They asked for it, Here they come.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Who fired them? and update with injuries preparedness.

yesterday i reached the pads mob around 19.00 pm-ish after i could not call a freind who weny there. she was inside the government house and people said it was too crowded so i went to the confrontation between PADsters and riot police beside the education ministry. Must be around 19.30 pm. after observing for an hour, i went back. ealier people said that police fired tear gas and some people had been shot (by something). couldn’t smell any remnant of tear gas. When i arrived the UDD protest an hour after, tear gas Prem’s house left its effects and unique ugly smell.  Only smelled something like water, sweat and piss. Maybe I am not a sniffing dog.

Later, people were organized to sit and from human chain and sing protest song in front of riot police who were about 20 meters way.

Danger for firing blank shot could cause people to stampede one another becasue they are so disorganized.

i got bored so i go home.

Anyway since Matichon broadcasted a footage from MCOT showing fume all over the place i don’t know what to trust.

 

By the way, HRH MAha Chakri Sirindhorn assigned medical team via Nation.

Filed under: Political Sciences , Bangkok rally, PADs, ra

PADs take back a portion of Makawan

Just got a call from a friend observing the situation in front of UN. PADs in other provinces block south airports via Nation.

Lists of people willing to join strike and protests in other places (Matichon):
State Railway of Thailand: 240 sick leaves
THAI labor union leader allow “sick leave” without sending prior notice.

Filed under: Political Sciences , PADs

Appeal considered

Update from the Nation

Representing the PAD, Lawyer Nititorn Ngamluea said that the plantiff; the government, has 15 days to submit complaint to counter the defendant’s appeal request.

During the period or before the court’s ruling on the appeal, the protesters have rights to continue their protest in the Government House compound.

But how can they last another 15 days with poor shelter, nightly rain and lack of facilities, is their problems.

The Nation reported:

Police fire teargas to disperse protesters at Makkhawan Bridge

At 10:50 am, police fired teargas at protesters blocking the Gate 7 of the Government House on the side of Padung Krung Kasem Canal.

Bangkok Post reported clarification:

olice broke into the Government House because it has to follow the injunction of the Civil Court, which ordered that supporters of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) move out of the Government House and its compound, deputy police spokesman Surapon Thuanthong said Friday.

The move came after legal execution officials placed the court’s order at five entrances of the Government House to officially inform the protesters that they leave the compound immediately.

Pol Maj Gen Surapon said police are not trying to break up the rally.

“We are not dispersing the crowd. But we follow the court’s order,” he said. “And police did not use force on protesters because this is a sensitive matter.”

He also dismissed initial reports that police threw teargas on protesters.

“Blood will not be shed,” he insisted.

Needless to say at the Manager, it is announced as violence from police and riot unit tried to remove blockade at Makkawan bridge.

Probably the deliver of injunction and execution of court order?

Filed under: Political Sciences

Is Pallop just a threat to keep Chamlong?

Here is a statement from Gen. Pallop Pinmanee, according to the Nation:

“But if I step in to lead it I’ll use my way, which is not peaceful one,” Pallop said.

“To reach our goal, sometime it has to be painful so that it could go ahead. It’s possible that it could be similar to the May 1992 bloodshed.”

Was it just a threat or he just want to show that Chamlong and others should not be arrested, as they used the “peaceful” way. Since messy protest in front of Prem’s house, using obvious violence to provoke being cracked down by authority is not fashionable, and who want to die for democracy after previous heroes has been forgotten.

But strikes or “sick leaves” really hurt.

While waiting for English newspaper to pick it up, Matichon reported at least several strike will be imposed if the government use violence.

And if you think that protesting at the government house would take effect, you are wrong. The government’s most soft target is economy. Try going home by sending them petition that you will not pay tax, you will withdraw your money from banks within three days, you will not buy to boost economy, you will not pay public utility bills altogether might work better than being at the government’s house.

Filed under: Political Sciences

Day Four: Spreading the Protest and SCB

A short update today. Bangkok Post and the Nation: State Railway Authority started protesting on Thursday, some route fro North and Northeast will be affected. From the Nation: Chamlong will have to use his tactic to keep the protests with in the government house, they now have access o the building’s toilets and now underwear are available for female protesters. (Uniformed) police officer were forced to retreated earlier this morning.. Matichon reported Suropol Tuanthong confirming that snipers will not be used and in the other news, rumor has it that the army commanders will ask Samak to consider a leave if he use violence.

Media are informing people about negative impacts of PADs protest, whether or not Mr Samak earlier asked them to take side. Thairath reported deputy spokesperson as saying they have evidence, locked up in the government house about the Saturday ceremony.

On the other interesting report, also from Matichon, Siam Commercial Bank will not return the Shinawatra frozen money to the Revenue Department, unless the Administrative Court order the bank to do so, according to Anand Payarachun, the board chairman. Earlier the Nation reported “Who is the real ‘Revenue Department’? : Anand.” This should open up a new debate on wealth and steering governance in the confusing authority’s orders. If you watch the Corporation, then you might recall that a corporation would do anything to benefit shareholders.

Filed under: Political Sciences , PADs roundup

Extension, Please. PADs will stay till Sunday and Logistics (updated)

UPDATE Just got this via forward mail. Love it. Thanks my friend Gigi.

After the government moved the venue for royal event, and they are equipped with shower room, according to the Nation. PADs request people to stay until Sunday and they will win.

Win what? Messy government house?

The Nation also reported that the Cambodian -Thai meeting will be postponed due to the protest.

With dragging on without ending protest, people would leaking. It is natural that they have to work and this time PADs protest strategy do not allow workers to join in the evening and leave for home after midnight, which would bring more people who worked in Bangkok. They now rely on protesters from upcountry, according to the number of buses and vans parked in nearby area. The leaders asked more and more of people that need to use toilet, shower and eat by telling them they should be in the government house compound and pressurized the mass by announcing threats of arrest and police dispersing the mob, which, will never come, according to Samak.

If the organizers could not manage proper toilet and shower corner, it would be more difficult to female protesters to stay. Some post in Manager webboard ask for donation of “flashlight, whistle, helmets, umbrellas, hat, fans, towels, tissue paper, plastic bags and rubber band (to be used as makeshift toilet.)” Other requested “female and male underwear.”

A friend was sleeping in at the government house last night and confirmed that people can still come and go. Food supplies was plenty (and vegan food were available.)

Filed under: Political Sciences , managing a rally, mob in Bangkok, PADs

Gandhi’s Nightmare

The PADs protest raise questions and doubt for people who heard that it was nonviolent. As we have seem television and website broadcast, it did not seem to be so. Does nonviolent simply mean unarmed or that no one is physically hurt others.

Sharp end of a flag pole

When Gandhi said “You must be the change you want to see in the world,” it seemed so easy to me at first. Later my personal refection to his “be” was more developed (over the years after leaving nonviolent class, which started so early that my brain was and will not function before 10 am.) It is important to change the world by embracing that change– being that change. When someone said “I want to change the regime by nonviolence, that person must also be nonviolent.” The end and the mean have to be translated into being and living the principle.

Considering what PADs have been proclaiming that they want to bring about “democratic” change, can they be the change and democratic?

I remembered that in Gandhian’s protest or march, he urged people to face threatening authority with calm and even willing to embrace suffering He’d rather fast than let other people starved because of his action. People attending protests led by Gandhian principle will rather be hit by opposition or authority or willingly jailed if they block the road or conduct civil disobedience that also violate the law. They respect rule of law and willing to be accountable and responsible for the consequences.

What is non-violence

Back to the modern peace research, I think Johan Galtung’s definition of violence, when dichotomous definition is still needed, was clear enough to understand:

“I understand violence as the avoidable impairment of fundamental human needs or, to put it in more general terms, the impairment of human life, which lowers the actual degree to which someone is able to meet their needs below that which would otherwise be possible. The threat of violence is also violence.”

[Johan Galtung, Kulturelle Gewalt; in: Der Bürger im Staat 43, 2/1993, p. 106]

Despite the definition is very broad, it is clear to see that Galtung pushed definition of violence beyond armed-unarmed or cause visible harm-harmed. With this foundation, many may have heard his principle of physical/ structural/ cultural violence (either in a triangle chart or otherwise). Using this principle of “impairment of human life,” a nonviolent strategy should step beyond avoiding physical damage.

Using physical/ structural/ cultural violence theory, it could have been explained that Samak government cause structural and cultural violence to PADs, so PADs broke into a physical eruption of or their “non-violent” that also disrupt well being of other people. What could they do to break such circle is much more important than what they have done to perpetuate the circle?

I am not in any position to judge what impairment had happened physically, structurally and culturally in the past two days. Earlier, yesterday morning I got up with faint noise of “get out” and realised that someone must have opened their tv, reporting live from the government’s house. Sleep deprived, I turned to an old lecture notebook and saw that triangle.

And I thought that is not my nightmare. it’s also Gandhi’s nightmare if he can feel, this time, how his ahimsa has been interpreted.

Filed under: Political Sciences , non violence, PADs, peace studies

I check it, He Lied about Saturday

The Nation reported

Sondhi claims Kowit lied over royal ceremony at Government House
Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, claimed Thursday that Interior Minister Kowit Watana lied about the royal ceremony to be chaired by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn at Government House.

But Sondhi told the crowd at the rally site inside Government House that he had checked with the Royal Household Bureau and learnt that the Crown Prince had no plan to chair any ceremony at Government House on Saturday.

The Nation

Those who do not pay nicely will lose a lot of popularity and Taxi radio also attacked PADs’ obstruction the national reconciliation from mother’s day to father’s day.

That said, let’s talk about other incentive provided by the government. Thairath and The Nation reported that free transportation will be provided for those who want to return home. Kowit, reported by the Nation, asked provincial governors to discourage people to join the rally in Bangkok.

It seemed that the government strategy is to wear them out and discredit them using notorious mass behavior mismanagement by PADs leaders. The government also claim not to injure people but will use discrete ways to filter leaders out and arrest them. PADs indeed create more tension and conditions for protester not to go home.

Lately, just five mins ago, Matichon reported, Samak proposed to change the venue of the Saturday event to Suan Umpon.

When asked if I will go to take photo around that areas, I said “no way.” It must stink and Matichon confirmed that the house is a mess.

In print edition, Thairath mentioned that plain clothed or yellow clothed police official were deployed inside. Thanks: local duck noodle soup who provide free copy.

Filed under: Political Sciences , PADS rally

The Show Must Go On, but how are the Audiences?

Previously after refusing to turn themselves into the police, doing a strip show on the stage, according to Matichon and sat among people who will ensure their arrest will not be easy. PADs leaders talked about appeal. Manager reported Korn Chatukavanich visited the mob personally as a citizen (and Democrat MP?). Matichon, interviewing, Pariya Thewaneruemitkul (Thammsat Law school) said rebellion (maximum penalty is capital punishment) charge is too much. I guess the government did not intervene earlier because they want to gather solid evidences that they are indeed rebellions.

Ironically, the government will use judicial process against them, the same way Thaksin faced series of legal action.

Prachatat newspaper which is not available over counter in my area reported that NBT aggressors broke in to a private hosting room for Princess Ubolratana at NBT and still broadcasts Luk Kai “Stealing Chicken” theory. The theory talked about PADs used the smaller event like this mob, to overthrow old institutions respected by Thais, by their new politics. I am trying to find more reference to this. The news were read over Taxi Community Radio all day.

The man is keeping low profile, but if you miss him, there is clubthaksin.com and this slide show where people petition UK embassy to save him.

Filed under: Uncategorized