Another coup is possible, says close aide to the CNS

Another military coup is possible if the political strife lasts much longer, says a former close aide to people behind the 2006 coup.

While stressing that the present stand-off should be tackled through political means, Gen Somjet Boonthanom, the chief adviser to the defence permanent secretary's office, said military intervention may be necessary if all other means failed.

''If the problems cannot be resolved by democratic means and the country is caught in a deadlock, a coup may be necessary,'' said Gen Somjet, a close aide to former Council for National Security (CNS) secretary-general Winai Phattiyakul.

He urged parties involved in the dispute not to focus on winning and suggested the government consider its future if it is unable to steer the country away from political turmoil.

The People's Alliance for Democracy and Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej are still at loggerheads, despite mediation attempts by parliament to find a settlement.

In his national broadcast yesterday, Mr Samak said again that he would stay on as prime minister, to defend democracy and the monarchy.

He also dismissed the possibility of the military mounting a coup to topple his administration when he attends the United Nations General Assembly session in New York later this month.

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was ousted in 2006 while he was at a UN function.

''I will deliver my speech at the United Nations and I don't believe any unwanted incidents will happen, such as when Mr Thaksin went to speak there.

''The military knows the international community will not tolerate [another] coup,'' he said.

PAD core member Chamlong Srimuang said his group would not negotiate as long as Mr Samak stayed in power.

Senate Speaker Prasopsuk Boondej, assigned by parliament to mediate the conflict, had yet to contact the PAD, he said.

Mr Prasopsuk said he will discuss the PAD's conditions with his working team today.

The mediation attempt comes after Mr Samak imposed a state of emergency in the wake of a violent clash between pro- and anti-government demonstrators last Tuesday.

Political parties will today also explore possible options to mitigate the conflict. Party leaders and secretaries-general are expected to attend.

Meanwhile, a source in the People Power party said Mr Samak is likely to dissolve the House of Representatives eventually. It was only a question of when.

The source said if cabinet endorses the annual reshuffle of state officials at the mobile cabinet meeting tomorrow, the chances of a House dissolution are high.

Some even expect the announcement on Saturday, said the source.

''Mr Samak and his group are buying time to prepare for elections,'' said the source

http://www.bangkokpost.com/080908_News/08Sep2008_news05.php

PAD shuts down airports

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) sealed off some of the country's major airports and threatened to seize city halls in the South in a bid to force the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej shortly after the state of emergency was imposed yesterday. About 1,000 PAD supporters closed the roads to the Hat Yai airport yesterday morning. They set up a stage in front of the airport and vowed a protracted siege of the airport.

Four companies of anti-riot and border patrol police were deployed to secure the airport and bring security there to its highest level.

About 300 of the group's supporters sealed off the airport for four hours yesterday and then left for Bangkok to join the PAD demonstration at Government House.

Praween Julapakdi, a PAD coordinator in Surat Thani, said the two evening flights would not be blocked.

Key southern supporters of the PAD announced in Chumphon yesterday they would lay siege to city halls in all 14 southern provinces if Mr Samak insists on staying.

Highways in the region would also be blocked, said Sunthorn Rakrong, the PAD's southern coordinator.

The movement's backers forced the cancellation of seven flights at Hat Yai airport yesterday.

Prapas Inthanapasat, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) director in Hat Yai, said the airport rally and the rail strike would hurt tourism all the more in Songkhla, which is already suffering from insurgent threats.

Phanu Woramit, TAT director in Surat Thani province, said the news of the clash between the anti-government and pro-government supporters in Bangkok early yesterday caused the cancellation of about half the flight bookings made by South Korean couples planning honeymoon trips to Koh Samui this week.

Ruangnam Jaikwang, president of the southern hoteliers' association, said the hotel industry on Koh Samui could grind to a halt if the political turmoil is allowed to persist.

In the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, some medical staff of the Srinakarin Hospital at Khon Kaen University are considering a strike if Mr Samak refuses to call it quits.

About 100 doctors, nurses and medical students at the hospital said they would withdraw all their bank savings in an effort to jeopardise the local economy.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/030908_News/03Sep2008_news04.php

PM: Clash will be investigated

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday assured the public that investigations would be carried out into the cause of the violence between pro- and anti-government protesters, which left one man dead. In a televised news conference at the Royal Thai Armed Forces headquarters shortly after he declared a state of emergency, Mr Samak said the emergency enforcement committee would be responsible for the investigations.

''The matter will be looked into carefully,'' he said, without specifying the timeframe of the investigations.

Pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed around 1am yesterday on Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue.

The violence erupted shortly after midnight when the UDD led more than 2,000 members, mostly wearing red T-shirts or red headbands, to march from Sanam Luang, where the UDD held a rally yesterday to counter the PAD rally, to Makkhawan Rangsan bridge, the headquarters of the PAD.

The UDD members, mostly armed with wooden batons, some with iron bars, stones and knives, were led by young men on board 20 motorcycles, who honked their horns while leading the group along the avenue. Two six-wheel trucks followed the group.

About 500 police were divided into two teams to set up blockades along the avenue to prevent the UDD demonstrators from confronting the PAD protesters. About 12.30am, the UDD reached the first police blockade in front of Nang Loeng police station.

It took the UDD about five minutes to pass through the blockade, as police had only anti-riot shields without any batons.

The motorcycle riders who led the UDD drove straight at metal barricades set up by police. The officers tried in vain to prevent the UDD from advancing through the second blockade, near the PAD protest site.

Upon learning the UDD had marched to the PAD's protest site at the bridge, PAD core member Somsak Kosaisuk immediately ordered demonstrators to rush to the Makkhawan Rangsan site from Government House.

Mr Somsak and thousands of PAD demonstrators have encamped at Government House since last Tuesday.

The PAD demonstrators, mostly young men armed with knives, wooden clubs, golf clubs and iron bars, reinforced PAD guards, numbering about 1,000, at the bridge to protect their protest site.

The UDD managed to break through the last police barricade in front of the army headquarters. Upon seeing their rivals, the UDD members ran towards their opponents, who managed to break through a police barricade.

The two sides clashed and gunfire was heard.

After the 30-minute clash, the UDD, which was outnumbered by the PAD, suffered casualties. A total of 43 people were hurt and one was pronounced dead on arrival in hospital from injuries to his head and face. Three of the wounded had been shot, according to the Narenthorn Emergency Response Centre.

The dead man was identified as UDD member Narongsak Krobthaisong, 55.

Police found a number of spent 9mm bullets left at the clash scene.

National police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan and his deputy and acting city police chief Pol Gen Jongrak Juthanont yesterday inspected the scene.

About 400 soldiers from the 1st Infantry Regiment armed with shields and batons were deployed to the site. The troops stood in the middle of the two conflicting groups.

Nearly 600 schools in Bangkok were temporarily closed following the clash. The Office of the Basic Education Commission ordered state-run schools in Bangkok to be closed for one or two days, depending on their location.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/030908_News/03Sep2008_news06.php

PAD supporters guard ASTV from being taken off air

Around 200 supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday banded together to guard the ASTV station and Manager newspaper offices on Phra Athit road amid rumours Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was going to take the cable TV channel off the air. The PAD demonstrators walked from the protest ground at Government House in the late morning before separating into two groups.

The first stood guard in front of Ban Chao Phraya where the ASTV station is located while another group gathered nearby outside the Manager newspaper office at Ban Phra Athit.

The PAD supporters came together to protect the ASTV station from any disruption to its broadcasts, including a possible attack by supporters of the pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Earlier, a rumour went around that the station, owned by PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul, would be taken off the air on the orders of Mr Samak.

In the evening, about 500 PAD guards placed old tyres, railings and barbed wires at two sections of Phra Athit road to foil any attempts to cause disturbances at the station.

Behind the layer of defences, the PAD guards armed with sticks, golf clubs, metal bars and catapults stayed put.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday dismissed an appeal to revoke arrest warrants for nine PAD leaders on charges of inciting insurrection.

Narat Imsuksri, Criminal Court secretary, said the nine PAD leaders could file another appeal. PAD lawyer Nathaporn Toprayoon plans to do so with the Appeals Court today.

Supachai Jaisamut, secretary to the Interior Minister, said investigators were in the process of taking legal action against Mr Sondhi's son Jittanart, one of the executives of Thaiday Dot Com Co, which operates the ASTV station, and 30 other PAD figures for insurrection and invasion of government offices following its controversial broadcasts in violation of the state of emergency.

PAD leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang warned that if ASTV was closed, electricity to all politicians, especially Mr Samak's house, would be cut off.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said that biased media reports by state-owned television station NBT and ASTV had brought the political situation to a critical point. Measures to monitor the two stations might be put in place.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/030908_News/03Sep2008_news07.php

แก๊สน้ำตา สลายม็อบพันธมิตร กระเจิง (การบิดเบือนของมุมภาพ)

ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่าเมื่อเวลา 18.30 น. วันนี้ นายวัชระ เพชรทอง ขึ้นปราศรัยปลุกกระแสกลุ่มผู้ชุมนุมอย่างต่อเนื่อง โจมตีการทำงานของตำรวจนครบาล ขณะนั้นได้มีกลุ่มผู้ชุมนุมเพิ่มขึ้นกว่าจากเดิมกว่า 5,000 คน โดยนายวัชระ สั่งให้ผู้ชุมนุม ถอยออกมาจากประตูรั้วเหล็กคนละหนึ่งก้าว เพื่อเตรียมความพร้อม ยั่วยุให้ผู้ชุมนุมบุกเข้าไปในบช.น. เพื่อทวงทรัพย์สินและข้าวของโทรศัพท์มือถือที่ตำรวจยึดมาจากผู้ชุมนุม ต่อมานายการุณ ใสงาม หนึ่งในแกนนำ ขึ้นเวทีปราศรับสั่งให้ผู้ชุมนุมเดินชิดเข้ามาที่ประตูรั้วเหล็ก เพื่อประลองกำลัง โดยให้ผู้ชุมนุมทุบประตูรั้วเหล็กจนเสียงดังก้องไปทั่ว หลังจากนั้น ได้บอกกับผู้ชุมนุมเตรียมตัวให้พร้อมจะบุกเข้าไปใน บช.น. ให้รถพยาบาลเตรียมรับผู้บาดเจ็บ ขณะนั้นตำรวจที่ประจำอยู่ในกองบัญชาการตำรวจนครบาล 3 กองร้อย 450 นายได้ประชิดเข้ามาติดประตูรั้วด้านในกันทั้งหมด ป้องกันไม่ให้ผู้ชุมนุมพังประตูเข้ามา แกนนำได้ให้สัญญาณนับถอยหลัง เป็นจังหวะ เริ่มจาก 10 , 9 …….จนถึง 1 ขณะนั้นได้เกิดเหตุการณ์ไม่คาดคิดขึ้น มีเสียงคล้ายปืนดังขึ้นมา 3 นัด ซึ่งคาดว่าจะเป็นเสียงประทัดและมีควันสีขาวกระจายออกมาจากบริเวณหน้ารถเครื่องขยายเสียง จากนั้นก็มีเสียงดังขึ้นหลายนัดติดต่อกันกว่า 5-6 นัดจากบริเวณที่มีการชุมนุม ขณะที่ตำรวจอยู่ด้านในมีเพียงโล่กำบังและกระบอกเท่านั้น



ผู้สื่อข่าวรายงานว่า แกนนำได้สั่งให้ผู้ชุมนุมหมอบลงกับพื้น และ ได้ตะโกนว่าตำรวจยิงปืนออกมานอกรั้ว จากนั้นก็มีเสียงระเบิดดังกึกก้องอยู่ที่กลางกลุ่มผู้ชุมนุมบริเวณด้านประตูรั้ว 1 ลูก บนรถเครื่องขยายเสียง 1 ลูก และดังต่อเนื่องกันไปทั่วบริเวณรวม 11 ลูก ทำให้ผู้ชุมนุมหนีตายกันอย่างอลหม่าน ซึ่งคาดว่า จะเป็นระเบิดแก๊สน้ำตา บรรยากาศนิ่งสงบไปประมาณ 2 นาที บริเวณถนนศรีอยุธยา หน้าบช.น. ต่างไม่มีผู้ชุมนุมอยู่ขณะนั้นมีผู้บาดเจ็บอยู่หลายราย กระทั่งรถพยาบาลวิ่งเข้ามาร่วมผู้บาดเจ็บไปส่งโรงพยาบาลวัชรพยาบาล เหตุการณ์ครั้งนี้ผู้สื่อข่าวในบช.น.ต่างยืนยันว่า เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจไม่ได้ใช้ระเบิดแก๊สน้ำตายิงเข้าไปกับผู้ชุมนุม อาจมีผู้ไม่หวังดีสร้างสถานการณ์ บางกลุ่มยังวิจารณ์กันว่า ตำรวจเป็นคนทำจนทำให้เกิดความสับสน จากนั้น เหตุการณ์เริ่มชุลมุน มีระเบิดควันเข้ามาใน บช.น.ประมาณ 2 นัดทำให้ตำรวจที่อยู่ริมรั้วด้านในนอนหมอบลงกับพื้น พล.ต.ท.อัศวิน ขวัญเมือง ผบช.น. สั่งเสริมกำลังจากหน่วยอรินทราช 26 รถดับเพลิง ตำรวจปราบจราจล เสริมกำลังเป็นเท่าตัว เข้าระงับเหตุจนสถานการณ์คลี่คลายลง



หลังเกิดเหตุ พ.ต.อ.สุวัฒน์ แจ้งยอดสุข รอง ผบก.หัวหน้าสำนักงาน ผบช.น.ได้เข้าไปเจรจากับนายสุรชัย ไม้งาม หนึ่งในแกนนำ ตกลงกันว่า กลุ่มพันธมิตรยอมถอนกำลัง พร้อมกับประกาศว่าพื้นที่ บช.น.ไม่ใช่เป้าหมายหลัก ผู้ชุมนุมมีเป้าหมายหลักอยู่ที่ทำเนียบรัฐบาล จากนั้นแกนนำได้เคลื่อนรถเครื่องขยายเสียงกับไปที่ทำเนียบรัฐบาล ต่อมา พล.ต.ต.อำนวย นิ่มมะโน ผบก.นง 1 ประกาศผ่านเครื่องขยายเสียงเพื่อให้ผู้ชุมนุมเข้าใจว่า ตำรวจมีหน้าที่รักษากฎหมาย ดูแลคุ้มครองทรัพย์สินของทางราชการ ถึงแม้ว่า จะต้องสละชีวิตเพื่อรักษาฐานที่ต้องก็ต้องยอมทำ ขณะเดียวกันก็ประกาศให้กำลังใจเจ้าหน้าที่ให้ทำงานอย่างเข้มแข็ง อย่างละมุนละม่อม จากนั้นตำรวจได้เปิดเพลงมาร์ทตำรวจ โดยเจ้าหน้าที่ที่ปฏิบัติงานกว่า 500 นายต่างส่งเสียงร้องตามและเคาะโล่และกระบอกกันเป็นจังหวะ และร้องตะโกนว่า สู้ สู้



ต่อมาเวลา 20.20 น. พล.ต.ต.สุพร พันธุ์เสือ โฆษก บช.น. แถลงข่าวยืนยันว่าตำรวจไม่ได้เป็นคนปฏิบัติการณ์กับเหตุการณ์ครั้งนี้ กำลังที่อยู่เป็นการรักษาสถานที่เท่านั้นเอง ไม่มีกำลังชุดปฏิบัติการณ์ใดๆ ทั้งสิ้น ยืนยันไม่ได้เป็นผู้ปาแก๊สน้ำตา ใครจะเป็นผู้ดำเนินการก็ไม่ทราบ ท่านผู้บัญชาการตำรวจนครบาลยืนอยู่ด้วยยังแสบตาเลย ยังไม่ระบุว่ามีมือที่ 3 อาจก่อให้เกิดความขัดแย้ง ตำรวจถอยทุกอย่างแล้ว เราเพียงแต่รักษาที่ตั้ง ขอให้ผู้ชุมนุมกันอย่างปกติดีกว่า อย่ากดดันตำรวจ ขอวิงวอนและขอร้องผู้ชุมนุมด้วย ตำรวจจะรักษาที่ตั้งไว้สุดชีวิต จะทำเพียงกันผลักดันเท่านั้น พร้อมกันนี้ได้นำตัวเจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจที่ถูกระเบิดควันจากผู้ชุมนุมโยนใส่จนชุดเครื่องแบบเลอะเทอะให้สื่อมวลชนดู ขณะเดียวกัน ผบช.น. ซึ่งเดินมาสังเกตการณ์กล่าว ด้วยสีหน้าเคร่งเครียดว่า " คุณดูเอาเองก็แล้วกันว่าใครทำ ขนาดผมไปยืนสังเกตการณ์ด้านล่างยังแสบตาเลย"


เครดิต : http://blog.eduzones.com/entertain/8899

PM turns to military top brass for protection

The strategy adopted yesterday by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to ward off the threat against his rule from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) was simple, but risky.

The prime minister took the unexpected step of surrounding himself with the military top brass at the Supreme Command.

A military source revealed that Mr Samak phoned Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit around 8am after being told that PAD supporters would try to seize control of Government House and several ministries to pressure the prime minister and his cabinet to step down.

Gen Boonsrang was asked to arrange a meeting room for the cabinet at the Supreme Command at 9am. A room on the fourth four of the Supreme Command's main building was then vacated and re-arranged as a meeting place for the cabinet as requested.

The prime minister's decision to stay inside the barracks came despite a strong rumour on Monday night that a military wing, led by First Army chief Lt-Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, was planning to stage a coup and overthrow the government.

Mr Samak asked both Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda and Lt-Gen Prayuth to be by his side all day yesterday and used the command centre as a base to deal with the PAD attacks against his administration, the source said.

Mr Samak took a big risk by putting his trust in Gen Anupong he would not be back-stabbed if he stayed inside the barracks which could have made him an easy target if the army had opted for a coup, an observer noted.

The prime minister, who is also the defence minister, rewarded them for the protection within hours yesterday by quickly approving the military reshuffle list.

The reshuffle list was discussed on the sixth floor of the building immediately after the cabinet meeting, which ended at 2pm. Normally, at least 30 minutes are spent on discussing the list, but this time the prime minister approved the list within 10 minutes without making any changes.

Mr Samak told the armed forces chiefs that he respected their decisions as he believed they knew their forces better than anybody else, according to Gen Boonsrang.

Many military leaders were themselves surprised at the quick end of the meeting, as it has taken days in previous years to finalise the list due to heavy internal lobbying.

Details were not unveiled after the meeting.

Earlier, Mr Samak reportedly planned to propose that Gen Anupong also hold the post of supreme commander as Mr Samak disagreed with Gen Boonsrang that his deputy Gen Montri Sangkhasap be nominated to succeed him.

But Gen Anupong refused to take up the post, reasoning that he would find the workload too heavy, and said many other senior officers were qualified for the job, another military source added.

The source said Gen Boonsrang would likely be succeeded by Gen Songkitti Chakkabat, chief-of-staff of the Supreme Command, instead of Gen Montri.

But pleasing the military leaders by leaving the list untouched was no guarantee that he would not face a coup. If the situation worsens, the army will be left with no choice and could take that very step to restore the stability of the country, another observer said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/270808_News/27Aug2008_news03.php

Thousands of demonstrators storm seven state agencies

Thousands of members of the People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday stormed into seven agencies, including Government House, as the PAD tried to bring the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to its knees.

''All the agencies being raided are symbols of the corrupt state mechanism,'' said PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul.

The six main targets were NBT television station, the Finance and Transport ministries, the Public Relations Department, the Metropolitan Police Bureau head office and Government House.

The demonstrators first burst into the NBT, followed by the Finance Ministry, where they broke through the three-metre-high iron gate and then took over the ministry's compound.

Officials were ordered to go home. Office buildings were then locked, except for the canteen and some toilets for the demonstrators.

At the Transport Ministry, about 2,000 PAD supporters climbed over the fence and took over the hall of the ministry's main building.

Another group entered the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, but only to use the toilets.

Protesters also raided the city police headquarters, where they suspected a temporary studio had been set up for the NBT.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said that by taking over the agencies they were sending a message to the government that it could no longer work and that Mr Samak should resign.

He denied the PAD was trying to provoke violence or instigate another coup.

They would not support another coup if it was just like the previous ones, Mr Suriyasai said.

Kittichai Saisa-ad, a key PAD supporter and member of the Provincial Electricity Authority labour union, said electricity and water supplies could be cut off to government agencies to increase the pressure on Mr Samak.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/270808_News/27Aug2008_news04.php