Army Chief Unaware Of Protest Armed Militants

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21 February 2014, 13:21

An injured anti-government protester is carried away from the clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 18 February 2014

(21 February) The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army is not aware of any details concerning the shadowy armed militants allied to anti-government protesters, his close aide said.

"He doesn′t know any details about it," Col. Kullachart Ditsakul said of his boss, Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha, adding that it is up to related authorities to investigate the matter.

Col. Kullachart was speaking at 2nd Cavalry Division headquarters in Bangkok.

Four civilians and one policeman were killed in the deadly clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 18 February. The violence erupted after the police attempted to disperse anti-government protesters from the avenue, and saw police officers exchanging gunfire with armed militants who were apparently allied to the protesters.

Some pro-government critics have alleged that the military might somehow be involved in their presence. But Col. Kullachart bridled at such rumour when a reporter mentioned the speculation.

"You need to have clear evidence when you talk about something," Col. Kullachart complained, "You shouldn′t say baseless things, because the country and the people might be confused".

He added that Gen. Prayuth is nevertheless alarmed by "use of military-grade weapons in the operation" and feels that the actions of all sides should be conducted according to the laws. Col. Kullachart did not elaborate.

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Rice Protesters Drop Plan To Besiege Airport – For Now

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21 February 2014, 12:38

(21 February) Farmers who have marched to Bangkok to demand payment from the government for their mortgaged rice have dropped their threats to seize the city's main airport.

The rice protesters arrived in the northern suburb of Rangsit district last night after a motorised march on their farming tractors from Ayutthaya. They claimed they had not received the payment they were promised under the government′s rice-pledging scheme for month, and they had no choice but to express their demands via the protests.

Although the scale of the farmers′ demonstration pales in comparison to anti-government campaign led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), the farmers have drawn much attention after their leader threatened to occupy Suvarnabhumi Airport by today′s afternoon.

The announcement strokes fears that Thailand could see a repeat of the protest in 2008, in which anti-government protesters seized both Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport, causing massive disruption to the country′s air transportation.

Responding to the threat, administrators of the Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Airports of Thailand Company (AOT) assigned a large stretch of road near the airport as a protest ground for the farmers; officials hoped they would successfully convince the demonstrators to rally close to the airport rather than directly besieging the building itself.

Nevertheless, a number of riot police and soldiers were stationed at the airport in case of emergency.

But the tension was defused today when leader of the farmer protesters, Mr. Chada Thaiseth, a former MP of Chart Thai Pattana Party, said he has personally consulted with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday about the farmers′ distress, and he has been assured by Ms. Yingluck that the rice payment would arrive by next week.

Explaining that he is satisfied by the Prime Minister′s response, Mr. Chada urged the farmers to call off the protests and return to their home districts.

However, Mr. Chada also threatened to come back to Bangkok and besiege Suvarnabhumi Airport if the government breaks it promise.

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Suthep Threatens Redshirts With Armed Militants

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20 February 2014, 19:07

(20 February) Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has delivered a thinly-veiled threat that Redshirts supporters might face armed militants allied to his movements.

Mr. Suthep, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said at a rally stage in Bangkok′s Silom district that he has been informed about the Redshirts′ upcoming rally to intimidate the PCAD supporters on this Saturday.

"Go ahead. Come. The popcorn vendors have already prepared the popcorns for you," Mr. Suthep said, "Don′t blame me if the vendors serve popcorns at you".

The popcorn was a reference to unidentified militants who appeared among PCAD protesters with military-grade weaponry which they hid in a popcorn bag during a standoff with pro-government protesters in Laksi district on 1 February – a day before the snap election was held.

Several people have been injured by the gunfight, in which the PCAD militants apparently outgunned the pro-government protesters. "Popcorns vendors" has since become a euphemism among the protesters to describe the mysterious gunmen.

"In the past, they have retreated as soon as they encounter 4-5 popcorns vendors," Mr. Suthep continued, adding that the Redshirts leaders should summon their supporters out to contest the PCAD protesters "so that it will be over quickly".

He stressed that the PCAD is not affiliated with the gunmen in any way, however.

"We don′t [personally] know these popcorn vendors," Mr. Suthep told the crowd, "But let me say I love them so much".

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AIS Undeterred By PCAD Boycott Threat

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20 February 2014, 18:38

An employee leaves the besieged Shinawatra Tower 3 building, 20 February 2014

(20 February) A representative of the telecommunications giant AIS insisted that the company is unfazed in the face of boycott campaigns by anti-government protesters.

The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) has previously announced the crusade against all business subsidiaries owned or co-owned by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his clan, such as AIS and SC Asset.

PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban also urged all investors and stockholders of Shinawatra-allied businesses to withdraw their shares from the companies in order to starve the Shinawatras financially.

Many anti-government protesters view Mr. Thaksin as an anti-monarchy corrupt politician who continues to rule Thailand via his sister, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, as a puppet. Mr. Thaksin was ousted by a 2006 miltiary coup and has been living in exile since he was convicted of corruption in 2007.

However, Ms. Nattiya Puapongsakorn, Chief of Investor Relations Department of Advance Info Service (AIS), expressed her belief that many investors have already acknowledged the foundation and history of the company, and would not be influenced by PCAD leaders without carefully considering all investment possibility.

She also stated that numbers of AIS customers have not decreased in 2013 at all despite the political turmoil and anti-government protests.

Ms. Wilai Kiangkoo, AIS Senior Deputy Board Manager, added that the company is not worried by the protesters′ threat. Recently, she said, AIS paid their shareholders an interest of 12.15 baht per share, which indicates the company good performances.

However, she said that the company will closely monitor the situation.

AIS also announced via instant message application ‘LINE’ to its customers that it does not have any political stances, and that the original founders of the company are not currently holding any managing position in the company.

The company also declared that it operate its business on the basis of professionalism, transparency, and good governance, which should encourage investors to continue investing with the company.

Earlier today employees at Shinawatra Tower 3, which housed the headquarters of SC Asset, were forced to evacuate after a large group of PCAD demonstrators besieged the building.

Traffic on Viphavadee Road descended into a heavy congestion as a result.

The building security team chained the entrance and barricaded the perimeter to bar any protesters from trespassing into the office. After hours of rally and speeches denouncing the Shinawatra family, the PCAD protesters dispersed from the area without any reported act of violence.

Nevertheless, Mr. Suthep said he will continue to disrupt and besiege Shinawatra-allied businesses in the future.

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Hotel Forced To Pay PCAD Monk 120,000 Baht

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20 February 2014, 17:31

BANGKOK — An anti-government Buddhist monk activist has coerced a hotel into paying him 120,000 baht in “compensation” money after the hotel cancelled his reservation.

Buddha Issara, a core leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), has previously vowed to besiege properties and businesses which he believes are allied to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The monk led protesters out of their campsite on Chaeng Wattana Road at around 11.00 today before stopping for a brief rally in front of Shinawatra Tower 3 on Viphavadee Road, where a number of companies co-owned by the Shinawatra family are headquartered.

The convoy later left the building at around 11.45 without a clear destination, causing some demonstrators to lose their way among Bangkok traffic. Some marchers decided to head for other PCAD campsites instead.

But the main group of PCAD demonstrators eventually stopped at SC Park Hotel, another business subsidiary of the Shinawatra family. A brief fistfight ensued when a hotel employee took pictures of the protesters. He was instantly mobbed by PCAD guards and instructed to delete his photos, claiming that only registered journalists are allowed to photograph the protests.

At the hotel, Buddha Issara and his close aides attempted to enter the lobby and occupy the building, but hotel managers stopped the group at the entrance, prompting Buddha Issara to inform the managers that he had reserved 10 rooms in the hotel for his stay.

The monk presented a receipt of the reservation in which he paid 4,200 baht for booking fee, and told the managers that PCAD had also reserved the conference room of the hotel for a lecture event on the government’s rice-pledging scheme.

When the managers refused to allow Buddha Issara to enter, he offered to book the entire hotel, an offer the managers once again refused.

The monk later gave up his attempt to enter the hotel and instructed his guards to block the building’s entrances instead. Fearing clashes, many guests checked out and left the venue, and the hotel management closed down the hotel entirely at 13.15.

SC Park managers also offered to return the booking fees to Buddha Issara. However, the monk refused, insisting that the hotel compensate him for wasting his time and cancelling his booking. He also threatened to file a lawsuit against the hotel.

The managers eventually paid Buddha Issara 120,000 baht in cash as compensation. After counting the money in his hand, Buddha Issara declared that the protesters′ mission has been accomplished and ordered the demonstrators to leave the hotel.

PCAD marchers left the hotel at around 13.45.

CMPO To Appeal Restriction On Emergency Powers

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20 February 2014, 15:40

Anti-government protesters pose with a car damaged by previous clashes between police and protesters, 20 February 2014

(20 February) The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) said it will appeal the court ruling which effectively strips the government of powers under the emergency decree.

The Civil Court yesterday refused torepeal the State of Emergency as requested by representatives of anti-government movements, but it also placed a number of key restrictions on the authorities′ efforts to contain the protests.

The limitations prohibit the government from banning political rally, launching crackdown on protesters, dismantling barricades erected by the protesters, or sealing off traffic around protest sites.

For many observers, the verdict effectively rendered the emergency decree powerless, and could be seen as endorsing the legality of protests led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy (PCAD).

CMPO director Chalerm Yoobamrung lashed out at the verdict in an interview today.

He sarcastically praised the Civil Court for forbidding the CMPO from dispersing the protesters, claiming that it made his job easier. "I like it. From now on, the police need not walk empty-handed toward the protesters only to get killed like in the past. I can just order the police not to approach the protesters at all," Mr. Chalerm said.

The CMPO director asserted that the CMPO is required to curb the PCAD protests and the demonstrators have repeatedly used firearms and besieged a number of governmental agencies, which violates the rights to free assembly guaranteed under the Thai Constitution.

Mr. Chalerm also warned that the verdict would virtually prohibit any police action necessary to restore public order. He gave an hypothetical situation in which a group of protester stormed into a Ministry building. The police might not be able to retake the building due to the court′s ban on crackdown operation, Mr. Chalerm said.

"I don′t know what I could do. This is wrong. That is wrong," Mr. Chalerm told reporters, "As the CMPO director, I cannot work. I am not being sarcastic here, but I′m genuinely afraid that my subordinates might end up in jail".

He also noted that in 2010 Pheu Thai Party had filed a similar request to repeal the State of Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and the Civil Court at the time affirmed the emergency decree, stating that the power to enact or repeal the decree rested solely with the administrative branch.

"Yet the Civil Court in this era affirms the emergency decree but imposed so many restrictions on the government," Mr. Chalerm complained, "I′m confused by the court′s decision".

CMPO spokesman Tharit Pendit later stated in a televised speech that the CMPO will appeal the verdict, echoing Mr. Chalerm′s reasons that the anti-government protests have stepped beyond the acceptable line of peaceful and non-violent gathering protected under the Constitution.

Mr. Tharit called PCAD actions an act of rebellion intended to sow chaos and disobedience to the rule of laws throughout the Kingdom. He warned that the court verdict which prevented the government from containing the protests would lead to a situation of "vacuum" in which political groups hostile to PCAD would take matters into their own hands and attempt to disperse the PCAD protesters by themselves.

"Clashes and act of vigilante might occur, because the state authorities cannot enforce the laws," Mr. Tharit said in the press conference, "It is indeed an undesirable scenario".

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the CMPO will try its best to operate under the existing restrictions imposed by the civil court, but stressed that the effort to appeal the verdict is underway.

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Temple Builds Robot To Draw Young Worshipers

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20 February 2014, 14:29

(20 February) A Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province has launched an exhibition aimed to young children to encourage their temple attendance.

Newly finished installations at Wat Tha Ka Rong Temple include a learning exhibition centre to educate the children about different nations and cultures of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The exhibition features large mannequins wearing national dresses of the 10 ASEAN countries, along with each of their national flag and country information. Additionally, the children can learn about different Buddha figures worshiped in other ASEAN countries.

A large fish tank in the temple also showcases various types of of fish found in Chao Phraya river, complete with details of each species, along with their common and scientific names, written near the tank.

However, it appears that the item which draws the most attention from visiting children is a robot model constructed of metal scraps. It was nicknamed "Transformer" by the temple monks.

Phra Kru Sutthipanyasophon, abbot of Wat Tha Ka Rong Temple, said children and youths nowadays have been alienated from the temple. He hopes the construction of the robot and the exhibiton would draw their attention back to the temple.

Moreover, as Thailand is approaching an economic integration with ASEAN neighbours, the temple administration believes the young children should also study and learn information about ASEAN countries, the abbot added.

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Malaysia Voices Hope For Thai Deep South's Peace Talk

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20 February 2014, 13:40

Dato Sri Ahmad Zamzamin bin Hashim (speaking)

(19 February) The Malaysian mediator for the negotiation between the Thai authorities and the Islamic separatists in the southern border provinces said he hoped the peace dialogue will resume soon.

"Malaysia, as the mediator nation for this peace dialogue, has hope that it will continue in near future," said Dato Sri Ahmad Zamzamin bin Hashim, the former director of Malaysian intelligence agency.

Dato Hashim delivered the remark yesterday during a press conference in Kota Bharu, Malaysia, on the occasion of first anniversary of the negotiation, which saw the Thai government engaging directly in a peace dialogue with one of the separatist groups, BRN, for the first time.

The attempt had been hailed by a number of experts as a departure from mostly hardline approaches adopted by successive Thai governments to quell the ethnic and religious violence in the southern border provinces.

However, the negotiation has been indefinitely suspended due to the ongoing political turmoil in Bangkok.

But Dato Hashim remains optimistic that the peace dialogue would not be in vain. He called the decision by a high-ranking Thai official to shake hands with Mr. Hasan Taib, core leader of the BRN, last year as "an admirable act of bravery".

The mediator also praised the efforts of both sides to openly discuss violent attacks which occurred during the previous Ramadan fast season. Nevertheless, Dato Hashim said there are more incidents that should have been brought to attention and straightforward discussion, such as the recent killings of 3 children in Narathiwat province.

"I hope the new government of Thailand will continue to pursue [the peace dialogue]," Dato Hashim said in the press conference, "Mr. Rajib Nazak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, is very keen to act as a coordinator for a continuous dialogue".

"But it is also up to the Thai government whether they want Malaysia to act as a coordinator. If the new Thai government does not want it, Malaysia is willing to cease this role," Dato Hashim added.

As for the next round of negotiation, Dato Hashim admitted there is no fixed date in the foreseeable future, but he expressed his belief that it will include other active militant groups such as the PULO and the BIPP, as well as local civil groups like Muslims and Buddhists who had been affected by the violence.

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UDD Leader Shooting Suspects Released On Bail

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20 February 2014, 12:58

Scene of the shooting at Mr. Kwanchai Praipana's residence, 22 January 2014

(20 February) Four military officers accused of engineering the assassination attempt of a Redshirt leader have been released on bail.

Army officers escorted Capt. Prachya Chanrordphai, Sgt. Chanon Tabthimthong, MSGT Mawin Yangbua, and MSGT Wirote Pimsingh to a police unit in Khonkaen province on 18 February where they were immediately arrested and taken into custody.

The four suspects are wanted by the police for their alleged role in the drive-by shooting at the residence of Mr. Kwanchai Praipana, a core leader of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), in Udon Thani province last month.

Police have pressed numerous charges against the suspects including first degree murder, possession of firearms and ammunition without permit, and carry of said weapons into residential ares without appropriate causes.

The four suspects and two witnesses were later separately interrogated by the police. Police identified the witnesses as two sex workers the officers reportedly hired during their stay in a resort hotel in Udon Thani.

However, the suspects refused to cooperate with the police, insisting that they would only testify in the court, a high-ranking police officer said. The officer added that the suspects also refused to have their DNA sampled in order to match with the DNA trace found on AK-47 rifles believed to be used in the crime.

The accused eventually received a bail release, each posting a bail money of 100,000 baht. They were released at around 02.30 on Wednesday.

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EC Member Accuses Facebook Page Of Libel

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20 February 2014, 10:33

(20 February) A member of the Election Commission (EC) has voiced his intention to sue a Facebook page for allegedly defaming him.

Mr. Somchai Srisuriyakorn, who oversees the election administration department of the EC, said on his Facebook that he has already filed complaint with the police against the page "Anajak Baigon Returns" (DDT Kingdom Returns).

He claimed he had been insulted by a previous post of the page, which alleged that the EC deliberately denied and prevented the payment from the government to farmers who engaged in the rice-pledging scheme. The statement was posted on 6 February, and has been shared nearly 700 times since.

The EC Committee claimed that the action clearly violated the Computer Crime Act, which could result in the imprisonment of the page’s administrator for 5 years or a 100,000 baht fine or both. He also stated that he would pursue the same legal action for the post on 18 February, which implies the same message as the previous one.

Mr. Somchai has been heavily criticised by pro-government critics for his apparent reluctance to organise the general election. Some sees his action as a dereliction of duty and even a conspiracy with anti-government protesters.

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