More than 3,000 protesters led by Chamlong confront police at Nang Loeng Intersection

BANGKOK: -- More than 3,000 protesters led by Chamlong Srimuang confront anti-riot police at the Nang Loeng Intersection at 12:15 pm.

Chamlong led a about 2,000 protesters to push through a police barricade at the Saommanas Temple and joined another group of protesters the intersection. More protesters joined them at the spot.

Police use 8 trucks and rails to block the road.

-- The Nation 2008-06-20


Security tightens at Government House to block anti-govt protesters


BANGKOK: -- Thousands of police officers have barricaded roads around Government House to block anti-government protestors from moving in to besiege the government seat Friday afternoon, aimed at pressureing the elected government to resign.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who also serves as defence minister, earlier pledged to refrain from using force against the protesters.

Friday morning the premier was attending a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.

Meanwhile, Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Suebwonglee reportedly shifted the venue of a meeting from Government House to the Ministry of Finance in an apparent bid to avoid confrontation with the demonstrators.

Other cabinet members are nowhere to be seen, and some government civil servants have opted to stay at home in fear of possible violence.

Security around Government House has been tightened with uniformed police manning the barricades along all routes to the government seat.

The anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and its supporters have been demonstrating since May 25 in a bid to pressure the four-month-old coalition government to resign, claiming that Mr. Samak and his People Power Party are proxies of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Army Chief Anupong Paochinda said earlier that the army would not get involved or use force against the crowds.

"It's the police who will take charge," said the Army chief. "I'm sure they have proper measures to handle the situation."

Police Chief Pol.Gen. Patcharawat Wongsuwan said the police would use only non-violent measures and exercise the utmost patience.

Concerns that the PAD-led protests could turn violent spooked investors who unloaded their stocks over the past three weeks.

Thai stock index opened lower Friday at 737.83, down 4.63 points.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand's president Patareeya Benjapolchai on Thursday conceded the SET composite index went into a free fall upon investor concerns over the persistent gathering of anti-government demonstrators.

She said rising inflation and upward interest trend also made investors jittery and slow their investment in the stock market, opting instead to sell off shares to reduce risks while they monitor the situation.

--TNA 2008-06-20

I think one of the problems that the police will encounter is that if they don't let them go to Gov't house, then where will they go? I don't think it will be home.

Unless they are trying to use a divide and conquer strategy, this could backfire.

The problem in Thailand is that things are just too unpredictable.

LIVE UPDATE
Besiege in the making

11.45am - Chamlong Srimung gets on to a truck and start speaking to the cheering crowds. It is still unclear what he would do next.

Some of the protesters came faces to face with police who form ed a thick barricade to prevent the rally from moving from Makawan Rangsan Bridge to the Government House.

11.30am - A speaker on the stage warns people that the government may use tear gas to disperse the protest. He urges the protesters to remain calm and use cloth to be distributed to them to cover their nose and mouth.

--The Nation 2008-06-20

Metropolitan police chief: Don't make police cornered dogs

BANGKOK: -- Metropolitan police chief Assawin Kwanmuang Friday asked protesters to stop testing police's limit.

He said the People's Alliance for Democracy has already violated the laws "too much" and should stop.

"Police also have flesh and feelings," Assawin said emotionally on TVs.

"It's like when you chasing a dog. Don't corner it or it will bite back."

-- The Nation 2008-06-20

Chavalit warns about dire consequences

Former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh on Friday said the march by the People's Alliance for Democracy may trigger an uprising unless the government sends out a clear signal to mend fences with opponents.

--The Nation 2008-06-20

PAD says march will be done peacefully

BANGKOK: -- - People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) released the 14th statement on Friday morning, saying that the march to the Government House will be done peacefully and without weapons.

The statement was released just a couple of hours before protesters are expected to converge the Government House.

It said the march will be done like a charity march, and that protesters will not invade nor seize the Government House once they arrive there.

It also said that protesters have to carry baseball bats, pieces of woods and iron rods to protect themselves as they cannot rely on government officials.

PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang told protesters to stay calm, saying he believes that the group would arrive at the venue within one or two days.

He also told them to write names, titles and take photos of police who try to block the march, saying that the group can take legal action against them.

-- Bangkok Post 2008-06-20

Chamlong upbeat to siege Gov't House in one or two days

BANGKOK: -- People's Alliance for Democracy leader Chamlong Srimuang is in charge of forming the multi-pronged march on Friday.
He has told the crowd of protesters that he expects to start laying siege to Government House within one or two days.

--The Nation 2008-06-20

If the PAD were to stop and indulge in a stand off I wonder who would go home first??I think the police would enjoy the overtime.

The stand off is already 3 weeks or so.

300 riot police in Chachoengsao on standby

Changchoengsao police chief Pol Maj Gen Surapong Kaytawan Friday ordered 300 anti-riot policemen to be on standby for moving to Bangkok.

The policemen were ordered to be on full alert and ready to move to Bangkok once reinforcements are required.

-- The Nation 2008-06-20

It'll be interesting to see if the PPP hardliners or moderates won the debate on whether to smash the PAD rally. One hopes the moderates.
Quite how Samak will react to Chavalit's suggesting he resign and national untiy governments will be interesting too now that Samak has outlived his usefullness to Thaksin.
Things like this could easily affect how Samak decides to react to todays protest against his government. How does he want to go down in history when his PMship is over?

For those who don't know yet, you can get more or less "English live commentary coverage now on TOC"
http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/

This station belongs to one of the PAD Leaders: K. Sondhi.
Coverage is quite neutral, and also discusses the pro's and contras.
ASTV meanhwile, the Thai Station normaly covering live, is currently blocked (guess by goverment).

-----

that Chavilit today suggest Samak to resign today, is quite interesting. It shows that the pro-Thaksin groups are widely split currently themselves.
Really no clear line by this proxy goverment (lead by K. Thaksin, N. Chidchop etc. ) currently.

We want change! No more proxy government anymore, honest for the country working politicians!

Clash between protesters, police occurs

BANGKOK: -- Some protesters at front line at the Nang Loeng Intersection attacked police with flag poles, Channel 9 reported.

But police fought back, injuring some protesters.

The fight occurred briefly before the protest leaders asked them to calm down and step back from the front line.

-- The Nation 2008-06-20

History of most issues why this demonstration is ongoing since approx. 2005,
can be found here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&cli...amp;btnG=Search

Chavalit's statement and the timing of it are a very interesting development. What exactly is happening in the PPP and among those close to it, which Chavalit has been, is hard to read. There are also rumours of disagreements between Newin and Thaksin on tactics although whteher these are true, wishful thinking or internal diversionary tactics is hard to call. However, it all suggests a trigger event could split the government group and today there is potential for exactly this.

Number of protesters at Nang Loeng Intersection grows to over 10,000

By 12:54 pm, the number of protesters at the Nang Loeng Intersection grew to over 10,000.

The number grew after Sondhi Limthongkul and Somkiart Pongpaibul led two other groups of protesters to join a group led by Chamlong.

The protesters were halted at the intersection by a line of policemen backed by trucks and metal barricades.

Sondhi called on police to step aside to allow the protesters to proceed to Government House, saying protesters could outnumber them and forcefully remove the barricades.

-- The Nation 2008-06-20

As protesters clash with police I think to Burin's letter to Postbag yesterday, what happens if they actually succeed? What alternatives do PAD have?

Over 1,000 protesters break through police's barricade to Government House

BANGKOK: -- A group of some 1,000 protesters led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong broke through a police barricade in front of Wat Benjambophit and reached the Chamai Maruchet Bridget in front of Government House at 1:09 pm.

The head of the process was stop by another line of police barricade at the Nakhon Pathom-Phitsanulok Intersection.

-- The Nation 2008-06-20

Some good will come out of this.Less polution because many cars will be left at home,so less deaths due to lung cancers.

There is some live news on TNN showing protestors seemingly on both sides of the police line somewhere and a bit of confusion seemingly by by both police and protestors.
As the crowd grows things could get unruly if the line has been breached already.

Edited to add: It also seems the police are trying to block literally thousands from getting into Bangkok.

This post has been edited by hammered: 2008-06-20 13:38:05

It is being reported that 5PM will be the major push. Sad, really.

I wonder what happens if there is bloodshed. OK so if Samak is forced out do we get Thaksin's brother-in-law? Then what?
In one interview the quotemeister Thtitinan speculated that the PAD still retain very high level support and are only pushing so hard because they know they can pull it off. Very confusing and as you say sad because the odds of getting through today without bloodshed must be at best 50-50, and if the line has already been breached then those odds could rise. Put in that we have a totally unpredictable and arrogant PM whose very job could be on the line and we have an explosive mix. It also looks like vast numbers have stopped outside Bangkok, so there could be events elsewhere and with todays media word will spread instantly and that could spark events elsewhere. It doesnt look at all stable and I hope if we get through today some accomodation is come to. Chavalit also mentioned that if the government and PAD didnt talk a coup would be the only way out. Interstingly he also said the PAD demo was part of democracy. I wonder who he is speaking for, but for once he sounds relatively coherent.

History shows when demonstrations of this kind build up as they seem to be inevitably there will be trouble. Despite the PAD saying it will be a peaceful march there will be those that want to cause trouble and once it starts the ending is always the same as the police have no choice but to do something. I hope it doesnt happen but that would contradict everything that has happened before.

Bangkok post reproting that the demonstrators are at government house having easily outwitted the police by seemingly running down the sidewalks that werent blocked!

Here is one report fromtthe Nation on Chavalits take on the situation.

It is already not a peaceful march. That is out the window. It seems there intent is to breach police lines. Reports (from what I read) indicate the PAD is forming multiple smaller groups to make it tougher to disperse. Reportedly, the 5PM time for the big push came from ASTV, which could be a diversion.

There is no need for all this. The Democrats are going about this 100% in the correct way. Work through the system and keep the system. Otherwise chaos prevails.

TNN live feed shows demonstartors walking through breached police lines and bypassing trucks right now at 2PM.