Real-Time: PAD Vs. The State

High Noon in Bangkok. May 31st, 2008, may turn out as just another difficult day in the difficult history of the kingdom of Thailand. Or May 31st is going down in history as another Day of Reckoning:

Front lines on both sides had hardened since Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej’s surprise announcement in morning to stop the PAD protests and go forward with the amendment of the charter. Riot police went into position, PAD formed own lines of guards.

Oldest thread is at the bottom, newest thread at the top of the page:

- Today’s Conclusion? Partial happy ending while the deadlock wears on. Did Thaksin intervene?

- Final Update: The Bangkok Post reports Confrontation Defused.

A picture says it all. Another flower coup? See the flower in the hand of the policeman?

- PPP Center to Monitor PAD: TOC reported earlier that the ruling party is preparing to establish a center to study the PAD’s movement and that the news will be reported constantly by the party’s analysts.

- Samak Went Over His Top? The Nation reports things at Makawan cool down significantly. Chalerm says plan to use force is cancelled, because there there was an evil plan to instigate violence. But “a doctorate degree holder like him,” quotes The Nation, “will not take a risk by revealing the names and the place” … As reported earlier shadow party boss Thaksin was not happy with Samak’s aggressive stance.

- International News Round-Up: GoogleNews’ collection of PAD & Bangkok news items.

- Preparation Guide for PAD Mob: CHUT|BLOC read a “preparation guide” against tear gas and other measures of the police for the demobilization of PAD.

- Not The Nation’s Take: Time to take a breather. If you missed NTN’s “People’s Alliance for Democracy Protests Against People, Alliances & Democracy” read it now. “NTN broke its own code,” as a commentator chuckled. For the first time “it had reported … the truth!”

- CNN Joins In: After keeping quiet since the start of the PAD rally CNN calls PPP “Thaksin’s party” and dwell on what Samak called a “make or break point.”

- Merciful Chalerm: The Nation reports no one will use force to end the rally at Makawan Rangsan Bridge.

- Who Triggers “The Incident”? The Nation reports police say protesters are accumulating weapons to create disturbances.

- Need Food to Think: The Nation reports leaders of coalition parties are holding an urgent meeting at a restaurant to evaluate the political situation after Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej threatened to use force to end the rally.

- Nationwide PAD Gatherings: TOC reports nationwide PAD gatherings to drive out Thaksin’s puppet government.

- PAD Leaders to Surrender? TNA reports police, not military, will deal with protesters, while PAD leaders are set to surrender to prevent bloodshed.

- New PAD Leaders: The Nation reports PAD prepares a second generation of leaders if its five leaders are arrested.

- Line of Confrontation: Bangkok Post reports 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.

- GoogleEarth Placemark: For those with GoogleEarth, besides a thread on the situation 2Bangkok has this Placemark.

- Backgrounder: Bangkok Pundit has the introduction to today’s events.




Sphere: Related Content

Related posts on absolutelyBangkok.com:

  1. In Thailand It’s Real, Halloween
  2. Loved Only @ Home
  3. Suthep, Our Yes-Man’s No-Man
  4. Poll: Kasit A Terrorist?
  5. Samak R.I.P.
  6. 1 + 1 = 3

May 31, 2008 | Filed Under Politics 

Comments

4 Responses to “Real-Time: PAD Vs. The State”

  1. JJ on May 31st, 2008 9.08 pm

    I wonder when the infamous INVISIBLE HAND will arrive on the scene.

  2. In exile in my bedroom « Oneditorial on June 1st, 2008 1.27 am

    [...] on the thing that I was doing, my mind was somewhere else. I was so anxious to know about the protest in Bangkok, the showdown between the PAD and the Thai government. I wanted to use the internet to [...]

  3. Henry on June 1st, 2008 5.20 pm

    It looks like Jonathan and Jakrapob will get a VIP suite at the Bangkok Hilton with delivery service, a lot of time for them to think and write together.

  4. BangkokDan on June 1st, 2008 5.30 pm

    Jonathan, to my mind, is the probably most outstanding foreign correspondent in Bangkok. He has nothing to do with the allegations. The accusing police officer obviously supported his claim with a photo showing Jonathan together with Thaksin, as if to say these guys are brothers-in-mind.

    HM, however, clearly stated that he will pardon anyone convicted of mentioned crime.

    BangkokDan

Leave a Reply