Redshirts Call Off Ayutthaya Rally

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9 December 2013, 14:15

Police officer at the sports stadium in Ayutthaya where Redshirts originally planned to hold their rally.

(9 December) The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has cancelled its rally in Ayutthaya province, hours after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced her intention to dissolve the parliament.

Redshirts across the country were originally urged to hold a massive rally at a stadium in Ayutthaya tomorrow to defend the government of Ms. Yingluck amid the ongoing anti-government protests to replace her with an unelected ?People′s Council? – a proposal decried as unconstitutional by the Redshirts.

The scheduled date of the rally, 10 December, is also designed to coincide with Constitution Day, which remembers the enactment of the first official Constitution in 1932, following a successful revolution to overthrow the Absolute Monarchy by People′s Party in June that year.

But Mr. Surachet Chaikosol, leader of UDD′s Ayutthaya chapter, said UDD leaders have discussed about the situation and agreed that it is best to call off the rally. "The Prime Minister has declared her wish to solve the House, that is a good solution, because it would help prevent Thai people from confronting each other," Mr. Surachet said.

UDD staff have already packed up their tents, loudspeakers, and other equipment, and vacated the stadium, Mr. Surachet added.

The last Redshirts rally to show their support for the government was ended following the violence near their rally site in eastern Bangkok which killed one anti-government protester and three Redshirts supporters.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Sermkit Sitthichaikarn, a police commander in Ayutthaya, said the police are "relieved" to hear about the Redshirts? cancellation of their rally. Nevertheless, he said police officers will continue to monitor the situation and set up security checkpoints in the province as a precaution.

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Foreign Diplomats' Tour Of Govt House Cancelled

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Khaosod English

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9 December 2013, 13:13

(9 December) Foreign diplomats will not be touring the Government House as planned, Minister of Foreign Affairs said, citing security concerns as anti-government protesters are besieging the compound.

Mr. Surapong Tovijakchaikul has previously invited 60 foreign diplomats to observe the situation at Government House, where riot police awaited the arrival of thousands of protesters who had announced they would seize it in an attempt to unseat Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The intention of the tour was assuring the diplomats that the government would respond to the protesters with appropriate universal crowd-control measures. The diplomats would also be shown the arsenal of police equipment stored at Government House, to highlight the lack of firearms or any heavy weapons, Mr. Surapong said.

However, the protesters? siege of the Government House has forced Mr. Surapong to cancel the visit out of concern over the diplomat′s safety and brief them about the situation in Thailand at Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead.

Mr. Surapong stressed that the government will maintain patience and avoid committing violence against the protesters. He added that footage from CCTVs around the Government House would be broadcast via Channel 9 and Channel 11 to inform the public about the protests.

The diplomats did not ask any question during the briefing, our correspondent said.

Mr. Surapong told reporters after the briefing that representatives from many countries have shown their support to the government′s peaceful measures in this protest. He also called on protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to put an end to their protests, now that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has agreed to dissolve the House.

"If Mr. Suthep won?t end today, he can?t call himself a man, because he broke his own words," Mr. Surapong said, "If he doesn?t hold to his words, he would lose all his credibility. In that case, it won?t be inaccurate if I just call him a bandit thug".

Nevertheless, Mr. Surapong insisted that the government is always open to negotiations with Mr. Suthep.

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Protesters Reach Govt House

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Khaosod English

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9 December 2013, 12:34

Anti-government protesters shouting abuse at police officers inside Government House compound.

(12.50) Anti-government protesters led by former Democrat MPs are now besieging Government House, their target for the massive demonstrations today.

Very few police officers are visible around the Government House
compound, our correspondent says. Most of the officers have now retreated to their positions inside
the buildings, while thousands of protesters are just outside the
compound.

The
protesters are occupying various roads around the government office, such as Pitsanulok Road and
Royal Plaza, their ranks increasingly swelling by the minute as they are joined demonstrations from
other areas of Bangkok.

The demonstrators are being led by a number of former Democrat MPs who resigned from their
position just yesterday.

All
exits and entrances of Government House are blocked by the protesters who were instructed by their
leaders not to let the police force to leave the compound.

Protest leaders on their
loudspeaker-vehicles have told the protesters to hold their ground and wait for a ?declaration of
victory? from PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

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Citing Democratic Principles, Yingluck Dissolves House

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Khaosod English

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9 December 2013, 09:37

(9 December) Prime Minister Yingluck has told the nation she will dissolve Parliament to let the Thai people decide the outcome of the ongoing political crisis with democratic means.

Ms. Yingluck′s announcement was made on live television broadcast at a time of high tension in Thailand; all opposition MPs just announced their resignation in protest yesterday, and the anti-government protesters were set to march from various rally sites in Bangkok toward Government House in the bid to unseat her.

In her speech, she defended her government as a hard-working and democratic one. The Prime Minister also claimed her government has been pursuing a compromise with the anti-government faction, even going as far as offering to hold a referendum on the idea of ?People′s Council? proposed by protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

Nevertheless, Ms. Yingluck said, she has decided to give back the power to the people by calling a new election and dissolving the House "which is a democratic way, letting the people to decide which path the majority of the people wants to see"

She added that she would like to invite all parties and all groups to use the upcoming election as the means to pursue their political goals.

Ms. Yingluck also told the nation she and her cabinet would stay in power as caretakers until the next election.
Although Ms. Yingluck has not set the date for next election, Khaosod has been told by a source that the polls would likely take place on 2 February 2014.

However, as of 10.00 today, anti-government protesters have refused to disperse, and they have begun their demonstrations across Bangkok as planned. Anti-government protest leaders have previously demanded the establishment of an unelected ?People′s Council? to rule Thailand instead of another election which, they said, would still be won by Ms. Yingluck′s allies.

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Rector's Leaked Message Predicts Suthep's Gameplan

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Khaosod English

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7 December 2013, 19:57

(7 December) The Rector of Thammasat University has been accused of secretly collaborating with anti-government protest leaders after leaked screenshot of his chat application correctly predicts the protesters? next move.

The protesters, led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD), had refrained from marching out of their protest camps since His Majesty the King′s Birthday, providing Bangkok with a brief lull following a week of confrontation when the protesters clashed with riot police in governmental district.

But when, a leaked screenshot shows, Thammasat University′s Rector Somkid Lertpaithoon was asked in a LINE group chat what the next gameplan of the protesters could be, he instantly casually that "nothing much" would happen on 6 December, and said the real move would come on 9 December.

On that day, Mr. Somkid said in the screenshot, the protesters would attempt to "shutdown Bangkok" following two days of demonstration on 7-8 December.

The news came less than a week after a group of student activists staged a protest in Rangsit Campus of Thammasat University to denounce Mr. Somkid′s decision to close down the university earlier this week.

While Mr. Somkid claimed he did so out of safety concerns amid the political chaos in Bangkok, the activists charged that the closure announcement coincides with PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban′s call for a nationwide strike and shutdown of education establishments.

The screenshot of the chat was also seized by critics of Mr. Somkid as further evidence of his conspiracy with the protest leaders.

Speaking to Khaosod, Mr. Somkid confirmed the screenshot was real, but denied he possessed any inside knowledge of the protest leaders, explaining that he merely repeated what he had been told by his colleagues, and he did not know whether the rumour was true.

"I was just talking without any agenda," Mr. Somkid said, "If I knew the events beforehand where the protesters would go, I would be a genius, and I would have joined Mr. Suthep′s strategic advisers already".

The Rector also told our correspondent his actions or words might appear to coincide with the anti-government protesters?, but it is because he had proposed them even before the protest started. "I have been talking about House dissolution and [Prime Minister′s] resignation before Mr. Suthep did. He just copied my formula, and people think I collaborated with Mr. Suthep. That is not true."

He added, "Some people just want to attack me" with smear campaign.

However, his discussion of Mr. Suthep′s next move was proven to be accurate later in the evening when Mr. Suthep himself announced the plan to mobilise his supporters over the weekend for a "final showdown" on 9 December.

PCAD leader promised a shutdown of "every street" in the capital city, as he expected "millions" of protesters to come out of their offices and homes to join their "final" march on Government House. Mr. Suthep said he was confident he would achieve "victory" within a single day.

The coincidence led Mr. Jatupon Prompan, a leader of the Redshirts official organisation, to quip during a press conference today that Thammasat is no longer a bastion of freedom and democracy when its Rector is cooperating with what Mr. Jatupon described as anti-democracy protesters.

"He can claim he merely repeated what people have been sharing, but it doesn?t make sense," Mr. Jatupon said, "He′s been collaborating with Mr. Suthep all along".

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Protests Bad For Children's Health: Official

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Khaosod English

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7 December 2013, 16:32

(7 December) The Department of Mental Health has warned parents that bringing their young children to protest camps may harm the kids? physical and mental health.

Anti-government protesters led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) have been camping in a number of sites around Bangkok, such as Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the Government Complex. Some parents have been seen attending the prolonged protest with their children.

But Dr. Jetsada Chokedamrongsuk, Director-General of the Mental Health Department, said it is not advisable to bring small children to such crowded protests as the events can be harmful to the kids. "Young children are easily infected by germs, and they have a higher risk of suffering from heat stress or exhaustion".

The demanding nature of the protests, with extreme temperatures in various times of the day and the overnight political activities, will also disrupt the sleeping pattern of young children, Dr. Jessada said.

Dr. Jessada added, “Parents should spend their free-time daily with their small children in a relaxing environment," instead of bringing them to political rallies.

He said any parents or children suffering from exhaustion or depression caused by their stay in the protest sites are advised to call Department of mental Health hotline via the number 1323 at any time.

Furthermore, Dr. Jessada said, the ongoing political confrontation would also expose young children at home with aggressive, impolite rhetoric uttered by protest leaders when they watch television.

However, according to the official, the department does encourage parents to allow their children to engage in political debate within the family. In a statement, the department suggested that ‘parents should notice how children react to the news and engage them in discussion where they can voice their ideas’.

The statement also advised parents to be open about different perspectives from their children and allow them to explain and propose ideas freely.

"Parents should look toward the issue positively and be tolerant about alternatives ideas," the statement went on ,"And at the same time, they should use appropriate language when communicating with the kids or use books and word cards to help them understand the situation better".

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Man, Angry At Ex-Wife, 'Kills Her Stepson'

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7 December 2013, 15:29

Mr. Usman Salae during the crime re-enactment.

(7 December) Songkhla police have arrested the man accused of killing a woman′s 14 year old stepson because he was angry of her marrying the boy′s father.

Mr. Usman Salae, 26, reportedly confessed, telling police he was enraged when he heard that his former wife had married a new man. He said he later tracked down the woman′s new family to Na Thawi district in the province and visited her home.

At the house, Mr. Usman said, he saw the boy watching television alone, so he stabbed the boy three times in anger with a sharpened metal rod. He said he fled the scene after he realised the boy was dead.

Songkhla police said they will proceed with further prosecution against Mr. Usman.

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TU Vice Rector Defends Threats Against Transgender Student Activist

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Khaosod English

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7 December 2013, 14:48

Ms. Aum Neko during her protest against Thammasat Rector in the university's Rangsit Campus

(7 December) Vice Rector of Thammasat University said he does not regret posting threats against a prominent student activist who had staged a protest against the university rector.

Ms. Saran Chuichai – a transgender student who is also known as Ms. Aum Neko – led her fellow activists in the attempt last week to replace the Thai national flag with a black flag over a building in Rangsit Campus of Thammasat University.

However, security guards in the area successfully prevented her group from raising the black flag.

Ms. Aum said the gesture was meant to serve as a rebuke to Thammasat Rector, Mr. Somkid Lertpaithoon, for his alleged cooperation with the so-called People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State (PCAD) by closing down the university just few days after PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban called for a nationwide closure of universities to support his cause.

This activity has been criticised by many Thammasat students as unruly and insulting toward the university.

But the most furious criticism of Ms. Aum so far has come from Thammasat Vice Rector, Mr. Somchai Chakhatrakan, who posted on his Facebook account yesterday that he was so angered by Ms. Aum′s action that he wishes to resign from his position and "trample" Ms. Aum with his feet.

The Facebook post, which was made on the Public setting, has since been deleted.

In other posts, Mr. Somchai also called on "members of the Thammasat community who love their university and their country" to "defend" Thammasat. "Don't let these snakes inside the university to poison the dignity of the university," Mr. Somchai wrote.

He added, "I feel sorry for [Ms. Aum′s] parents for having such an evil child".

The comment has been widely shared on the social network, drawing much criticism that Mr. Somchai has acted inappropriately as a high-ranking academic in the university.

But in an interview with Khaosod, Mr. Somchai defended his controversial comments by claiming that he could not remain silent and let Ms. Aum desecrated the Thai national flag at will.

"If a child acted like that, what would happen to our country? The Thai heroic ancestors have sacrificed their lives for the country and our homes. The Thai flag is the symbol of Thainess," Mr. Somchai said, adding that the Thais should not let just one person "destroying our nationhood".

In a long tirade during the phone interview, Mr. Somchai also described Ms. Aum′s activity as a "defamation" against the nation, the religion, and the monarchy. "I feel pathetic. Why did they allow this kid to do such thing? It damages the dignity of Thainess," said Mr. Somchai.

"If you see this disgraceful blasphemy of the Thai national flag and tolerate it, please don?t call yourself Thai," Mr. Somchai fumed, "I will assault it [Ms. Aum]. I won't do it in the name of a teacher, but I will assault it in the name of Somchai Chakhatrakarn, as a Thai person".

Nevertheless, as of 7 December, Mr. Somchai has deactivated his Facebook account.

Meanwhile, Ms. Aum said he is disappointed by the threatening manner of the Vice Rector. She told our correspondent she and her friends will submit a complaint to the administrative body of Thammasat about the matter.

"I had expected a lecturer who is teaching at Faculty of Science to possess critical thinking," Ms. Aum said, referring to Mr. Somchai, "But he ended up threatening violence as a solution. That is not the right thing to do."

She also insisted that she had no intention to desecrate the Thai national flag, explaining that her activity in the campus was merely a "symbolic action".

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Ministry To Regulate 'New Year Gift Basket'

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7 December 2013, 14:43

(7 December) The Ministry of Commerce has confirmed it will not approve commodity price hike during New Year period in order to prevent gift shops from raising the prices of their goods, Prachachat has reported.

Commerce Deputy Minister, Mr. Yanyong Phuangrat, said on Thursday that officials have been instructed to monitor the prices of goods and services, particularly for New Year’s ′gift basket′ and transport fee to make sure the customers are not being unfairly charged throughout the holiday season.

Giving ′gift baskets′ (กระเช้าของขวัญ), which contain a number of packaged food and drinks, is a popular New Year tradition in Thailand. Such baskets are displayed and sold in many shops, malls, and supermarkets.

Mr. Yanyong added that the Ministry has told all gift basket sellers to attach clear price tag on their baskets, and to fully explain the qualifications of the goods packed in the basket, as well as the packing service fee.

"Sellers must also make sure that the items stored in the basket are valid for at least 3 months after the time of the purchase. Any shop that fails to follow the procedure will be fined for no more than 10,000 baht per offence," said Mr. Yanyong.

In order to increase spending in the New Year season amidst the political tumult, the Ministry plans to hold a Gift Festivals to help OTOP entrepreneurs and gift makers to promote their goods. Additionally, retail stores will be urged to join Ministry-sponsored campaigns which will boost their sales.

Mr. Yanyong also told Prachachat that the ongoing political situation had not affected prices of goods, or caused goods shortage, or crippled the export capacity as many had feared.

However, many investors have shown their hesitation to invest in Thailand, as some of the government’s spending plans are likely to be postponed, including the 2 trillion baht infrastructure development scheme, Mr. Yanyong said.

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Many Thais Facing Unemployment Risks: Academic

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Khaosod English

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6 December 2013, 17:46

(6 December) Many Thais are facing risks of unemployment due to the slowdowns in global and domestic economies, according to Deputy Director of the Centre of Economic and Business Forecast, University of Thai Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Wachira Khoontaweethep said business firms are also facing difficulty in releasing their stocks and increasing capitals. He blamed the government′s enactment of new minimum wage rate at 300 baht per day as a factor.

Employability Confidence Index in November also remains at 68.2, the lowest in 18 months, said Mr. Wachira, adding that many people are facing employment struggles in Bangkok and its peripheral provinces, including provinces that have not been connected to logistic routes.

Meanwhile, SMEs Investment Suitability Index in November 2013 hit its lowest in 89 months at 70.4, causing SMEs to put off their investments.

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