Officials Return To Work At Besieged Govt Complex

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4 February 2014, 15:17

(4 February) Civil servants return to work at the Government Complex for the first time in several weeks, following a deal between the government and anti-government protesters.

Supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have been laying siege to the Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, which hosts many state agency headquarters, since their "shutdown" of Bangkok began on 13 January.

But a Buddhist monk allied to PCAD, Buddha Issara, agreed yesterday to re-open Building A of the Complex, while Building B and other agencies would still remain closed.

Following the successful negotiation, more than 1,500 officials, most of them staff of the Ministry of Justice, showed up for work today, amid heavy presence of Army soldiers, who were stationed there to guard the venue 24 hours a day as requested by the monk.

The officials were also required to sign into a notebook which record the time of their arrival and departure. Incoming and departing vehicles were similarly check thoroughly by the army officers.

Roads and entrances linked to the protesters′ main stage on Chaeng Wattana Road are still blocked, however.

Due to the partial re-opening of the Government Complex, many visitors are left confused and disappointed when they arrived at the Complex only to realise that the organisations they were seeking help from are still closed.

For instance, two visitors from Chiang Rai province told our correspondent that they had traveled to the Government Complex today in order to renew their Passports at the Department of Consular Affairs.

The pair said that they had been trying to get the document from the Consular Minor Office at Central Bang Na for two days. However, they missed out the maximum serving quantity of no more than 1,750 visitors a day.

They later decided to travel to the Consular Affairs at the Government Complex instead, and found out that the office is not yet opened. The pair told our correspondent that they had wasted money on transport and accommodation for nothing.

The disruption may as well delay their hope to get a job overseas, said the pair, who declined to identify themselves by real names.

Meanwhile, Buddha Issara claimed that he is willing to join the negotiation table with representatives of any organisations located in the Government Complex, particularly those related to the servicing of the public.

It is reported that officials at Ministry of Labour are also resuming their work today after the long absence. Reportedly, senior officials had led a religious ceremony at the Ministry before their work starts this morning, for good luck.

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Protesters' Car Crashes In Hua Hin, Killing 4

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4 February 2014, 12:27

Rescue workers pose with "Shutdown Bangkok" scarf found inside the wrecked vehicle, 3 February 2014

(4 February) A pick-up truck carrying almost a dozen anti-government protesters has crashed in Prachuap Kiri Khan province last night, killing 4 people.

6 people were also injured in the accident, which took place in Hua Hin district. The injured victims were later transported to Hua Hin Hospital.

It is believed that the driver has fled the scene, and the police have not yet located the person for further investigation.

Bags of clothes were seen scattering around the area, including anti-government protest outfits and accessories.

One of the wounded passengers, Mr. Somjai Choochuisuwan, who serves as a village headman in Prasaeng district of Surat Thani province, said he and other passengers were supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

The group had joined the protest at Lumpini Park several days ago, Mr. Somjai said. When he and a co-protester, who was the missing driver, decided to return to their home province in Surat Thani, some other protesters reportedly asked for the ride home as well.

Many of the passengers have not known each other prior to the accident, Mr. Somchai added.

Mr. Somjai explained that he was sitting on the passenger’s seat next to the driver when an oncoming big truck suddenly hit into the side of the pick-up truck. The vehicle then hit into many trees before stopped at a large tree, Mr. Somjai said, and many passengers were thrown out of the car.

Hua Hin Police said they are trying to identify and search for the driver of the pick-up truck, in order to proceed with the investigation.

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PCAD Monk Agrees To Partially Re-Open Govt Complex

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3 February 2014, 19:03

(3 February) A core leader of the anti-government protesters has agreed to let some officials return to work at the Government Complex.

Supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have forced many governmental departments housed in the Complex to close down since they began camping on Chaeng Wattana Road several weeks ago.

The protesters were led by the Buddhist monk Buddha Issara, who was also known by his secular name as Mr. Suwit Thongprasert.

Previous efforts by governmental officials to convince Buddha Issara to lift the siege around Government Complex have failed, with the monk claiming that the protesters on Chaeng Wattana Road might be harmed if officials and security forces return to work in the nearby Complex.

The latest negotiation began this morning, just as PCAD protest leaders have abandoned their rally sites in Ladprao Intersection and Victory Monument.

Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Mr. Tawatchai Thaikheaw, and Lt Col Krittiwit Wiyaphon, a high ranking military officer, met with Buddha Issara on behalf of the government and the Royal Thai Army in the negotiation.

Although PCAD has withdrawn from both locations, Buddha Issara insisted that PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban has permitted him to "make my own decision freely" whether to keep the rally site at Chaeng Wattana Road, as long as the monk can ensure the safety of the protesters.

However, after series of haggling between both sides, Buddha Issara finally relented and allowed the officials to re-open Building A of the Government Complex, in exchange with setting up of checkpoints manned by military officers around the protest site to maintain safety for the protesters.

According to the deal, 1,539 officialss who worked for Office of Permanent Secretary of the MOJ, Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, Department of Probation, and Legal Execution Department, will be allowed to go back to work from Tuesday 4 February onward. It is also expected that the building will receive at least 200 visitors a day.

Buddha Issara demanded that the officials and visitors only use one entrance to the building, which situates on the side of the building and is generally used as a delivery point.

Furthermore, officials will be required to clearly display their ID cards, while visitors will need to obtain signatures from officials of departments they are expecting to meet. Officials must also vacate the building by 18.00 each day.

Apart from the checkpoints requested by Buddha Issara, the military will station a unit of 150 soldiers inside the building and the rooftop, preventing potential perpetrators to launch attacks on the PCAD protesters.

Nevertheless, Building B of the Complex will remain closed, and all connecting points with Building A would be blocked. Buddha Issara said representatives of the departments in Building B are welcomed to negotiate with him at any time, so he can determine whether they meet his conditions.

State agencies which will remain closed down include the Division of Special Investigation (DSI). Buddha Issara claimed he had not been contacted by DSI chief for the negotiation to re-open the office.

the PCAD protesters will close the Government Complex again as soon as possible.

The monk added that he may consider opening more traffic lanes on Chaeng Wattana Road, but threatened that the deal would be invalidated immediately if there is any act of violence against the protesters.

Buddha Issara has also instructed PCAD guards in the area to strengthen the security measures around the protest site, lest the police might try to arrest him in connection with clashes between PCAD protesters and pro-election demonstrators at nearby Lak Si district on 1 February.

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Laksi Clash: 39 Shots Fired From Anti-Govt Position

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3 February 2014, 18:33

(3 February) More than 40 shots have been fired during the clashes between rival protest groups in northern Bangkok on Saturday, police said.

The gunbattle erupted in the evening of 1 February when scores of pro-election protesters, mostly Redshirts, attempted to retake Laksi District Office from the besieging anti-election protesters led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

At least 6 people were injured, one of them severely.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamrop Panyakaew, director of the forensic police, said in a press conference today that his force has investigated the ballistics and other evidences in the crime scene to determine the positions of the gunmen.

According to Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamrop, 39 shots have been fired from the position of PCAD protesters, and 3 shots from the direction of pro-election protesters.

Additionally, the police uncovered a large number of bullet cases used by high-powered firearms, such as AK-47, carbine rifles, and a shotgun. Bullet cases of several types of handguns were also found in the scene.

The police will investigate these evidences to identify the suspects on both PCAD and pro-election sides, Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamrop said. He added that arrest warrants of the first suspects are "being sought".

In the same press conference, Mr. Tharit Pendit, chief of the Division of Special Investigation (DSI), thanked the public for exercising their rights to vote instead of joining PCAD′s attempts to scuttle the 2 February election.

The DSI chief vowed to prosecute every person who attempted to sabotage the election, and urged the public to inform the police of any evidence about these individuals.

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Loose Container Crushes Public Van, Killing 1

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3 February 2014, 17:52

(3 February) A driver of a public mini-van has been killed by the fall of the loose container from a speeding truck in Pathum Thani province.

The incident reportedly took place at 15.10 on the motorway opposite Future Park shopping mall, when a truck took a turn on the road′s sloping curve at high speed alongside the public mini-van.

It is reported that the container, which was not properly attached to the truck, was filled with more than 40 tonnes of Siamese rosewood.

The driver of the van suffered severe injuries before he later died at the scene. Rescue workers had to extract his body out of the flattened van wreckage.

The van was operating on Rangsit-Ayutthaya route, but no passenger was aboard at the time of the accident.

Police have arrested Mr. Ranachai Kidsom, the driver of the truck, for further legal prosecution.

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PCAD Leaves Victory Monument & Ladprao

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3 February 2014, 16:15

(3 February) Anti-government protesters have left key rally sites at Victory Monument and Ladprao Intersection after more than 20 days of prolonged occupation.

The decision was announced yesterday by Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), citing numerous violent attacks against protesters in the two locations.

Since PCAD occupied both locations on 13 January, unidentified assailants have mounted bomb attacks and drive-by shootings at the protesters almost on a nightly basis, in spite of security checkpoints set up by PCAD guards around the areas.

The most serious attack occurred on 19 January when a grenade was lobbed at a group of protesters at Victory Monument, injuring a number of demonstrators, vendors, and journalists.

PCAD leaders also acknowledged that both areas are connected with many alleys, roads, and bridges, permitting perpetrators to escape undetected after each attack.

The "relocation" started this morning when Mr. Suthep and his entourage arrived at Ladprao Intersection this morning and led the protesters down Phaholyothin Road toward Victory Monument, where they linked up with more protesters who had been camping there for weeks.

The combined group later marched to join another PCAD rally at Lumpini Park and Saladaeng Intersection, passing through other PCAD rally sites at Pathumwan and Ratchaprasong intersections. The protesters arrived at their destination at approximately 15.30.

The march of the protesters had caused heavy traffic in several areas.

Before the march, many protesters were seen packing their belonging items. Some helped dismantling stage equipment, as well field as kitchen equipment, and storing them into big trucks, which would carry the items to Saladaeng Intersection.

Meanwhile, PCAD guards were tasked with removing heavy equipment such as projector and stage. Others dismantled "bunkers" made of sandbags and car tyres which served as security checkpoints. The guards worked quickly, in order to allow traffic police to re-open the roads to the public as soon as possible.

It is reported that these areas have been re-opened to traffic by 15.00 today.

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Chiang Mai: Bomb Found In Front Of Redshirt Radio

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3 February 2014, 15:05

(3 February) A small explosive has been found in front of a Redshirts radio station in Chiang Mai province yesterday.

At around 11.30 the police were alerted of the incident, and quickly dispatched an EOD team to investigate the scene near Waroros Hotel and Wat Phra Singha Worawiharn Temple, where the Redshirts local radio station is housed.

The officers laid a car tyre over the explosive and later destroyed it with high-pressured water cannon.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Krit Kitilue said the bomb consisted of homemade TNT device without detonator, suggesting that the perpetrator simply intended to intimidate Mr. Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, a local Redshirts leader and operator of the radio station.

Unknown assailants have also recently hurled a homemade explosive at the Mr. Petchawat′s radio station without causing any injury, Pol.Maj.Gen. Krit said, adding that the police will investigate CCTV footage in the area to identify the suspects.

Mr. Petchawat said he firmly believes the attack was politically motivated.

A certain "military officer" has previously warned him that he would be intimidated or even assaulted like another Redshirt leader in Udon Thani province, Mr. Petchawat told our correspondent. He refused to name the military officer.

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Mock Ballots Handed To Ratchathewi Authority

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3 February 2014, 14:47

(3 February) A group of residents in Bangkok's Ratchathewi district have handed their mock ballots to the district administration.

The group gained much news coverage when they decided to organise their own mock electionin Soi Yothee after the Election Commission (EC) called off the actual election in their district yesterday.

The EC claimed that the officials were unable to organise the voting amid anti-election protests organised by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Using chairs as election booth, paper boxes as ballot boxes, and elderly aunts as polling station staff, the gesture was seen by many as a poignant defiance of ordinary voters against the PCAD′s attempt to derail the 2 February election.

Today the group marched to Ratchathewi district office with their mock ballot box, in order to hand their mock ballots to the officials.

Ms. Maneenart Srichantra, deputy director of Ratchathewi district, met with the group and accepted the mock ballots. The group peacefully dispersed afterwards.

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Driver Takes Wrong Turn, Gets Shot Near PCAD Rally

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3 February 2014, 13:40

Barricades placed by the police at Thai-Japan Bridge to warn the public of protests ahead, 3 February 2014

(3 February) The police have advised motorists to stay clear of anti-government rally sites after one driver had been reportedly shot for approaching one of their campsites.

The incident took place on Thai-Japan Bridge in front of Wat Hua Lamphon Temple at around 22.00 last night, the police said in a statement, near a protest campsite maintained by the People′s Committee For Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Mr. Praphan Promvisit, 33, said he was driving home from Samyan market when he took the wrong turn by entering the Thai-Japan Bridge, as he was unaware that the bridge has been occupied by PCAD guards. Several other motorists also reportedly followed his lead onto the bridge, thinking the bridge was open to traffic.

Mr. Praphan later ran into a "bunker" manned by PCAD militants in the middle of the bridge, so he rolled down his window and gestured at other drivers to back up their vehicles.

However, three shots were fired from the direction of the bunker shortly afterwards, according to Mr. Praphan. The bullets slammed into the car′s window shield, with one of them grazing Mr. Praphan′s ear, narrowly missing his face by an inch.

The man was later transported to a nearby hospital to treat his injury.

Responding to the incident, Pol.Maj.Gen Ake Angsananond, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police, said he has instructed police officers to set up checkpoints near Thai-Japan Bridge and other roads leading to PCAD rally sites, in order to dissuade motorists from approaching the protesters.

He made no mention of any effort to identify or arrest the alleged gunmen.

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Warrants For Lak Si Gunmen To Be Issued 'Tomorrow'

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2 February 2014, 20:23

(2 February) The court is due to approve arrest warrants for armed militants involved in gunbattle at Bangkok′s Lak Si district by tomorrow, chief of Royal Thai Police said.

At least five suspects would be served with arrest warrants, said Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, after the team of forensic police had "meticulously" investigated the trajectories and other evidence in the crime scene.

The clashes, which lasted for more than an hour and injured at least six people, saw supporters of pro-government Redshirts and anti-government protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) exchanging gunfire with each other.

The National Police Chief also stated that he had instructed Pol Maj Gen Suranit Phrombutr, and Pol Col Phong Sangkhamurint, chief of Thung Song Hong Police Station, to interrogate both the wounded victims and witnesses who were present at the scene for further details.

Pol Gen Adul also suggested that gunmen involved in the incident could be "professionally trained" shooters.

As revealed in still-images and videos taken by journalists, the gunmen’s shooting poses and the use of a bag as a cover for their automatic rifles indicated that the group possessed remarkable combat capability, said Pol Gen Adul, but he refused to confirm the gunmen’s involvement with the military.

The Royal Thai Police Chief added that they need to further investigate the incident, and plead that the police had tried to curb the carrying of firearms into the protesting grounds to prevent possible escalation in the already fragile political situation.

However, many protesters still carried firearms to demonstration, Pol.Gen. Adul said, adding that he believes some of these weapons might have been stolen during the turmoil at Din Daeng Police Station in December, when anti-government protesters clashed with riot police.

The weapons could also have been illegally brought into the country via underground border trade, according to Pol.Gen. Adul.

"Nevertheless, we have continuously maintained many strict checkpoints around protest areas," Pol.Gen. Adul said.

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