Rally fizzles out amid safety fears

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Rally fizzles out amid safety fears

Boonlert says authorities inciting violence

Published: 24 Nov 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Pitak Siam leader Boonlert Kaewprasit ended his anti-government rally and his own brief political career on a drizzly Saturday afternoon after a day of high drama and scattered violence.

A Pitak Siam protester holds up a tear-gas canister that police had fired near the Makkawan Bridge on Saturday morning.

Addressing an estimated 20,000 supporters from the Royal Plaza stage, he asked them to disperse peacefully.

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wakeup
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Discussion 109 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.41109
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The minute the government fired teargas they lost - no matter how this rally turns out now, the resistance will continue to grow - it is not the last rally. When you are a thug, and you respond with thuggery, you have exposed your weakness - people will sense it and cease upon it.
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Deedy
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Discussion 108 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.37108
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Video of the incident clearly and unarguably shows protesters cutting through the wire, attacking police, and then firing tear gas at the police BEFORE police retaliation. The map included in this article clearly and unarguably shows that Makkhawan Bridge is not the only route to the site, but that it IS one of the main routes to Government House. There are reports that some PS leaders are leading the attacks on police, and Gen Boonlert is reportedly calling army commanders asking for them to step in to "protect" demonstrators. Clearly, the plan went into effect almost instantly and PTP were quite right to prepare as they did.
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android
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Discussion 107 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.37107
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Boonlert guranteed that the rally would be peaceful, or else he would shoulder all the responsibility. It is about time for government's watch centre to endorse the arrest of Pitak Siam group core members including Boonlert for inciting violence in today's rally.
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christhai
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Discussion 106 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.34106
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Mr. Boonlert the world looking at you now !!
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apachepat
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Discussion 105 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.33105
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congratulations to this government in having the foresight to put good security plans in place to allow peacefull demonstration but prevent violent destruction by yellow mob
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whatajoke
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Discussion 104 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.32104
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Title should be; Tensions rise on BP forum'! This was never going to be entirely peaceful, both sides are itching for a fight, a few clashes at a protest is normal, the Govt were well prepared, but their heavy handedness has probably enraged it's opponents even more. They seem to have come off best this time around, but the aim to topple govt, one way or another, remains. It's not usual, btw, for opponents of bad govts in democracies to try and topple them, and lots in Thailand have been toppled in the past without the use of guns and tanks. It's all relative to your point of view.
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Fluxit
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Discussion 103 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.32103
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From what I could see live on TV this morning the truck was driven to about 3 metres from the barricade, was then guided the last 2 metres and then pushed, not driven, very very slowly towards the police. The police at the front could not move back because of the crush of their own colleagues from behind. The truck only moved about 1 metre beyond the original line of the barricades.The canisters that were later thrown were the tear gas cannisters that had landed in the crowd after being fired by the police.
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bluebottle
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Discussion 102 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.29102
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Its shame full this government will not allow a peaceful protest it would appear the reds have infiltrated the rally in order to discredit the whole thing. Stopping people travelling to take part.In a democratic society people have a right to show there thoughts and feelings.There is claverley somthing very wrong with this governments handling of anything it puts it hand to be it Rice,flood management, policing,debt management, Telecommunication,anything where money is involved they would seem to have there grubby hands in it.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 101 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.21101
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Two years ago it was the reds who blocked off the area and directed traffic. This year it is the police, how ironic. Either way, the protesters were told to go around the blockade, protesters should listen to the police to avoid confrontation. Police does not want protesters to walk in front of the in fear of it being taken over, ok that is fair. But by doing so they are directing protesters to walk and block routes that are not closed off, hence effecting traffic.

The police created a bottle neck for protesters to get in and out on purpose to delay them from reaching protest site.
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jacksprat
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Discussion 100 : 24 Nov 2012 at 16.07100
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@discussion 93 - I don't know what video you are watching. It is indeed on youtube, but there are only protestors and policemen on foot. There are no motor vehicles to be seen anywhere. The protestors create an opening through the wire and approach the police line. Then the police use tear gas, some of which is thrown back at them.
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