104 replies to this topic
Posted 2009-11-23 07:15:14
PM vows to visit Chiang Mai despite threats
By The Nation
Published on November 23, 2009
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he would go to Chiang Mai even though the red shirts had threatened to take his life if he sets foot in their stronghold.
The Chiang Mai provincial administration and police will seek a warrant for the arrest of a local red-shirt leader for having allegedly made a car-bomb assassination threat against the prime minister.
Chiang Mai Deputy Governor Pairoj Saengpuwong said police are in the process of gathering evidence to seek an arrest warrant from the Chiang Mai Court against Phetchawat Wattanpongsirikul, a leader of the Chiang Mai Loving 51 Group.
Pairoj said Phetchawat allegedly announced on a Chiang Mai community radio station that Abhisit would be attacked with a car bomb when he chairs the Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Le Meridien Hotel in Chiang Mai on Sunday.
Pairoj said the alleged assassination threat was a crime against the state so police could initiate legal action without having to wait for anyone to file a complaint against the red-shirt leader.
Pairoj said Phetchawat is also facing 10 other legal cases and Chiang Mai Governor Amornphan Nimanan and Provincial Police Bureau 5 Commissioner Pol Lt-General Somkid Boonthanom had instructed police to speed up the cases.
During his weekly television programme, Abhisit said he had been able to travel to many areas and had seen anti-government protests under control, but in Chiang Mai there had been a threat on his life, which is illegal. The government would take strict action, he said. He called on the red shirts to review their decision and not bring about turmoil because the people who would face the negative consequences were the people of Chiang Mai.
"The activity [that he is joining] is being organised by the private sector that wants to restore confidence. Creating turmoil does not help any one,'' Abhisit said.
He said the Cabinet would tomorrow discuss if there was a need to impose the Internal Security Act.
The PM dismissed concerns that the red-shirt movement in Chiang Mai would be able to topple his government saying if there would be any political change, it would be done through the parliamentary system. He downplayed statements made by Pheu Thai Party chairman General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh or former Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat saying whatever they had said were aimed at boosting the morale of the red shirts.
PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said the government would take legal action against programme hosts of the community radio station that issued a threat to Abhisit's life. Police have gathered all tapes of the programmes. He said many stations and programme hosts had already had court cases and they action would be taken if they committed the offence again.
Concerned officials have been instructed to monitor all radio stations on whether they incite unrest or just offer normal political criticism.
He said any station that had not been registered would be shut down immediately. Satit vowed to bring those who had made a death threat on the PM to justice within next week as he would go to Chiang Mai on Sunday.
Satit said the red shirts in Chiang Mai had stepped up their campaign at the order of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was afraid of losing his assets, if the court rules that he was unusually rich and orders confiscation of his frozen assets.
-- The Nation 2009/11/23
Posted 2009-11-23 11:00:46
Abhisit can travel the world over, on his own. As a PM, though he has the duty to see people, but he must weigh what he could achieve from the trip, if it's worth our tax money, for the flight, security, people arrangement etc. Every minutes of the trip are on us, and I don't want him to spend my money at whim, looking for more trouble.
For the radio man, I don't think that police can arrest the man for life threatening, when PM (the target)doesn't believe it.
Posted 2009-11-23 12:52:01
Quote Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he would go to Chiang Mai even though the red shirts had threatened to take his life if he sets foot in their stronghold.
Wow, what an incredible hyperbole. Why do we have to endure this BS every day I wonder.
Posted 2009-11-23 13:05:35
Hyperbole of the reds- a million reds will come to Bangkok.
We will kill Apisit with a car bomb.
The vitriol spewed out day to day by the community radio stations of ' Klum Rak Chiang Mai' is a disgrace to any thinking person.
Posted 2009-11-23 13:25:20
 WinnieTheKhwai, on 2009-11-23 12:52:01, said:
Quote Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he would go to Chiang Mai even though the red shirts had threatened to take his life if he sets foot in their stronghold.
Wow, what an incredible hyperbole. Why do we have to endure this BS every day I wonder.
If Abhisit goes to Chiang Mai on Saturday or Sunday where will be the reds?
In Bangkok or in Chiang Mai or both places with half of their people??
Posted 2009-11-23 13:59:14
WinnieTheKhwai, on 2009-11-23 12:52:01, said: Wow, what an incredible hyperbole. Why do we have to endure this BS every day I wonder.
I ask myself that same question with your every post Winnie, 
Posted 2009-11-23 14:01:26
Siripon, on 2009-11-23 13:05:35, said: Hyperbole of the reds- a million reds will come to Bangkok.
We will kill Apisit with a car bomb.
The vitriol spewed out day to day by the community radio stations of ' Klum Rak Chiang Mai' is a disgrace to any thinking person.
That explains why he already has 10 separate charges against this guy. Long past due to pull the plug on these types.
If he thinks it's ok threatening to murder someone and then just attempt to play it off as some sort of joke, he should try pulling that stunt on an airplane and see what happens, eg. "I'm going to kill the pilot."
Posted 2009-11-23 14:07:24
It should be remembered that many of these people are passionate to their cause, and we know that many Thais suppress their emotions so often, that when the come bubbling up, the consequences can sometimes be violent and deadly. Not a flame, just a societal observation, that can be documented in several texts.
I would like to see the government handle these types of situations more dispassionately, which they are good at doing in most instances, aside from Thaksin and the Reds (Sounds like a bad 50's band).
Posted 2009-11-23 14:54:25
Even in the USA, where they have the constitutional right to free speech, threatening to kill the President is still a federal offence, punishable by fines and / or imprisonment of up to five years. Its not an outdated law it is often called upon by the Secret Service.
So its not exactly surprising to see similar laws in existence in Thailand. We have no way of knowing whether the PM or the Police believes this threat to be credible or not, but I think given what happened to Sonthi it would be foolish to take it lightly.
They have threatened the life of the PM. This at a time when confidence needs to be restored, not for the government's sake but for the sake of the working people, and not just of Chiangmai but for the whole of Thailand.
There are ways to express dissatisfaction, but death threats is over stepping the line, and the culprit should be punished for that. If the reds want to be taken seriously they should not resort to violence or even threats of violence.
Hat's off to Abhisit for making the trip, its a brave move and one that's needed, I just hope his security detail is tighter than what was provided for his Asean summit guests in Pattaya...
Posted 2009-11-23 14:58:29
jayboy, on 2009-11-22 16:53:32, said: Old Man River, on 2009-11-22 10:34:37, said: jayboy, on 2009-11-21 19:32:37, said: Don't patronise those who are as well informed or better informed on the Thai political structure as you are.You point is fatuous without the appropriate context.We know that Abhisit is constitutionally quite eligible to be Prime Minister of Thailand for the reasons you mention.However his path to to this post is certainly murky and "guided" and though it's unclear how much blame attaches to him personally, he has benefited from a criminal military coup, a rigged constitution, dubious court decisions and military patronage.The member who you unsuccessfully attempted to belittle has a perfectly valid point , namely that Abhisit needs to seek a popular mandate in fair elections as a matter of some priority.All the evidence suggests he will not obtain it.
Come on Jayboy. It is now the next day and I am still waiting for either you or your friend zzaa09 to back up his comment of stated fact that Abhisit wasn't elected as PM - but appointed by a judicial coup. Since you jumped in, can you back it up or do both you and zzaa09 have nothing?
I didn't say Abhisit was appointed by an official coup.Read my post quoted above which makes my position very clear.
Incidentally I try to respond to posts and failure to do so is simply having not spotted a question.
OK, we are back understanding each other (which is the way I prefer it). I responded to your support of someone else who said Abhisit: "wasn't elected - but appointed by a judicial coup." I don't want to get into a discussion as to what an official coup is, but if someone is going to say Abhisit was made PM by a judicial coup and state it as if it is a fact, I would expect them to back it up with fact. So far, there has been no fact presented to back it up.
Posted 2009-11-23 15:28:27
webfact, on 2009-11-23 07:15:14, said: PM vows to visit Chiang Mai despite threats
By The Nation
Published on November 23, 2009 Insight, on 2009-11-21 13:01:57, said: Well done Abhisit for not being intimidated by the Thaksin Mafia.
Published: 23/11/2009 at 12:32 PM
Online news: Politics
( From the other English language paper, the one that's slightly less radical, with some notable exceptions )
Posted 2009-11-23 15:45:07
WinnieTheKhwai, on 2009-11-23 15:28:27, said: webfact, on 2009-11-23 07:15:14, said: PM vows to visit Chiang Mai despite threats
By The Nation
Published on November 23, 2009 Insight, on 2009-11-21 13:01:57, said: Well done Abhisit for not being intimidated by the Thaksin Mafia.
Published: 23/11/2009 at 12:32 PM
Online news: Politics
( From the other English language paper, the one that's slightly less radical, with some notable exceptions )
Throw it in with Gen. Prem's commen tthat all sides must loiok to each other to solve problems and Thaksins thanking him for the statement and you have possibly a movement away from the edge. Possibly
Posted 2009-11-23 15:48:22
Old Man River, on 2009-11-23 08:58:29, said: jayboy, on 2009-11-22 16:53:32, said: Old Man River, on 2009-11-22 10:34:37, said: jayboy, on 2009-11-21 19:32:37, said: Don't patronise those who are as well informed or better informed on the Thai political structure as you are.You point is fatuous without the appropriate context.We know that Abhisit is constitutionally quite eligible to be Prime Minister of Thailand for the reasons you mention.However his path to to this post is certainly murky and "guided" and though it's unclear how much blame attaches to him personally, he has benefited from a criminal military coup, a rigged constitution, dubious court decisions and military patronage.The member who you unsuccessfully attempted to belittle has a perfectly valid point , namely that Abhisit needs to seek a popular mandate in fair elections as a matter of some priority.All the evidence suggests he will not obtain it.
Come on Jayboy. It is now the next day and I am still waiting for either you or your friend zzaa09 to back up his comment of stated fact that Abhisit wasn't elected as PM - but appointed by a judicial coup. Since you jumped in, can you back it up or do both you and zzaa09 have nothing?
I didn't say Abhisit was appointed by an official coup.Read my post quoted above which makes my position very clear.
Incidentally I try to respond to posts and failure to do so is simply having not spotted a question.
OK, we are back understanding each other (which is the way I prefer it). I responded to your support of someone else who said Abhisit: "wasn't elected - but appointed by a judicial coup." I don't want to get into a discussion as to what an official coup is, but if someone is going to say Abhisit was made PM by a judicial coup and state it as if it is a fact, I would expect them to back it up with fact. So far, there has been no fact presented to back it up.
Good.And while I'm here I would like to confirm my support of Siripon's remarks.There should be zero tolerance of this kind of violent language by the media or indeed in general political discourse.What was said - if reported correctly - about Abhisit is intolerable.Tempers are inflamed enough and it's all too easy for this kind of poisonous vitriol to spill over.(I've been reading Richard Evans' excellent book, first of a trilogy, dealing with the Nazis rise to power so the subject of political violence is fresh in my mind.)
Of course there's poisonous language used on the other side.See BP for analysis of what was said at a recent PAD rally although to be fair unlike the Chiangmai incident it generally seemed to be due to somewhat over excited rhetoric.
Posted 2009-11-23 15:50:37
hammered, on 2009-11-23 09:45:07, said: Throw it in with Gen. Prem's commen tthat all sides must loiok to each other to solve problems and Thaksins thanking him for the statement and you have possibly a movement away from the edge. Possibly
I heard they might be going on holiday together (which is nice).
Posted 2009-11-23 15:59:18
Verbal life threatening is one thing, another is life threatening action/ situation. We can hear the first clause everyday, in the news, at police precincts, in parliament debates, as well as on TV soaps. And if there is a possibility that the latter would happen as threaten, then the alleged maybe investigated for truth and the visit should be cancelled. This, even the PM himself does not see it as there is one. Do you think the risk of PM being kill with thousand alerted security hands is real? I think the chance is very very slim, unless there was a real crazed man.
Talking about bravery, Yes, I would take my hat of for another man, ML Sukhumbhand when he volunteered to ride the copter with the Karen rebels back from Bangkok to Kanjanaburi at gun point, but Abhisit advanced plan to visit the north a bravery? I'm afraid I could not give him that previlege yet.
Posted 2009-11-23 16:06:25
Court Approves Arrest Warrant for Chiang Mai Red Shirt Leader
UPDATE : 23 November 2009
Chiang Mai courts have approved an arrest warrant for Petcharawat Wattanapongsirikul, a red shirt leader who threatened the Prime Minister's life on community radio.
http://www.thailando...?DataID=1021437
Posted 2009-11-23 16:28:43
quiksilva, on 2009-11-23 14:54:25, said: Even in the USA, where they have the constitutional right to free speech, threatening to kill the President is still a federal offence, punishable by fines and / or imprisonment of up to five years. Its not an outdated law it is often called upon by the Secret Service.
So its not exactly surprising to see similar laws in existence in Thailand. We have no way of knowing whether the PM or the Police believes this threat to be credible or not, but I think given what happened to Sonthi it would be foolish to take it lightly.
They have threatened the life of the PM. This at a time when confidence needs to be restored, not for the government's sake but for the sake of the working people, and not just of Chiangmai but for the whole of Thailand.
There are ways to express dissatisfaction, but death threats is over stepping the line, and the culprit should be punished for that. If the reds want to be taken seriously they should not resort to violence or even threats of violence.
Hat's off to Abhisit for making the trip, its a brave move and one that's needed, I just hope his security detail is tighter than what was provided for his Asean summit guests in Pattaya...
If I threat my neighbor to kill him, the police will arrest me and I'll be punished either by fines or imprisonment.
Posted 2009-11-23 16:41:26
hammered, on 2009-11-23 15:45:07, said: WinnieTheKhwai, on 2009-11-23 15:28:27, said: webfact, on 2009-11-23 07:15:14, said: PM vows to visit Chiang Mai despite threats
By The Nation
Published on November 23, 2009 Insight, on 2009-11-21 13:01:57, said: Well done Abhisit for not being intimidated by the Thaksin Mafia.
Published: 23/11/2009 at 12:32 PM
Online news: Politics
( From the other English language paper, the one that's slightly less radical, with some notable exceptions )
Throw it in with Gen. Prem's comment that all sides must look to each other to solve problems and Thaksins thanking him for the statement and you have possibly a movement away from the edge. Possibly
Let's also consider that if a car bomb is used, as threatened on radio, in the hopes of 'getting the PM',
then many, many others would be injured or worse. So deciding to not go might be the act of
a responsible person thinking of the public safety and not just his right to travel freely in Thailand.
Posted 2009-11-23 17:24:47
We are having a charity party at our office near CMU on the same day and so I called Rak Chiang Mai 51 today to ask if we would be safe. They said they had more important things to do than bother with a bunch of expat and Thai shoppers and partygoers, and after repeatedly asking whether we had any political affiliations, seemed satisfied to guarantee that they would leave us alone...phew! I can't believe I have to virtually ask their permission to organise a charity event. Disgusting...But I felt that it was best to check because there are rumours of them shutting down roads, etc. So, according to them all is clear by the Canal Road!
Posted 2009-11-23 17:38:52
Court rejects request for arrest warrant against Chiang Mai red-shirt leader
Chiang Mai - The Chiang Mai Provincial Court Monday rejected police's request for an arrest warrant against a local red-shirt on ground that police's evidence is too weak.
The court refused to approve the arrest warrant against Phetchawat Watanapongsirikul, a leader of the Chiang Mai Loving 51 Group.
Police want to arrest Phetchawat on charge that he had made death threat against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
But the court reasoned that police could not use only an audio clip of Phetchawat. The court said police also had to produce a weapon Phetchawat would use to assassinate the prime minister.
-- The Nation 23-11-09
marshbags 
Edited by marshbags, 2009-11-23 17:39:39.
Posted 2009-11-23 17:45:32
animatic, on 2009-11-22 22:08:29, said: The bum got thrown out. Not shot or locked up
Then his puppets screwed up TWICE and got thrown out.
He got convicted when his own puppet government was in power too. Oops
He had complete freedom of movement till HE decided to leave the country.
Then by legal rules of parliamentary procedure,
the current government formed a coalition, which still functions.
All by the rules on the books as put there by Thais.
Let's see now which side is it calling for assassination ?
Oh yes, the red shirt side...
Which side didn't send commandos to top Thaksin?
Oh yes, the military and current government.
Who shows the courage to go to all place in the nation
even as assassination is being threaten against him?
Abhisit
Who doesn't have the stones to face a 2 year cream puff incarceration.
softened by the voluminous bribes he could make for creature comforts?
Thaksin.
So that makes a few things clearer.
Ah, so bum is ok when you use it but anatomical references used as a joke are not. Oh dear oh dear oh dear.
He did not get thrown out he was deposed when representing the Thai government overseas.
And what would have been the international response if commandos had been sent in to "top him"
Not sure what "voluminous " bribes are but are you supporting the current regimes tolerance of this bribe culture. Tolerated by all sides of course. Taksin and Abhisit.
Throwing mud in politics often has the reverse effect than that intended. I do not support Taksin but at least get the facts straight when you refer to him.
In the Uk some of the media took issue with Gordon Brown for poor handwriting, spelling mistakes and getting a name wrong in a condolence letter to the mother of a killed soldier. Many other members of the media also joined in. The conservative party took no side and in fact took no pleasure in the position he was put. they attack the party politics but they did not make cheap jibes. I trust you and others see the parallel
Getting personal gets nowhere.
Posted 2009-11-23 17:52:43
Publicus, on 2009-11-21 17:27:48, said: The arrest warrant issued for the DJ is welcome and proper and should be pursued aggressively. Officials public and private in Chiang Mai need openly and vocally to denounce the statement. These pre civil war conditions need to be dealt with strongly and swiftly.
If Chiang Mai cares about its country and about its tourism, it shouldn't be allowing conditions to develop which could result in the country's leader being assassinated there. Chiang Mai people have to pull their heads out of their arses.
The conditions have not solely developed from Chiangmai people. This country has been in political turmoil for decades.
Talking of a pre civil war seems a little bit like incitement to me as does tarring all Chiangmai people the same and telling them to pull their heads out of their arses. Presumably you can say that from China but I understand you spend some time in Chiangmai. You would say that to their face?
Posted 2009-11-23 17:58:49
Old Man River, on 2009-11-21 19:00:20, said: zzaa09, on 2009-11-21 18:34:48, said: hammered, on 2009-11-21 17:38:25, said: Asa, on 2009-11-21 16:25:50, said: Is this visit news worth posting in the forum?
Anyway, I wish he could leave the local people (and officers) to spend their weekend with families instead of waiting on him. Even better to find a way to secure Thai Engineer release from Cambodian jail.
He is PM and as such should be able to go anywhere in the country. In fact any person whatever status they have shoudl be able to do so likewise. There should be no no-go areas for anyone. The PM should be able to visit people of the country he is PM of. Quite simple really. That goes for a new PM if roles are reversed in parliament too.
A popular PM? We really wouldn't know, as he wasn't elected - but appointed by a judicial coup. Fair to proceed with sound and just elections. And then we'll see.
Not again. This should be simple enough. In Thailand, the PM is selected by all the elected MP's. Hence, Abhisit is an elected MP who has been selected by the rest of the elected MP's to be PM, just like the PM's before him. If this is still hard for you to understand, google Thailand and read.
the poster was commenting on the words "popular MP" and as he was elected as pm post-coup by mps and had no popular (ie peoples) mandate from an election the poster is right in his comment. He is of course the legal pm but not by the peoples choice. There is an important distinction.
Posted 2009-11-23 18:12:28
Publicus, on 2009-11-22 00:02:36, said: Reds' openly stated threats of violence against the gay would be festival paraders in Chiang Mai who were prevented from having their day in the public streets reinforce the divisive, intemperate and polarizing nature of both Thaksin himself and of his personal red army.
I shudder to think of Thailand as a country if Thaksin were to regain power with his red army at his disposal for any of his purposes or whims. It makes me think of Chairman Mao and his Red Guards who during their ruthless and mindless ten year campaign against the 'enemies' of Chairman Mao halted the development of China, killed untold numbers of fellow Chinese and loved every minute of it.
Pardons and amnesties of Thaksin and his cronies who upon any retun would have their own personal Red Guard army throughout Thailand are absolutely out of the question, unless Thais want to consign their country to self immolation.
Do you have a source for saying Taksin was involved in that dispute. And incitement seems to be the order of the day, linking Chairman Mao and his deeds to what you take to be whims of taksin. you are on dangerous ground. incitement is actually against forum rules.
Posted 2009-11-23 18:14:52
hammered, on 2009-11-22 09:59:55, said: So it is a joke to say the PM will be killed. And PTP tell him to cancel the visit for his safety and yet never onjce call for calm and ask his opponents to stick to lawful dfemos and respect the right to visit.
The drumbeat of hatred goes on. LCM51's history is well knownb and they are a proven violent grouping with a belief based crede and claim they represent the people of the North. There is no debate on that.
And Publicus is drawing parallels between Chairman Mao and Taksin. Can't we all get back to the facts.
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