Clearly I'm out of kilter with the majority of opinions being expressed in this thread, but...
I don't consider a group of unarmed police using tear gas to disperse an unruly mob who were blocking elected members of Parliament from reaching their debating chamber an 'act of violence' as described by previous contributors, critical of Somchai.
One Aussie said Somchai's behaviour would never occur in Australia... neither would PAD's... The police would quickly and forcibly move a bunch of protestors on if they surround Parliament, erected barricades and prevented the government from going about its business. They'd use water canons, police with riot shields and batons and - as a last resort - tear gas, I'm sure. They'd also arrest the protestors, bundle them into buses and cart them off for processing. We saw them prepared to do this in Sydney during Apec last year.
The police should have acted in Bangkok sooner. Surely there is security around Parliament 24-seven, so why did no-one raise the alert and prevent the barricades being erected in the first place.
PPP is no white knight, but PAD is doing immeasurable damage to Thailand's economy by its lawlessness, illegal occupations and trespassing (airports, included). There are 800 international journalists and travel agents in Bangkok this week, all flown there by TAT and THAI - part of a Herculian effort to restore flagging tourism numbers to the country. No doubt they all turned on their hotel TVs this morning to scenes of anarchy and a strong - but justified - response by the police to restore law and order...
Police Fire Tear Gas At Protesters In Front Of Parliament
Started by george, 2008-10-07 07:12
#52
h90
Crazy Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:31:53
PAD siege broken PAD supporters screamed at police through the loudspeaker system as officers moved in, but the actual PAD core leaders were not seen. PAD founder and leader Sondhi Limthongkul could be heard deploring the "police attack on children in our midst" but he also did not come to the foreground of the action. -- TNA, Bangkok Post 2008-10-07 Why are the police attacking and hurting children? No shame on the police. Why are the children blocking the Parliament? No shame on their (the children) parrents This proves one thing. The PAD has been using children as a human shield. No shame on the PAD.  The police is attacking and hurting children, for whatever reason they are there, you can't hurt children. #53
Minnehaha
Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:32:16
better not state the obvious I guess, its not polite I saw it on TV this morning: one guy lost his leg from the lower shin area down. I was on the treadmill at the fitness center and I almost vomited. The guy was looking around - obviously in shock. But then I thought about it and I realized how he must have felt. I lost my car keys yesterday. #54
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:32:59
Thais don't like to lose nor do they like to lose face. Get ready for some pissed off PAD people, POPP, to take more action. Looking at the TV images of old ladies, children, women and young folks being carted off to clinics, hospitals and recovery zones with injuries is only going to enrage these folks and others that were on the sidelines and will now come to their support.  A seriously injured anti-government protester is attended to by medical personal after an explosion blew off his lower left leg during clashes with Thai police in front of parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. Associated Press #55
h90
Crazy Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:34:20
[quote name='AlKing' post='2259488' date='2008-10-07 09:29:31'][quote name='WAERTH' post='2259454' date='2008-10-07 10:14:28'][quote name='aussimike' post='2259416' date='2008-10-07 08:56:26'][quote name='Bryan in Isaan' post='2259363' date='2008-10-07 08:21:14'][quote name='WAERTH' post='2259325' date='2008-10-07 07:59:55']Dear mister Somchai is showing his true face very fast. He asks for peace with one hand and with the other hand he commits violence. Shows what kind of a person he is.
Waerth[/quote] What kind of person he is??? He was unblocking the parliament building. The PAD should not have been blocking it. Tear gas is the only language they understand. Am I missing something here? [/quote] Bryan - congrats - the only sane comment here - the other OP's really have no idea - these mafia PAD have caused enough division in this country already -- the elected government of this country has the right to govern with the mandate of the people - for good or bad - and to disrupt the daily working of the government and try to topple it with blockades and civil unrest as that which the PAD is trying to stir up is just as the leaders have been charged with - yet to be found guilty I would add - treason and - look up the word "treason' if some of you computer potatoes don't know - "VIOLATION by subject of allegiance to sovereign or to chief authority of State " and in this case the elected government -- if u ask me = guilty by definition -- the police have acted within the law as the PAD has refused to move and so force seems to be the only option left - also interesting to just read that the leaders have been urging the protested to continue but happy to stay in the back ground -- what happened to lead by example haaaaa -- and if some of the protesters are injured - all i can say is 'som nam na'! [/quote] Ermmm Aussimike I didn't really mention how I feel about the protests. I am both Anti-PAD and anti-PPP. They are both responsible for the mess. The division of Thailand started with Thailands election of Thaksin in 2001. Back home in Oz having a family dynasty rule politics, the army and the police would be impossible wouldn't it? Also a Prime-Minister offering peace and then using violence is not really trustworthy is he? Back in Oz or in Europe that person would be forced to resign by his own party. The problem is both sides are thoroughly corrupt. This government is a farce and so is the PAD. They are both a bunch of hotheads only interested in their own interests. Neither party cares about the common Thai. Also can both of you please refrain from personal attacks. Just respect eachothers opinions. I respect your opinion on the situation, and I ask you to respect mine. Keeps it nicer for everyone. Waerth [/quote] I think what Somchai should do is: Walk down to the Parliament gate alone. Down on his knee in front of the roaring PAD. Beg them to allow entrance by saying " Please allow MPs to enter, I have beg for your merci in peace". [/quote] Doing his job, trying to bring Thaksin into jail, taking his diplomatic passport, don't try to change the constitution, don't be sooo corrupt would be enough...PAD would walk home. #56
h90
Crazy Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:37:08
Clearly I'm out of kilter with the majority of opinions being expressed in this thread, but... I don't consider a group of unarmed police using tear gas to disperse an unruly mob who were blocking elected members of Parliament from reaching their debating chamber an 'act of violence' as described by previous contributors, critical of Somchai. One Aussie said Somchai's behaviour would never occur in Australia... neither would PAD's... The police would quickly and forcibly move a bunch of protestors on if they surround Parliament, erected barricades and prevented the government from going about its business. They'd use water canons, police with riot shields and batons and - as a last resort - tear gas, I'm sure. They'd also arrest the protestors, bundle them into buses and cart them off for processing. We saw them prepared to do this in Sydney during Apec last year. The police should have acted in Bangkok sooner. Surely there is security around Parliament 24-seven, so why did no-one raise the alert and prevent the barricades being erected in the first place. PPP is no white knight, but PAD is doing immeasurable damage to Thailand's economy by its lawlessness, illegal occupations and trespassing (airports, included). There are 800 international journalists and travel agents in Bangkok this week, all flown there by TAT and THAI - part of a Herculian effort to restore flagging tourism numbers to the country. No doubt they all turned on their hotel TVs this morning to scenes of anarchy and a strong - but justified - response by the police to restore law and order... #57
JoeInSurin
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:37:31
I wonder how long it will take certain larger powers that be to step in, again? Somchai already stepped in. He ordered the police action. #58
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:37:54  Anti-government demonstrators transport the injured in the back of a pick-up truck after riot police shot tear gas into a crowd of protesters blocking Parliament in Bangkok October 7, 2008. Thai police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters on Tuesday, clearing them from a road to Parliament after they had vowed to stop Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat delivering his maiden policy speech. At least 50 people were injured, three seriously, hospital officials said. REUTERS #59
geovalin
Insolent Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:38:07
The police is attacking and hurting children, for whatever reason they are there, you can't hurt children. What a stupid sentence! Children are not / should not be there. The one who pronounced the word "children" is Sondhi and all of us know that this guy is a psychopath liar. No child had been hurt. #60
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:42:48
Electricity Labour Union Cuts off Power at Parliament
An electricity labour union, sympathiser to the PAD, has cut off the power at Parliament in an effort to prevent MPs and Senators from being to attend the government's policy declaration. But a People Power party MPs insist the government will forge ahead with the delivery of its policy statement at 9.30 a.m. this morning. However it's been reported that the Parliament session will be a short one because Parliament's emergency power unit can only act as a backup generator for no more than 1 hour. - TOC / 2008-10-07 #61
toybits
Medium Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:43:16
Why did PAD allow children to be there? So that they would act as a human shield? Shame on PAD for allowing this to happen.
Shame of Sonthi. Shame on Chamlong. Shame on Col Sanders (don't know his GD name)....
The police is attacking and hurting children, for whatever reason they are there, you can't hurt children. #62
Moonrakers
Ska'd member. Posted 2008-10-07 09:50:35
FFS people, nobody has actually said that children are there. Sondhi has just used the word "Children" as a Metaphor referring to PAD protestors in general.
Quote PAD supporters screamed at police through the loudspeaker system as officers moved in, but the actual PAD core leaders were not seen. PAD founder and leader Sondhi Limthongkul could be heard deploring the "police attack on children in our midst" but he also did not come to the foreground of the action. #63
Morch
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:51:00
I nearly never comment here (sometimes I think I should, but then laziness & the risk of getting entangled in yet another forum kick in), but I also read most of what's important for me.
Wanted to point out, as an ex-soldier who to his shame had had some experience with crowd dispersal and use of tear gas, that you need to be either untrained/incompetent, using substandard equipment (usually that means old, but not always), or have a combo of a very bad day & nasty attitude in order to physically hurt someone that way. I shot *quite* a few of those in my day - don't recall ever hurting someone directly (well, if you don't count the tear gas itself). Not going to get into "they're right/they're wrong" sort of thing. Yes, Bringing children to demonstrations is wrong, both for safety and brain washing reasons. My wife endeavors to explain to me that in "Thailand it's different", and ok...children here do seem unrepeatable from their parents, but I'm not convinced. Yes, the use of deadly force against otherwise non-life-threatening civilians is wrong as well (I've also been on that side of the fence, sometimes with a couple of days in between). It's not as if the police are not aware who are the protesters. The "if-they-wouldn't-be-there-they-wouldn't-get-hurt" reasoning is a bad one: The burden of responsibility almost always the stronger side's, and may I add that people advocating that reasoning ought to get their driver permit revoked as well  .Ummm...that's about it. Re-activate lurker mode I guess. #64
JoeInSurin
Senior Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:51:15
The police is attacking and hurting children, for whatever reason they are there, you can't hurt children. What a stupid sentence! Children are not / should not be there. The one who pronounced the word "children" is Sondhi and all of us know that this guy is a psychopath liar. No child had been hurt. #65
toptuan
Moderate Expat Posted 2008-10-07 09:51:52
I've witnessed two tear-gas attacks where there were no serious injuries (Berkeley, CA in the 1960's and WTO riots in Seattle). This is the first time I've become aware of the possibility of serious injuries under such an attack. After all, the purpose of tear-gas use is to disperse crowds without serious bodily injury.
Is this a different sort of ammunition being used, from that commonly used in western riot-control? Anyone know? EDIT: Thank you for recent post #68, above, which partially answers my question. Edited by toptuan, 2008-10-07 09:54:04. #66
Moonrakers
Ska'd member. Posted 2008-10-07 09:52:58
The police is attacking and hurting children, for whatever reason they are there, you can't hurt children. What a stupid sentence! Children are not / should not be there. The one who pronounced the word "children" is Sondhi and all of us know that this guy is a psychopath liar. No child had been hurt. AGAIN: Nobody has actually said that children are there. Sondhi has just used the word "Children" as a Metaphor referring to PAD protestors in general. #67
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:53:20
Her Majesty the Queen Bestows 100,000 Baht to Help Injured PAD
Her Majesty the Queen has bestowed 100,000 baht to help PAD protesters who have been injured during this morning's police crackdown. The money has been given to the Vajira Hospital, located nearby Parliament. The costs of medical treatments for the injured PAD protesters will later be forwarded to the Royal Household Bureau. - TOC / 2008-10-07 #68
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:57:27
I've witnessed two tear-gas attacks where there were no serious injuries (Berkeley, CA in the 1960's and WTO riots in Seattle). This is the first time I've become aware of the possibility of serious injuries under such an attack. After all, the purpose of tear-gas use is to disperse crowds without serious bodily injury. Is this a different sort of ammunition being used, from that commonly used in western riot-control? Anyone know? There certainly does seem to be an inordinate amount of blood-letting with this, Somchai's "soft approach", compared to other tear-gassing episodes... #69
toybits
Medium Member Posted 2008-10-07 09:59:04
I wonder if they are now regretting having ousted Samak. I never thought I would be saying this....
#70
hammered
Titanium Member Posted 2008-10-07 10:00:56
Apparently in parliamnet they are struggling to get a quorum for their policy announcement.
#71
h90
Crazy Member Posted 2008-10-07 10:01:57
I nearly never comment here (sometimes I think I should, but then laziness & the risk of getting entangled in yet another forum kick in), but I also read most of what's important for me. Wanted to point out, as an ex-soldier who to his shame had had some experience with crowd dispersal and use of tear gas, that you need to be either untrained/incompetent, using substandard equipment (usually that means old, but not always), or have a combo of a very bad day & nasty attitude in order to physically hurt someone that way. I shot *quite* a few of those in my day - don't recall ever hurting someone directly (well, if you don't count the tear gas itself). Not going to get into "they're right/they're wrong" sort of thing. Yes, Bringing children to demonstrations is wrong, both for safety and brain washing reasons. My wife endeavors to explain to me that in "Thailand it's different", and ok...children here do seem unrepeatable from their parents, but I'm not convinced. Yes, the use of deadly force against otherwise non-life-threatening civilians is wrong as well (I've also been on that side of the fence, sometimes with a couple of days in between). It's not as if the police are not aware who are the protesters. The "if-they-wouldn't-be-there-they-wouldn't-get-hurt" reasoning is a bad one: The burden of responsibility almost always the stronger side's, and may I add that people advocating that reasoning ought to get their driver permit revoked as well .Ummm...that's about it. Re-activate lurker mode I guess. Two points: Children seems to be wrong. Sondhi used "Children" as a metaphor (which makes sense in Thai language) and we made out of that injured children which just did not happen (as it seems). Hopefully a classic example how rumors can spread. Substandard: I never saw police with appropriate gear to protect themself against gas, so they might be afraid of it themself. Untrained/Incompetent and Thai police......I don't even know what I shall write there.....Yes of course #72
h90
Crazy Member Posted 2008-10-07 10:03:44
I wonder if they are now regretting having ousted Samak. I never thought I would be saying this.... I never thought anyone is saying this ever.... #73
Farfetched
Advanced Member Posted 2008-10-07 10:04:03
Clearly I'm out of kilter with the majority of opinions being expressed in this thread, but... I don't consider a group of unarmed police using tear gas to disperse an unruly mob who were blocking elected members of Parliament from reaching their debating chamber an 'act of violence' as described by previous contributors, critical of Somchai. One Aussie said Somchai's behaviour would never occur in Australia... neither would PAD's... The police would quickly and forcibly move a bunch of protestors on if they surround Parliament, erected barricades and prevented the government from going about its business. They'd use water canons, police with riot shields and batons and - as a last resort - tear gas, I'm sure. They'd also arrest the protestors, bundle them into buses and cart them off for processing. We saw them prepared to do this in Sydney during Apec last year. The police should have acted in Bangkok sooner. Surely there is security around Parliament 24-seven, so why did no-one raise the alert and prevent the barricades being erected in the first place. PPP is no white knight, but PAD is doing immeasurable damage to Thailand's economy by its lawlessness, illegal occupations and trespassing (airports, included). There are 800 international journalists and travel agents in Bangkok this week, all flown there by TAT and THAI - part of a Herculian effort to restore flagging tourism numbers to the country. No doubt they all turned on their hotel TVs this morning to scenes of anarchy and a strong - but justified - response by the police to restore law and order... ReznoInOz, You do not stand alone in your opinion. As this situation would never be tolerated in Oz, it would also not be tolerated in the US. Neither the PPP or PAD is above reproach for what is currently happening here in the LOS. Coruption is a way of life here in politics. Hopefully, in time, a group of reasonably minded people will emerge with the "Good of the Country" as their premise. No, it won't happen soon, and maybe not for a long time. But until it does, Thailand will continue down this road to self destruction. #74
george
Puyai Baan Posted 2008-10-07 10:06:24
Parliament still lacks quorum to start policy debate
BANGKOK: -- Parliament President Chai Chidchob has tried to convene the House-Senate session for policy debate for the past 25 minutes but failed to achieve a quorum. The debate has been scheduled to begin at 9.30 am but a large number of lawmakers, including all of the opposition members, remain outside the meeting chamber though reported to work. -- The Nation 2008-10-07 #75
sriracha john
Star Member Posted 2008-10-07 10:06:43
However it's been reported that the Parliament session will be a short one because Parliament's emergency power unit can only act as a backup generator for no more than 1 hour. tick tock... the generators are running low... Parliament still lacks quorum to start policy debate Parliament President Chai Chidchob has tried to convene the House-Senate session for policy debate for the past 25 minutes, but failed to achieve a quorum. The debate has been scheduled to begin at 9.30 am but a large number of lawmakers, including all of the opposition members, remain outside the meeting chamber though reported to work. The Nation / 2008-10-07 |
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