Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung confirmed that the Cabinet resolved to declare state of emergency over the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
Speaking to reporters via a teleconference at 5:50 pm that the government would declare state of emergency for Suvarnahbumi and Don Mueang airports and would assign police to handle the situation.
He said the Metropolitan Police chief would be in charge of situation at the Don Mueang and the commissioner of the Provincial Police Bureau 1 at the Suvarnabhumi.
and also:
Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoombamrung said he instructed the permanent secretary for Public Health to prepare 30 emergency medical teams in the aftermath of expected police's crackdown on protesters.He said police would try to negotiate with protesters first."But if the negotiations fail, let's keep our fingers crossed," Chalerm said."I want the negotiations to be successful because I don't want to see bloodshed.
BP: Chamlong is quoted in Matichon as stating that if there is any dispersal of protesters they will come back tomorrow in greater numbers.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat will declare state of emergency specifically for the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi International airports to empower police to break the demonstrations, a source said.
The prime minister would not use military forces to deal with the protesters but would use police.
The source said forces from the Metropolitan Police Bureau would be deployed to crack down on protesters at the Don Mueang airport and police from the Provincial Bureau 1 would be used to deal with protesters at the Suvarnabhumi.
BP: I doubt there can be criticism that it is making the situation worse for tourists. I am glad to see a state of emergency (and this restriction of rights) limited to only the areas affected.
6:15pm Thai Rath reports that Kasikorn Bank and DTAC have denied being financial backers of PAD.
6:15pm Thai Rath reports that Kasikorn Bank and DTAC have denied being financial backers of PAD.
BP: Yesterday, both the front legs and the hind legs of the little elephant mentioned those in the financial community were PAD backers (Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn)
6pm The Nation:
BP: So he is happy for the police to take control and restore law and order?
Thai Rath reports Col. Sansern, Defence Spokesman, has come out to state that the tanks seen on the street which has led to an understanding of a coup are actually not "tanks", but Scorpions [see here]. They were out on a performance excercise and are just returning to base.
6pm The Nation:
Natthawut said the government would like to call on the military not to mobilise the troops because the military leaders would not be purged.
Minutes after Natthawut talked to reporters, Army-run TV Channel 5 ran a running text at the bottom of TV screen saying troop movements that were seen by the public were soldiers returning from a demonstration held for Army cadets.
The PAD, meanwhile, was cautious, mooting a theory that the coup rumours were a decoy designed to distract the protesters at the Suvarnabhumi airport before an operation to disperse the crowd.
There were also grave concerns that a coup attempt could spark a nationwide violence involving pro- and anti-Thaksin mobs as well as the military. Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD leader, told The Nation: "Coup is the least of my concern now. I'm worried about violence because nobody seems to be in full control at the moment."
Thai Rath reports Col. Sansern, Defence Spokesman, has come out to state that the tanks seen on the street which has led to an understanding of a coup are actually not "tanks", but Scorpions [see here]. They were out on a performance excercise and are just returning to base.
BP: Somchai to speak at 6pm
Ah ah ah I love that, I love this amazing rethoric.
"It's not a tank. It's a scorpion. Therefore no coup".
;-)
Exactly, didn't they say the same thing before the last coup?!
Lucid
Oh! Just a Scorpion. I feel much better now.
BTW, thanks for live blogging. You've been been fascinating and informative for the past few days.
rumours of tanks at Rat Damneon Road near the King's palace.....
Lucid
Ok, who in their right mind would even suggest DTAC would be supporting PAD? It is friggin owned by a Norweigian company listed in the stock exhange.
-KV
Kasikorn's new to me ...
not dtac but the benjarongkul family probably.but as you noted they sold their shares and its all telenor now.
time for thaksin to name names.
1) Anyone who thinks it is a good idea to have a training exercise in armored vehicles today is a fool.
2) I have always heard Kasikorn was a primary supporter of the PAD. I know that Bantoon has spoken privately to a fairly wide range of people in ways that implied it.
3) Maybe the PAD are trapped this time. They could hold out at government house where they were well supplied. But that was in the center of the city. It would seem pretty easy for the police to surround an airport.
ok Anupong's spokeman reports on TV that they have advised government again to disolve government. He says "I'm not pressuring just advising"
should have sacked him when they had the chance?!?!
Lucid
Speaking of elephant legs, anyone take notes?
Not a time for making predictions methinks. Lets just hope for no violence in any form.
It would be a good idea to find a spokesperson less controversial than Chalerm
occasional poster
Unfortunately I cannot see this ending well. We have reachead a no win situation for Thailand amid the current situation. The Government 'have to' clear the protestors from the airports! Does the army then come in? If the army move in, does that mean the arrival of the reds and Seh Daeng? I think we could be in for a long ride...
Unless 'someone' intervenes!
UNWISE CHOICES: As usual we the people of Thailand will suffer the consequences of unwise choices made by our (incompetent/corrupt) leaders. It is as if Somchai Wongsawat (our timid but deceitful current PM-in-waiting-for-Thaksin) path to self-inflicted fatal fall had already been foretold.
"I will NOT resign. I will NOT yield. I have a duty to uphold and protect Thai democratic principles". - The same old trite speeches by Thai leaders who could no longer govern, are unwanted, but believed themselves indispensable. Ungracefully exited Thaksin Shinawatra under these circumstances . . . followed by his proxy libelous Samak . . . and so too will the wife-cheating invisible Somchai Wongsawat in no time at all.
Truth today: With or without a coup, it is indisputable fact that Somchai Wongsawat could no longer govern.
The option for Somchai Wongsawat is to resign now to demonstrate he is not power-hungry and acknowledge he could NO longer govern.
Sondhi and Chamlong had erred grievously by overreaching and flaunting accepted laws and rules of conduct and these two would be dealt harshly by history, and, by the Thai courts. But if Somchai Wongsawat clings on to power (he would eventually lose shortly anyway) and responds by directing the awesome deadly police/military force to eject the PAD protesters would bring on ignominy to Somchai and cohorts that would never be eraseable nor forgotten . . . AND the unlawful Sondhi/Chamlong & PAD will be using the bloodshed/carnage to draw rage and sympathy from its supporters and the citizens at large.
if the gov't retreat to chiang mai, and the coup is launched and presumably occupy bkk. then, well.. we're on a threshold of an un-"civil" war.
a botched coup or a coup that's not thought through is worse than useless. if they launch a coup, they have to succeed ( whatever that means).
A few thoughts. Lots of talk, specualtion and posturing today but to date no action. Maybe nobody is really sure of the relative power or weakness of their position, or maybe the invisble force is playing a psychological hand.
If a coup was coming would it actually be easier after the airports were cleared? Would the army really want to have to try and talk Sondhi out while his ASTV empire is probably dependent upon the protests, or would he prefer someone else did it first?
While on psychological warfare, part of it apart from blindsiding an ffreaking your opponet out is to get them to show their hand. To date the military have shown nothing much beyond they have the ability to get armoured vehicles into Bangkok The red side have showed they will threaten mass action although willprobably struggle to achieve it in the short term at least, will try to set up a war room in a "safe" area and have alrady let a few names out of the bag. They were panicked for a while and reacted. I dont know if more will happen tonight but the actions of today do seem more like a combination of probing and psychological action by the military. Now the government have to deliver on their SoE. I dont think it has been formally announced yet.
Of course none of this is in the interests of the country or its people but just part of the ongoing game in which the PAD are not even a major player.
occasional poster
seems to me the Government should deal with the subject of the use of violence by the police up front in a public announcement...
along the following lines:
the police are ordered to arrest the protest ringleaders and clear the airports and surrounding areas
the police will ask the protesters to depart peacefully
if the protesters do not comply then the police are permitted to use whatever crowd control methods and force that is necessary in the circumstances
where some of the protesters are armed with offensive or lethal weapons the police must protect themselves and are permitted to use similar or more powerful weapons to subdue and control these protesters
protesters that are not armed will be treated with limited force by the police where possible
to enable the police to more easily use its powerful force selectively protesters that are unarmed should separate themselves as much as possible from any protesters that are armed
all protesters must be aware that it is an offence to obstruct police officers in carrying out their duties and they will render themselves to arreest and charges if they interfere in police actions
the government and all involved in the arrest of ringleaders and dispersal of protesters wish that the operation be carried out peacefully with minimal inconvenience, damage to property and injury to persons as possible
What actually happen in today's coup rumour?
After the PM dismissed Army Chief's proposal, the Army went into panic mode for fear that the boss would be removed. True enough, PPP MPs collected signatures and asked PM to kick the Army Chief, one who refused to exercise his functional duties to protect the national interest, innocent people and properties. So, the army decided to put up the posture, sending signals that they are launching yet another coup. Four tanks from Saraburi, the Calvary Base, coincidentally travel down to 11th Regiment for demonstration to military school students. At the same time, they drummed up the movement of troops from 1st Army. The government and private sectors bought the rumour and released their employee from work early. PPP and UDD also got worry and started the call to activate Red-shirts to go against the coup. In the middle of the cabinet meeting, the government spokesman came out and dispel that government is removing military chiefs. Shortly after that, Army spokesman rejected the coup rumour and it was followed by Army TV Channel reporting tanks returning to Saraburi.
It was all posturing to ensure the military boss remains in job.