Rally fizzles out amid safety fears

News > Politics

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.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

flippogirl
Post : 170
Send message

Discussion 89 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.4189
Post this to my Facebook
D85, Benkie,

Yeah, that way you can twist anything isn't it.

Truth 2 years ago was that the Dems (AV) knew what was coming and chose not to act until it was too late, and violence was unavoidable.

This time the PT government chose to be pro-active, and issue the ISA. As such the police was cleared to use teargas if needed. There is not such thing as the PT government ordered the use of teargas 'early in the morning'.
It was the protesters not following some simple rules (for reasons only known to themselves) and using force to break through a barrier (where they were supposed to walk around, they were not stopped from joining the ra
Like dislike 46 people liked / 70 people disliked this comment
beer_sing
Post : 257
Send message

Discussion 88 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.3988
Post this to my Facebook
If one cannot win an election, could this be the next move to stay relevant? After all, election historyrecord show unfavorable toward Demo Party.
Like dislike 47 people liked / 67 people disliked this comment
ozinthai
Post : 4
Send message

Discussion 87 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.2587
Post this to my Facebook
Why the double standard by PT Government? When UDD/Red Shirt came to Ratchaprasong The DP Government did nothing to prevent them from forming up and disrupting the nation. This "puppet" government does not even allow the peaceful passage to rally point, WHY?
Like dislike 96 people liked / 40 people disliked this comment
Deedy
Post : 57
Send message

Discussion 86 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.2486
Post this to my Facebook
Pitak Siam group spokesman Air Marshal Watchara Ritthakanee said the group's rally at the Royal Plaza on Saturday and Sunday will be non-violent and that the movement will not move the crowd to Government House or Parliament.

Tul Sirisomwong has said that he will lead protesters to seize Makkhawan Rangsang Bridge (about 50m from the entrance to Government House) from the police.
Like dislike 24 people liked / 40 people disliked this comment
benkie
Post : 30
Send message

Discussion 85 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.1385
Post this to my Facebook
The red shirts have been crying foul about how the Democrat led government dealt with the protests. Let's do a simple recap - they poured blood at a few places, occupied Ratchaprasong, they stormed into the hospital, set up road blocks in the various provinces and intimidated civilians - there were no response from the Democrat government until much later.

The PT government, on the first day of the rally and early in the morning ordered tear gas to be used on the protesters and yet this PT government supports democracy?

Come on Thailand. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Like dislike 111 people liked / 41 people disliked this comment
subcoman
Post : 427
Send message

Discussion 84 : 24 Nov 2012 at 14.0984
Post this to my Facebook
Good start for the peaceful rally : at only 1 pm, 5 policeman injured, 2 seriously wounded, 100 protestors arrested, confiscation of knives, bullets of 38 mm pistol, slingshots, use of nippers to cut barbwires to restricted areas and confrontation with police who continues.
But they all came with those to participate peacefully, they are different. Everybody who comes to peaceful demonstrate have those in his pockets.
Like dislike 45 people liked / 69 people disliked this comment
meme
Post : 1,136
Send message

Discussion 83 : 24 Nov 2012 at 13.5783
Post this to my Facebook
Let's see if the Puea Thaksin regime will pay 7.5 million baht to everyone injured at this rally.
Like dislike 102 people liked / 43 people disliked this comment
whognoz
Post : 10
Send message

Discussion 82 : 24 Nov 2012 at 13.3682
Post this to my Facebook
Welcome to the new rulers of Thailand for the foreseeable future, the Shinawatra Dynasty. Now that family and friends are being installed in all important ministries from Defense to Interior to Agriculture to Police, and farmers votes are being bought with the government's own money, the power base is being solidified. This will ensure "democratic" rule by one family for a long time to come.
Were there not children under 18 at the red shirt barricade which blocked traffic for months in the city heart? Was burning Central and threatening to ignite a gas truck at the first red shirt rally not dangerous. Thais maybe will wake up - too late!
Like dislike 107 people liked / 42 people disliked this comment
homosapien
Post : 63
Send message

Discussion 81 : 24 Nov 2012 at 13.3481
Post this to my Facebook
This is a peaceful protest? Oh yes, as long as a peaceful protest to invoke the military to seize power from the government could be considered 'peaceful'. But I highly doubt that notion. And I think many people find it hard to accept as well. And that's why we're seeing those who support the rally have been keeping parrying this issue all the time, as though it never existed. (That the leader may keep quiet about the issue this time is not enough to justify the rally unless he should explicitly renounce it and apologize to the people.)
Like dislike 40 people liked / 76 people disliked this comment
termsak
Post : 105
Send message

Discussion 80 : 24 Nov 2012 at 13.2980
Post this to my Facebook
Android: "It is time for these commentators to shut their mouths up."

Yup, there you have it all. Red democracy at its best.

Pushed too many buttons?
Like dislike 89 people liked / 30 people disliked this comment