UPDATED Red Shirts Search Through Hospital, Suspecting Hidden Soldiers
In another brazen [sic!] and controversial move, more than 200 red-shirt guards stormed into Chulalongkorn Hospital last night to check if there were soldiers inside the hospital buildings. Hospital director Dr Adisorn Patradul initially refused to let the members of the anti-government Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) into the complex. However, a source said Adisorn gave in after DAAD co-leader Payap Panket, wanted by police for his role in the tumultuous red campaign, insisted that he be allowed to inspect the area. Although Adisorn only allowed Payap, five red-shirt guards and reporters to come in, scores of other red-shirt guards poured into the hospital buildings as soon as the door was opened.
During their search, watched by bewildered nurses and doctors, the red-shirt guards seized two men and brought them to the DAAD stage at the Rajprasong intersection. The two were later released after they told the red shirtsthey were just workers.
The red-shirt guards stopped their search at the hospital at around 8.30pm, but only after police stepped in to negotiate. During the talks, the wanted man Payap was just inches away from the senior officers taking part in the negotiations. The talks ended with an agreement for the red-shirt guards to be allowed to check the hospital again today. This prompted angry responses from Twitter users monitoring the incident, who described the police action as shameful. (...)
"Reds storm hospital", The Nation, April 30, 2010
It was suspected by the authorities that during the grenades attack of April 22, the shots were fired from Chulalongkorn Hospital (and not from behind the Rama VI. statue as I was originally claimed by the government). Also, the red shirts have suggested for weeks now that military snipers have hidden on the high rooftops surrounding the rally site.
This incident today shows again a mob mentality by the red shirts (one might also say they copied PAD's tactics). Also the fact that they have invaded a hospital may turn even more people against them as this violates an unwritten rule that these places have to remain untouched. There have been references to the Geneva Conventions, but I think that you can hardly cite a document that was written for a conventional armed conflict in this more than unordinary confrontation.
Not to mention the consequences for the patients and staff of the hospital:
The red-shirt guards' raid of Chulalongkorn Hospital came despite a plea from the Medical Council of Thailand earlier in the day asking the anti-government protesters to keep at least 100 metres away from hospitals. Besides Chulalongkorn Hospital, the anti-government rally site is also close to the Police General Hospital. (...)
[Medical Council president Dr Somsak Lohlekha] said Chulalongkorn Hospital had already stopped receiving new patients while Police General Hospital had transferred patients to buildings that were farther away from the demonstration. (...)
"I hope red-shirt leaders, like Dr Weng Tojirakarn, will understand our purpose. No demonstration in any country in the world uses hospital premises to defeat the opposition," he said. "People are not allowed to honk a horn when they pass a hospital but the demonstrators use loudspeakers every day," he added. (...)
The hospital has already moved all patients from Phor Por Ror and Sor Kor buildings to other buildings near Henri Dunant Road. The hospital also suspended surgery for emergency patients and has temporarily stopped receiving patients from other hospitals. The special clinic will be closed from today until Sunday. The emergency unit is still open. Meanwhile all classes for medical students will be closed today.
"Reds storm hospital", The Nation, April 30, 2010
On Friday morning it has been reported that many patients have been transferred to completely different hospitals now.
And apparently the red shirts leaders themselves did not agree with what happened at the hospital, as Dr. Weng has announced NOT to search through it again because "it would badly affect the patients receiving treatment in the hospital" and also "he would like to extend apology to what happened on Thursday". At least somebody knows when to stop.
UPDATE Dr. Weng of the red shirts has officially apologized for the storm on the hospital, saying the "situation got out of control. It is not our policy to obstruct hospital operations".
Meanwhile, TV pictures show many patients being evacuated out of the hospital, showing a clear message of the impact of this very controversial act by the red shirts. Thinking more about, it was a truly idiotic halfwitted stupid dumb-ass ill-advised move by them and the backlash is coming now swift and hard.
Also, in an act of provocation, the red shirts have moved the barricade now in front of the hospital instead of moving it 100 meters back as the hospital requested.
Updates on Wednesday's Highway Clashes
Al Jazeera English has posted a video report of Wednesday's violent clashes that has left one soldier killed by friendly fire and many injured. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25G2D-5iogI&playnext_from=TL&videos=mj3_M0B95TM&w=600&h=360]"Soldier dies as and Thai military clash", video by Al Jazeera English.
At the 1:18 minute mark they show a black-uniformed man with a red bandana clearly holding a pistol, despite the claims that they were unarmed. You can also see that all sorts of security forces were present, from soldiers, police in riot gear, special military ops and SWAT teams - no wonder it was hard to distinguish all battling fractions in the chaos.
In other news, in the aftermath of the seizure of 63 M79 grenades, a cop has been arrested and taken into questioning. Yesterday already the police has found "documents of Pol Sgt Pratya Maneekote of Patum Thani's Kukot district" and today more details emerged.
During tense interrogation, Pol Sgt-Maj Prinya [Maneekhot, same name, different transliteration] confessed to having in his possession 63 M79 grenades which were seized by police from a motorcycle during the stand-off between the red-shirts and government forces near the National Memorial on Wednesday. Police said they also found the wanted policeman's ID.
He said the grenades were being transported to his "clients", according to Pol Lt-Gen Krisda.
However, the suspect denied any involvement in the past M79 attacks in Bangkok and other provinces, or the activities of the red-shirts of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.
Before his arrest, Pol Sgt-Maj Prinya went to Kasikorn Bank at the Zeer department store in Rangsit and withdrew 290,000 baht. He proceeded to Krung Thai Bank at Si Mum Muang market nearby and withdrew another 300,000 baht, Pol Lt-Gen Krisda said. (...)
In a search of his vehicle, police found a 9mm handgun, a fully-loaded magazine, a monocular, four fake car licence plates, camouflaged military pouches and 700,000 baht in cash.
In an earlier search of a car at his house before the arrest, police found three M16 rifles and 100 ammunition magazines, three M79 grenade launchers, 10 barrels for M79 launchers, and many other items.
Pol Maj-Gen Methi Kusolsang, the Pathum Thani police chief, said he had ordered Pol Sgt-Maj Prinya's suspension from the police force pending further investigation to establish if he was a member of an illegal weapons trading ring. (...)
"Arrested cop admits taking grenades to 'client'", Bangkok Post, April 29, 2010
Of course it would be interesting to see who these 'clients' were...
New Clashes Erupt Outside Bangkok, One Soldier Killed by Friendly Fire
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auq_mffi1ps&w=600&h=360]
One soldier has died, reportedly from a shot fired by a member of the security forces, and at least 16 people have been injured.The protesters had earlier left their fortified camp in central Bangkok to drive to a rally 50km (30 miles) away.
(...) Many remained behind in the camp as the convoy set off for the rally at the Talad Thai market. But up to 1,000 protesters boarded pick-up trucks or motorbikes to make their way there.
There was no initial attempt to stop the convoy but hundreds of security forces had set up a checkpoint in Bangkok's northern suburbs. Some fired warning shots into the air.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in the Thai capital said the soldier who died appeared to have been shot in a "friendly fire" incident during a lull in the clashes. Local hospitals said at least 16 people had been injured.
Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told Associated Press news agency: "We brought force out to stop them. Society finds it unacceptable to have protesters travelling in a motorcade like this."
The convoy has now reportedly headed back to its central Bangkok base. One protest leader, Kwanchai Praipanna, said Wednesday's rally had been planned to thank local people for their support.
Our correspondent says the convoy had been going to a northern suburb where earlier in the week protesters had set up a checkpoint to search vehicles for any troops being brought in to reinforce Bangkok.
"Thailand violence flares as red-shirts and troops clash", BBC News, April 29, 2010
About 2,000 red shirts left the main rally site in Rajaprasong and ventured out to Pathum Thani to show support to the 11 red shirts who were arrested after they stopped a military convoy in a roadblock on Monday.
Just past Don Muaeng airport the caravan came to a halt on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road when clashes with security forces erupted when traffic was still flowing and subsequently civilians in their cars were trapped in the crossfire.
Later that day a video surfaced online (aired on an internet news channel I honestly have never heard of) that supposed to show where the soldier was killed by friendly fire.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUYsp-OYt-w&w=600&h=360]
The video was taken from a cross walk bridge when a group of soldiers on motorcycle are approaching a military roadblock. In the first seconds you can hear one gunshot and one of the nearest three is falling down, followed by onlooker yelling "They are shooting on themselves!". The remaining troops are stopping at the side and are running for safety behind the bridge piers.
18 red shirts have been reported arrested and despite rumors of red shirt co-leader Kwanchai Praipana's capture, he managed to escape and later appeared back in a McDonald's near the Rajaprasong rally site!
In the evening the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) addressed the public, saying it was difficult to distinguish the protesters from other people since the red shirts are not actually wearing red anymore, in order to avoid arrest in case of a crackdown. There has been no mention if the soldier died of friendly fire or not.
In another major development, security forces are reported to have seized 63 M-79 grenades from the protesters. Initially The Nation reported that the weapons were found with a motorcycle rider during a security check, but later during the CRES presser it was implied that the motorcycle driver dropped the bag with the grenades and ran away. The grenades have been displayed at the presser and can be seen here (at the 7:14 minute mark).
As a consequence of today's incidents, the pressure on the red shirts has been even more increased as forces have tightened measure and blocked all roads leading to the rally site.
Abhisit: "Martial law would be declared by the armed forces"
Prime minister Abhisit went into offense mode at the international media front and appeared on both BBC's HARDTalk and CNN's Amanpour Tuesday evening. I will write on Abhisit's interviews tomorrow but there was one striking quote from the BBC that I cannot keep back from you.
Abhisit, regarded as elitist and undemocratic by his opponents, said he had no power to declare martial law.
"Martial law would be declared by the armed forces, it's not within my power to do so. At the moment they have no intention of doing so," he said.
"Well from my discussion with the people responsible and the people who have powers, they have no intention of declaring martial law at the moment," he added
"Thai PM says he will step down if national stability at stake", AFP via Channel News Asia, April 28, 2010
Red Shirts' Rural Uproar
While the focus of the protests is on Bangkok, there are also reports of red shirt activities coming from the countryside of Thailand. Last week red shirts have stopped an army train carrying soldiers and equipment in the northeast province Khon Kaen, suspecting it goes to Bangkok in order to increase the number of troops. The military claims that the train was on the way to the deep south. Ultimately, a compromise was found and some red shirts hopped on the train to see if it was really going to the south.
But that wasn't the only incident on that day:
In another district of Khon Kaen overnight, hundreds of red-shirted protesters stopped three military buses with soldiers aboard and forced them to return to their base.
And in a third incident nearby, the army said that 200 soldiers were detained by protesters but later released.
"Thai red shirts release army train", Al Jazeera English, April 22, 2010
Tensions outside of the capital mounted during the weekend again as, fearing a crackdown by the security forces, red shirts have set ups road blocks at various spots outside of Bangkok in order to stop incoming forces.
About 500 km (310 miles) north of Bangkok, hundreds of "red shirts" formed a roadblock in northeastern Udon Thani province and stopped a convoy of 150 police from heading to the capital to strengthen security operations, a local official told Reuters.
They formed another roadblock in Pathum Thani, about 50 kms (30 miles) north of Bangkok, preventing around 200 policemen from entering the city.
Police reinforcements are being brought into the capital to forcibly disperse thousands of protesters occupying some central areas, said red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompang.
"We will try to block every spot we can in a bid to stop killing. We don't want to see anybody die," he told Reuters.
"Thai "red shirts" vow to intensify campaign", Reuters, April 25, 2010
Television footage (I haven't found them online yet, so any help would be appreciated) has shown how swift and easy the police forces were overrun by the red shirts. One police officer told into the camera that his squad pulled over for a fuel stop and seconds later they were 'trapped' by the protesters. No violence has been reported though. Of course these actions by the red shirts are a major inconvenience for the civilians caught in the middle as The Nation has collected some accounts.
Another article over the weekend reports of a grenade attack in Chiang Mai aimed at a police station. No one was injured, only some damage to the building. The article also specifically points out the used weapon was a M-79 grenade launcher, which has been used in dozens of attacks in Bangkok over the last few months including the Silom blasts last Thursday which has killed one person.
It is a well-known fact that many parts of Thailand, particularly the North and Northeast Isaan region, are almost red shirt country and thus are much more capable of organizing roadblocks and such. It has ye to be seen if there will be a surge of rural uproar that will also heat up the mood in the capital.
Further reading:
- New York Times: Rebellious Mood Takes Root in Rural Thailand
Aung San Suu Kyi vs Thai Government, Round 2
Sometimes, real life is stranger than fiction... Just yesterday I wrote about the Thai government's reaction on Aung San Suu Kyi's comments about the current political situation. I was thinking about to end with a joke if she was paid by anybody (preferably by Thaksin, of course) for these comments but I didn't (Bangkok Pundit and S_Narut did though). I thought it was too stupid, even for Thailand.
Well, as I said, sometimes real life is stranger than fiction...
นายประสงค์ นุรักษ์ ส.ว.สรรหา กล่าวถึงกรณีที่ นางอองซาน ซูจี แกนนำฝ่ายค้านในประเทศพม่า กล่าววิพากษ์วิจารณ์รัฐธรรมนูญและรัฐบาลไทย จนทำให้ประเทศไทยเสียหายในสายตานานาชาติว่า คนที่กำลังจะจมน้ำตายแต่เหตุใดกลับมาเอะอะโวยวายสอนให้คนอื่นว่ายน้ำ
"ผมจึงรู้สึกผิดหวังมาก เพราะนางอองซาน ซูจีน่าจะเข้าใจประเทศไทยดีกว่านี้ จึงขอให้หาทางตรวจสอบ (...) ว่า [นางอองซาน ซูจี] มีการรับเงินสนับสนุนจากบุคคลใดบ้าง"
Appointed senator Prasong Nurak has commented on the remarks of Myanmar's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who criticized the Thai constitution and the government, saying it [her remarks] damages Thailand's image internationally, "Why do you want to teach the other how swim, when he is currently drowning?"
"I'm disappointed because Ms Aung San Suu Kyi should know better about Thailand. That's why I would like to find a way to investigate (...) if [she] has received any donation money by whom."
"ส.ว.ฉุน"ซูจี"วิจารณ์ไทยทำเสียหายสายตาชาวโลก จี้ตรวจสอบเส้นทางการเงินรับสนับสนุนจากใคร", Matichon, April 26, 2010
Just to give you some context, Prachatai has some background on this appointed senator.
นายประสงค์ เป็นคน จ.ชุมพร เป็นแกนนำพันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตยรัฐไอโอวา รัฐแคนซัส และรัฐอิลลินอยส์ ชุมนุมขับไล่ พ.ต.ท.ทักษิณ ชินวัตร ในปี 2549 (...)
โดยในระหว่างที่นายประสงค์ดำรงตำแหน่ง ได้ร่วมเคลื่อนไหวกับกลุ่ม 40 ส.ว. และพันธมิตรฯ ในการชุมนุมปี 51 โดยตลอด เช่นหลังจากพันธมิตรฯ สามารถยึดทำเนียบรัฐบาลได้แล้วในวันที่ 26 ส.ค. 51 [ต่อมา] ในวันที่ 28 ส.ค. นายประสงค์ได้ติดตาม (...) เดินทางมาให้กำลังใจผู้ชุมนุมพันธมิตรฯ โดยมีผู้ชุมนุมขอจับมือให้กำลังใจ ขอลายเซ็น และถ่ายรูปกับคณะ ส.ว.กลุ่มนี้ตลอดทาง
Mr Prasong, originating from Chumporn province, is a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy of Iowa, Kansas and Illinois, protesting to chase out Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006 (...)
When in office, Mr Prasong was involved in a group of 40 senators and the PAD during the protests in 2008 after the PAD successfully seized Government House on August 26, 2008. [After that] on August 28, 2008 Mr Prasong came to [the rally site with the 39 other senators] to show support for the PAD protesters by shaking hands, giving autographs and taking pictures with the senators.
"ส.ว.สรรหาไม่พอใจ "ออง ซาน ซูจี" ทำให้ไทยเสียหายระดับโลก จี้ตรวจสอบเส้นทางการเงิน", Prachatai, April 26, 2010
Just to make this clear, he is an appointed senator who profited from the new 2007 constitution drafted by the military and thus proving Suu Kyi's point in the first place. Needless to say, he is an open PAD supporter!
But then again, this argument seems to be too logic for some if a certain fugitive former prime minister can be somehow framed in an international anti-Thai conspiracy...
h/t to S_Narut for the links on both stories
A Thai History of Violence About to Repeat Itself?
"The level of hate in Thailand" (picture courtesy of Mark MacKinnon)
The Economist has yet another article about Thailand that might caused the magazine not to appear on the newsstands there. While there was one topic that certainly was the main reason for the non-distrubuting, the other one is worth discussing in my opinion. Key excerpts:
Can further bloodshed be averted? Two factors suggest not. First, in Thailand violence is more embedded than most care to admit. (...)
The violence first. The shootings on April 10th, in which five soldiers and 18 protesters died, raised the spectre of previous military slaughters of innocents, which also happened in 1973, 1976 and 1992. True, the army has shown restraint this time. It first applied modern crowd-control techniques—water cannon, tear gas, rubber bullets. But the crowds refused to disperse. Worse, the army was caught after dark in civilian-filled streets, which smart commanders know to be a recipe for disaster. Soldiers fired into the crowds, in self-defence (they said) against armed “terrorists”. Then they fled for their lives, abandoning a column of armoured personnel carriers. Humiliated, junior officers want revenge.
Violence is not a military monopoly. Thailand can be a vicious place. Crime and vigilante justice are rampant, hitmen are cheap, militias abound and a Muslim insurgency rumbles on in the south. Under Mr Thaksin, extrajudicial squads killed thousands of suspected drug-pushers and other criminals.
From the start, the red shirts have had a thuggish element. Most reds are disciplined, conscious that a good image counts for much. But a minority has long carried sticks and knives and lobbed petrol bombs. (...)
Both army and protesters, then, have their grievances. And now, after months away, the yellow shirts are back. These are the pro-establishment People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) whose own minority of black-clad guards once used guns and explosives against the police and which stockpiled golf clubs as weapons—nicely reflecting the group’s milieu. On April 18th leaders of the PAD called for martial law and gave the government a week to end the protests or, they said, they would order their own people back on to the streets. All this amounts to one big reason to believe peace will have to wait.
"Banyan: Bloody shirts in the city of angels", The Economist, April 22, 2010
There is an ever-present potential of violence since the beginning of the protests and with recent developments showing no sign of easing off tensions at both sides, the possibility of a 'civil war' (especially when the yellow shirts are coming back) is being thrown around. Seven days after the PAD has urged the government to wipe off the red shirts out of Bangkok, the protests are still there. It is yet to be seen if the yellow shirts will up the ante against the red shirts now.
But how likely is it? Patrick Winn examines:
According to analysts, it’s unlikely.
Many academics define civil wars as conflicts that tally at least 1,000 deaths per year and witness the weaker force inflicting at least 5 percent of all fatalities.
The probability of such a large-scale conflict remains “quite remote,” said Federico Ferrara, a National University of Singapore political science professor and author of "Thailand Unhinged: Unraveling the Myth of Thai-Style Democracy."
“The two sides are very unlikely to engage in open warfare with one another,” Ferrara said.
Still, future stand-offs between Red Shirts and troops, rival demonstrators or both could very well serve as flash points for more bloodshed, he said. “Given the firepower and strength of the two sides, the conflict definitely has the potential to create mass casualties.”
The current Thai preoccupation with civil war is more than hysteria, said Kevin Hewison, director of the Carolina Asia Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The civil war threat, he said, has been invoked by the government itself, which has warned that Red Shirts are pursuing a potentially violent overhaul of Thai institutions.
Bitterness is compounded by the insults such as “buffaloes” [see picture above] and pro-government columnists’ insistence that rural voters are uneducated and easily swayed by corrupt politicians.
“For the Red Shirts who fall into this category, this is a terrible rejection of their world and their lives,” Hewison said. This class rage is further stoked by protest leaders’ stage rhetoric, which frequently derides the prime minister and his allies as “murderers and tyrants.”
"Is Thailand headed for civil war?", Global Post, April 25, 2010
Winn then goes on tackling the issue of the 'watermelon soldiers' (as discussed here) and concludes that even though the country will not spiral into civil war but an ugly "urban-rural divide and sporadically violent demonstrations."
The arrogance of many middle-class citizens of Bangkok certainly was there before and is one of the main reasons of the whole political conflict, the ruling establishment has simply neglected much of the rest of the country. All essential decisions are made in Bangkok and now the rest of the country wants to take at least a piece of the power back to themselves.
Some recent incidents outside of Bangkok, most noticeably the seizing of an army train by red shirts in Khon Kaen, indicate that the political conflict may spread out in the countryside and the government now has not only has a frontline in the South, but in the Northeast as well.
Thai Gov Responds to Aung San Suu Kyi's Comments, Hilarity Ensues
Thailand's political crisis shows that a constitution drawn up by the military can never deliver stability, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi said Saturday, according to her party. (...) 'A new government coming to power under a constitution drawn up by the military will never be stable,' he cited her as saying. 'We do not need to see very far. We just see Thailand,' she said. 'Thaksin was an elected person. The military seized the power from an elected person. The constitution was drawn up by the military,' she said.
'After that, what happened with the first (government)? It was not stable,' she said of the short-lived administration that followed the coup. 'This was a result of the constitution being written by the military.'
Nyan Win said Suu Kyi was not giving an opinion on the rights and wrongs of the conflict in Thailand, where red-shirted campaigners largely loyal to Thaksin are calling for the ouster of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
"Crisis: Perils of military rule", The Straits Times via AFP, April 24, 2010
It did not took long until the Thai government's answer to the Burmese democracy icon. Enter government's spokesperson Panitan Wattanyagorn...
"ผมคิดว่าคนไทยคงไม่รู้สึกว่าไทยจะเข้าใกล้เหมือนประเทศพม่า และไม่เหมือนกันเลยเพราะว่าเรามีระบอบประชาธิปไตยมายาวนานหลายประเทศยังไม่ได้เป็นประชาธิปไตยเลย นอกจากนี้ ประเด็นหนึ่งของการรับรู้ข่าวสารของต่างประเทศเราคงต้องทำเพิ่มมากขึ้น เพราะบางประเทศอาจได้รับข้อมูลไม่มากเนื่องจากในเรื่องของภาษาและช่องทางการสื่อสารที่ถูกปิดกั้นโดยระบบ ฉะนั้นสารก็อาจไม่ครบถ้วน (...)" นายปณิธานกล่าว
"I don't think the Thai people feel that Thailand is becoming similar to Myanmar and [they also feel that] the two countries are not alike at all because we have the democratic system for a long time back then when other countries did not. Apart from that, regarding on how foreign countries get their news [about Thailand], we need to step up more. In some countries they do not get enough information, because of language or because ways of communication are systematically blocked. So information is not fully passed on, (...)" Panitan says.
"สื่อเทศเชื่อไทย"นองเลือด"ก่อนเจรจา "ปณิธาน"โต้"ซูจี"ยันไทยไม่เหมือนพม่า หลายชาติยังให้กำลัใจ"มาร์ค", Matichon, April 25, 2010
Hm. "We need to inform the people more" and "Some do not get enough information" are phrases that have been applied to Western foreigners, journalists, rural red shirts and pretty much on everyone who disagree with the government's spin.
h/t To a reader
Negotiations Between Red Shirts and Government Failed Again
"Red base through their bamboo fort! #redshirts #redtweet" (Picture courtesy of @Dany_k)
In the light of the deadly blasts on Thursday evening in Silom, killing one person (not 3 as previously reported), a tiny glimmer of hope emerged as the anti-government red shirts offered to continue negotiating talks with the government, but was soon dashed as they rejected the red shirts' compromise.
The red shirts demanded parliament to be dissolved in 30 days (instead of previously two weeks or right away) and an independent inquiry on the deadly clashes of April 10, in order for the protesters to disperse.
But prime minister Abhisit rejected the offer. In an interview with Al Jazeera English, he explained why.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yJ_IkjBu4I&playnext_from=TL&videos=ECEfSsruZ0I&w=600&h=360]"Thai PM rejects offer from red shirts", video by Al Jazeera English
With the rejection by the prime minister hopes for a peaceful and soonish solution have been yet again shattered.
On Sunday Abhisit appeared on TV, siting alongside with army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda, to elaborate further on his decision.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on television Sunday that he continued to seek a peaceful solution to the country’s tense political standoff but that he would not give in to what he called intimidation by anti-government demonstrators.
With his military commander, Gen. Anupong Paochinda, sitting beside him, he rejected a call by the “red shirt” protesters for a dissolution of Parliament within 30 days, saying, “The ultimatum is just aimed at getting the attention of the foreign media.” (...)
“Negotiations must be done to find a solution for most of the country, not just the red shirts, who are just part of society,” Mr. Abhisit said.
"Thai Prime Minister Stands His Ground", New York Times, April 25, 2010
There was a minor incident that might have prevented Abhisit to get his message across to everybody*.
The program went off the air briefly, with the prime minister later blaming the disruption on "ill-intentioned people." Thailand's police force, army and other agencies are believed to be infiltrated by Red Shirt supporters, but it was unclear whether the opposition somehow disrupted the television signal.
"Thai PM says he underestimated protesters", Associated Press, April 25, 2010
*It can be debated that anyone watches the prime minister's weekly television show - it's boring!
Shameless Self-Plug: Al Jazeera's Listening Post on Media Coverage of Thai Protests
This is not going to help ending my continuous praise for Al Jazeera English's regular and good coverage on Thailand and the current protests in particular. The channel's media magazine Listening Post examines the media's role in the anti-government protests and how both sides are battling each other on the airwaves and online. Also, yours truly makes an appearance on the Global Village Voices segment where I give my opinion about the media coverage of the protests, beginning at the 8:15 minute mark - followed by Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of the embattled news site Prachatai.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIqkTX_FKDU&playnext_from=TL&videos=WLUBzJqT_jI&w=600&h=360]
:)
Further Reading:
- Christian Science Monitor: Biased TV stations intensify divides in Thailand protests
BREAKING: Deadly Blasts Rock Face Off Between Pro-Government Protesters, Red Shirts At Silom
UPDATE 3 (19.50 h CEST):
Police have released the five suspects in the five bombings at Silom intersection on Thursday night.
One of the suspects, Jaturon Noppakit, 36, was a red-shirt supporter of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Mr Jaturon said he was travelling from Wongwian Yai to join the red-shirt protesters in Silom but insisted he was not involved with the bomb attacks.
The other four were supporters of the multi-coloured group who opposed the red-shirt's movement. They had digital cameras and video cameras containing footages of the soldiers working at Silom intersection.
"Police release 5 supsects in Silom blasts", Bangkok Post, April 22, 2010
UPDATE 2 (19.30 h CEST):
A series of grenade blasts that hit Bangkok's business district on Thursday killed at least three people, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters. He also said the government had no plan to crack down on anti-government protesters in the area, because women and children are among them.
"Bangkok grenade blasts kill 3, deputy PM says", Reuters, April 22, 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said in a national television broadcast at 11.30pm that the grenades were fired from behind the monument of King Rama IV, at the entrance of Lumpini Park, where the red-shirts were gathering. "They were fired from the red-shirts' side," he said.
He told the pro-government group, who called themselves the Love Silom group, to retreat.
(...)After the explosions, the two rival groups clashed again about 10.45pm near the Dusit Hotel. Both sides were seen hurling bottles at each other. Security forces reportedly had a difficult time controlling the area, according to television reports.
"3 killed, scores injured in Silom attacks", Bangkok Post, April 22, 2010
UPDATE 1 (19.00 h CEST): Reuters now reports three dead.
Shortly after the blasts occurred an angry mob is reported to have attempted to storm the red shirts barricade, but have been stopped by a line of police, which then was attacked, too.
---------------------------Original post---------------------------
A series of grenade blasts that rocked Bangkok's business district on Friday killed at least one person and wounded 75, hospitals and the Thai media said.
Five M-79 grenades hit an area packed with heavily armed troops and studded with banks, office towers and hotels. Four of the wounded had serious injuries, including two foreigners, according to witnesses, hospital officials and an army spokesman.
"Bangkok blasts kill one, injure 75 - Thai media", Reuters, April 22, 2010
This was the third night after the red shirt protestors have barricaded the intersection with bamboo fences, closing a road leading to the rally site. There have been standoffs between police, red shirts and pro-governments "no colors" protestors (while it is possible that man of them are yellow shirts in disguise) in the last few days at that very same spot. See Richard Barrow's map for detailed location.
Gregoire Glachant has video of the aftermath after the first blast. You can see one injured foreigner (probably Australian), also it shows a hole in the roof of the BTS Skytrain station.
Troops Deployed to Silom Area as Rumors of Crackdown Continue
Pictures emerged from Bangkok on Monday morning of troops securing various spots in Silom, the financial area of Bangkok. A few hours ago rumors of a crackdown have been making the rounds at the main rally site of the red shirts as the mood has been reported as tense. Tony Joh of Thai-FAQ.com, who has also filmed the violent escalations, has posted a video of today's developments and gives a pretty spot-on analysis of the current situation.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksErwZmYQUQ&w=600&h=360]"Is a crackdown on the red protesters imminent?", video by Tony Joh of Thai-FAQ.com
The morning news on ThaiPBS were the first to show footage of the troops moving in Silom.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfpGYrZwYME&w=600&h=360]Video via YouTube. Watch Part 1 here.
All the commotion of the morning turned out to be a strategic move of the army to secure Silom after the red shirts have planned (or at least hinted) to rally there.
Nonetheless rumors of a crackdown are still persistently making the rounds. Matichon has on Monday evening quoted red shirt leader Jatuporn to have 'leaked intelligence of an army crackdown' (in Thai). He explains that he has received the details by so called 'watermelon soldiers', who are sympathetic to the red shirts. The precursor was the planned meeting of army commanders on Monday headed by the newly installed head of the security operation, army chief Gen. Anupong. This meeting has been postponed to the end of the week though. However, as Jatuporn claims, the meeting actually took place secretly in the evening.
The 'leaked details' list several numbers of troop sizes, weapons, (rubber) bullets and drills. Furthermore, it plans the dispersal of the protestors ("3. สลายผู้ชุมนุม"), capturing the red shirt leaders dead or alive ("2. จับแกนนำ...ทั้งที่เป็นการจับเป็นและจับตาย") and invoking of a total media blackout ("1. ปิดสื่อทั้งหมด...") of red shirt news outlets, including SMS services ("จะเป็นการปิดการส่งข้อความสั้น"). But what stands out most of all these alleged 'leaked details' is that "it was said in the meeting that the loss of 500 lives is acceptable" (ในที่ประชุมมีการพูดว่า สูญเสีย 500 ชีวิตก็ต้องยอม).
Rumor or not - I took this admittedly extreme example to showcase how rumors like these increase the tension in the current situation. As mentioned at the beginning, the rumors of a crackdown on Monday morning let the mood at the rally site drop significantly. This rumor however, seems to be less plausible.
Even though the army has intensify their efforts around the red shirts, with special units called in, troops placed on the rooftops of the high buildings surrounding the Rajaprasong area and also allowed to use live rounds (for their self-defence, of course); how are they going to disperse so many people at the rally? How will the military be able to control this large crowd in a dispersal (I'm not even talking about a peaceful one!)?
As I said many times before, this deadlock to getting more unsolvable day by day. The longer this will drag on, the more abrupt the end will be.
What Does The Command Shuffle Mean?
After a few days of silence prime minister Abhisit went on air again in a televised public address on Friday evening and announced that Thai army chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda would be put in charge of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CERS), thus replacing deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban as head of the operation. This move certainly caused many to question what the government's next move in handling with the red shirts would be. Observers agree that Abhisit wants to put more pressure on the red shirts but also on his 'own' (it's never really sure who is in command of whom) peers. After the failed crackdown of last week and the hilariously botched arrest attempt on Friday, the blame could have been put on Suthep as Bangkok Pundit points out. But just a day following the announcement of his demotion, the government went out to clarify that Suthep isn't really out of CERS.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is still in charge as the head of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations, CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd affirmed on Saturday afternoon.
Army chief Anupong Paojinda was authorized by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to take charge only in ordering the use of forces to ensure peace and order in case of necessity, Col Sansern stated.
The authorisation was aimed at cutting short of the command line to prevent and encounter with the terrorists trying to incite violence, he added.
Mr Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, will be the person to set up policy, oversee operation plans and beheld responsible for the CRES achievement, the CRES spokesman said.
"Suthep still controls the CRES", Bangkok Post, April 17, 2010
Basically it says Anupong has the last word over troop movement and deployment.
But why would Abhisit then put somebody in charge who allegedly hinted the current government to dissolve parliament? Bangkok Pundit again...
(...) Abhisit is putting the pressure on Anupong to do something. Anupong appears reluctant so putting him directly in charge, Abhisit is setting him up as the fall guy if nothing happens or it all turns to custard.
"Thai army chief given control to restore order", Bangkok Pundit, April 17, 2010
There are some media reports that hint Anupong himself did not of his own 'promotion' until the very last minute.
Some in the Thai-language press are interpreting this appointment as a surprise move to force Anupong to take responsibility for action for carrying out government orders regarding security. Apparently, this is the Red Shirts' position as well--that the appointment was a surprise. Considering how closely the government and military have coordinated their activities so far, the Red Shirt interpretation seems unlikely.
"Botched raid and Anupong steps forward", 2bangkok.com, April 17, 2010
It will be interesting to see how Anupong will handle himself and disperse the protests, given he has been reported to be reluctant to follow order for a crackdown. There are two things to consider: First, if the military is in favor of new elections they would have to happen after the annual budget and the reshuffle of key figures in police and military. Second, Anupong is likely to retire soon and will certainly not be linked to a(nother) potential massacre against the own people.
Additionally, the prime minister has assured that a crackdown against the red shirts has not been planned (yet!). On the other hand I really question how long this can carry on? This is not a situation that can contain itself for a long period, especially other protagonists blending in (the alleged 'third force' in the violent clashes) or threaten to take things into their own hand. Also, will the army follow suit and can stay unified?
Yellow Shirts Threaten to Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
The "Peoples' Alliance for Democracy" (PAD), also known as the yellow shirts, has given the government a seven-day-ultimatum to crack down on the red shirts or else they would take matters into their own hands. The yellow shirts have been mostly quiet during the anti-government protests of the red shirts, apart from a few statements. But now it seems that they have enough standing at the sidelines and watching the situation between the government and the red shirts go nowhere.
According to an article by AFP, the threat sounds like this:
"In seven days we hope that the government will deal with the terrorists from Thaksin immediately, otherwise we will show our voice to protect the country and the royal family," said Parnthep Pourpongpan, a spokesman for the Yellow group formally known as the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
The Yellows are calling on the Reds "to value their own lives by not making any untrue statements saying that the government killed the people," Parnthep told AFP.
"The Red Shirts should save their lives by stopping the rally," he said, adding that the PAD's actions would be "according to the constitution".
"Thai govt given ultimatum by 'Yellow Shirt' allies", AFP, April 18, 2010
So what does "according to the constitution" mean? I cannot possibly imagine that the encounter between the two fractions would remain peaceful - it never has been peaceful!
Another PAD quote:
PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang said: "Be prepared for a big and long rally. We will not disperse if the nation and the [royal] institution are still in danger.
"Decide for yourself if you will join the fight. And I am sure if the government cannot do anything in seven days, it will be our biggest rally ever."
"Return of the yellow shirts", Bangkok Post, April 19, 2010
Thanong Khanthong (yes, that guy!) fears the worst facing the possible outcome.
If the Yellow Shirts do actually come out, we'll witness a Civil War. In that event, Thais from all colours will come out to kill each other because by that time they can't differentiate who are their friends or foes.
The Yellow Shirts' warning comes at a critical timing. They have watched the crisis situation develop to upheavals, with a breakdown of law and order and with a Killing War Zone at Khok Wua Intersection. The Abhisit government is getting weaker by the days as the military and police machines no longer function. (...)
Based on these factors, I expect that the Abhisit government must find a way to work with the security forces to take on the Red Shirts. This would also pre-empt the Yellow Shirts from coming out to confront the Red Shirts face to face, which would result in a full-scale Civil War.
"Its the turn of the Yellow Shirts", by Thanong Khanthong, Nation Blogs April 18, 2010
So according to Thanong, there'll be violence either way whether the government cracks down or the yellow shirts will counter protest? That would be a real quagmire!
The yellow shirts' announcement coincides with anti-red shirts protests in Bangkok throughout the weekend. Reuters has this video report.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6Smram2bA4&playnext_from=TL&videos=jCzNuj_IpTU&w=600&h=360]Video by Reuters via YouTube.
As a side note, there also has been a mini scandal involving The Nation and a picture where the crowed number has been allegedly multiplied with the help of photoshop. Even though The Nation insists the picture is untouched, looking at the provided hi-res version still leave me unconvinced.
Gloves Are Off Once Again As Police Failed to Arrest Red Shirt Leader, Military Takes Over Operation
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV7PrHi_oMU&w=600&h=360]Video by Asian Correspondent via YouTube After a few days of pause during the Songkran holidays, the gloves are off again between the red shirts and the security forces.
We used to the Thai police for being not the most effective force in the world and today's 'skillful' display of 'determination' would have been even better executed by Carey Mahoney's squad.
The Nation thankfully already has written about the Schadenfreude inducing events of today.
Arisman Pongruangrong and other red-shirt leaders on a wanted list could not be apprehended when they were in full public view in the middle of the city, so what convinced Thai police that they could catch them by storming a hotel that once belonged to Thaksin Shinawatra? (...)
Not to mention that two senior officers were taken by the red mob from the hotel to the Rajprasong rally site to "guarantee" the escapees' safe return. How come what was supposed to be a pre-dawn sting operation ended with Arisman staging the escape just before 10am and mobs accompanying all the police targets back to Rajprasong at noon? (...)
The operation reportedly started at 3am, with stake-out forces stationing themselves near the hotel's entrances and exits, with a few disguising themselves as guests. Problem was, nobody knew for sure which rooms the targets - Arisman, Suporn Attawong, Payap Panket and Jeng Dokjik - were staying in. The four reportedly arrived at the hotel at around 4am.
Then around 6am another group of officers, purportedly working for an assistant police chief, arrived. One of them then committed a grave blunder by asking the hotel reception for house keys that could open all suspicious rooms.
That apparently did it. Phone calls must have been made by certain staff members and within minutes red shirts living nearby were gathering at the hotel. By the time the two groups of officers became aware of each other's presence, the hotel was crawling with red shirts. (...)
The police called their superiors and requested commando reinforcements. Through all these hectic developments, the hotel staff managed to buy time and kept the house keys away from the now restless, and pretty much clueless, officers.
When the policemen finally got hold of the keys, Arisman was already playing a Mission Impossible hero, albeit with some difficulty due to his weight. His face was white and he appeared disoriented once he dropped himself to safety, into numerous red hands waiting to grab him on the ground.
"An embarrassing fiasco for govt", The Nation, April 16, 2010
Arisman Pongruengrong, a former singer turned activist, is one of the more radical persons inside the red shirt movement and is also believed to have stirred up the emotions at the storm onto the parliament, which then triggered the state of emergency.
It didn't take long after the botched arrest attempt for the red shirts to take offense in this and soon after that Arisman appeared on stage and more or less declared open season on prime minister Abhisit.
Speaking of Abhisit, he has made his first public appearance after days of suspicious absence and his response to the embarrassment was somehow unprecedented.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, speaking in a special television broadcast on all stations, said Gen. Anupong Paochinda would take charge of the peacekeeping force meant to prevent violence by red-shirted protesters who are seeking to topple his government.
"A decision has been made to make the command line more effective and swifter," Abhisit said. "Therefore I have made an order to change the person in charge to Anupong, the army commander."
Anupong's appointment sends a signal that Abhisit is willing to raise the stakes in his standoff with the tens of thousands of mostly rural protesters camping in the Thai capital by letting the army take direct charge of security. Thai media have reported widely that junior commanders are itching to move against the protesters.
"Thai army chief takes charge of restoring order", by Associated Press, April 16, 2010
Bangkok Pundit has more quotes and also analyses what this move could mean for the next few days.
German News Coverage of Saturday's Clashes
Thailand normally doesn't appear very often in the headlines in Germany. If so, it is in most cases the cliché stories on either the sandy beaches, farangs behaving badly in Pattaya, elephants in distress or other quirky and weird stuff. The so called 'hard news' are rarely to be found - except when there are color-coded anti-government protests with optional violent clashes like we have now. Here's how some German media outlets are seeing the current political situation. Bernd Musch-Borowska, South-East Asia correspondent for the public ARD radio affiliates, thinks that the clashes could have been avoided but the rifts between the government and the red shirts are growing more and more.
Both sides are as well right as they are wrong. They are all fighting to democracy, but nobody is ready to listen to the other side's opinion at the least. (...)
A few weeks ago he [Abhisit] could have saved the situation with genuine negotiations with the red shirts and a brave decision for fresh democratic elections. But now the damage has been done, Thailand's reputation is heavily ruined and an easy way out of the political crisis is now almost unreachable. Too big is the mistrust in each other.
(...) The Thai province has awaken under Thaksin and the rural people are not willing to let the elites in Bangkok, the military and the conservative royalists disenfranchise them of their basic democratic rights. Under Thaksin the Thais have understood, to use their voice in order to influence political decisions and can contribute for their improvement of their lives.
(...) Respect for each other would be the first step to a true democracy in Thailand.
"Kommentar: Die Eskalation hätte vermieden werden können", Bernd Musch-Borowska, tagesschau.de, April 11, 2010
Nicola Glass, an experienced German freelance journalist, said in an interview with Deutsche Welle that even if new elections are announced, the crisis is far from over.
Q: Would a dissolution of the parliament mean the end of the crisis in Thailand?
A: I don't think so that the crisis would end. Should parliament be really dissolved and new elections are called - which the red camp would very likely win - then we can be in for a déja-vu. Because then the opponents of the red shirts [the yellow shirted PAD] - like back in 2008 - would go on the streets and try to chase out a Thaksin-allied government.
"Die Krise ist noch lange nicht vorbei", DW-World.de, April 12, 2010
The weekly newspaper Die Zeit has a profile of the red shirts, written by Dr. Wolfram Schaffar from the University of Hildesheim discussing the origins, describing them as a grass root movement, but also...
But even if it appears so, the democratic consciousness does not always run deep at the red shirts. They skillfully play on populist motives: for example they attacked a gay-parade in Chiang Mai. And the donated blood and spilled it "for democracy" in front of government house. (...)
At last it is unclear, if the reds are able to set up a functioning government and if a return of Thaksin does any favor for the Thai democracy. (...) Nonetheless, their demand for new elections are neither hyperbolic or inequitable. The more the elites are hiding behind coups, politically motivated court decisions and military state of emergencies, the more they drive them to the reds.
"Aufruhr In Bangkok: Thailands Erste Opposition", by Dr. Wolfram Schaffar, Die Zeit, April 12, 2010
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung describes the sombre mood during the Thai New Year festivities (aka Songkran) in Bangkok, but somehow life goes on in the big capital.
Bangkok is very large. The pictures, that go around the world, are horrible. Fights, gunshots, deaths. But they are a small, albeit dramatic excerpt. The city is affected in two zones - that is tragic, but the rest is not directly affected. (...)
And the Thais? (...) at central places like Silom Road or the kilometers-long traffic vessel Sukhumvit people take it in a laid-back manner. They don't talk about it, at least not with the farangs, the westerners. They are more excited. Sure, there is a deep division running through Thailand, but they are more focussed to earn some money again, you often hear. And the taxi drivers are, as long as they speak English, more interested that Bayern Munich has beaten Manchester United than in the violent clashes. They simply avoid Ratchaprasong. They laugh.
(...) The traffic is less busy these days. It might be because of Songkran, since many are on vacation, it might be because of the tense situation. You won't get the answer from the Thais. They don't like to talk about uncomfortable things. If you ask them, they laugh nervously. "Don't know", they say. Those who do say something, think it looks more dramatic than it really it - typical Thai.
"Thailand: Es Wird Schon Gutgehen, Es Geht Immer Gut", by Hartmut U. Hallek, FAZ.net, April 14, 2010
Willi Germund writes a very critical editorial in the Frankfurter Rundschau and sees times in Thailand are changing.
Welcome to Thailand, the "country of smiles", where nothing will be like it has been in the last 60 years. (...)
The times where the province votes the government and Bangkok topples it, are slowly over. The rural people are demanding equality in the emerging Thailand, what the feudal aristocracy does not want to accept so far. The storm of the red shirts falls into a phase of the decline of the old regime.
"Analyse: Die Macht der Generäle", by Willi Germund, FR-Online.de, April 11, 2010
Germund has also mentioned a person who he thinks ordered the crackdown on Saturday. I will not name the person, but it's written in the second to last paragraph - you still can throw the article into Google translation to see the context it's written in. He did the same claim in the regional paper Badische Zeitung (sixth paragraph). Even though he says that Thai media have reported (indirectly) it, I cannot remember having read this anywhere. There's no way to verify his claim - or his credibility!
Foreign Editorials and Essays on the Current Political Crisis in Thailand
Here are some articles and essays on the current situation I've read the past few days. They are all worth a read. First up the Asia Foundation focusses on the role of the King and the changing perception of the red shirts.
But politicians are another matter, and the image of both politicians and the military has changed in the eyes of the Thai population. Villagers are no longer uneducated, and with the power of information technology, have become well informed about both their nation and the world. They are no longer willing to be deferential and respectful simply because it was to be their station in life. All Thais want to articulate their needs, aspirations, and, in times like these, their discontent. Any respect for leaders, be they in government or civil society, should be earned, not simply given. It is time for Thais from all walks of life to engage in spirited but constructive and civil political discourse. This will require a great change in mindset by the nation’s political elite. It will also require that ordinary Thais feel they have a stake in the nation’s political process and their country’s future, with both rights and responsibilities.
"Uniting a Divided Thailand", John J. Brandon, Asia Foundation, April 14, 2010
The Wall Street Journal's op-ed by Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker reflects on the fallout after the violent clashes of last Saturday and see the window of opportunity for a peaceful solution of the protests decreasing.
Both sides have martyrs and grounds for revenge. (...)
Electoral politicians are scrambling to shift ground in line with the voters on whom they depend. With a big election victory, the reds could reinstate the 1997 constitution scrapped by the 2006 coup, void the actions of the coup government, put the coup generals on trial, and bring back former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. In fear of these prospects, die-hard groups are howling for repression rather than negotiation. The conservative and royalist "yellow shirts" have called for martial law. Yet with every day of delay in restarting negotiations, the Democrats' electoral prospects slip still lower.
Since the 2006 coup, parliament has been battered and belittled. Two elected governments have been overthrown. More than 200 elected legislators have been banned from politics. A new constitution deliberately sets out to diminish parliament's role. The consequences are now clear. The country desperately needs to reinstate parliament as a national forum.
Thailand is running out of mechanisms for compromise. Various academic groups, business groups, peace advocates and elder statesmen have failed to gain any traction as potential conciliators. By loudly and repeatedly claiming to be defending the monarchy, the die-hard groups have eroded the institution's old role as mediator. There remains only a slim chance for Mr. Abhisit to play a positive role in the emergence of the new political Thailand, rather than being a casualty in the collapse of the old order.
"Thailand Runs Out of Room for Compromise", by Pasuk Phongpaichit and Chris Baker, Wall Street Journal, April 15, 2010
The Wahsington Post's editorial calls prime minister Abhisit not to further delay possible elections and explains why we have the political crisis in first place.
Neither side in Thailand's class-based political conflict is a paragon of democracy. (...) The root of Thailand's years of conflict, however, is the unwillingness of the old establishment to accept that Mr. Thaksin has the support of the country's majority. (...) After two more prime ministers were forced from office by demonstrations and questionable court rulings in late 2008, Mr. Abhisit brought the anti-Thaksin forces to power without calling a new election. He has resisted holding one since, for the obvious reason that Mr. Thaksin's supporters probably would win once again.
Mr. Abhisit is now suggesting that he could call an election at the end of this year. That stall is dangerous and unlikely to work. (...)
What ought to be clear by now is that anti-democratic tactics, from military intervention to street barricades to convenient court edicts, will not end Thailand's turmoil. The only solution is for both sides to accept that elections should decide who governs Thailand -- and that both winners and losers should respect basic political and civil rights.
"Stopping Thailand's Endless Battle Of The Yellow And Red Shirts", Washington Post, April 15, 2010
TIME Magazine's Hannah Beech describes the mood in Bangkok and the possible economical consequences. I also consider an award to her for the best quote describing Thailand in recent times!
In the facile political taxonomy we use to categorize nations, Thailand is considered a democracy. Yet the country remains, if not a banana republic, a juicy, messy mango republic. Over the past four years, two political blocs, loosely divided in terms of class and geography, have swapped control of government with whirlwind velocity, using ever more creative protest tactics and distortions of democratic institutions to vanquish their opponents. (...)
Even as this political farce has unfolded, Bangkok has, for the most part, felt strangely normal. Earlier this month, Abhisit declared a state of emergency in the capital after the red rallies swelled and mysterious grenades were lobbed across town. But restaurants were still packed, bars still buzzing. The only real outcry seemed to come when protesters had the audacity to converge near six shopping malls, forcing a halt to retail therapy.
Yet the growing political lawlessness is devastating for Thailand's economy — and the bloodshed of April 10 is impossible to ignore. Already, foreign investors are looking at regional alternatives like Indonesia or Vietnam as safer places to park their money. On April 12 Thailand's Finance Ministry trimmed half a percentage point off this year's growth estimate of 4.5% because of the continuing crisis. (...)
"Thailand's Broken Democracy", Hannah Beech, TIME, April 16, 2010
UPDATED Do 'Watermelon Soldiers' Cause Split in the Thai Military?
Anasuya Sanyal, Channel News Asia's Bangkok correspondent, has reported on the apparent divisions inside the security forces. The transcript can be found here, including the link to the video of her report.
The term 'watermelon soldiers' may sound cute, but it's a phenomenon that's increasingly dangerous for the Thai military. It refers to soldiers who wear green on the outside but harbour Red Shirt sympathies on the inside."Those influences have contributed to failure to bring an end to the six-week long protest that has roiled the Thai capital.
The situation turned violent when masked gunmen coolly opened fire on the Thai army last Saturday, taking out three officers and injuring scores of others, before a truce was called.
Said Thai Army Spokesman, Colonel Sansern Kaewkwamnerd, "Of course soldiers have their own political views. But when they are on duty, they are acting on behalf of the army. They cannot disobey orders.
"However, we are trying to examine whether any officers leaked intelligence to violent Red Shirt protesters. I believe every officer understands his role. However, if we find any, they will be punished accordingly."
Military law prohibits unauthorised personnel from giving out any information to the media.
But Thailand's most famous rogue officer, Major General Khattiya Sawadipol, "Seh Daeng", has come to epitomise the fissures in the military establishment.
And as a Red Shirt supporter, he explains the sentiment among the Kingdom's rank and file, and common origins and a similar socio-economic background make for mutual understanding.
"The military is completely red, excluding the top commanders. The army could disintegrate at any moment, but chain of command and military discipline is holding it together for now. But [rank and file soldiers] see their parents are in the protest, so their loyalty to the military is in question," said Major General Khattiya.
A week before Saturday's deadly clashes, there were many displays of friendship between the Red Shirt protesters and those sent to disperse them.
"'Watermelon soldiers' increasingly dangerous for Thai military", by Anasuya Sanyal, Channel News Asia, April 16, 2010
The video also shows some scenes of police forces showing their sympathy to the red shirts. The issue of security forces fraternizing with the protestors has been mentioned here before.
There's also still the question of a 'third force' that has fired into the crowd last Saturday. There have been hints to gunmen dressing in black roaming through the chaos, like this picture showing a masked man with an AK-47. The aforementioned Major General Khattiya alias Sae Daeng has also hinted that "Ronin warriors" were firing grenades at the soldiers. Also one reporter at The Nation thinks it was "not a botched anti-riot operation nor a lynching mob gone berserk. It was a head-on skirmish between two well-trained armed forces - one in fatigues and another in black. The red shirts were just props in the battlefield." Prachatai features an account of an unnamed soldier during the clashes, basically describing being overwhelmed in the chaos.
Al Jazeera English has also a report on the armed forces' role, with mentions of the rumored divisions and the military spokesman denying them.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZZRk0sTJww&playnext_from=TL&videos=JDNiqT-18JU&w=600&h=360]
One does not want to imagine what would happen if the military starts turning onto each other, if they haven't already begun.
UPDATE: Shawn Crispin has also written a thorough analysis on this topic at Asia Times. It also makes references to the seemingly random grenade attacks in recent weeks.
Foreign Minister Kasit Goes Berserk, Suspects Worldwide Pro-Thaksin Conspiracy UPDATE Audio posted
UPDATE: The John Hopkins University, where the talk was held, has posted the full audio of Kasit's speech. We haven't been talking about Thaksin for a while, have we? Well, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya thinks so as well and has used the next best opportunity in front of a microphone to lash out against Thaksin and everyone that helps him - which is in his opinion almost the whole world. AFP summarizes what must have been some astonishing quotes (to be enjoyed in all it's entirety for entertainment purposes).
Thailand's Foreign Minister lashed out at the international community Monday for failing to take action against fugitive ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whom he blamed for the country's political unrest.
"Everyone is washing their hands but he is a bloody terrorist," said Kasit Piromya, citing countries such as Russia and Germany for turning a blind eye over Thaksin's corruption conviction and allowing him in.
He also cited Dubai, which the billionaire Thaksin had reportedly used as a longtime base after being overthrown in a military coup in 2006, as well as Nicaragua and Montenegro, both of which he recently visited.
"There is this act of interference by third countries -- how can the Russians allow him there for two days or the Germans before that?"
"Everyone is playing naive, closing their eyes and so on, simply because he was once an elected leader," Kasit said.
He likened Thaksin to an Al-Qaeda terrorist and past "elected" leaders such as Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin and Benito Mussolini.
"Hitler was elected, Mussolini was elected, even Stalin could say that he was elected also but what did they do to their very society? This is the question," the top Thai diplomat said at a meeting with a small group of reporters and think tank heads.
Kasit, in Washington attending a landmark nuclear summit called by President Barack Obama, accused Thaksin of orchestrating demonstrations by his so-called Red Shirt supporters last week that led to 21 deaths in the bloodiest political unrest in 18 years.
The 60-year-old Thaksin exiled himself to avoid imprisonment on a 2008 corruption conviction and occasionally addresses the Red Shirts through Internet video links.
Kasit lamented that Thailand was "not getting any international cooperation at all" over Thaksin's case, saying even Interpol "just simply refused to work with us." (...)
While the world demanded for more democracy in Thailand, it "allows Thaksin to run loose as if nothing happens," he said.
Kasit called on the Obama administration to prod the Red Shirts to come to the negotiating table. The United States and Thailand are treaty allies.
"Thai FM slams international community over crisis", AFP, April 13, 2010
Good Lord, where do I even start?
It is an open secret that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs' unofficial top priority is to hunt down Thaksin wherever in the world he pops up. And since he seems to travel anywhere without any apparent problems, one might understand Kasit's outburst if (in his opinion) the one man who is solely to be blamed for a the big political mess that has happened in over the last five years cannot be apprehended and even seems to get international assistance.
I have previously blogged about Thaksin's stay in Germany and also mentioned his trip to Montenegro. Since then, Thaksin has claimed to have been in Russia as well. Additionally the Foreign Ministry has stated that he was in Sweden before that. But it should be noted that they got it wrong before when they suspected Thaksin to be expelled from UAE and to have flown to Siem Reap when the most recent red shirts protest begun.
It is astonishing how a branch of the government, or even a single person, can be so morbidly obsessed with one person desperately trying to hunt him down. So desperate that Kasit thinks he can afford to alienate nearly everybody.
As for the Hitler-Mussolini-Stalin-comparison and Kasit's claim that the most notorious figures in history were 'elected' into power, a simple look into Wikipedia might have saved him from this spectacular claim. Mussolini rose to power through intimidation of public authorities and political opponents with a large mob until he was appointed to lead the country by the king, Stalin was able to push out Lenin and later his own closest allies away from power, and even though Hitler's nazi party has won at the ballots, he was appointed Chancellor in hope by his coalition partners to be contained with a framework of conservative cabinet ministers - we all know how well that worked.
And how got Abhisit to power, again?
P.S.: Kasit also had some interesting quotes on another subject I will not discuss here.
Al Jazeera English's "Inside Story: Thailand on the edge"
Al Jazeera English is in my opinion one of very few international media organizations that has regular and well-balanced coverage on the ongoing Thai political crisis in recent years (see their 45-minute special). So in a very timely fashion they aired today a new edition of Inside Story about the recent developments in Thailand again, hosted by Hamish Macdonald. He is joined later by a panel consisting of UDD international spokesman Sean Boonpracong, Pravit Rojanaphruk, political editor at The Nation ("a pro-government newspaper" as noted by the host) and Dr. Tim Forsyth from the London School of Economics. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_91YdFJtIc&playnext_from=TL&videos=Mw09ilO9Ow0&w=600&h=360]
What I particularly like is the description of the yellow and red shirts that goes a bit more beyond the usual "red=Thaksin-supporters and yellow=royalists"-narrative.
Already a few weeks ago, when the red shirts were symbolically spilling blood onto the streets and gates, they aired another Inside Story on Thailand with nearly the same panel, except that time they were joined by Supong Limtanakool of Bangkok University.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYhkA9rjvI&feature=related&w=600&h=360]