The government cancelled its ultimatum for red-shirt protesters to clear central Bangkok by 3pm, after at least 5,000 people defied the order - but said there will be no talks until the rally ends. (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)17/05/2010
Bangkok Post
Several thousand of protesters, including women and children, remained at the Ratchaprasong rally site on Monday evening, defying the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation's order that they leave by 3pm or face two-years imprisonment.
There were still about 5,000 protesters at the Ratchaprasong rally site when the 3pm deadline passed, police spokesman Maj-Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said.
Shortly after 2pm, military helicopters dropped leaflets on the encampment, urging the protesters to leave immediately. This angered the protesters, who shot homemade rockets at them.
“Some protesters received distorted information,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on the Thai PBS television network. “We need to communicate with them clearly. It will take time.” There was no word on when the ultimatum extension would end.
According to television reports, a telephone call from Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister's secretary-general, to red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua prompted the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders to hold an urgent meeting, which began shortly after the 3pm deadline.
On receiving the call from Mr Korbsak, UDD leaders went inside a shipping container office for a meeting.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation would hold a meeting at 5pm to discuss steps to be taken to retake the occupied area after the 3pm deadline.
He declined to go into detail, saying only that priority would be given to evacuating children and the elderly from the rally site.
Mr Panitan said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was still in high spirits and determined to overcome all problems.
Earlier the day, UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said red leaders were ready to call protesters back to the Ratchaprasong rally site and begin dialogue with the government if troops stop firing at protesters.
Protest leaders are willing to negotiate with the government without pre-conditions if Mr Abhisit orders the removal of troops stationed around the rally site in Bangkok. The offer was aimed at reducing the loss of lives, he said.
The government would not respond to the UDD's call for talks until the UDD ends the protest rally, government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said.
Mr Panitan said UDD leaders should first show sincerity by ending their rally, ceasing attacks on government security forces and stopping all riotous acts.
If the UDD did this, the government would reactivate its reconciliation plan, he said.
In the morning, two red-shirt guards were arrested in Ratchathewi area with a large quantity of weapons, Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont said at a press conference.
Pol Lt-Gen Santhan identified the two as Prasong Manee-in, 55, of Bangkok's Lat Phrao district, and Kowit Yaemprasert, 55, from Pathum Thani province.
They were arrested when Mr Prason was driving a pick-up truck past a military checkpoint in Soi Phaya Nak near the Asia Hotel.
Soldiers found in the truck about 60 items including knives, axes, iron bars, bottle bombs, ping pong bombs, large firecrackers, communications radios, and ID cards of UDD guards.
Mr Prasong said he was formerly a soldier of the 3rd Cavalry Battalion and then a construction worker before joining the UDD rally, where he met Mr Kowit.
He said he was not aware the seized items were loaded onto his truck.
The number of casualties from the clashes between government forces and UDD protesters between May 14 and 17 was now 35 killed and 252 injured, the Emegency Medical Centre or Erawan Centre said in the morning.
The death toll went up because one of the injured, Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng, died from his head wound on Monday morning.
Of the 242 injured, there are six foreigners - one each from Canada, Poland, Burma, Liberia, Italy and New Zealand.
There were still about 5,000 protesters at the Ratchaprasong rally site when the 3pm deadline passed, police spokesman Maj-Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said.
Shortly after 2pm, military helicopters dropped leaflets on the encampment, urging the protesters to leave immediately. This angered the protesters, who shot homemade rockets at them.
“Some protesters received distorted information,” government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said on the Thai PBS television network. “We need to communicate with them clearly. It will take time.” There was no word on when the ultimatum extension would end.
According to television reports, a telephone call from Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister's secretary-general, to red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua prompted the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) leaders to hold an urgent meeting, which began shortly after the 3pm deadline.
On receiving the call from Mr Korbsak, UDD leaders went inside a shipping container office for a meeting.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation would hold a meeting at 5pm to discuss steps to be taken to retake the occupied area after the 3pm deadline.
He declined to go into detail, saying only that priority would be given to evacuating children and the elderly from the rally site.
Mr Panitan said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was still in high spirits and determined to overcome all problems.
Earlier the day, UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said red leaders were ready to call protesters back to the Ratchaprasong rally site and begin dialogue with the government if troops stop firing at protesters.
Protest leaders are willing to negotiate with the government without pre-conditions if Mr Abhisit orders the removal of troops stationed around the rally site in Bangkok. The offer was aimed at reducing the loss of lives, he said.
The government would not respond to the UDD's call for talks until the UDD ends the protest rally, government spokesman Panithan Wattanayakorn said.
Mr Panitan said UDD leaders should first show sincerity by ending their rally, ceasing attacks on government security forces and stopping all riotous acts.
If the UDD did this, the government would reactivate its reconciliation plan, he said.
In the morning, two red-shirt guards were arrested in Ratchathewi area with a large quantity of weapons, Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt-Gen Santhan Chayanont said at a press conference.
Pol Lt-Gen Santhan identified the two as Prasong Manee-in, 55, of Bangkok's Lat Phrao district, and Kowit Yaemprasert, 55, from Pathum Thani province.
They were arrested when Mr Prason was driving a pick-up truck past a military checkpoint in Soi Phaya Nak near the Asia Hotel.
Soldiers found in the truck about 60 items including knives, axes, iron bars, bottle bombs, ping pong bombs, large firecrackers, communications radios, and ID cards of UDD guards.
Mr Prasong said he was formerly a soldier of the 3rd Cavalry Battalion and then a construction worker before joining the UDD rally, where he met Mr Kowit.
He said he was not aware the seized items were loaded onto his truck.
The number of casualties from the clashes between government forces and UDD protesters between May 14 and 17 was now 35 killed and 252 injured, the Emegency Medical Centre or Erawan Centre said in the morning.
The death toll went up because one of the injured, Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng, died from his head wound on Monday morning.
Of the 242 injured, there are six foreigners - one each from Canada, Poland, Burma, Liberia, Italy and New Zealand.
2 comments:
The Thai government should outlaw the wearing and selling of red and yellow shirts. Anyone caught wearing either red or yellow colored shirt will be fined million dollars.All Thai women should be stripped to see if they`re wearing red or yellow underpants.
If Thai wants to live in peace, they must eliminate their king before their king copies khmer king where he made people kill people. Wisdom
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