Construction Worker Stabbed Over 'Political Argument'

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25 November 2013, 17:41

(25 November) Pattaya police say a construction worker has been stabbed by his colleague after the two argued bitterly about the ongoing political turmoil.

Responding to reports of fights, the police arrived at a worker residence behind Jomthien Complex in Banglamung district, Chonburi province, where Mr. Daomrong Thanonsilpa, 37, waited for the officers, his neck and body covered in blood.

According to Mr. Damrong, a native of Buriram province, he invited a fellow construction worker called Jo to his room to drink after work. Their discussion later turned to the anti-government protests taking place in Bangkok, Mr. Damrong said, and the two started to argue loudly.

His colleague eventually scolded him for his political opinion and stabbed him with a knife before fleeing the scene, Mr. Damrong said. The wounded man later called police.

Police said they have made a notification about the case and is searching for Jo to be prosecuted.

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Education Official Begs Protesters To Disperse

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24 November 2013, 21:44

(24 November) The director of the Office of Basic Education Commission of Thailand (OBEC) has asked the anti-government protesters to disperse as soon as possible as their massive rally had forced many schools to shut down.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered 24 schools to close, citing safety concerns for the students, while the administrators of Satri Wittaya School had no other choice than shutting down due to its extreme proximity to the rally stage at Democracy Monument.

According to Mr. Anont Sukhprakkit, OBEC director, said more schools might follow suit if the school principals deem it necessary.

Mr. Anont also pleaded to the protesters to disband due to the approaching end of the semester and final exams. "Morever, many students are going through university and college admission exams and need to attend schools," Mr. Anont said, adding that the OBEC is currently working to arrange additional classes for the students on weekends if possible.

Secretary to the OBEC, Mr Aphichat Jirawutthilekhatigarn, had also instructed many schools to be aware of the students’ safety during the political turmoil. Schools are appointed to report the situation at noon and evenings to the 24 hour coordinate centre arranged by OBEC to observe the situation.

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Crown Prince Concerned By Protests: Police Chief

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24 November 2013, 20:25

(24 November) The Crown Prince has expressed his concern over the ongoing political turmoils, according to chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police.

"His Royal Highness has summoned me to his palace earlier this evening", Pol.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said, "He is very concerned about his royal subjects. He doesn?t want to see Thai people fighting each other".

Pol.Gen. Kamronwit also said the Crown Prince has explicitly urged all Thais to defuse the tension by dialogues and peaceful negotiations. "I think we all should obey His Royal Highness," the police chief added.

He delivered the comments during a press conference after inspecting the perimeter of the anti-government protesters who are rallying in a massive show of force around Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the nearby vicinity. Pol.Gen. Kamronwit estimated that at least 75,000 people joined the rally, but media reports have put the figures at 100,000, while a protest leader insisted over 440,000 people were present.

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the former Democrat MP who is now leading the protests, has previously promised a showdown in the final bid to "overthrow" the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Some of the protesters under the name People and Student Network for Political Reform of Thailand have splintered from the main rally site at Ratchadamnoen Avenue to block the roads around Nang Loeng Intersection. Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said he regretted the move, as it directly interferes with the Crown Prince′s scheduled travel route.

"They refuse to move and open the roads for the royal convoy," Pol.Gen. Kamronwit told reporters.

Asked whether the police are prepared for the coordinated marches of the protesters which are expected to take place on 25 November, Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said the police will mobilise in fullest way to maintain public order during the marches.

"But I plead to the protesters, don?t cause troubles to the people who are not involved in the protest, and please don?t disrupt the route of the royal convoy," Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said.

He stressed that the police have no plan to crack down on the protesters, and that the police will rely on negotiations with the protesters to resolve any tension.

If the protesters do indeed march to besiege House of Parliament or Government House as feared by many officials, the police would have appropriate measures to contain the situation, according to the Bangkok police chief.

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Redshirts Stage Mass Rally Against 'Silent Coup'

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24 November 2013, 16:56

(24 November) Thousands of Redshirts have entered Bangkok to attend the rally at Rajamangala Stadium, displaying their opposition against what they describe as a "silent coup".

It is the second show of force of the Redshirts in less than two weeks. More than 50,000 Redshirts have previously rallied at the stadium last week to protest the ruling of the Constitutional Court which struck down legality of the government′s effort to amend the 2007 Constitution.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has repeatedly vowed to revise the charter, which was drafted by military-appointed panel after the 2006 military coup, calling it an obstacle to Thai democracy.

Following the verdict, leaders of the Redshirts and Pheu Thai Party have accused the Constitutional Court of harbouring hostility against the elected government and conspiring with anti-government faction to undermine the legitimacy of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra′s administration.

The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has called for its supporters to attend the rally at Rajamangala Stadium, which it terms as fight against a "constitutional coup".

Ms. Thida Tojirakarn, chairwoman of the UDD, said yesterday that the situation of the country is now in a "perilous" turning point in which the ammart (feudal elite) is using its power to overthrow democratic regime.

"We have seen the display of power by the Constitutional Court," Ms. Thida said, "If we don?t fight now, all the victories we have gained would be in vain", adding that the Constitutional Court′s action amounts to a silent coup against the Legislative Branch.

She urged all Redshirts in Bangkok and nearby provinces to pack their bags and prepare for a prolonged "struggle", signaling the possibility that the Redshirts are planning a long-term rally.

The show of force of the Redshirts also coincides with the mass rally called by the anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, but UDD leaders insisted they would not march from their position to confront their rival protesters.

"We are aware that if the Redshirts decide to march out, some groups will exploit the situation for political ends," said Mr. Nattawut Saikua, a leader of UDD and Pheu Thai MP, "[Even] if Mr. Suthep′s protesters proceed to besiege governmental buildings, we will still rally in our position".

He also warned that if the anti-government protesters escalate their campaign by seizing governmental buildings, the crisis similar to the turmoil in 2006 might return to Thailand.

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Teen 'Snipers' Apprehended At Anti-Govt Protest

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24 November 2013, 16:28

(24 November) The police have apprehended a group of teenagers who carried BB guns into anti-government protest site near Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Seven men, all of them underage individuals, were stopped at a police checkpoint in Khattiyani Intersection as a part of police procedure to search for weapons that could be smuggled into the protest site.

The police officers were surprised to find what resembled a sniper rifle and a handgun in backpacks carried by the teenagers.

Although the police quickly realised that the weapons were in fact BB guns, the rumour of police intercepting snipers has spread widely on the social network – both anti-government protest leaders and governmental officials have in recent days claimed that shadowy armed militants are attempting to infiltrate the protest site and cause chaos.

For instance, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the former Democrat MP now leading the protests, told the crowd on stage he is being targeted by government-allied snipers who could finish him off at any time.

The fact that the teenagers were carrying Guy Fawkes Masks at the time also compounded fear that the group was related to the protests; anti-government protesters in the past have adopted the white masks as their symbol.

The concern over the news eventually forced spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police to announce in a press conference earlier this afternoon that the teenagers were carrying the BB guns to film their own parody of the popular first-person-shooter video game Payday.

The teenagers decided to walk through the anti-government protests to board their buses to the venue for film shooting, the police spokesman said, before they were eventually stopped and searched by the police at the checkpoint.

"The young individuals had no intention to cause any disorder in the rallies," said the spokesman, Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul Narongsak, "Their guardians were summoned to pick them up and the BB guns. No charge was filed against them".

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Over 100 Cars Damaged By Mysterious Caltrops

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24 November 2013, 14:38

(24 November) Metal caltrops laid by unidentified individuals on the Bangkok-bound highway in Petchaburi and Prachuab Kiri Khan province have damaged more than 100 vehicles last night.

The police started receiving first reports of the incident yesterday evening that numerous vehicles encountered small metal spikes scattered along wide stretches of Petchakasem Road, which connected Bangkok with 14 southern provinces.

Despite the efforts by police officers from various police stations and local rescue workers in combing the area for the scattered caltrops, new vehicles kept running over the spikes, as the drivers could not spot the small metal spikes in the darkness of the night.

Our correspondent reported that chaos quickly descended on stretches of the highway, as very few vehicles had spare tires with them, and repair services were working frantically to replace the damaged wheels along the highway with limited supplies.

By morning, the police have recorded at least 100 cars whose tires had been punctured by the caltrops. Vehicles damaged by the caltrops include cars, pick-up trucks, public minivans, cargo trucks, and public buses.

Despite the widespread damage caused by the spikes, no injury has been reported, police said.

All of the caltrops were found on Bangkok-bound side of the road, rescue workers and police said, leading to speculation that the spikes were placed there to disrupt the flows of anti-government protesters headed for Bangkok from the southern region – the stronghold of the opposition party.

Indeed, among the vehicles damaged in the incident were 10 buses which were ferrying hundreds of anti-government protesters to join the mass rally in Bangkok. Enraged by the incident, the group briefly blockaded the road, before continuing to Bangkok around 01.00 this morning.

Leaders of the anti-government protests have been mobilising their supporters for a major rally on 24 November.

Mr. Suwiwat Promma, deputy director of Huay Mongkol Highway Rescue, said many of the caltrops were found in Hua Hin district.

"No matter who′s behind this, it′s a wrong and horrible action," Mr. Suwiwat fumed, "The damaged cars could have plunged into the roadside canal or crashed into trees and killed a lot of people. I condemn this horrible action".

A senior police officer in Prachuab Kiri Khan also voiced his suspicion that the caltrops were deliberatedly placed by "individuals with ill-intention" to disrupt the anti-government protesters. He added that some police vehicles were also damaged by the spikes.

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Russian Diver Missing In Chonburi Sea

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23 November 2013, 21:23

(23 November) A Russian man is reported missing after he went scuba diving off the coast in Chonburi province.

Ms. Suwimol (surname unclear), the manager of the diving company, told police Mr. Karen Gapoyan was travelling with 46 other Russian divers on the ship to the diving spot, west of Rin Island.

According to Ms. Suwimol, Mr. Gapoyan was among the first group of 7 Russians allowed into the water, accompanied by a diving instructor of the company. The group reportedly spent 55 minutes scuba diving in the area, and Mr. Gapoyan did not return to the surface when the allotted time for diving was over.

The Navy has been conducting search and rescue operations in the area, with a helicopter and a number of rescue parties on boats, to no avail.

Ms. Galina Telichkina, the wife of Mr. Gapoyan, said she was married to the Russian man on 16 November and the couple visited Thailand for their honeymoon.

Ms. Galina added that she believes Mr. Gapoyan is still alive because he is a talented diver with extensive experience.

The company manager, Ms. Suwimol, told our correspondent Mr. Gapoyan holds the record of 159 diving sessions. He was using his own diving apparatus when he disappeared, Ms. Suwimol said.

The divers have also signed documents acknowledging the risks of the diving session and taking responsibility of any misfortune caused by the trip, Ms. Suwimol added.

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Another Explosive Device Launched At Police

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23 November 2013, 20:57

Riot police facing anti-government protesters behind barrier line at Makawan Bridge, 22 November 2013

(23 November) An unknown assailant has launched a small explosive device at the police line near anti-government protests in Bangkok.

The incident took place at approximately 03.00 this morning, when a van headed from Nakorn Sawan Road pulled up near police checkpoint near Orathai Bridge. An individual later launched the explosive at the police officers before speeding away.

No police officer has been injured by the blast. The van managed to elude police chase near Makawan Bridge, where hundreds of anti-government protesters have been facing lines of riot police in full gears.

The attack followed a similar incident earlier this week when a homemade explosive device was thrown at the riot police who manned the barrier line around Makawan Bridge, injuring three officers. The police believe hardline members of the protesters threw the device, although no arrest has yet been made.

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Police Expect 70,000 To Join Anti-Govt Protests

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23 November 2013, 18:31

Two anti-government protesters getting married on the stage of the rally at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 22 November 2013

(23 November) The police said they are prepared for a major show of force by the anti-government protesters in Bangkok tomorrow – the date promised by the protest leaders to be the final push to overthrow the government.

After nearly a month camping on the stretches of Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the anti-government protesters, led by prominent members of Democrat Party, are calling for their biggest yet rally on 24 November.

The protesters have been calling for an "overthrow" of "Thaksin Regime", a term referring to the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra which its critics has accused of being puppets of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Although it is highly unlikely that the total number of the protesters will reach one million as announced by the protest leader, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, senior police officers are expecting at least 70,000 people to join the protests. In previous weeks, it has been estimated that 50,000 people joined the protests at the peak of their strength.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya Uthayo, spokesman of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), said the number would rise dramatically tomorrow due to mobilisation of anti-government protesters from various provinces into Bangkok.

He also expressed fear that the protesters will violently confront with police officers posted around governmental districts, which are currently off-limit to pedestrians and traffic following the enactment of Internal Security Act.

"Our intelligence services have reported that the protesters will move to many important buildings at the same time on 25 November," said Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya, adding that the police have prepared rapid-moving forces to maintain public order throughout the protests.

The spokesman warned that the police would "respond strictly under legal procedures" to the protesters if the protests violate any laws or turn violent, but stressed that the police forces have been instructed to stick to peaceful methods in dealing with the protesters.

A number of governmental officials also appear to be wary of the protesters adopting aggressive tactics seen in the 2008 Yellowshirts protests against Thaksin-allied governments, in which Government House, the state TV station, and Bangkok′s two main airports were seized by the protesters.

While much of the protests has been focused on the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, there have been instances of protesters marching out to other areas in recent days, raising fear that the anti-government protesters are contemplating a large-scale demonstration to put pressure on the government.

Yesterday members of People and Student Network for Political Reform of Thailand have marched to headquarters of Pheu Thai Party, where they briefly blew their whistles in defiance to the party before dispersing peacefully.

Later, however, they moved to block the busy intersection of Nang Loeng, just a block away from Government House, causing massive traffic jam in the Friday rush hour of Bangkok. The protesters have so far refused to negotiate with the police, who demanded that they disperse and return the intersection to traffic.

Responding to the anti-government protesters? call for ?Day of Judgment?, the Redshirts have vowed to stage a mass rally at Rajamangala Stadium tomorrow to show their support for the government.

The Redshirts have previously rallied at the stadium earlier this week when the Constitutional Court struck down the attempt of the ruling Pheu Thai Party to amend the 2007 Constitution.

"The rally of the group who is intent on overthrowing the elected government will prove to history which side the Thai society will choose: the backward conservative force, or the progressive democratic force" said Ms. Thida Tojirakarn, chairwoman of the Redshirts? official organisation.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Piya, the spokesman of CAPO, said the police will do their best to avoid confrontation between the two rival protests.

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Tourists Told To Avoid Raging Southern Seas

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23 November 2013, 15:07

(23 November) Fishermen and tourists have been advised to be wary of the particularly strong waves lashing at many popular beaches and islands in the Andaman Sea.

Scores of boats have been sunk or disabled by the waves which were measured to be at least 3-4 metre high in some areas.

Among the most affected areas were popular tourist destinations such as Ao Ton Sai on Phi Phi Islands, where at least 20 boats were sunk as they anchored near the shore, including a 400-seat ferry ship used in transporting tourists to the island. No injury or death has been reported.

Three boats which ferried tourists to Koh Hong Island in the area of Than Bok Khorani National Park were also damaged by the waves, officials said, resulting in 19 tourists and 3 crew members stranded on the islands.

All tourists were later safely transported to the mainland, officials said, but as a precaution the authorities have ordered all tourist ships and boats not to leave the shores until the weather improves.

Meanwhile, Phuket island has been subject to heavy rain throughout the night, but no flood has been reported. Waves 2-3 metre high have been lashing at the shore, forcing many tour companies to cancel their sea trips, and officials issuing warning for bigger ships to navigate the seas with extreme caution.

Many speed boats, ?long-tail? boats, and fishing boats are damaged by the unusually strong seas in Phuket province, officials added.

Pol.Lt.Col. Chatchai Sakdi, chief of Phuket Marine Police, said the storms have taken by boat owners in the province by surprise, leaving them no time to retrieve the boats they had anchored in the open seas.

"Many tourists and locals are all surprised by the ferocity of the waves," Pol.Lt.Col. Chatchai said, "They have not seen anything like this since the tsunami incident [in 2004]".

Elsewhere in the southern region, rain storms and floods have damaged many roads, railways, and farmlands. The province of Surat Thani is particularly hard-hit by the storms, with 150,000 people affected.

The Meteorological Department has warned that the strong weathers in the southern seas will continue until 24 November.

Citizens and tourists in the provinces of Prachuab Kiri Khan, Chompon, Ranong, Surat Thani, Nakorn Si Thammarat, Phang Nga, Phuket, Trang, Krabi, and Satul should be vigilant of the extreme weathers, the statement said.

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