Bangkok Post : Protest demands government resign

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Protest demands government resign

Published: 8/01/2009 at 07:38 PM

Anti-government protesters rallied at the foreign ministry on Thursday to demand that the government postpone the Feb 27 summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, dissolve the House of Representatives and call a new election.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva immediately replied the government will not move the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit to another venue or date.

Director-General Tharit Charungvat of the Foreign Ministry's Information Department, said the red-shirted United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters gathered outside the ministry building to make their point.

They specifically demanded that Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya resign from his post and that the Asean summit be postponed.

At about 3 pm, a delegation from the group entered the building and submitted a letter to an official demanding that the Asean summit be postponed until a newly elected government is installed.

They later dispersed but promised they would return next week to follow up their petition.

In what he called an attempt to avoid chaos by UDD protesters, Prime Minister Abhisit announced that the summit would move to the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuab Khiri Khan instead of taking place in Bangkok.

The dates remain unchanged - Feb 27 to March 1. The prime minister insisted that this time the venue and date are unchangeable.

It was the fourth time and the third place by two separate governments which have tried to host the summit, a responsibility that falls to Thailand as this year's chairman of the group. The summit was supposed to take place in mid-December in Bangkok.

However, the meeting between Asean and its six regional dialogue partners -China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand - is still only tentatively scheduled for late April, and there is no venue yet decided, Mr. Abhisit said.

The meeting was apparently moved to Hua Hin because the South is one of the two chief bases of grassroots support for Mr Abhisit and his Democrat Party. However, Bangkok is also supposed to be a "safe" political base for the Democrats, and the city has proved to be unsafe against UDD protesters.

UDD leaders last week announced they will try to disrupt the summit as part of a campaign to oust Mr Kasit. They claim he is an embarrassment to the country because of his strong and outspoken support for the closing of the two Bangkok airports last month.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told official TNA news agency on Thursday rthat Hua Hin was chosen as the Asean summit venue because security could be easily provided in case the UDD protesters move to the resort town to launch a rally there.

He said the government is not worried about a closure of tiny Hua Hin airstrip by the protesters, but warned any rallies must not hurt people or damage property. (with reports by TNA)

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Legal Notice

Discussion 11 : 11/01/2009 at 12:23 AM11
I am sorry to see so many of the postings here being so unserious and untruthful. Not to say so hateful, full of vengeance and biased to each other. I think it is ok that we are all having different views on political issues, but we should all respect each others fundamental right to voice our opinions, without the risk of being ridiculed by inferior human beings, like I for instance see wtf , levenfeld and thaiman are doing again and again on these columns.

If we lose our respect for these basic and fundamental human rights of our fellow human being, we only end up on the same level as the members of the terrorist organisation PAD. As undemocratic, without respect of our opponents convictions and in line, boxed up with and on the same low level as other dictator wanting and liking groups like the Nazi brown shirts and SS, Stalin’s KGB, Mussolini’s black shirts and so on.

Therefore I think it is great that we have such good people contributing with their support and knowledge to democracy in this channel of public opinion. And the best example is as I see it, the one who write under the name of DREY. A true champion of democracy and I think it is a shame to see that some idiots here try to bully him of writing. SHAME ON YOU!
levenfeld

Discussion 10 : 09/01/2009 at 01:22 PM10
Thank you both for your support Legal Notice and Truth. It is not easy when some low life character who calls themselves by a ludicrous name like DREY always bumps up trying to steal sunshine from our movement. It’s even so frustrating some times I find my self not to enjoy my evenings out in the Ladyboybars in NANA PLAZA.

It feels good to know that we have so many people behind us in this glorious PAD movement. As you know the only regret I have is that we must wear yellow shirts, even if we all like brown shirts better.

And for you DREY; YOU KNOW WHAT WE IN THE MOVEMENT ARE PLANNING FOR YOU I GUESS. Just wait now for us in the PAD to open our special relocation and re-education camps. Then you will see what’s ahead of you.

You sure both deserved your 30 in silver this time. Feels good to have your support.
Legal Notice

Discussion 9 : 09/01/2009 at 12:06 PM9
Everybody should now use the name DREY for all of their postings here. There is nothing legally wrong in doing this and violates no rules of this board. Even better, it will drive away the real DREY.
Truth

Discussion 8 : 09/01/2009 at 11:57 AM8
D is DREY...it is one of the many names this Thaksin paid stooge uses.
leonardo

Discussion 7 : 09/01/2009 at 10:54 AM7
To Ant
Discussion #6

Absolutely welcome to follow me the "lucky country" my friend. Get your Passport ready!

Cheers
Leonardo
Ant

Discussion 6 : 09/01/2009 at 10:40 AM6
Hey Leonardo (#5),
I'm Thai but can I go with you? I just want to leave this ...... up country to its real owners. Almost all the Thais have been brainwashed for decades. That's why they have no brain left. Feel like being a slave here in this country. To whom I serve you may know.
leonardo

Discussion 5 : 09/01/2009 at 10:06 AM5
To D
Discussion #3
I am a visiting foreigner for the last 6 months and have 6 months to go before I return to Australia.

I am a firm believer of “when in Rome do as the Romans do”. BUT, I can assure you that in NO way would I ever agree with what I have seen played out here in Bangkok regarding the political climate and ALL the “so called peaceful protests” in the name of Democracy!

I am a visitor to this beautiful country and have NO say in how it is to be run politicly, militarily or otherwise. I certainly cannot vote on any issues at hand (good and bad).

I have No right to tell you personally how many people should have been shot or at least put behind bars over these so called peaceful protests in the name of Democracy.

What I can do and is within my power to do so is to vote with “my feet” in 6 months time and peacefully leave Thailand and NEVER return!

I am certain I am not the only foreigner to think this way! I am certain a lot of Thai
People here would be happy to see me and other foreigners leave too!

This is Thailand and it belongs to Thai people (good and bad) and I live by the rule of “if its too hot in the kitchen get out” precisely what I intend to do!

Good luck and God bless you all....
Mac

Discussion 4 : 09/01/2009 at 08:13 AM4
'UDD leaders last week announced they will try to disrupt the summit as part of a campaign to oust Mr Kasit. They claim he is an embarrassment to the country because of his strong and outspoken support for the closing of the two Bangkok airports last month'.

More pertinently, as long as Mr Kasit is part of this government, the credibility and authority of Mr Abhisit as Prime Minister will be zero. Undoubtedly he has been forced by his coalistion partners to take this supporter of PAD's illegal and damaging protests into his government, but surely he must realise that any chance of uniting the people behind his government was floored by this action.

Having sat back and benefitted from PAD's mob tactics he is in a jam as he and his government has no moral authority to tell UDD protestors to back off. And until the street protests end, the chances of Thailand having an effective government and rule of law is zero.
D

Discussion 3 : 09/01/2009 at 06:35 AM3
To All Foriegners who agree with all that has happened for "the good of the country" SHAME ON YOU.

As a foriegner living or just visiting you should be good teachers of Democracy for all Thai's.

You don't destroy the foundation of Democracy, the Constitution, it is all that a nation can stand behind hand in hand. It was, pre-coup, a similar constitution that we free people in UK, France, America, Australia, etc. enjoy. Everything we learned at school in our home countries about Equality, Justice and Freedom revolves around our constitution. We would NEVER allow it to be manipulated for the benefit of one versus the whole.

You don't throw away the two party system which are absolutely essential to a balanced government,

You don't abandon the checks and balances and equal powers between the Electorate, Judiciary, Executive and Military branches. If you don't like your leader wait until the next election and vote someone else in. If your leader did something illegal impeach him, prosecute him as you would all do in your birth countries.

You would never allow any of these things to happen in your birth country. You would NEVER condone it!

Why should you (how can you?) justify any of it here and not be labeled a hypocrite?

Shame on you to say that "Thailands Democracy" is different so this is "acceptable",

Shame on you to change the same principles you grew up with and cherish openly in your birth countries to be so easily abandoned,

Shame on you to justify a military coup! Especially in a country with a fledgling Democracy which just freely elected its first EVER Prime Minister by way of popular vote.
Each and every country post-coup emphatically stated "We do not condone any military coup that usurps the prinicples of Democracy and its freely elected leaders...we wish for Thailand to return, as soon as possible, to its Democratic principles by way of free and open elections...".

Shame on you to offer a future for all Thai's of nothing more than strife, division, polarization and military involvement for the foreseeable future.

One Man One Vote. We have only One Voice, make it count for something.

Be good teachers of Democracy. It is all we have to offer in all this right?
David

Discussion 2 : 09/01/2009 at 06:05 AM2
Let me see if I got this right... The red shirts (aka Thaksin rent a crowd) want Thailand's economy to grind to a halt, then they want a new election. Hmmm seems they are hanging out for some "tea money" to vote Thaksin or his nominees back in. Get real people... get a job or start a business if you want to make money... Thaksin cannot help you anymore, his money has been seized by the UK government because of breach of money laundering laws... He can't get his money back because if he shows the UK government where his money came from it will be apparent that he concealed his assets while PM of Thailand... either way he is finished, which means you guys & gals will be left holding the bag, same as his lawyers who ended up in jail for 6 months... 555

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