A debate between two experts on the uprising and brutal military crackdown in Bangkok.
May 21, 2010 |
Thai authorities vowed to get tough with anti-government Red Shirts paralysing central Bangkok, where protesters bracing for a crackdown reinforced their barricades. Language en Duration 00:00:38 Products PRWINT CodeName MMV116816 FileName MMV116816_TEN (-) SHOTLIST: BANGKOK, THAILAND. APRIL 27, 2010 (AFP -ACCESS ALL) ++Images shot in 16 x 9 ++ - Red Shirt protesters gather in front of barricades - Monk walk among protesters - Protesters shout slogans in front of barricades - Protesters gather in front of barricades - A monk sits among protesters in front of baricades - Protesters sit with wooden sticks in front of barricades Thailand-politics-protest,WRAP Thai govt talks tough as protesters beef up defences by Boonradom Chitradon =(GRAPHIC+PICTURE)= BANGKOK, April 27, 2010 (AFP) - Thai authorities vowed Tuesday to get tough with anti-government Red Shirts paralysing central Bangkok, where protesters bracing for a crackdown reinforced their barricades and caused travel chaos. The Red Shirts have said they will turn up the heat on Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, sending out protesters on Wednesday to try to persuade more people to join their rally in the capital, which is under a state of emergency. The city's Skytrain service was halted for several hours on Tuesday after Reds laid tyres on the rails at a station above the protest site to stop troops using it for a surprise attack, forcing many commuters to walk to work. Services resumed after the protesters -- who have been staging weeks of rolling rallies to campaign for snap elections -- agreed to remove the tyres. The government said it would not tolerate moves by the opposition protesters to set up road checkpoints to prevent police and soldiers heading to the capital to reinforce security forces there. "The government has intensified measures against protesters because they have created a situation of unrest by setting up checkpoints which violate other people's rights," Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters. "We cannot talk to these people any longer," warning that any protesters found setting up checkpoints would be immediately arrested. A day after Thailand's revered king spoke of the need for peace in his first public remarks since the crisis began, protesters remained on high alert for a crackdown by security forces. Street clashes earlier this month and grenade attacks last week in the heart of Bangkok have left 26 people dead and hundreds more wounded in the worst political unrest for almost two decades. The Red Shirts have reinforced their roadblocks and stepped up security checks on the perimeter of their sprawling protest site, which has been fortified with barricades made from piles of truck tyres and bamboo stakes. "Each passing day will make us stronger. At least we can hold government forces at bay for another day," said a Reds leader, Jatuporn Prompan. The Reds said they would set up a "rapid movement unit" to talk to people and invite them to join their protest, vowing to break all checkpoints without using violence. The king spoke on national television Monday for the first time since anti-government protests broke out in mid-March, addressing a group of newly appointed judges, but he did not directly mention the political crisis. "Do your job with honesty. In this country there may be some people who forget their duty. You should be an example by working honestly and properly, your job is very important," King Bhumibol Adulyadej said. "It will help the country to live in peace and contentment," the 82-year-old told the judges at the Bangkok hospital where he has been since September. Thailand's opposition has asked for an audience with the king, who has intervened in previous bouts of civil unrest. The government has said it has uncovered a network of people suspected of plotting to overthrow the monarchy and will issue summons, and later arrest warrants, for members of the group. The Reds denied any involvement. The government will not allow these people to insult the monarchy," Suthep said. "If necessary we will bar all of them from leaving Thailand." Abhisit, regarded as elitist and undemocratic by his opponents, has rejected an offer by the Reds to disperse if elections are held in three months' time. The Reds are mostly supporters of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and now lives overseas to avoid a jail term for corruption. Thaksin, who was in Montenegro at the weekend, said he has been in contact with the opposition protestors in Thailand. "We just fight for democracy," he told reporters in the Adriatic republic. bc-ask/dr/txw
Photo Credit: AFP - Hoang Dinh Nam
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AMY GOODMAN: In Thailand, the government has rejected an offer by anti-government protesters to enter talks after a bloody week in Bangkok that's left at least thirty-eight protesters dead. Some fear the standoff could lead to an undeclared civil war.
The protesters are mostly rural and urban poor who are part of a group called the UDD, the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship. More commonly they're known as the Red Shirts. They have been occupying parts of downtown Bangkok for two months. The protesters are attempting to force the Prime Minister to step down and call new elections. Many of the Red Shirts are supporters of the former prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon who was overthrown in a coup nearly four years ago.
The tension in Bangkok intensified five days ago when Thai troops began using force to remove the Red Shirts from their barricaded encampments. Live ammunition was fired at unarmed protesters and journalists. In addition to the thirty-eight protesters killed, hundreds have been wounded. The Thai government has defended the use of force, saying armed groups and terrorists tied to the Red Shirts have been attacking supporters of the government and Thai troops.
Earlier [this week], protest leader Nattawut Saikeau announced the Red Shirts are willing to enter into talks overseen by members of the Thai Senate.
NATTAWUT SAIKEAU: [translated] The United Nations has not responded to our demand so far, but the request to stop the shooting is an urgent issue which cannot wait, not even a single minute. Therefore, the UDD will accept the senator’s proposal.
AMY GOODMAN: But the Thai government rejected the offer, saying talks would only begin when the protesters abandoned their barricaded camp in Bangkok. On Sunday, the Thai government also rejected a call by the Red Shirts for a ceasefire and UN-moderated talks.
PANITAN WATTANAYAGORN: [translated] We reject their demands for UN mediation or for them to do to any activities in Thailand. No Thailand government has ever let anyone intervene with our internal affairs. We can solve our problems ourselves, but we are willing to listen.
AMY GOODMAN: To talk more about Thailand, we’re joined by two guests who have been closely monitoring the situation in Thailand.
Giles Ji Ungpakorn is a Thai dissident living in exile in Britain. He was a university lecturer in Thailand before having to flee after writing a book criticizing the 2006 military coup. He’s a Red Shirt supporter.
We're also joined by Philip Cunningham, a freelance journalist who’s covered Asia for over twenty years. He has taught at several universities in Thailand. His writings frequently appear in the Bangkok Post.
We welcome you both to Democracy Now! Philip Cunningham is joining us from Japan.
Giles Ji Ungpakorn, can you describe what is happening right now in Bangkok and what the Red Shirts want?
GILES JI UNGPAKORN: By the way, my name is Ji.
Well, what the Red Shirts want is democracy, because the present government was installed by the military, and it's actually the fruit of a military coup in 2006 and various judicial coups. So, demanding fresh elections, demanding proper democratic elections is perfectly legitimate. And even though they have been occupying the center of Bangkok for two months, it's only a shopping center and a site for luxury hotels, yet the government has deployed snipers and assassination squads. And since the beginning of April, they've actually been responsible for sixty-seven deaths and thousands of injuries. And really, the time has come for the government to order an immediate ceasefire and for them to enter into genuine talks with the Red Shirts.
AMY GOODMAN: And what about the latest developments, Ji, the offer of the Red Shirts to participate and the government saying no?
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