Comments on: Showdown Live: Doom Looms, Part II

By: The Siege at an End? « Asian Correspondent

The Siege at an End? « Asian Correspondent — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:28:49 +0000

[...] The rationale for ending the protest:Government Spokesman Wichianchote Sukchotrat said Wednesday that protesters would be removed from Government House compound before sunset.He was speaking to reporters at the Supreme Command at 5 pm.He said thousands of 191 commando police and border patrol police would be deployed to force the protesters out of Government House.He said police would first try to talk to the protesters to convince them to voluntarily leave the compound or else they would be forced out.The spokesman said the protest inside Government House needs to be ended Wednesday as the government would have to use the place for ceremony of From Mother Day to Father Day.He said His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will chair the ceremony inside Government House on Saturday to grant royal flags for government agencies to use as part of the celebrations.The spokesman said the authorities need to prepare the place two days before the ceremony on Saturday.BP: Matichon had an article earlier in the day about the Crown Prince attending a ceremony. It was arranged before the protests started – dated correspondence was mentioned.Bloomberg:The heads of the People's Alliance for Democracy won't turn themselves in to police, said Amorn Amornrattananon, a group leader, on Channel 3 television station. They've been charged with four counts, including treason, which carries either a death sentence or life in prison, according to a court statement.“It is not necessary to arrest them today because they are still sitting in the middle of the crowd,'' Police General Vichien Potphosri, deputy national police chief, said by phone after the warrants were issued. “We are looking for a more peaceful way, but at least we have the warrants in hand.''Spending a second day at army headquarters, Samak called their demands for his resignation “unreasonable'' and said police will be “soft and gentle'' to the demonstrators….“It is quite an honor to be charged with treason,'' said Amorn. “I want to force out this bad government.''…Samak, who accused protest leaders of trying to provoke violence, instructed police to prevent supporters from bringing food and water to the demonstrators, while allowing people to leave the compound freely. This afternoon protesters could still access food and people were joining the protests, said Parnthep Pongpourpan, a group spokesman.The protesters “want anyone to stop them to make a spark,'' Samak told international journalists yesterday evening in a rare English-language news briefing. “They want bloodshed in the country. They want the military to come out and stage the coup again.''…Thailand's army chief ruled out a coup and allowed state-run NBT television to broadcast from its headquarters yesterday after protesters seized control of NBT's office.“I'm just really struck by Samak's restraint as it shows he's got a lot of confidence,'' said Jacob Ramsay, Southeast Asia analyst at Control Risks Group in Singapore. “The game seems to be up for the People's Alliance. They'll lose a lot of momentum if their leaders are arrested.''BP: Police General Vichien Potphosri, deputy national police chief, is quoted in Matichon as saying that Samak has ordered the dispersal of the mob by tonight to enable time to prepare for the Crown Prince's attendance at Government House on Saturday.Absolutely Bangkok is live-blogging. [...]

By: Global Voices Online » Thailand: People’s coup or putsch?

Global Voices Online » Thailand: People’s coup or putsch? — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:55:26 +0000

[...] Bangkok.com further explains why PAD is losing public support and why Samak is benefiting from the crisis: “Doesn’t seem [...]

By: SBThailand

SBThailand — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:29:30 +0000

It is all getting rather anti-climatic. I suspect the government is doing exactly what they should by basically working around those ding-dongs in spite of my hope for blood and guts. I would tell them they have to stay there. Nothing moves people more in the opposite direction than telling them they have to do something.

I am disgusted in the amount of people so willing to surrender their vote (power) to a bunch of corrupt trouble makers. They can’t win in the general election, so they want to do away with the election all together. This is not a proud moment in the land of smiles.

By: BangkokDan

BangkokDan — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:06:16 +0000

ThaiCrisis, you're not saying it can only happen in Thailand. Thaksin actually back then followed the same approach. But there were many more united people on the streets. I doubt Chamlong & Co. are following any news reports. They'd be eternally depressed how little backing they suddenly enjoy. BangkokDan

By: ThaiCrisis

ThaiCrisis — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:59:32 +0000

Voilà. The show starts to be boring.

I mean, do they have any respect for the audience?

We need broken bones and blood! We need ultra violence!

Have you ever seen a scenario in which 24 hours after, the police asks a court to issue an injunction to move out a mob who occupy the main government building?!

http://nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30081641

The Thai comedy shall continue …