Political un-rest and rally

[pharvey]

To be honest I don't think the average Westerner cares too much about who is shooting, they just want to know where to plan their holiday in a bullet-free location.

A very sad, yet unfortunately all too true observation IMHO....

[STEVE G]

IMO, the army is within it's remit to restore order to a lawless area.

Yes, as long as it follows these rules:

5. Whenever the lawful use of force and firearms is unavoidable, law enforcement officials shall:

( a ) Exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved;

( b ) Minimize damage and injury, and respect and preserve human life;

( c ) Ensure that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected persons at the earliest possible moment;

( d ) Ensure that relatives or close friends of the injured or affected person are notified at the earliest possible moment.

6. Where injury or death is caused by the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials, they shall report the incident promptly to their superiors, in accordance with principle 22.

7. Governments shall ensure that arbitrary or abusive use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials is punished as a criminal offence under their law.

8. Exceptional circumstances such as internal political instability or any other public emergency may not be invoked to justify any departure from these basic principles.


(Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, UNHCHR.)

[buksida]

This takes the biscuit ...

Thaksin called for the United Nations "to immediately engage to act as facilitator for this negotiation."

He added: "That organisation should not allow itself to be silenced by a prime minister who failed to understand that a right to life is a core universal value that unites us all as one."

http://bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/178 ... tart-talks

He can't be serious ... is this the same man that executed 2,500 people without a trial?

[Spitfire]

C'mon Steve, you might be right but you know the UN stuff is only given 'lip service' in most places outside Europe and North America. The UN? Biggest oxymoron of the all. They are still trying to get that Serb general from the Bosnian war and that's from within the European landmass. You're right, just forgive my cynicism. Cheers.

[Nereus]

Is this the same Taksin?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... nnecessary

There is no need for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to call in the United Nations to mediate the current political conflict as he himself is still capable of doing the job, at least to end the protest, if he really wants to.

Remember that defiant, arrogant statement: “The UN is not my father!”?

It was uttered some years ago by Thaksin Shinawatra while he was still prime minister in response to criticism of his harsh drug suppression policy and the demand by human rights groups that the United Nations (UN) should investigate alleged human rights violations in connection with the extrajudicial killing of some 2,500 “suspected drug traders”.

He spurned the call for UN intervention, saying “the UN is not my father!”

Now that same person who then treated the UN with contempt, is appealing for United Nations intervention to end the bloodletting in Bangkok.

[charlesh]

Pity they could not "shang-hai" Takky Shining Wat back to the main stage where he could lead by example.
Get the Un involved - sure way to financial ruin for the country that goes down that path!

[Big Boy]

Blood bath and coup is the way it's going

Trade, tourism and property sales are doomed

The villagers are waiting and geared up to go when the word comes

Why is the Bht still strong????

Richard,

This is not the first time that you've told us that you're village has been mobilised (I've counted at least 3 times). I'm curious, but:

- Who will give the word to advance?

- What type of weapons do they have? Unless they're stupid, they must be going up against a trained/fully armed army with more than just pitch forks.

- How are they going to get to the battle unseen?

- Assuming they have been armed by Thaksin, how are the logisticians going to keep them supplied with bullets and food?

- Do they have a forward operating base, or does the supply chain have to stretch back to the village.

Or are they just going as a rabble to provide the cannon fodder required for the bloodbath?

[PeteC]

Now that the money squeeze is on, all kinds of 'revelations' are coming out of the woodwork. Why am I not surprised. Pete

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/20 ... 29591.html

Millions found in aides' accounts
By The Nation
Published on May 18, 2010

Authorities will shortly ask two close aides of Pojaman na Pombejra, ex-wife of Thaksin Shinawatra, to substantiate their recent cash withdrawals of Bt600 million and Bt800 million.

The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) said yesterday that massive amounts of money had been withdrawn by Akarat Changlao and Kanchanapa Honghern, respectively, on behalf of Pojaman.

The money was taken out of bank accounts in cash and left the banks in several vehicles.

On Sunday, the CRES issued a ban on financial transactions by 106 individuals and legal entities, including Thaksin and Pojaman.

A CRES source said individuals and legal entities suspected of helping to fund the unrest usually reported that they withdrew the money to buy expensive amulets and lottery tickets.

The CRES also found one of the red-shirt protest leaders had more than Bt100 million in bank deposits. He will be summoned to substantiate the sources of his huge income.

The unidentified leader was also found to have purchased luxury vehicles and two mansions worth at least Bt10 million each.

Another 20-50 names, including Jatuporn Promphan, another key protest leader, plus a major listed company in the real-estate sector, could be added to the blacklist.

________________________________________

News » Local News
UDD leader admits protest funds come from Thaksin

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... om-thaksin

* Published: 18/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News Bangkok Post

A United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship leader has admitted the red shirt rally has received financial support from ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan, the former deputy leader of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai party .

"I accept that Thaksin himself and some politicians, including Khunying Sudarat, have given us financial support, as have other donors, but I don't know how much they've donated," UDD co-leader Jaran Dithapichai said on the Ratchaprasong rally stage last night.

"What's wrong with that? Rallies have costs and we need donors. Even other UDD members and myself have had to spend our personal funds on the rally."

Mr Jaran's statement came after the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) announced plans on Sunday to freeze the financial transactions of 106 people and companies it believed had provided funding for red shirt activities.

A CRES source said the ban would be extended to cover at least 10 other individuals and companies including Work Supply Co, BBD Development Co, BBD Property Co and SC Asset Corporation.

A photographer spotted ex-premier Thaksin shopping at a Louis Vuitton store in Paris last Saturday.

Department of Special Investigation chief Tharit Pengdit yesterday met Col Sihanart Prayoonrat, acting secretary-general of the Anti-Money Laundering Office, representatives of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and representatives of the Revenue Department.

They later briefed representatives of more than 80 financial institutions, banks, securities companies, life insurance companies and cooperatives on the CRES's requirement that they submit details of the financial transactions of people and companies on the banned list between Sept 1, 2009, and May 17, 2010.

Executives of any financial institution that fails to abide by the CRES order could face up to two years in jail and a 40,000 baht fine. The penalty would apply to each transaction that the firms fail to report to the CRES.

Puea Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the ban was irrational as some party MPs on the list had never been involved in red shirt activities.

"The government should revoke the ban because what they're doing won't stop people's protests," Mr Prompong said. "Instead, it will provoke more protests around the country."

Bangkok Puea Thai MP Anudit Nakorntap said almost all party MPs for the city, apart from Danuporn Punnakan, were included on the banned list.

He suspected the CRES was trying to undermine the Puea Thai chances in Bangkok's district assembly elections on June 6.

[cozza]

This article is clearly anti-monarchy from the Sydney Morning Herald. Is the foreign media supposed to be biased?

I have no faith in the western media, just yesterday I read its nothing to with Thaksin, now they are saying the opposite, bullshit.


Edited by mod. Discussion on Thai monarchy is strictly forbidden.

[MrPlum]

Pretty good discussion on Al Jazeera today:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes ... 70495.html

The government spokesman lost the battle through poor PR skills. Being shrill and belligerent doesn't win hearts and minds.

[MrPlum]

This article is clearly anti-monarchy from the Sydney Morning Herald. Is the foreign media supposed to be biased?

When Chavez was overthrown for 3 days, until the poor rescued him, the media repeatedly showed video of Chavez supporters shooting at 'innocent protesters'. The reality was those supporters were responding to sniper fire and defending themselves. Gives you a very different perspective. Right? Anyone notice the similarities in events here in LOS?

In Bosnia the ZBC showed lines of refugees being ethnically cleansed. We all recoiled in horror. The reality was the 'refugees' were fleeing allied bombing. The video was manipulated to make it look like the bombing was a response to the exodus when in fact it was the cause.

All media is a propaganda tool.

If the western media are taking sides against the Thai monarchy, the next question is why?

[cozza]

Mr Plum,

I think you have raised an interesting and extremely relevant point.

The answer to that I would love to know, but it makes you think doesn't it?

[STEVE G]

BANGKOK(AP) — Hopes rose Tuesday for an end to deadly mayhem in Thailand's capital as leaders of a protest movement occupying central Bangkok said they would unconditionally accept an offer by the Thai Senate to mediate talks.

Scattered violence continued Tuesday in the standoff between soldiers and anti-government Red Shirt protesters that has killed 37 people in the past six days.

The country's upper house of Parliament on Monday offered to broker negotiations between the warring sides providing they both stopped that fighting that has transformed large swaths of downtown Bangkok to a war zone.

A Red Shirt leader, Weng Tojirakarn, told a news conference "we accept the proposal from the Senate." Another protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, said, "It would not be right if I set conditions for the Senate."

It was not immediately known whether the government had agreed to the Senate talks

In perhaps the most hopeful of recent signs that Thailand's two-month-long crisis could be resolved, both sides Monday evening also revealed that the government's chief negotiator and a Red Shirt leader had discussed negotiations in a mobile telephone call.

But previous attempts to negotiate an end to the standoff — which has destabilized a country once regarded as one of Southeast Asia's most stable democracies — have failed. A government offer earlier this month to hold November elections foundered after protest leaders made more demands.

Meanwhile, violence continued unabated on Bangkok's streets with security forces arresting a 12-year-old boy Tuesday morning for allegedly setting fire to several houses during the mayhem.

At least 37 people — mostly civilians — have been killed and 266 wounded since the government began a blockade last Thursday on a sprawling protesters' camp in the heart of Bangkok. Most of the unrest has flared outside the camp, with troops firing live ammunition at roaming protesters who have lit tires to hide their positions.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's administration gave the anti-government demonstrators, who have been entrenched in the upscale Rajprasong district for more than a month, a Monday afternoon deadline to leave or face two-year prison terms.

By Tuesday, there was still no exodus among the estimated 3,000 protesters remaining at the camp, and no sign of troops trying to break through their tire-and-bamboo barricades.

The Red Shirts, many of whom hail from the impoverished north and northeast, have been rallying in the city since March 12 in attempts to unseat Abhisit and force immediate elections. They say the coalition government came to power through manipulation of the courts and the backing of the powerful military, and that it symbolizes a national elite indifferent to their plight.

[buksida]

All media is a propaganda tool.

Absolutely, the western media especially has covered these events very poorly, they'll show footage of a protester shooting off some fireworks at a helicopter then flip to a heavily armed military sniper team "picking off civilian targets". CNN and the BBC are the worst two IMO.

Nothing in any of them about the reds trying to ignite a petrol tanker in a heavily populated civilian area or firing an RPG at a five star hotel or shooting M79 grenades into the public transport system. Its all propaganda.

[buksida]

A Thai female reporter for France 24 TV was nearly lynched while she was interviewing a woman inside the Pathumwanaram Temple at noon Tuesday.

Nice Pojanametbalsatit had to run away from the angry protesters and rescued by guards before she was taken to the are area behind the Rajprasong rally stage.

She was interviewing a middle-aged woman who came to live inside the temple with two children.

During the interview, some protesters shouted that the reporter and her TV crew were setting up the interview to discredit the protesters.

THE NATION

So now Thai reporters are being targeted ... that is definitely a Thaksin trait!