Tens of thousands rally against PM, Prem

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Tens of thousands rally against PM, Prem

Published: 8/04/2009 at 10:13 AM
Online news:

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Wednesday in their biggest effort yet to topple Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government, and demanding the resignation of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda

While the protest leaders demanded loudly that Gen Prem step down, their supporters noisely cheered them on with hand-held clappers in the shape of hearts and feet.

Hundreds of riot police formed up in lines inside Gen Prem's compound. Barbed wire was placed at the entrance.

Police estimated at least 60,000 people had joined the rally, but this was nowhere near the figure of 300,000 protest leaders had predicted would turn up.

The red-shirts also massed outside the Government House, also demanding the government's resignation and Gen Prem's departure.

They chanted, "Bring Thaksin back, Abhisit get out!" .

"We came here to expel the government," protest leader Nattawut Saikua told the cheering crowd.

Leaders of the The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) issued a public demand for the unconditional resignation of Mr Abhisit and three privy councillors.

In an afternoon announcement they demanded the prime minister, Gen Prem and privy councillors Surayud Chulanont and Charnchai Likitjitta resign from their positions immediately and without conditions.

The announcement said the country must be governed under the constitutional monarchy and by international standards, with a person who abides by democratic principles and is accepted by society allowed to take responsibility.

Mr Abhisit said he would not quit and warned the protesters there would be a strong reaction if there was any violence.

"The government will act decisively against any provocateurs,'' Mr Abhisit told reporters. "I will not dissolve the house because of violence.''

He said some protesters just wanted to trigger chaos.

"There's a group of people looking to create chaos, but the government will do everything to restrain them,'' he said in an interview on Channel 3 television.

"If there's any rioting, we will have to do something. But I can affirm there will be no violence which starts from the government's side.''

The protest comes a day after red-shirts attacked Mr Abhisit's motorcade following a cabinet meeting in Pattaya, smashing the rear window of his car in a major escalation of tensions.

Protest leaders said they expected thousands more supporters to arrive in Bangkok from around the country on Wednesday for what they have deemed "D-Day" in their effort to push Mr Abhisit to dissolve his four-month-old government and hold elections.

The unrest has prompted mounting speculation that the army could mount another coup, even though Mr Abhisit and his ministers are accused by their opponents of being the military's stooges.

But army commander-in-chief Gen Anupong Paojinda dismissed talk of a coup.

"No matter how the situation deteriorates, we will abide by the law and use no other extra power,'' he said.

Billionaire tycoon Thaksin, who is living in an undisclosed foreign country to avoid a jail term for corruption, said late on Tuesday the protests would mark a "historic day for Thailand''.

"We will come peacefully but we need as many people as possible to show that the Thai people will not tolerate these politics any more," he said in a speech by video-link to supporters outside Government House.

The protesters were reported to be setting up stages at the Royal Plaza, Makkhawan bridge and in front of the residence of Gen Prem, in addition to the stage outside the Government House grounds. Thaksin was expected to make another video link-up to address them on Wednesday evening.

British-born Abhisit came to power in December after a court ruling removed Thaksin's allies from government. The decision came after a long street campaign by protesters claiming allegiance to the monarchy.

The country remains deeply divided between Thaksin's followers among the urban and rural poor, and his foes in the traditional power cliques of the palace, military and bureaucracy.

About the author

Writer: BangkokPost.com, AFP

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Cato the Younger

Discussion 30 : 09/04/2009 at 03:52 PM30
Is it possible to get 100,000 people out on the streets by paying them for a day or two? Yes definitely it is. Even if the numbers are "double" what the police said, it STILL isn't 300,000. These people have no idea why they are sitting out in the hot sun with their crisp, brand new Truth Today red shirts, their professionally printed signs, and their Thaksin smut. Just the fact that they are all calling for a fugitive to serve an illegal 3rd term as PM proves they have no idea of what they are talking about or any grasp on democracy.

With Thaksin's face on the jumbotron 24 hours a day, his family prancing around on stage, everyone in the crowd carrying his picture and chanting his name, all the media outlets from Truth Today, to DTV carrying 24 hour a day Thaksin propaganda, speeches, and musical montages, owned by Thaksin - if you are going to keep telling me this is about democracy and not Thaksin, I'm going to tell you you're an idiot.

He's something else to think about, instead of spending billions on this moronic rally to achieve elections that will just put another crook in office, imagine if he spent it on schools, hospitals, foundations that taught people how to care for themselves instead of looking for money to go vote or attend rallies. In America, we call this "putting your money where your mouth is." Same goes for the PAD, and all the money wasted there. If the government was so bad, they should have spent the money building foundations to replace locally what the corrupt national government was failing to provide.

Its all a game, you are all pawns. Play if it makes you happy, but please don't insult other people's intelligence trying to get us to believe this absolute rubbish about democracy.
Frank

Discussion 29 : 09/04/2009 at 03:11 PM29
So sorry for the Bangkok post , now you are a puppet for the PAD , the rally had at least 500.000 protestors.
It would be more than fare that you write that Thailand needs new elections.
Thailand needs change , let the people speek.
Alexandre Pietsch Lima (Ramadasa)

Discussion 28 : 09/04/2009 at 05:04 AM28
Prem Tinsulanonda was the chair person of the college where I studied hospitality in Bangokok. It is a honor to study under his power. Nowadays, I am a policeman who works in Brazil. Prisioners of all kinds are "my guest" in the State prision where I work. Prem Tinsulanonda is a great man. I always shall be thankfull.
Greg

Discussion 27 : 09/04/2009 at 04:26 AM27
All I know is that Tiger Woods wears red so I guess that they're going to win... *tic*
Jim

Discussion 26 : 09/04/2009 at 04:02 AM26
Enough already! Thailand will never get anywhere changing governments every six months. Why not give the present government a chance!!
Conservative

Discussion 25 : 09/04/2009 at 02:21 AM25
60000 my dear editors of Bangkok Post? Even the police now recognice more than 100 000 protesters alone in Bangkok. Given such a source the numbers are probably double.
Rus

Discussion 24 : 09/04/2009 at 12:37 AM24
Very convenient policy of red-ESTABLISHM mess ... a generation of young people are already beginning to soak up the desire to do nothing and to protest against what they themselves do not understand ... in the meantime, the country is down .. Wake madman!
stevie

Discussion 23 : 09/04/2009 at 12:29 AM23
i really hate those people who say that people in the protest were paid to do this,,,,don't they have anything else to say?
S K

Discussion 22 : 09/04/2009 at 12:12 AM22
Good Good!

Why they support Khun Thaksin?

OK, all of you have to resign because I want peace before I pass away.
Peter

Discussion 21 : 08/04/2009 at 10:54 PM21
Let the Thais make a new election. Phua Thai will win this election. It's ok. But don't let Thaksin to come back to Thailand. Only for the prison. That's ok. If Thaksin comes back to politics ,it will bring a civil war in Thailand. For sure !

1 2 3 Next Last

Cato the Younger

Discussion 30 : 09/04/2009 at 03:52 PM30

Is it possible to get 100,000 people out on the streets by paying them for a day or two? Yes definitely it is. Even if the numbers are "double" what the police said, it STILL isn't 300,000. These people have no idea why they are sitting out in the hot sun with their crisp, brand new Truth Today red shirts, their professionally printed signs, and their Thaksin smut. Just the fact that they are all calling for a fugitive to serve an illegal 3rd term as PM proves they have no idea of what they are talking about or any grasp on democracy.

With Thaksin's face on the jumbotron 24 hours a day, his family prancing around on stage, everyone in the crowd carrying his picture and chanting his name, all the media outlets from Truth Today, to DTV carrying 24 hour a day Thaksin propaganda, speeches, and musical montages, owned by Thaksin - if you are going to keep telling me this is about democracy and not Thaksin, I'm going to tell you you're an idiot.

He's something else to think about, instead of spending billions on this moronic rally to achieve elections that will just put another crook in office, imagine if he spent it on schools, hospitals, foundations that taught people how to care for themselves instead of looking for money to go vote or attend rallies. In America, we call this "putting your money where your mouth is." Same goes for the PAD, and all the money wasted there. If the government was so bad, they should have spent the money building foundations to replace locally what the corrupt national government was failing to provide.

Its all a game, you are all pawns. Play if it makes you happy, but please don't insult other people's intelligence trying to get us to believe this absolute rubbish about democracy.

Frank

Discussion 29 : 09/04/2009 at 03:11 PM29

So sorry for the Bangkok post , now you are a puppet for the PAD , the rally had at least 500.000 protestors.
It would be more than fare that you write that Thailand needs new elections.
Thailand needs change , let the people speek.

Alexandre Pietsch Lima (Ramadasa)

Discussion 28 : 09/04/2009 at 05:04 AM28

Prem Tinsulanonda was the chair person of the college where I studied hospitality in Bangokok. It is a honor to study under his power. Nowadays, I am a policeman who works in Brazil. Prisioners of all kinds are "my guest" in the State prision where I work. Prem Tinsulanonda is a great man. I always shall be thankfull.

Greg

Discussion 27 : 09/04/2009 at 04:26 AM27

All I know is that Tiger Woods wears red so I guess that they're going to win... *tic*

Jim

Discussion 26 : 09/04/2009 at 04:02 AM26

Enough already! Thailand will never get anywhere changing governments every six months. Why not give the present government a chance!!

Conservative

Discussion 25 : 09/04/2009 at 02:21 AM25

60000 my dear editors of Bangkok Post? Even the police now recognice more than 100 000 protesters alone in Bangkok. Given such a source the numbers are probably double.

Rus

Discussion 24 : 09/04/2009 at 12:37 AM24

Very convenient policy of red-ESTABLISHM mess ... a generation of young people are already beginning to soak up the desire to do nothing and to protest against what they themselves do not understand ... in the meantime, the country is down .. Wake madman!

stevie

Discussion 23 : 09/04/2009 at 12:29 AM23

i really hate those people who say that people in the protest were paid to do this,,,,don't they have anything else to say?

S K

Discussion 22 : 09/04/2009 at 12:12 AM22

Good Good!

Why they support Khun Thaksin?

OK, all of you have to resign because I want peace before I pass away.

Peter

Discussion 21 : 08/04/2009 at 10:54 PM21

Let the Thais make a new election. Phua Thai will win this election. It's ok. But don't let Thaksin to come back to Thailand. Only for the prison. That's ok. If Thaksin comes back to politics ,it will bring a civil war in Thailand. For sure !

Tens of thousands rally against PM, Prem