It was Holiday of Songkran water festival & Thaksin's Red Dogs had to Stir Shit!

[matamafia]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/140252/summit-collapses-state-of-emergency-declared

Summit collapses, state of emergency declared

Published: 11/04/2009 at 03:39 PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chon Buri on Saturday afternoon after red-shirt protesters broke into the Royal Cliff Beach hotel, the venue of the 14th Asean Summit in Pattaya.

He also confirmed the indefinite postponement of the Asean summit and related meetings.
Mr Abhisit said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban had been instructed to implement the enforcement of the Emergency Decree.

The emergency was lifted Saturday evening after the foreign guests left safely, but without any arrests or violence.

In announcing the end of the emergency, Mr Abhisit described the red shirts who broke up the meeting as "enemies of the state" and vowed to take action against them.

The announcement of a state of emergency came on Saturday afternoon after protesters led by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) core-member Arisman Pongruengrong swarmed through the venue, the Royal Cliff Hotel, including entering the Royal Wing where the leaders and their delegations were housed.
Related links

- VDO clips taken from UDD protest
- Summit collapse to cost B200bn
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- Rule of law can reverse day of shame
- Asian neighbours express sympathy to the government
- Red-shirt leader Arisman arrested
- THE BIG ISSUE: A NEW MOB, NEW COLOUR
- CHAOS AND ANGER: JUST YOUNG MEN ITCHING FOR A FIGHT
- 13 injured in morning red-blue clashes as police stand by
- What next for Abhisit after debacle?
- Red-shirts leave hotel
- Summit collapses, state of emergency declared
- PAD tells government to muscle up
- Summit postponed indefinitely
- Emergency Decree in Pattaya
- Protests cause summit postponement
- Clashes delay start of summits
- Pattaya Asean protest disperses
- UDD pulls back to Govt House, Pattaya
- Holidaymakers pour out of city, flee strife
- Rally disperses after handing protest letter to Asean
- PM tells protesters not to be misled
- City grinds to halt
- Earlier report
- Red-shirt protest gallery 2
- Red-shirt protest gallery
- UDD paralyses Bangkok traffic
- UDD issues ultimatum
- UDD issues 2nd announcement
- Red-shirt rally hurts tourism
- Shinawatra family leaves the country
- Govt knows where Thaksin is

The prime minister said he had subsequently consulted the other Asean leaders.
Mr Abhisit said the Asean leaders “understood the situation” and agreed with his decision.
He said the leaders of Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand - Asean's dialogue partners - all expressed appreciation of Thailand's efforts to host the summit. They also supported his decision to postpone the top-level meeting indefinitely.

Earlier report: Asean summits postponed


The prime minister said government's main priority now was to ensure the safety of the government leaders and their delegations and ensure their smooth departure.
He had made the decision to call off the meetings for the benefit of the country as a whole, Mr Abhisit said.

Red-shirt invasion

The red-shirt followers of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra UDD forced their way into the Royal Cliff Hotel a few minutes before 1pm.
They claimed angrily that some of their members had been injured during a clash in the morning with about 300 men dressed in blue.

They claimed the blue-clad people were sponsored by the government.

About 2,000 red-shirt protestors clashed with local residents wearing blue about 9am as the UDD mob tried to block the long narrow road leading to the South Pattaya hotel.

Both groups were armed with wooden poles and firecrackers. Although leaders of both sides seemingly tried to avoid a clash – a skirmish broke out resulting in a number of injuries.

The red-shirts were supported by a fleet of about 200 taxis that arrived in Pattaya from Bangkok to join the protest.

The clash between the red and blue shirts prevented the leaders of Japan, China and South Korea from making their way to the summit venue, as they were housed at the Dusit Resort and Amari hotels in North Pattaya.
The morning clash prompted the government to announce a postponement of the Asean-China, Asean-South Korea and Asean-Japan summits, which were scheduled to be held from 9am to about 11am.

At the time the government said these three summit meetings would still be held, but would be rescheduled.

But red-shirt core member Arisman led the protestors to the conference venue and demanded that he and other representatives be allowed inside to hold a press conference.

They were allowed to enter. During the press conference, Mr Arisman claimed that the blue-shirt protesters who went against the red-shirts were in fact military personnel.

He showed the media hundreds of blue shirts along with spent cartridges and Molotov cocktails and small pingpong grenades, which he said were used against the UDD protesters.

He demanded the summit be postponed. He claimed Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep should be held responsible, claiming that government-sponsored blue-shirt demonstrators had attacked the people.

Army intervention

Prior to the break in at the hotel, Mr Arisman was seen on television speaking by phone to a senior official. He said later the person he was speaking to was army Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda. Mr Arisman refused to negotiate, saying that Mr Abhisit was responsible for the clash between red and blue shirts in the morning.

The UDD supporters then broke the glass doors of the hotel, swarmed past soldiers guarding the entrance and entered the press centre. They spread across the conference venue, cheering loudly and chanting for the resignation of the prime minister.

Mr Arisman held another quick press conference at which he said that one red shirt protester who had been shot had later died at Banglamung Hospital. He also said that two taxi drivers were shot and accused Mr Abhisit, Mr Suthep and Newin Chidchob of masterminding the blue-shirt attacks.

Mr Arisman also said he was prepared to take responsibility for the damage to the hotel, but added the hotel was also partially responsible for agreeing to host the summit.

He issued an ultimatum, that police had an hour to find the people who shot the red-shirt protesters.

About 1.45pm, after protesters had marched freely throughout the hotel, including the Royal Wing housing the visiting delegations, the red-shirts started returning to the press centre area.

They left the hotel after the prime minister announced the indefinite postponement of the Summit and the declaration of the state of emergency.

 

[matamafia]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/14943/an-impotent-government-lets-anarchy-reign

An impotent government lets anarchy reign

By: Voranai Vanijaka
Published: 12/04/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

When a government is afraid, refuses to act, sits idly by and lets a mob terrorise a country, anarchy reigns while ordinary citizens suffer.

On Thursday, the red shirts held the city of Bangkok hostage. They blocked major roads and intersections, including Victory Monument, effectively paralysing the city. The government did nothing. Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile. Give them one city, and they'll take another.

On Saturday, the red shirts broke into the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya, site of the Asean summit. They smashed through the glass doors of the convention hall and ran through the building, overturning tables, blowing horns, waving Thai flags and screaming "Abhisit get out!"

Asean leaders had to be evacuated by helicopter, the summit was cancelled and the red shirts cheered jubilantly.

Bear in mind, the location of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort is quite easily defendable against any siege, let alone a rabble. Situated high on a cliff, with only one main entrance, the only way the red shirts could have entered was through the sheer incompetence of the authorities.

In both cases, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government has failed to protect the citizens of Thailand; our persons and property. Failed to protect the integrity and sovereignty of his government. Failed to preserve the rule of law. Failed to protect the leaders of Asean countries.

A state of emergency was declared in Pattaya, but later lifted.

How could this happen? How could the government be so impotent and fail in its responsibilities to Thailand and its people?

The reason I am criticising the Abhisit government, rather than the red shirts, is this: In any country, any society, there will always be destructive, irrational mobs that have no regard for human rights or the rule of law. I don't expect a mob, roused by fiery propaganda, driven by anger, vengeance and rewards (acting at the behest of a puppet master), to behave any better than a destructive, irrational mob; a bunch of savages.

However, every society has a social contract between the government and its people. Therefore, I do expect the government to protect us, the people of Thailand, and preserve the law and integrity of our country against a terrorist mob. I expect the government to do its job.

When the yellow shirts took over Suvarnabhumi airport last year, the Somchai Wongsawat government was impotent in handling the terrorist act. Because of this it lost its credibility, integrity and right to rule. Politicians jumped ship, the opposition gained power and Thaksin Shinawatra's nominee parties, whether People Power or Puea Thai, lost power.

Will the Abhisit government go the way of Somchai's? To be honest, I hope not, for I fear the tyranny and delusion of a megalomaniac more so than anyone sitting in government right now.

But in this foulest of political chess games between Thaksin Shinawatra and the government so far, the government has been backed into a corner. What is PM Abhisit going to do?

As an export-led country that also relies heavily on tourism, it is understandable for a Thai government to fear the dreaded international condemnation. We are a nation obsessed with image - in everything we do we are mindful of what others will think of us. We are afraid that they will not spend money on us.

I understand, and to a certain extent sympathise, with PM Abhisit's predicament. He has tried his best to reach a peaceful conclusion, to go the way of appeasement. But how far can a man bend over backwards, until he realises that the entire country of Thailand is getting - - - I'll let you, dear readers, fill in the blank.

I for one, as a citizen, am not willing to sacrifice precious hours just so the international community can keep thinking Thailand is a nice, smiley, peaceful country. We are not. Save the lies for tourist brochures. We are a country ruled by mobs, whether yellow or red.

A demonstration is an exercising of democratic rights, the right to stand up and march for your beliefs, an honourable action for any citizen of a democracy. But when a demonstration turns into an act of terrorism, anarchy reigns.

If a government bows to the passions of the mob, rendered impotent by terrorist tactics, then the government loses its credibility, and, the confidence in and legitimacy of its regime. Hence it loses its power to govern. Just ask former PM Somchai how that felt.

There's the 2009 London riots by protestors against the G20 summit. The 2008 Greek riots by disgruntled youths. In France in 2005 and 2007 the working class staged a series of riots and a state of emergency was declared. In 1999, the anti-globalisation movement marched on the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in Seattle.

Demonstrations turned into riots and vandalism, laws were broken and chaos ensued. The police marched in and order was restored.

Those are evidence that in the three models of modern democracy (the US, the UK and France) and in the nation where democracy originated (Greece) it's a right, and an honourable thing for the people to stage protests. But if a protest turns into terrorism, the government has the right to use force to restore order and preserve the rule of law. Otherwise anarchy reigns.

In 2008, the yellow shirts took over Government House and Parliament. The riots left three dead and many injured. There was excessive force and sheer incompetence in the use of gas canisters by police. But however poorly planned and badly executed, it was the Somchai government's job to restore order, to preserve the rule of law, to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the state, and most importantly the rights and welfare of its citizens.

PM Abhisit, there's no need to be afraid of international condemnation. The international community knows well what the word "hypocrisy" means. There's a fine line between democracy and anarchy, and it is the duty of the government to preserve law and order, in the interests of its citizens.

As a citizen, it does not encourage my confidence in the government when the police can flag me down for any little reason (such as driving at night in a pub area), while at the same time, seeing the police helping block off traffic and providing all sorts of courtesy and convenience to the red or yellow movements in their attempts to terrorise citizens.

Do we not have a government to protect us? Are we the ones that have to protect ourselves? When citizens have to take the law into our own hands, is that not anarchy? If so, why then do we have you to govern us? Why then do we have this thing called democracy when the government allows a mob to terrorise the rights and welfare of the people?

I would like to ask both Thaksin and PM Abhisit: Have you forgotten about us, the people? PM Abhisit, our hope for the future of this country is in your hands. Please take this criticism to heart. It is written, not out of spite for your government, but out of love for this country. Please, do not fail us again.

[email protected].

 

[matamafia]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090412...DYWNjb3JkaW9uX3dvcmxkBHNsawN0aGFpbGFuZGFubm8-


Thailand announces state of emergency in capital
AP


37 mins ago

BANGKOK – Thailand has imposed a state of emergency in its capital, Bangkok, and surrounding areas.

The action by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva comes a day after anti-government protesters swarmed into a hotel hosting an Asian summit, forcing its cancellation.

The protesters, who are seeking Abhisit's resignation, also blocked a major Bangkok intersection for several days last week, disrupting traffic.

The decree bans gatherings of more than five people and forbids reporting that is considered threatening to public order.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's humiliated government arrested the leader of protesters who shut down a 16-nation Asian summit, and the prime minister vowed further crackdowns as the demonstrators regrouped in the capital for renewed rallies Sunday.

Arisman Pongruengrong, who spearheaded Saturday's demonstrations, was taken into custody and detained at the headquarters of Thailand's Border Patrol Police on Bangkok's outskirts, police Maj. Gen. Supon Pansua said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva earlier Sunday vowed swift legal action against the protesters who stormed the venue of an East Asian Summit in the beach resort of Pattaya. Abhisit spoke on national television as fears mounted that the country could face violence or a military crackdown in coming days.

Jakrapob Penkair, another protest leader, said members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship were gathering around Government House, the prime minister's office, which has been the prime focus of their earlier demonstrations demanding Abhisit's resignation.

Several hundred of the red-shirted protesters also rallied outside the downtown headquarters of the Royal Thai Police and at the Criminal Court, where they believe Arisman would be taken after interrogation.

The demonstrators say Abhisit's four-month-old government took power illegitimately and want fresh elections. They also accuse the country's elite — the military, judiciary and other unelected officials — of undermining democracy by interfering in politics.

A tense-looking Abhisit said in a Sunday broadcast that one arrest warrant had already been issued and others would follow in efforts to stem a rising tide of anti-government protests that climaxed in Saturday's melee.

"The police are gathering evidence and preparing to obtain more arrest warrants from the court for those involved in the incident yesterday. Police said they have the evidence," said a government spokesman, Panithan Wattanayakorn.

Thai authorities had to evacuate Asian leaders by helicopter Saturday after hundreds of anti-government protesters stormed into their summit site, forcing Abhisit to cancel the meeting.

"The next three to four days will be crucial for the government to prove itself in restoring peace and order in the country," Abhisit said on television. "The government will take action against those who were involved in the incident yesterday without bias."

Editorials in Bangkok newspapers Sunday lashed out at both the protesters for destroying Thailand's international reputation and the government for a massive security breakdown.

Tourism Council of Thailand Chairman Kongkrit Hiranyakit predicted that the country would lose at least 200 billion baht ($5.6 billion) as foreign tourists shunned the country.

"Some tourists want out quickly for fear that protesters may go on to block the airport like last year. Incoming tourists are questioning security and canceling bookings," he said.

More than 1,000 demonstrators broke through a wall of unarmed soldiers, smashed through the convention center's glass doors and ran through the building Saturday, blowing horns, waving Thai flags and shouting demands for Abhisit to resign.

They declared victory after Abhisit canceled the summit, where leaders of regional powers China, Japan and India, and the U.N. secretary-general and president of the World Bank, planned to discuss the global financial crisis.

"We have won. We have stopped them from holding a summit," Jakrapob Penkair, a protest leader, said in Bangkok. "But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."

Abhisit later denounced the protesters on national television as the "enemies of Thailand."

The country's political tension has simmered since former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was removed by a military coup in 2006. Thaksin opponents marched last year to remove Thaksin's allies from power, even shutting down the country's main international airport for about a week in November. After a court ordered the removal of the previous pro-Thaksin government, Abhisit was appointed by Parliament in December — sparking Thaksin supporters to take to the streets.

Their numbers grew to 100,000 in Bangkok last week.

Abhisit imposed a state of emergency after the summit was overrun, but revoked it six hours later after regional leaders were safely airlifted to a nearby military airport.

The ongoing protests could prompt the military to intervene — a high possibility in a country that has experienced 18 military coups since the 1930s.

"The situation has gotten completely out of hand. Violence and bloodshed is very much possible" if Abhisit does not resign or dissolve Parliament, said Charnvit Kasetsiri, a historian and former rector of Bangkok's Thammasat University. "If the government cannot control the situation, military intervention is not out of the question."