It is becoming chaos. Police can't seem to do anything. They are attacked and pushed back, but when they move back into position, there are scuffles and they are criticised. Now:
A number of protesters pushed through police barriers and stormed into the runway and the passenger building at Phuket Airport on Friday.
They committed vandalism by breaking windows at the VIP room.
The provincial governor was trying to negotiate with organisers from the local chapter of the People's Alliance for Democracy. Protesters said they were angry that the airport allowed the state carrier, Thai International Airways, to continue its flights.
The Nation reports:
Meanwhile protesters have regained control over Government House and surrounding areas from the Royal Plaza to the bridge. The PAD has set up mobile stages inside the Government House and around its grounds.
BP: As I just blogged, Sondhi L is threatening to beseige police stations unless he gets what he wants- to cheers from the civilsed PAD crowd. According to The Manager, he has set a 7pm deadline or else. Rosana and other Senators say you can't use force - does that include tear gas and water canons? I don't understand the dialogue argument as Rosana said yesterday that the government had made contact with the PAD leaders, but they have not responded. The PAD have stated clearly that Samak and the Cabinet must resign.
That can't be what they want as MPs could just choose Samak all over again or will the Democrat option come into play? Dissolution is unlikely to work as I don't imagine PPP supporters in the Northeast will be that happy with things so either we have a military government and martial law or the government takes action against the protesters.
It seems things are escalating so a State of Emergency is the only way for the government to control the situation.
BP
Anupong doesnt agree with you. He said no coup and now wasnt the time for a SoE. He said dialogue should be used and that the police could maintain order
Interesting as obviously the police can maintain order if they just surround and share meals with the PAD but they dont have the strength to move them on. The military reshuffle has gone upstairs so the power relationship between Samak and Anupong has altered. This government wont make another military reshuffle without Anupong so the power is with him right now.
Or maybe Anupong knows he controls the troops while in the barracks but isnt so sure if they come out.
It looks like Samak is being left to come up with the much talked of politcal deal or die (politically)
I would guess that Anupong is pissed to say the least at Samak's little miscalculation today
occasional poster
Anupong having to make two speeches in about an hour to stress no coup sounds worrying
occasional poster
TOC has breaking news (6:45) that the civil court has withdrawn its order to remove the protestors from government house. ToC so we must be careful but....
If true Samak wont be having a nice weekend. ToC also report Anupong not happy force was used ditto the caveat on reliability but.....
occasional poster
It seems the civil court have indeed cancelled the eviction order from government house on the grounds of police brutality.
Now wonder who ordered this? The word is Kowit.
occasional poster
It is degenrating. Policde have fire dteargas at protestors outside police HQ after claiming they heard gunshots. TV shows it peaceful but pictures of young women having their eyes washed with water abound.
Panic seems to be taking over evn with the police
Noticeably Wongsawat was present who outranks Assawin at the time
occasional poster
Pundit, I was 3 floors above 350 police today, as they came into positions in full riot-control outfits, ie., helmets, plasti-shields and wooden batons.
1030 they were in position, as The Mob blasted a nasty song over their loudspeakers about how hated and ugly Thai police are...
1055 the police adjusted their gear, straightened their lines, got some last-minute instructions...
ant turned around and marched off!
The Mob applauded, and jeered! This is rule by Mob, not by Law!
For clarification on my bad typing. The police officer in command at the time fo the tear gassing was:
Phatcharawat Wongsuwan
TNN reports protestors were assembled outsdie when sevral bangs were heard and gas rose. Now apparently large crowds are heading in the direction of police HQ.
Are we seeing a change from the PAD wanting to be beaten to the police wanting to be beaten?
Dangerous games by all
occasional poster
It seems no one wants to lose face, and that is what's stopping the political compromise.
PAD demanding the government resign is a ludicrous situation, but at the same time Samak and PPP have shown no sign of backing off the constitutional amendment/PPP/Thaksin exoneration strategy - what will be the end result?
Once the violence starts it will be hard to stop, and even if it is crushed for now, it will remain bubbling away for ages.
A reasonable compromise would be for PAD to withdraw the resignation demand, and Samak & PPP to back away from the constitutional amendment rush, and let the matter be debated in parliament and come up with proposed amendments which they agree are to be put to a public referendum after a reasonable consultative period.
Are any of the leaders (on either side) man enough to admit they might have made a mistake and went too far in their strategies?
The above assumes neither side really knows what the end result will be, because I would be surprised if this current scenario fits into anyones master plan.
Thaksin couldn't do it (after being given many opportunities to do so), but hopefully these leaders have more humility & integrity.
Well some sense and bizarrely it comes from the PAD. They say they want their huge units to return to government house and not head to police HQ. Apparently the police HQ demo is only symbolic.
Things are out of control enough without police HQ getting torched although I am sure Samak would like that little gift.
occasional poster
At about 8:20 pm, NBT showed footage before and after tear gas was fired while the newscaster said no one knew who fired the teargas with police denying the action. Earlier, police were seen being surrounded inside their compound and after that, pad mob seen running helter skelter. Can you call this tear gas a kind of self-defense?
The Post reporting Anupong rejected a SoE when Samak asked and told Samak to consider resigning or disolving the house. Reportedly the military wont support SoE even if Samak signs it
occasional poster
I just wonder how the PM feels. He started today described in the papers as having cemanted his position with the military reshuffle and then looked at lunch time like he was about to crush his enemeies. Now he is reportedly asked by the military commander he has just reappointed to consider his resignation, and to forget expecting military support even if he signs the SoE order
I apologise for so many posts today
occasional poster
And now it seems the coalition allies will demand the resignation of Samak but no disolution
occasional poster
Well now at 10PM the Nation is reporting that Anupong has told Samak to resign
occasional poster
Hi, can anybody explain what the Union/PAD connection is? I understand that the unions were part of the alliance during the Thaksin protest period, but I'm not quite sure what the unions hope to achieve by throwing in their support with PDA's actions right now.
Are Thai's all over the country really that committed to the PDA hardline right now? Do the pictures of police vaguely pointing a rubber bullet loaded gun at protesters enrage the memories of 92 that much?
It's getting weirdo.
They can't ask for a... dissolution. Because it means new elections !
And they would loose...again
That's the beauty if I may say of the thai political situation.
Stalemate.
What they would like to have, it's like a "coalition gvt" a "national union gvt", that they could easily control.
It's indeed a quiet coup, an indirect coup.
We are going back to... september 2006.
If I was Samak, I'd make better use of the media. Get unbiased local and foreign reporters onto the site so they may record and report what they see.
I feel that a crowd (mob or large gathering of peaceful people depending on how you look at it) lacks discipline when it comes to actions. As compared to the police or the army, who at most times are under the direction of someone superior, it is easy for a crowd to fall into chaos or get disorganized (assuming they are organized to a certain extent initially).
The best approach would be to let the crowd do what they want. This is not a sign of weakness or failure to take action. With the current circumstances, many people still feel that taking action is not justified. However, given enough time the protesters will grow vary, eventually fall out of line and are bound to do more PR self-damage.
With reporters in place, Samak will have his justification to retaliate or at least be able to go in and disperse the crowd without onlookers crying out foul.
Sadly, that's just my opinion and does not take various other political factors into consideration.
Veera
now,the "third hand" shows up again??
BKK post: Government: 'Third hand' may have fired tear gas