PCAD Waiting For Suthep's Order On 'Bangkok Shutdown'

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1 January 2014, 16:40

Anti-government protesters at their encampment on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 31 December 2013

(1 January) Spokesman of the anti-government protest leadership has said the details of the plan to shutdown Bangkok is known only to its leader, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban.

The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) has previously threatened to put Bangkok in a massive gridlock "after New Year" as the means to pressure the government into canceling the upcoming general election.

PCAD leaders have demanded for a drastic reform to be implemented and an unelected ?People′s Council? installed as a transitional government before any election is allowed to take place, arguing that the current political system is rigged in favour of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her allies.

However, ever since he announced the plan to shutdown Bangkok last week, Mr. Suthep has not disclosed specific details of the strategy. Government officials warned that Mr. Suthep is intending to disrupt major roads and public transportation such as the BTS or the MRT.

But PCAD spokesman, Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, said in a press conference today that Mr. Suthep′s grand strategy of Bangkok shutdown has been "misinterpreted" in the media.

He denied that the PCAD is planning to shutdown public transportation as reported in the press, adding that the public should wait for Mr. Suthep himself to make announcements about the strategy in the future, since Mr. Suthep is the only one with a full knowledge of the plan.

Mr. Ekkanat also said the PCAD has sent representatives to visit injured protesters who are currently admitted in hospitals.

The protesters, who have been camping on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok, have been visibly fewer in number during the New Year holiday season. The protest site has also been converted into a fun fair featuring game stalls and musicians performing on the rally stage.

Correction: Due to an editorial error, the name of the anti-government protest leadership appeared as ?People′s Committee for Absolute Monarchy With the King As Head of State?. It should have read ?People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State?. The mistake has now been fixed.

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8 Indian Tourists Hurt By BTS Escalator Fall

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1 January 2014, 15:51

(1 January) 8 Indian tourists have been reportedly injured by their fall from an escalator on Phayathai BTS station today.

Officials at the station said the tourists were "making fun of each other" during their escalator ride, causing one of them to slip and fell into other tourists below the stairs. The entire group eventually tumbled down the escalator.

The Indian tourists were described as 3 men and 5 women, and all of them are reportedly "elderly" persons. The staff have applied first aid to the tourists and later transported them to hospital.

As a connection point to Airport Rail Link, Phayathai BTS station is frequented by many foreign visitors to Thailand, but there is no report of other tourists or passengers injured in the incident.

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PM Yingluck Silent After Meeting With Prem

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1 January 2014, 14:51

(1 January) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has refused to say whether she has talked about the ongoing political crisis with Head of the Privy Councilor during their meeting earlier this morning.

Ms. Yingluck, who also serves as caretaker Minister of Defence, paid the visit to Gen. Prem Tinlasulanond at his official residency in Bangkok′s Dusit district along with commanders of the armed forces, including Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army.

Officials described the meeting as a private meeting in which Ms. Yingluck intends to convey her New Year greetings to and receive blessing from the elderly Gen. Prem. Reporters were not allowed inside Gen. Prem′s house throughout talk, which lasted for about an hour and a half.

Ms. Yingluck told reporters later that Gen. Prem has advised her to take heed to New Year message from His Majesty the King, in which the monarch called for unity of all Thais.

Asked whether she has discussed any political issue with Gen. Prem, Ms. Yingluck simply smiled and left the press conference. Gen. Prayuth similarly refused to respond to journalists? question about the matter.

However, it was extremely unlikely that the political crisis which has been gripping Thailand for months has not been discussed by the group.

As a Privy Councilor, Gen. Prem is widely seen as a close royal subject of His Majesty the King and a powerful figure among the Thai armed forces. Supporters of the Redshirts movements have accused Gen. Prem of engineering the 2006 military coup which ousted Ms. Yingluck′s brother, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

The meeting also came at a time amid the fears that the military might intervene to put an end to the clashes which pitted Ms. Yingluck′s government against the protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Monarchy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Gen. Prayuth has told the media last week that he had not ruled out the possibility of another military coup, saying it depends on the situation and that "anything can happen".

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Robbers Prey On 'Lucky New Year' Temple-Goers

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1 January 2014, 14:25

(1 January) Robbers have stolen belongings from the vehicles of several temple-goers who attended a New Year blessing ceremony in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

The incident took place at the parking lot of Wat Pa Salawan in Mueang district. The suspects have broken the car windows with bricks and stolen valuable items such as ATM cards, wallets, and mobile phones.

One of the targeted carowners, Ms. Kanyapon Thitikhunchote, said she attended the New Year′s Eve prayer session at the temple with her husband for good luck, and she is much saddened by the theft.

Police said investigation is ongoing.

A popular activity in recent years, New Year′s Eve prayer session (Suad Mon Kaam Pi) was held in numerous temples across the country last night for Thais who prefer to start a new year with holy blessing.

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Official Combat Road Accidents By Monk Prayers

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28 December 2013, 13:15

(28 December) Officials in Thung Tako district of Chumphon province have unveiled the latest tool to combat the notoriously large number of road accidents during New Year season: monk incantation.

District Director Wachira Pandusa led a merit making ceremony along a section of the Asian Highway Network, AH2, which runs through the province, in which a group of monks blessed holy water and sprayed the said substance on the road to chase away evil spirits which are believed to have caused frequent deaths and accidents on the road.

According to the officials, the eviction of bad spirits will prevent future accident and help boost the morale of motorists.

However, Mr. Wachira also stressed that road safety depends on the commuters? caution and willingness to follow safe driving practice.

Volunteers from ?Stop Drink Network? and a group of student reinforced the message by joining the ceremony to promote a campaign against drunk-driving habit during the festive season. The volunteers also organised a service stop at Khao Peeb Intersection where drivers are given wet napkins to refresh themselves.

“It is crucial not to drink and drive, not to drive too fast, and not to drive while you are too tired”, said Mr. Wachira, “Our district had prepared the service point to facilitate the drivers when they are looking for a stopover, and we had instructed officials to carefully monitor the roads to prevent any accidents.”

Reportedly, the authority also renamed the Asian Highway Network in the district area as “Mongkhol Road (Holy Road)”, to strengthen the luck of all commuters and passengers.

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Drive-By Shooting Kills 1 Anti-Govt Protester

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28 December 2013, 13:01

(28 December) One anti-government protester has been killed and three more injured in a drive-by shooting on their protest sites earlier this morning.

Witnesses said a car carrying a group of unidentified male individuals pulled up near the anti-government protesters? encampment at Chamai Maruchet Bridge in governmental district of Bangkok at 03.15 today.

The assailants then reportedly rolled down the window and fired an M16 rifle at the group of protest guards positioned near the rally site and quickly fled the scene.

Soon afterwards, the same vehicle parked at another rally site at Missakawan Intersection and the gunmen discharged unknown rounds of ammunition at the protest volunteer guards there, then sped away, according to witnesses.

Four anti-government protest guards have been wounded by the gunfire, and one of them later died at hospital. One of the injured protesters is said to be in critical condition.

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2 Feb Election Goes Ahead As Planned: PM Yingluck

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27 December 2013, 18:26

Anti-government protesters rallying in front of PM Yingluck Shinawatra's residence, 26 December 2013

(27 December) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has insisted today that the general election on 2 February 2014 will proceed as planned, Royal Thai Army spokesperson said.

Col. Thanathip Sawangsaeng said Ms. Yingluck has expressed her concerns about the incident yesterday in which anti-government protesters attempted to disrupt the election registration at Thai-Japanese stadium, leading to a deadly clash between anti-government protesters and the police.

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister would not cancel the election and has requested the presence of military personnel to help oversee election units on the appointed election date to ensure the safety of the public, Col. Thanathip added.

The remark came a day after Mr. Suphachai Somcharoen, president of the Election Commission (EC), spoke in a press conference that the government must postpone the poll indefinitely.

As long as the conflict between different parties still exist in the society, Mr. Suphachai said, his commission may not be able to proceed with the general election in a peaceful and transparent manner according to the Constitution.

The EC President then demanded the postponement of the election until the situation is secured.

But Mr. Pongthep Thepkanchana, deputy prime minister, stated in a press conference on the same day that the government cannot suspend the election indefinitely, as the constitution rules that the caretaker government must arrange for general election after 60 days of the dissolution of the parliament.

“if [the election] is postponed, the domestic dispute will be strengthen and become more harmful to the country. If the new cabinet takes the office, the situation shall be eased”, said Mr. Pongthep in a statement.

Col. Thanathip also told reporters that Ms. Yingluck is concerned by the safety of the people in the violent Deep South.

“The Royal Thai Army, as a unit who is responsible for the safety and security, had coordinated with the security units in the Deep South”, said Gen.Thnathip, “the police force in the provinces had been working collaboratively with the provincial EC units.”

“We are here to facilitate and arrange units to retain the security in the election centre to create trusts and security for those who wish to vote on the date [2 February]”, added the Royal Thai Army Spokesperson.

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29 Killed In Bus Accident As New Year Season Starts

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27 December 2013, 17:43

(27 December) At least 29 people have been killed after their bus plunged down into a deep chasm in Petchabun province.

The bus, owned by Sombat Tour company, was carrying 33 people from Khon Kaen province to Chiang Rai province before it fell off Pho Khun Pha Mueang Bridge on State Highway No. 12, which ran through the sharp slope of Namnao National Park.

The mountainous terrain around the gorge proved to be great difficulty for the rescue workers. Nevertheless, the rescuers found four survivors in the wreckage, who were reported to be severely injured. The survivors were immediately sent to Petchabun Hospital.

Witnesses said the bus could was seen shaking in its path, dragging down several utility poles, and the driver appeared to attempt to stop the bus before it fell off the bridge.

The driver was among the dead, officials said.

Incidentally, the bridge where the accident took place is believed to be the highest bridge above the ground in Thailand, crossing over approximately 50 metre-deep gorge between two hills.

According to Petchabun Governor Wichian Chantaranothai, the bridge had previously witnessed many accidents, and it has small barriers which could do little to prevent the vehicles from plunging down the gorge.

The provincial authority will be investigating the accident and searching for an appropriate procedure to prevent such incident in the future, he added.

Police officers say they suspect that the driver might have dozed off behind the wheel, but stress that more investigation is needed.

The incident coincided with the beginning of the New Year season in which millions of Thai travel to upcountry destinations for the long vacation, leading to notoriously large number of traffic accidents.

In a Facebook post, Transport Minister Charchart expressed his sympathy to the family of the deceased, and stated that the accident might have occurred from human error.

He also wished all Thais a good luck for New Year season and warned that they must strictly follow traffic safety procedures to avoid any loss.

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Man Injured By Explosives Intended For His Rivals

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27 December 2013, 17:05

(27 December) A man in Trat province has blown much of his hand off by the explosive device he intended to hurl at his rivals.

The incident took place at a karaoke bar in front of local district office in Mueang district. Rescue workers responded to emergency calls and found Mr. Ked Boonliang, 31, at the scene with severe injury in his hand.

He was given first aid and later transported to Trat Hospital.

Witnesses said Mr. Ked and his friends were drinking at their table earlier in the night, but they soon developed a heated quarrel with another group of customers on the next table.

The argument quickly escalated into a fist fight, witnesses said, and Mr. Ked brought out an explosive device from his pocket, intending to throw it at the group. However, the device reportedly exploded prematurely in Mr. Ked′s hand.

Mr. Ked′s rivals left the scene immediately after the explosion, witnesses added.

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Thai Rath Apologises For Mixing Up Protest Photos

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27 December 2013, 16:22

(27 December) The editorial team of Thai Rath newspapers has issued an apology over a misleading photo of the clashes between anti-government protesters and the police in Bangkok.

Published on the frontpage of 27 December 2013 issue, the photo showed an unidentified man firing his handgun. The caption that accompanied the photo said the gunman was firing the weapon in the clashes which erupted near Thai-Japanese Stadium in Dindaeng district yesterday.

One policeman and one anti-government protester died of gunshot wounds, while many more have also been injured with gunshots. The police said mysterious individuals fired these rounds from their position on a high building near the clash site.

The photo, which was purported to show one such individual, had been circulated widely in the social network, but it soon emerged that the photo was in fact about a separate violent incident on 25 November 2008, when a group of anti-government Yellowshirts was clashing with Redshirts supporters near Soi Vibhavadi 3.

In the light of this revelation, Thai Rath has published on its website a statement that the man seen in the newspaper frontpage photo was not related to the clashes at Thai-Japanese Stadium yesterday.

It also offered an apology over the mistake.

However, the matter also raised another case of political bickering, with Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), accusing the government of publishing the photo as a false proof that PCAD supporters were responsible for the gunfire which killed and injured a number of people yesterday.

Mr. Suthep specifically named Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul as the source of the rumour. According to Mr. Suthep, Mr. Surapong showed the photo during one of his live press conference on national television and identified it as a gunman hired by PCAD.

Earlier today, Mr. Surapong said in a press conference that he never used that photo to allege any wrongdoing against PCAD.

"[Mr. Suthep] can watch every video clip of my press conference on every state-owned TV channel," Mr. Surapong said, "I never said such thing".

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