Chalerm Assigned Command Under Emergency Decree

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21 January 2014, 18:52

Anti-government protesters on Silom Road, 21 January 2014

(21 January) Citing violent incidents in recent weeks, the government has imposed State of Emergency over Bangkok and neighbouring provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul announced this evening that the emergency decree will last for 60 days.

The areas affected by the decree are Bangkok, Nonthaburi province, and some districts in the provinces of Pathumthani and Samutprakarn.

The announcement came amid the increasingly violent political crisis, in which anti-government protesters have come under grenade attacks, drive-by shootings, and smaller bomb attacks almost on a daily basis.

The last time Bangkok was under State of Emergency was almost 4 years ago, when the administration of then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva invoked it to contain mass protests led by the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) in April 2010.

Mr. Surapong said the emergency decree will help the security forces to prevent such violence in the future, and assist the police in apprehending any perpetrators.

Under the State of Emergency, the government and security forces will be granted with sweeping powers to contain the ongoing protests, such as imposing curfews, censoring the media, making arrests or searches without court warrants, and banning any political gathering.

Unlike the Internal Security Act, which had been imposed in some districts of Bangkok during the protests, the State of Emergency decree does not allow members of the public to take any legal action against the security forces if they have been affected in any way by the state operations.

However, Mr. Surapong insisted that the military and the police deployed near protest sites will not be armed.

Following the declaration of the emergency decree, the government will also form the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to exercise the emergency powers allowed under the decree.

The CMPO will be headed by Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Chief of the Royal Thai Police, but its operational arms will be chaired by Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, officials said.

The decision of the government to appoint Mr. Chalerm in charge of the special administration is bound to raise the eyebrows of many observers, as Mr. Chalerm has been deeply despised by many anti-government protesters.

It would also be an official comeback moment for Mr. Chalerm, who lost his influential post as a Deputy Prime Minister last year due to, many analysts said, his tendency to make divisive remarks.

Corrections: A previous version of this article erroneously named Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul as the head of CMPO, whereas it should have read Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew. The mistake has been fixed.

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PCAD Protests Threaten Rare Fish Breeds

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21 January 2014, 18:51

(21 January) Hundreds of rare fish are at risk of oxygen starvation after anti-government protests cut the electric supply to the headquarters of the Fishery Department.

Supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) marched to the Department and severed both water and electric supply to the buildings, in order to force the officials there to abandon their works.

PCAD has vowed a disruptive campaign against state agencies until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resigns.

But Mr. Niwat Sutheemeechaikul, Director of the Fishery Department, complained that more than 100 species of rare fish stored in the Department′s museum and research facilities are already suffering from the power cut imposed by PCAD.

The fish – both Thai and foreign – started to display signs of oxygen deprivation, such as swimming into the glass wall and moving slowly, according to Mr. Niwat.

The laboratory is also left with skeleton staff, as many officials have been forced to leave the facilities and work elsewhere by the protesters who showed up at the Department almost everyday, Mr. Niwat said.

Only a few security guards are currently stationed at the facilities to refuel the backup oxygen generator attached to fish storage, according to Mr. Niwat. He said the guards are forced to work in darkness as there is not enough fuel in the emergency generator to power the lights.

If the situation continues, Mr. Nitwat warned, all the fish would eventually die, which would be a great loss for the nation′s scientific pursuit.

He said his staff have tried negotiating with the protesters, but they have steadfastly refused to restore the power to the Department.

"We have to let it be," Mr. Niwat told our correspondent, "Since we can′t negotiate with the protesters, I don′t know what else we can do".

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PCAD Monk Activist Accused Of Insurrection

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21 January 2014, 16:26

(21 January) A Buddhist group has filed legal complaint against a prominent anti-government leader who is also a Buddhist monk.

Mr. Chaithanapol Srichiwangsa and Mr. Sathien Vipromma, representatives of ′Buddhist Association′, met with Pol.Col. Prasopchoke Prommul today to file their complaint against Luang Phu Buddha Issara, a core leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Luang Phu Buddha Issara has been a de facto leader of PCAD supporters at the rally site near Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road, and he has led numerous demonstrations wearing monk outfit.

These activities, Mr. Chaithanapol and Mr. Sathien argued, amount to acts of insurrection criminalised under Section 113 of the Thai Criminal Codes and a clear violation of Sangha Acts, which forbid monks from associating themselves with politics.

The pair also accused Luang Bhu Buddha Issara of insulting the newly-installed acting Supreme Patriarch, and of disrespecting the Sangha hierarchy.

"Luang Phu Buddha Issara has joined the rally with PCAD and has acted as one of their leaders," Mr. Chaithanapol told police, "He led the mass to shutdown many state agencies around Chaeng Wattana Road. He has caused great troubles to the public".

Apart from filing legal charges today, Mr. Chaithanapol said, his group will meet with a prelate in Nakhon Pathom province and urge him to seek disciplinary action against the activist monk.

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Govt Mulling State Of Emergency Declaration

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21 January 2014, 14:46

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban receives donations from supporter on Silom Road, 21 January 2014

(21 January) The Thai government is reportedly considering whether to declare the State of Emergency following the increasingly violent political protests in Bangkok.

Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Chief of the Royal Thai Police, said the Cabinet will study the possibility of the emergency decree today.

Much of the deliberation will involve predicting the possibility of further violence in the capital city, Pol.Gen. Adul said.

His comment came a few days after a grenade was thrown at supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) at their rally site around Victory Monument on Sunday, injuring 28 people.

Last week another grenade attack on PCAD demonstrators also killed one protester and wounded dozens.

Emergency decree will grant the authorities a sweeping power to contain the protests, such as imposing curfews, censoring the media, and searching properties and individuals arbitrarily.

Governmental officials have previously stated that the government will not impose State of Emergency over Bangkok, and military chiefs have likewise opposed the idea.

Nevertheless, Pol.Gen. Adul said the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has been attempting to ensure public security even without State of Emergency. He added that CAPO will also be involved in the decision concerning the emergency decree declaration.

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Chinese Chartered Flights To Thailand 'Cancelled'

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21 January 2014, 13:32

Anti-government protesters marching in Krabi province, 20 January 2014

(21 January) Officials of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have expressed fears that the ongoing political crisis continues to affect the Kingdom's tourism industry.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, Governor of the TAT, said he has instructed the policy and evaluation teams to closely monitor the tourism market throughout the year in order to reinvigorate the industry, which has suffered greatly from the political crisis.

For instance, once the "Bangkok Shutdown" operation of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) is over, Mr. Thawatchai said, the TAT will "regain tourists′ confidence" by organising "Big Events" in areas previously occupied by the protesters, such as Ratchadamnoen Avenue and Ratchaprasong Intersection.

"We will invite many foreign [business] agents and foreign media to visit Thailand to express our confidence," Mr. Thawatchai said.

However, it is unclear when the protests will be over; PCAD has adamantly insisted that their occupation of Bangkok will not end unless Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resigns from her caretaker position, a demand repeatedly rejected by the government.

Another option to revive the tourism market is to focus on "niche market", said Mr. Apichart Inpongpan, Deputy Director of the Policy Section of TAT.

The TAT has also conducted meetings with Thai Airways to develop strategies to encourage more tourist arrivals, according to Mr. Pongsathorn Ketsamlee, Deputy Director of the Asian and South Pacific section of TAT.

He admitted that the TAT is facing tough works because the political rallies are prolonged and it is impossible to predict violent incidents.

"Many foreign tourists have either avoided Thailand, or changed their destination from Bangkok to Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Samui," Mr. Pongsathorn said, "The goal of 28 million foreign tourists for this year might not be achievable, but it won′t be in the minus. I think we can expect at least 26 million".

He stressed that tourism industry is the barometer of confidence other nations have toward Thailand.

The TAT′s hope that Chinese New Year season would make up losses in tourism revenue might not be fulfilled neither, according to a number of officials.

Mr. Suchart Hirankanokkul, Director of the southern region section of Thai Hotel Association (THA), lamented that all Chinese charted flights to Thailand have been cancelled by the Chinese authorities out of concerns about the current political crisis.

The market is experiencing 20% decline in Chinese tourists, Mr. Suchart said.

Mr. Kasian Chaowattanapisut, Director of the Thai-China Tourism Alliance Association (TCTA), said he has originally expected that 500,000-600,000 Chinese tourists will visit Thailand during the Chinese New Year season, but now he would be satisfied if 300,000 of them did arrive.

Meanwhile, the raging southern insurgency has caused many tourists to cancel their hotel booking in Songkhla province, said Mr. Somchart Pimthanapoonpon, Director of Hat Yai – Songkhla Hotel Association.

Overall hotel reservation has fallen to 60% of all capacities, whereas it should have been 80-90% at this time of the year, he said.

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Woman Arrested After Rally Drive-By Shooting

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21 January 2014, 12:21

(21 January) A woman has been arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting incident at anti-government protest rally site in central Bangkok.

The incident took place at around 02.00 today at a People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) rally site near Victory Monument.

Witnesses said a Honda Civic driven by 3 individuals approached the protest campsite from Phayathai Road, circled the Monument twice, before the assailants rolled down the windows and fired at least 3 shots at the protesters who were camping there.

The car then attempted to escape along Phaholyothin Road but crashed into metal barricade placed there by PCAD guards, according to witnesses.

The suspects reportedly fired their weapons to make way for the escape. Two managed to slip away into the night, but one of them was apprehended by PCAD guards.

The suspect was identified as Ms. Orawan Charbkan, 27, and was handed over to police officers for further interrogation.

One of the suspects who escape was described as male, "fat", wearing green jacket, blue shirt, and grey pants, while the other suspect was described as male and "lean".

The suspects′ car bears the license plate issued in Trang province, and there were bullet holes on the vehicle, suggesting that the PCAD guards might have shot at the car as it attempted to escape. No injury has been reported.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

The drive-by incident took place just few days after an unknown individual lobbed a grenade at the protesters at Victory Monument, injuring at least 28 people.

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200,000 Baht Bounty On Rally Grenade Thrower

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20 January 2014, 19:27

(20 January) The Thai authorities have set a 200,000 baht bounty on the suspect behind the grenade attack on anti-government protesters.

The man was seen on a CCTV footage throwing a grenade at the supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) who were rallying around Victory Monument yesterday.

The blast wounded a total of 28 people – 9 of them severely. The wounded victims included a journalist and a relative of Mr. Thaworn Senniam, a leader of PCAD, who was giving speech on the stage close to where the grenade landed.

The suspect immediately fled the scene, and threw another grenade at a crowd of PCAD guards who gave chase, witnesses said. Afterwards, as he was running away in an alley, the suspect drew out a handgun and shot at one of his pursuers, wounding the man in the stomach, according to witnesses.

The suspect eventually eluded the chase.

Nevertheless, he was filmed on a CCTV mounted on a bubble tea shop when he threw the grenade. The footage is being widely shared on the social network in the hope of identifying the man.

The attack has been condemned by both PCAD leaders and governmental officials.

Today the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) announced that members of the public who have information on the suspect would rewarded with 200,000 baht by the Royal Thai Police.

As the head of CAPO, Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul also stressed that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is deeply concerned by the incident, and she has instructed the security forces to capture the perpetrator as soon as possible.

CAPO is also planning to discuss with PCAD leaderships about possible joint efforts to provide security to the protesters, Mr. Surapong added.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul Narongsak, spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police, noted that the suspect might have been well trained in combat capabilities, judging from his ability to infiltrate the protest site unnoticed, his good knowledge of the terrains around the rally site, and his uses of grenade and handgun to elude from the pursuers.

"Even members of the police or the military could not have executed such a brazen operation if they were not specifically trained to do so," Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul said.

Those who recognise the perpetrator should immediately call the police hotline via 1599, Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul added.

Meanwhile, Pol.Gen. Worapong Chiewpreecha, Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police, said the grenade used by the suspect was likely a Chinese-manufactured RGD-5, which is reportedly the same type involved in the deadly grenade attack on PCAD demonstrators on Banthat Thong Road last week.

Pol.Gen. Worapong also told our correspondent is "confident" that the perpetrator behind the Victory Monument grenade attack would be arrested.

He attributed his confidence to the fact that PCAD guards have allowed the police into their rally site and investigate the crime scene in timely manner, unlike the incident at Banthat Thong Road, in which PCAD protesters refused to let the police to investigate the scene.

Citing intelligence reports, Pol.Gen. Worapong said the perpetrator belongs to a group of 6 armed militants who have been well trained in weapon handling. The group′s objective is to cause violence around Bangkok in order to escalate the ongoing political crisis, according to Pol.Gen. Worapong.

"I believe the grenade attacks and shootings in various spots are all connected," Pol.Gen. Worapong said.

The suggestion that these attacks have been orchestrated by combat-trained individuals has resulted in much-circulated rumour on the social network that members of the military might have been involved. One such rumour specifically claimed that the Victory Monument suspect might be a Royal Thai Navy officer.

Concerned by the rumours, Rear Admiral Winai, Chief of the Navy Special Warfare Command, told reporters that the Navy is not behind the violence in any way.

In a curious move, Rear Admiral Winai also said he has consulted with his staff and will proceed to file defamation lawsuit against the Royal Thai Police for spreading the rumour.

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Ballots Undamaged By Protesters, Official Says

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20 January 2014, 17:39

1390219816 — Pro-election rally at Wong Wian Yai, 19 January 2014

(20 January) The anti-government protesters' attempt to disrupt the printing of ballot papers have not caused damages to the ballots, an Election Commissioner said.

A group of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) supporters marched to a state-owned publishing house last week and laid siege to the building, forcing the printing of ballot papers to grind to a halt.

PCAD demanded that the 2 February election be scrapped in favour of the establishment of an unelected "People′s Council" which would then implement series of "reforms" deemed desirable by PCAD leadership.

However, PCAD′s protests have not resulted in any damage of the printed ballots, said Mr. Puchong Nutrawong, secretary-general of the Election Commission (EC).

The publishing house only suffered electric and water cuts, Mr Puchong said, but added that it is still unclear whether any ballot paper has gone missing.

"We have to thoroughly investigate that," Mr. Puchong told reporters.

Nevertheless, Mr. Puchong also denied the rumour on the social network which alleged that the EC has printed a surplus of 10 million ballot papers in suspicious manners.

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State-Owned CCTVs Fail To Film Grenade Thrower

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20 January 2014, 16:10

(20 January) CCTVs operated by Bangkok authority have reportedly failed to capture the identity of the man who threw a grenade at anti-government protesters near Victory Monument yesterday.

The brazen attack, perpetrated in daylight and in the heart of the capital city, wounded at least 28 people. 9 of the them were described to be in critical condition.

The perpetrator was filmed on CCTV owned by a shop in the vicinity as he hurled the grenade toward the supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) who were rallying at Victory Monument, before fleeing the scene.

However, other 16 CCTVs installed in high position around the area by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) did not film the perpetrator, because they have been covered by anti-government protesters prior to the attack, said Mr. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Governor of Bangkok.

According to Mr. Sukhumbhand, the authorities have resorted to asking for CCTV footage installed by private shops in the area. The evidences have been copied on DVDs for further investigation, he added.

The Governor also said that BMA officials have already asked the anti-government protesters to remove the veils they had placed on CCTVs in the area.

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Army Chief: Stop Smearing The Military

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20 January 2014, 14:26

Ant-government protester cheered convoy of military personnel as it passed one of their rally sites on Chaeng Wattana Road, 18 January 2014

(20 January) The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army has asked the media to stop making libelous remarks about the military.

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters today that he is deeply concerned by the ongoing violent situation, after two separate grenade attacks on anti-government protesters left one dead and scores injured.

He said the security forces and the protest leaders should work cooperatively to provide security for the protesters.

"There has been accusation against all sides on the social network," Gen. Prayuth, "Please give the officials some time to investigate in details before concluding who the perpetrators are".

He added, "Please stop smearing the military and the police. Instead, [we] should work together to find the perpetrators and punish them under the legal process".

The Army has also urged the Royal Thai Police to investigate the cases in a timely manner, the army chief said.

Furthermore, Gen. Prayuth said everyone should listen to the teachings of His Majesty the King, who has encouraged the Thais to perform their duties well. He told reporters that the soldiers have been doing their duties appropriately, so there should be no slandering rumours about the military.

"Please give some dignity to the military. Whoever says things that damages the military is undermining the armed forces," Gen. Prayuth fumed, "They accuse the military of preparing to do this or that. If they continue to think like this, we can′t coexist".

Gen. Prayuth continued, "The military is doing military′s works. The police is doing police′s works. The demonstrators are making demands according to democracy, while the government is fixing problems. If the media mess up their reporting, there won′t be a resolution to the conflicts".

He told reporters that he had to express his frustration because he had been stressful in recent days. "The military aren′t happy. They have to care for their subordinates, and now they have to listen to these criticisms everyday. You might be pressured, but please know that every soldier is more pressured than you," Gen. Prayuth said.

Nevertheless, Gen. Prayuth stressed that "the army is not the enemy of the people".

He also dismissed reports that the military will intervene in the current crisis.

"In 2010, the military came out to work as required by their duties, but we end up getting criticised. It′s something really painful. So, I don′t want to see that happen again, because the country would be damaged," the army chief said, referring to 2010 Redshirts protests which were eventually ended in a bloody crackdown by the military operations.

"Please don′t think I am not doing my duty. When things are calm, they are suspicious about the military, but when there are troubles, they switch to calling for the military to come out," Gen. Prayuth said, "Let me thank everyone for placing hopes on the military, but the armed forces have to think together. We work … with principles and reasons. We don′t make decisions based on hatred".

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