Deaths in Bangkok

[bumper]

This would indicate to me an escalation rather then a resolution. PAD has said NO period to the plan.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... to-bangkok

[bumper]

PM faces opposition with PAD and the No Color's. In the end it looks like this may not be going anywhere. so where does the movement of the protesters go from here?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Mu ... 28785.html

[jackspratt]

I understand the red and PAD leaderships are locked in deep negotiations for PAD to take over the Rajprasong protest site on a walk-in/walk-out basis (which includes all the weapons accumulated over the past couple of months).

However, PAD have said they can provide their own "men in black" terrorists, so Katthiya and his thugs won't be required. :-"

[bumper]

Unfortunately here that is believable

[Aardvark]

So you will have your preferred party on the front lines after all Jack

[jackspratt]

My preferred party is the Dems, Aa.

Some people can't seem to understand there is a difference between them and the yellows/PAD.

[jackspratt]

Let me rephrase that.

My preference is for Abhisit and Korn. Most of the Dems are as bad as the reds, who are as bad as the rest of the politicians in Thailand.

However, for Abhisit to be in charge, he obviously needs a party around him. For my money, he is the best bet that Thailand has at the moment, unless someone else comes forward - and who that might be is certainly not obvious at the moment.

[bumper]

Nation say a date is sit for the end of the Rally. The Post says no date sit you take your pick

[FrazeeDK]

Red Shirts expand tenting east from Chidlom to Wittayu on Ploenchit to house expanded Red presence at Rajaprasong.. Saw tents being put up last night for expected arrival of "thousands" more Reds from the NE. I'll post today on observations of who's there.

Last night, bad scene, shooting/killings: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... k-protests

can't really understand how two guys on a m/c could shoot cops within the heavily guarded area down Silom near the Bangkok Bank.. What's with that?? Rather a terrible reflection on the ability of the police and soldiers who have been in that area in large numbers since the 22nd April M79 attacks there..

The grenade attacks on the police at "Gate 4" of Lumpini puts this close to home for me.. I generally walk in the park regularly although I've reduced my activities there since the troubles started. The police have had a very large presence (500+) in Lumpini for a couple of weeks now.. They're billeted in several buildings and appear to rotate to support the Silom Police presence. Despite their close proximity to the Reds at the Rama IV statue and the west side of Lumpini this is the first incident against them in or adjacent to Lumpini.

Of course, there will be flying accusations and counter-accusations and denials from the Reds, the Yellows, the Many-colored of involvement in these two attacks. Any side could benefit in one way or another from the attacks.

my head spins.. wheels--within--wheels.. With the PM's reconcilliation offer, supporters as well as those against it have crawled out of the woodwork to have their say... Everybodies' got an iron or two in this fire..

[bumper]

Amazing assuming everyone is armed now, why in the world didn't they kill the guys on the bike?

There is a point where this is simply ridicules

Your right this thing just get more complicated by the minute.

[FrazeeDK]

the gov't could say, "see it's the Reds, they don't want reconcilliation."

the yellows can say, "kill the terrorists, the Reds are animals."

the Reds can say, "we didn't do it, it's a set-up to make us look bad."

the many-colored can say, "it's the Reds again, trying to get us!!"

who did it?? Nobody knows! All parties could benefit in the finger-pointing....

[FrazeeDK]

Khon Khaen Reds reinforce Rajaprasong..

The awnings I saw going up last night on Ploenchit a couple of blocks east of Rajaprasong were for the Khon Khaen Red Shirts who arrived in force late this morning and are continuing to build up.. Roughly 250 vehicles decked out in Red flags, banners and most of the people in full Red Shirt regalia. Many personally owned Song Taew's and beat up pickups.. These aren't rich folks but country folk.. I'd reckon 1500-2000 people or more. All still smiling and in good moods (unlike the folks who've been at it for over a month!). This influx doesn't say much (or does it????) for the government's "blockade" of the area.. Perhaps these people were allowed to come in as a sign of reconcilliation rather than being turned back north of Bangkok.....

The Red leadership say they've essentially accepted the PM's offer..http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... n-road-map
We'll see if they pull up stakes Monday as they've promised.... I haven't seen any further declarations from the PM on some of the Reds counterdemands on suspending the Emergency Decree, opening up Red media (radio, web, 1 X TV station), pulling back Army troops... The Red demand for open access to the protest site appears to have been allowed (or the gov't couldn't stop them??), and the Reds demand for the government to stop demonizing the Red movement seems, at least for today to be granted (no English news media articles about CRES or Suthep or other gov't folks poking the Reds)...

So, despite last nights attacks which are being blamed as 3rd hand http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews ... g-road-map
things might clear up in the short term starting Monday...

And, we'll see if the core Red Leaders turn themselves in on the 15th.. I'm inclined to believe that if the protest closes up Monday, they will indeed turn themselves in to the police, they'll get bail, and the the cops, DSI and Attorney General will investigate and most of the significant charges will be dropped.. (my prediction)....

[parrot]

And then maybe the country can get back to wondering why they've invested a gazillion baht in a carnival balloon that doesn't fly and bomb detectors that don't work (too bad.........they'd have come in handy in Bangkok.....if only they worked!)

[FrazeeDK]

channel 7 tonight 17:30 national news... paraphrased by TW.. "Police spokesman and generals attribute last nights shootings and grenade attacks to bad people who want to disrupt the reconcilliation between the government and the reds."

So, the government refrains from finger-pointing.. another move towards the Reds counter-demands (no further demonization of the Reds) and the potential cessation of the protest on Monday... Also, the news showed a composite government worker/Reds Shirt group hosing/scrubbing down Rajaprasong to "make it clean."....

It's been raining up in Udon right?? the Khon Khaen and Udon farmers will have to head back soon to "dum na"..

[FrazeeDK]

this excellent commentary from the BKK Post catches the wheels-within-wheels perfectly: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... he-yellows

the final conclusion of the article: "So beware of the reds, but don't take your eyes off the yellows. Be wary of the multi-colours and don't forget the greens will get a new army chief in September, and that will make things even more interesting.
And while Newin Chidchob's blues are pretty quiet, that doesn't mean they won't come into play. All of which is certainly having Thailand sing the blues."

everybody's a player!! Politics is Thailand = Money/Power for those who win..

[bumper]

Hard to be bored here.

[jackspratt]

It appears less and less likely that the "road map" will be accepted by the Reds, with the latest development being an apparent split in the leadership.

According to some reports, the lunatic Katthiya says Thaksin has decided to "sack" the current "moderate" leadership, and install in its place hardliners including Udon's own crazy, Kwanchai, plus the criminal Arisman, and others.

There is speculation on other sites that Katthiya is actually a double agent, acting on behalf of PAD - the basis being that he is so damaging to the red cause, he can't be for real.

If this road map falls through, I doubt another offer will be put on the table, in which case, hold on to your hats.

[FrazeeDK]

geezz.!! PM puts Khattiya in the cross-hairs as the terrorist fomenter and bingo!!! The Reds come out with a demand for Suthep to be arrested before they will stop the protests.. What's going on behind the scenes?? Only a sticky-footed gecko might know...

[bumper]

I could be very wrong. But, I think they are walking on very shaky ground right now.

[jackspratt]

So, where are we now?

Abhisit offered (1 week ago) an early election, based on seemingly rational milestones to be achieved. This was widely, and positively received by the local and international press.

The Reds (and I refer to the leadership, not the seemingy lambs who are being led along the way) have procrastinated up till yesterday, when they stated unequivocally they would disband the Bangkok camp and await the election, after Sutthep presented himself to the police to answer complaints which had been bought since the April 10 fiasco.

At 0830 this morning, Sutthep duly reported to the DSI (Dept of Special Investigations).

What is the current position in Rajprasong? A rhetorical question, but one which I hope can be explained by Val (and to a lesser extent Khondham).

It would seem that only one side is seeking confrontation, because without it, the aims of the paymaster (Thaksin) cannot be achieved.