be in the crocodile's mouth.
Khluy Tip!(Magic flute)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8LK2PRDyoo&feature=rec-HM-r2
3:53 PM
Congratulation to your comment. Just too bad, in the Kingdom of Cambodia don't have million of crocodile. Yourself have to be careful, because in your country have a lot of crocodiles.
It is citizen right to express their political view. At this moment, Thailand Government cannot use any force to suppress their people at all. If there is a death caused by the crackdown from the government, The Prime Minister will face a heavy price for himself. The Prime Minister in THailand has no choice but to declare snap election so that all the Red can go back to their home and do their private work again. Even in Cambodia, if there is a population up rising like this, Hun sen will not dare to crackdown like what he has done in 1998 at all. The internation criminal court will look at the killers for sure. Cambodia has signed in as a signatory of the court, therefore the government shouldn't look lightly at all. Any killing from 2002, the Prime Minister will be responsible. Areak Prey
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Theoretical would say yes, but in the practical ways will be always different.
It is just like a theatre'scences, in and out, how many more times, but it will come to an end at some point. I hope the majority will win this game. This is what the result they dare touch Preah Vihear, khmer temple and it surrounding territory, damn you chor siam, god punish you. Want to be in peace, back off the greedy tongue of you from khmer land. God bless Cambodia!
Why are you thinking, the Red Shirt movement is good for Cambodia ?
Remembered we not all survived the Khmer Rouge regime, but we are happy as we are. We have lost more than Thai and destroyed our own Country during the last 30 years just for nothing. We Khmer don't want to wast our time anymore.
ស្តាយណាស់ពួកពលពតមិនគួរទុក្ខអាមួយសរសេរ
នៅម់ោង៣,៣១PMឲ្យមានជីវិតសោះ។ពីព្រោះពួក
ទាំងអស់ហ្នឹងមិនដែលគិតថាពួកវាមានម៉ែឪទេ
ពួកវាគិតដួចពួកបស្ជិមប្រទេសអញ្ចឹងឲ្យតែដល់
អាយុ១៨ភ្លាមចាកចេញពីម៉ែឪហើយពុំគិតថាពួកគេ
មានម៉ែឪទេ។បើមនុស្សដួចលោកម្នាក់បានសរសេរ
នៅម៉ោង៣*៣១រសៀលមិនដែលគិតអំពីក្រុមគ្រូសារឲ្យបានល្អទេគឺពួកគេចេះតែច្រណែនគ្នាទៅ
វិញទៅមកដោយពុំគិតថាបងប្អូនកូនចៅទេ។
I am also a KHmer, but i feel so shame to see Khmer people laugh and mock at other nation while they are in trouble. We always clam that we were a civilized people and practice Budhist, but from what you folk are doing by insulted them when they are in big trouble, are u deserved to say Khmer people are good people? It is political problem, remember when we were in trouble we also need emphasity from the others.
8:07 pm, where have you been? Siem have been laughing at Khmer for hundreds of years now and it is time for us to return the favor. Do you really think Siem or Youn give a shit about you? 1.7 million killed and they were just waiting for us to deminish all together. 1979 at the Siem's border, thousand of Khmers had been killed, raped, and tortured by the Siem soldiers...were you there? If not, you need to shut the fuck up and stop pretending that you are some kind of Buddha...you freaken idiot.
Thing will change when the right time comes. To have a dead idea about political situations, the ones like in Cambodia, is so discourageous and hopeless.
Demonstration in Thailand proved that Democracy is deeply rooted in Thailand and can't just uproot it.Prime minister THAKSIN SINAWATRA was democratically elected by his people, and somehow the military and the elites group thought that he was not good enough so they started a coup to remove him.To the eyes of the world ,the take over by the military or by force is undemocratic and unjust ,that's why Thailand end up like it is now.Thai people have proved to the world that,IF THERE IS NO JUSTICE ,THERE IS NO PEACE.One remarkable observation was,when the yellow shirts were on the rampage,the RED SHIRTS were on the sidelined and vice versa.This alone can prevent a lots of bloodshed between the two groups.Wonderful.
In Cambodia ,even monks went at each others like animals.Very shameful.
I bet the next time if there is a protest in Cambodia I'm sure Cambodian will march on HUN SEN for sure. Cause the steam from Thailand will be given the courage to the Khmer protesters in the future.
I can see clearly and predict this will soon happen in Cambodia as well if top CPP keeps stealing lands from the poor.
KhmerPP,
Hun Sen and the CPP elite should take this as a warning. You cannot suck the blood of the people forever!
This is the Time of Bangkok's Fallen is Coming.
8:07PM
You're one of a stupid Cambodian people who don't know Youn and Siem are trying to rob your house piece by piece.
I'm totally agreed with 10:04PM.
Youn and Siem leaders are smarter than our leaders. They robbed us every day and Khmer people still enjoy their day without complaint. Youn Hanoi could do anything they want in Srok Khmer, but Khmer couldn't do anything in Srok Youn. They control us.
Siem see the oppotunity that Youn does to Khmer everyday so they want to apply that practice too by sending their black uniform Siem thiefs to Khmer land. They want to rob Khmer land the way Hanoi does. Why?? Because they see Hun Zen doesn't do anything to Youn. Even in speech, Khmer leaders are not dare to talk bad about Hanoi.
Youn and Siem people are laughing at us for 30 years plus; now it's time for us to sit down and laugh at them.
10:04PM and 12:31 AM: I have nothing to say more, coz i dont wanna continue use slang words in here, it is to express the point of view, why need to use slang words? Dont u think of the right of expression? Just my last words: If u keep revenging each other, when will be the peace? Do not think too much about our great history, it is the past, we should learn from our mistake in the past then mend the new way for the future. In this 21th century, using war to solve the problem is only for barbarian. We should looking forward to develop our country economically rather than fight the others. Sorry if i offense u folks, but it is just my personal point of view, like it or not, it is ur right, but i have right to express my idea as most of KI-Media's fans dream of to have a right to do so.
10:04PM and 12:31 AM: I have nothing to say more, coz i dont wanna continue use slang words in here, it is to express the point of view, why need to use slang words? Dont u think of the right of expression? Just my last words: If u keep revenging each other, when will be the peace? Do not think too much about our great history, it is the past, we should learn from our mistake in the past then mend the new way for the future. In this 21th century, using war to solve the problem is only for barbarian. We should looking forward to develop our country economically rather than fight the others. Sorry if i offense u folks, but it is just my personal point of view, like it or not, it is ur right, but i have right to express my idea as most of KI-Media's fans dream of to have a right to do so.
10:04PM and 12:31 AM: I have nothing to say more, coz i dont wanna continue use slang words in here, it is to express the point of view, why need to use slang words? Dont u think of the right of expression? Just my last words: If u keep revenging each other, when will be the peace? Do not think too much about our great history, it is the past, we should learn from our mistake in the past then mend the new way for the future. In this 21th century, using war to solve the problem is only for barbarian. We should looking forward to develop our country economically rather than fight the others. Sorry if i offense u folks, but it is just my personal point of view, like it or not, it is ur right, but i have right to express my idea as most of KI-Media's fans dream of to have a right to do so.
Pai pai Thai Deng!
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