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[george]

Some 10,000 PAD-led protesters rally in front of PTT head office

BANGKOK: -- About 10,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy rally in front of the head office of PTT Plc Friday morning.

The protesters gathered there at about 9 am.

Three PAD co-leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart Pongpaibool, arrived at the rally site at 10:30 am.

The protesters demanded the government to delist PTT and seize its back as a state enterprise.

-- The Nation 2008-07-25

[ashacat]

Where is the PTT Head Office? Is this why Sukhumvit was gridlocked all morning?

[Ned]

Hasn't this mob got enough on its plate already?
Bring on the coup! Bring on the coup!

[Scott]

I saw in the BKK Post this morning where a PAD guard was killed in Udon Thani when 700 opponents stormed a rally.  

I have no love for the gov't, but these PAD folks seem a little bit too out there for my liking.  Scary bunch.

I think I'll move somewhere near Phra Vihear temple, might be safer!

[george]

PAD blocks entire Rajdamnoen Road

BANGKOK: -- The People's Alliance for Democracy Friday morning blocked all lanes of Rajdamnone Avenue instead of allowing traffic flow on the rightmost lane.

They blocked the entire road with barbed wife and had a dozen of guards block the road.

Usually, the PAD allowed vehicles to use the rightmost lane from 8 am to 5:30 pm before blocking the entire road.

-- The Nation 2008-07-25

[TAWP]

Barbed wire sounds like illegally obstructing the traffic and it should be forcefully removed if needed.

[LeungKen]

According to George, it was somebody's "Barbed Wife"

.....and they can be very dangerous.............

[pgufler]

I am sitting in PTT's headoffice at the moment...a lot of fun here..

Attached some pictures;)

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[clausewitz]

I got to work late today, thanks to PAD>

[stumonster]

pgufler, on 2008-07-25 13:24:49, said:

I am sitting in PTT's headoffice at the moment...a lot of fun here..

Attached some pictures;)

Nice pics - looks more like a party  

[Plus]

After pro-government rampage in Udon and killing PAD supporter, today's rally blocking just one road is a rather mild response. It has the potential of gorwing much much bigger and paralysing the country completely.

[Los78]

Plus, on 2008-07-25 13:54:44, said:

After pro-government rampage in Udon and killing PAD supporter, today's rally blocking just one road is a rather mild response. It has the potential of gorwing much much bigger and paralysing the country completely.

You should look at the news again....  No one! was killed there just a little roughed up...  It was again wrong information that always comes out of  the (Not) independent media in Thailand.  No wonder the government wants to start a station.

[pgufler]

yes it looked like a big party, but a lot of security here....i hope they open the entrance soon.

[hammered]

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

Plus, on 2008-07-25 13:54:44, said:

After pro-government rampage in Udon and killing PAD supporter, today's rally blocking just one road is a rather mild response. It has the potential of gorwing much much bigger and paralysing the country completely.

You should look at the news again....  No one! was killed there just a little roughed up...  It was again wrong information that always comes out of  the (Not) independent media in Thailand.  No wonder the government wants to start a station.

Yes this seems to be true. However, to paraphrase Meerkat on another thread the intent seems to have been there. The footage is quite explicit. By the way the government already control all of the state run news media including multiple TV channels;)
It also seems even some of those normally quite supportative of the government on the web are actually calling for arrests to be made, which is good.

[Plus]

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

No one! was killed there just a little roughed up...

I take it you don't feel sorry for the victims anymore.

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Or him?

[blaze]

Plus, on 2008-07-25 14:48:01, said:

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

No one! was killed there just a little roughed up...

I take it you don't feel sorry for the victims anymore.

"...the request for military intervention... has always had one prerequisite: there must be bloodshed.
... I remember vividly that when there was [street protest] against Thaksin, I always had people calling me: "Khun Sondhi, could you move things a little bit forward, have a little confrontation, let us see a little blood?"

This, from the interview Sondhi L gave in Asia Times shortly after the most recent coup d'etat... Make of it what you will. I expect that this will by no means be the last time we see blood needlessly flow- a half baked government facing an extragovernmental opposition  led by a truly lunatic fringe with an irresponsible press messing up the facts according to its own agendas (political and otherwise) - doesn't inspire hope.

Edited by blaze, 2008-07-25 15:20:05.

[pete_r]

george, on 2008-07-25 11:26:59, said:

Some 10,000 PAD-led protesters rally in front of PTT head office

BANGKOK: -- About 10,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy rally in front of the head office of PTT Plc Friday morning.

The protesters gathered there at about 9 am.

Three PAD co-leaders, Sondhi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk and Somkiart Pongpaibool, arrived at the rally site at 10:30 am.

The protesters demanded the government to delist PTT and seize its back as a state enterprise.

-- The Nation 2008-07-25

Some numbers about the PAD protests:

300 Bahts per protester per day of protest. Plus free food and free daily transportation from provinces neighboring Bangkok. The mini-bus drivers get 3000 Bahts per load of protesters they bring with them.

Compare that with factory work, 200 Bahts per day for 8 hours on the production line, no free food, no sitting around chatting with your mates.

Protesting for the PAD is a nice job indeed.


Granted some protesters go for free. The words "useful fools" come to mind.

[Plus]

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

You should look at the news again....  No one! was killed...

I did, Bangkok Post story is still there

"The man who died was a PAD security guard. He had suffered an axe blow to the head, according to Veera Somkwamkid, a PAD ally."

If the government is caught downplaying the murder as if it never happened, I won't be surprised at all. If no one died, I expect PAD, the Nation, Bangkok Post, ASTV, Manager and so on to publish clarifications and correction of their earlier reports.

So far there are none.

[cloudhopper]

george, on 2008-07-25 11:26:59, said:

Some 10,000 PAD-led protesters rally in front of PTT head office.
The protesters demanded the government to delist PTT and seize its back as a state enterprise.
-- The Nation 2008-07-25

Wow I don't follow Thai politics too closely but this seems like right wing nationalism taken to extremes, reminiscent of late Wiemar era Germany.

[jumnien]

blaze, on 2008-07-25 15:17:27, said:

Plus, on 2008-07-25 14:48:01, said:

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

No one! was killed there just a little roughed up...

I take it you don't feel sorry for the victims anymore.

"...the request for military intervention... has always had one prerequisite: there must be bloodshed.
... I remember vividly that when there was [street protest] against Thaksin, I always had people calling me: "Khun Sondhi, could you move things a little bit forward, have a little confrontation, let us see a little blood?"

This, from the interview Sondhi L gave in Asia Times shortly after the most recent coup d'etat... Make of it what you will. I expect that this will by no means be the last time we see blood needlessly flow- a half baked government facing an extragovernmental opposition  led by a truly lunatic fringe with an irresponsible press messing up the facts according to its own agendas (political and otherwise) - doesn't inspire hope.

Well, Sondhi got what he cherished!  Let's hope this madman and the PAD goon squad gets cornered and removed.

[Plus]

So people were asking Sondhi to provoke some violence so that they army could move in.

Since Sondhi and PAD refrained from it, how can you say that Sondhi "cherished" it?

Or, hold, I know how YOU can say it, sunrise. Moot question.

[seagull]

Plus, on 2008-07-25 15:36:14, said:

Los78, on 2008-07-25 14:21:56, said:

You should look at the news again....  No one! was killed...

I did, Bangkok Post story is still there

"The man who died was a PAD security guard. He had suffered an axe blow to the head, according to Veera Somkwamkid, a PAD ally."

If the government is caught downplaying the murder as if it never happened, I won't be surprised at all. If no one died, I expect PAD, the Nation, Bangkok Post, ASTV, Manager and so on to publish clarifications and correction of their earlier reports.

So far there are none.

Well, read again. Udon governor Supoj denied that anyone was killed. Who to believe ? We should allow time for the press to get their act together before jumping up and down.

http://www.bangkokpo...s.php?id=129066

Edited by seagull, 2008-07-25 15:57:05.

[Xangsamhua]

Interesting to hear the baht amounts being quoted for PAD.  I've only ever heard them in reference to anti-PAD demos.  PAD are certainly active and taking up more causes as they perceive just how inept their opponents are.  Provocative actions like Samakh's threat to disperse them a few weeks ago and the arrest of Sondi on the rice-paper thin grounds of lese majeste only add to PAD's growing support.  Expect big crowds at anything run by PAD over the weekend.  The presence of military support, some in uniform and including one senior general, for Sondhi himself yesterday is interesting and suggestive.  It could be a lively weekend.

I'm not enamoured of all that PAD says and does, but they have generally been pretty restrained, they have an ethic of non-violence, and what they've said about corruption and ineptitude has been spot on.

[Plus]

Who to trust - Udon governor or media reports? I'd personally wait for media retraction, though it is quite plausible that the news of the death was premature.