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Asean summit cancelled by Red Shirted Protesters

matamafia

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http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/14885/clash-at-pattaya-protest

Protests prompt Asean summit closure

More red shirts on way for summit's second day
By: POST REPORTERS and AFP
Published: 11/04/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

The foreign ministers of China, Japan and South Korea cancelled a meeting at the Asian summit in Pattaya on Saturday after Thai red-shirtt protesters blockaded their hotel, officials said.


Red-shirt protesters in Pattaya try to break through a police blockade on the road leading to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort Hotel where the Asean summit is being held. Some managed to reach the hotel and a representative handed over a letter expressing disapproval of the country’s leadership to the Asean Secretariat. CHANAT KATANYU

Hundreds of demonstrators calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva prevented the Japanese minister's car from entering the venue in the beach resort of Pattaya, reporters said.

The meeting, which was set to discuss North Korea's recent rocket launch and economic issues, was delayed after the ministers had waited for an hour, officials from the Chinese and Japanese delegations said.

News of the key Asian nations' decision to withdraw from the summit comes after Thai protesters laid siege to the gathering of Asian leaders on Friday, clashing with security forces and forcing their struggle to oust the prime minister into the international spotlight.

Mr Abhisit had earlier vowed that the summit, which had been focused on finding ways to fight the global financial crisis, would go ahead. It has already been postponed and relocated several times because of Thailand's political turmoil.

"We will ensure that the meeting will proceed smoothly," he told a press conference. "I would like to reiterate that we can provide security."

But red-shirted protesters of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) breached several security cordons and ultimately scuttled Saturday's summit start.

EARLIER REPORT

Southeast Asian leaders have started their conference in Pattaya, where anti-government protesters poured into the venue yesterday. More were on their way there last night.

Around 2,000 red-shirt demonstrators broke through security barriers and presented a letter denouncing the government to the Asean Secretariat representative at the Asean summit, which is being held until tomorrow.

Protesters from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship swarmed areas outside the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel, the summit venue.

They made their way through the police checkpoint before confronting lines of soldiers guarding the inner security layer. They gathered outside the hotel gate for two hours, then finally moved inside the hotel area.

Asean and other leaders attending the summit gradually arrived at U-tapao naval airport near Sattahip, Chon Buri.

However, the protest blockade stopped some from making their way through the front gate of the hotel, so they were taken in by other entrances. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva reached the hotel by helicopter.

Leaders from the 10-member Asean grouping and from China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are at the summit to push for further economic integration, after the G-20 summit in London two weeks ago.

While the red shirts were pushing their way towards the hotel, about 100 disgruntled local people wearing blue shirts turned up and scolded them.

Both groups exchanged heated words and engaged in scuffles. The blue-shirt people swarmed the protesters' cars and pushed them, prompting some of the red shirts to flee.

The two sides clashed briefly before security forces stepped in. The situation was brought under control within half an hour. There were reports of minor injuries.

Still, groups of red-shirt demonstrators led by Arisman Pongruangrong, a former Thai Rak Thai MP, broke through three barricades manned by police and soldiers to reach the hotel.

In Bangkok, UDD leader Veera Musikhapong last night urged at least 100 taxi drivers and other supporters to take more protesters to Pattaya so they could join the gathering at the hotel.

They were to take their vehicles to the Royal Plaza and Vibhavadi Rangsit road Soi 3, then pick up UDD protesters for the journey to Pattaya.


Demonstrator in front of the military lines on Friday.


In a video-link broadcast to supporters in Bangkok last night, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra urged UDD supporters in Bangkok and Chon Buri to increase the size of the demonstration outside the Asean summit venue. He insisted Mr Abhisit must dissolve parliament.

Back at the hotel, Mr Arisman was allowed to meet a representative of the Asean Secretariat.

He lodged a letter denouncing the country's leadership under Mr Abhisit as illegitimate. The letter added that the government was in no legal position to negotiate foreign deals.

The demonstrators decided to pull back from the hotel after delivering the letter but vowed to return today.

Influential politician Newin Chidchob, a leader of the majority group of MPs in the coalition Bhumjaithai party, was said to have led a group of blue-shirted people from Buri Rum to Pattaya to counter the red shirts. Last night he met Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban at the hotel to discuss how to block the UDD protesters.

Mr Suthep said the government was determined that the summit, starting with an informal dinner among Asean leaders, should proceed without a glitch.

"The interests of 16 countries are involved. We should not bring our domestic problems [to the table].

"I still cannot understand why they want to obstruct Thailand from hosting this summit," Mr Abhisit said.

He insisted that the international community was aware of the red-shirt protesters' objectives and what they were up to.

Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said Asean leaders appreciated the protesters' decision to withdraw from the premises and allow the summit to go on.

"We do not need to share the demonstrators' opinions, but we listen to them," said Mr Surin after receiving the one-page petition from the UDD through his external relations chief P. Bala Kumar.

Top military officers yesterday gathered at the residence of Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon in the compound of the First Infantry Division Royal Guard headquarters to assess the situation.

They agreed an emergency decree should not be invoked, to avoid walking into a "trap" laid by Thaksin who allegedly plans to instigate violence.
 

johnny333

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Next time they should hold it in Spore. I'm sure the hotels could do with the business.


They can close Spore down for the duration of the summit.
They can move all the Sporeans to JB to ensure they don't get in the way :rolleyes:
 

Cestbon

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Next time they should hold it in Spore. I'm sure the hotels could do with the business.


They can close Spore down for the duration of the summit.
They can move all the Sporeans to JB to ensure they don't get in the way :rolleyes:

Peasant no ball. If can get 100 local people to protest is consider very success.
All world major meeting should be held in Singapore as no one dare to protest.
 

Sideswipe

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Asset
Abhisit step down as PM, Red Shirted Protesters happy, Thaksin buddies become new PM then Yellow Shirted Protesters came out, want new guy to step down, new guy step down, Yellow Shirted Protesters happy then Red Shirted Protesters come out again.....

elections also no use. Both Abhisit and Thaksin parties can't win 50%+1 seats in parliament. They must depend on smaller unrealiable parties to have majority and form coalition govt. Those small parties are double snakes, something join this party to form govt, then there got more benefits, join that party to form govt.

how to solve this mess?
 

Mohd_Ah_LEE

Alfrescian
Loyal
Abhisit step down as PM, Red Shirted Protesters happy, Thaksin buddies become new PM then Yellow Shirted Protesters came out, want new guy to step down, new guy step down, Yellow Shirted Protesters happy then Red Shirted Protesters come out again.....

elections also no use. Both Abhisit and Thaksin parties can't win 50%+1 seats in parliament. They must depend on smaller unrealiable parties to have majority and form coalition govt. Those small parties are double snakes, something join this party to form govt, then there got more benefits, join that party to form govt.

how to solve this mess?


There is no solution at all except for a Civil War.

People are not at peace with each other and will always fight and be at odd regardless of poll result. Therefore guns & bullets (instead of ballots) and bombs and choppers will have to do their jobs.

Settle and close the accounts once and for all.
 
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