A day of chaos as PAD launches decisive act to topple the government

In what was seen as a final act of “do or die”, the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy this morning seized the national television station, laid siege to the Government House and some ministries on the Rajdamnoen Road and blocked major road arteries in the North, Northeast and the South.

PAD core leader Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang announced this morning at Makkawan Rangsan bridge that he is ready to be arrested, saying that if he was arrested it means that the government is defeated.  He also urged the police to release some 80 PAD supporters detained by the police for breaking into the NBT television station, formerly Channel 11 of the Public Relations Department.

About 80 men, thought to be members of the PAD, broke into the NBT television station early this morning and managed to seize control of the station.  Staff members of the NBT were told to leave the office.  The intruders were however arrested by police.  Eventually however, PAD followers laid siege to the station and managed to black out the broadcast. 

About 100 policemen were sent to NBT building compound to control the situation. The police searched and found weapons, including guns and knifes, under the possession of the PAD supporters, who were sent to the border patrol police’s headquarters in Phathum Thani for questioning. Police said the PAD members will face charges of destroying state property, invading state offices at night time without permission and illegally possessing of weapons.

NBT acting director Suriyong Hoontasarn said in a live interview this morning that PAD members wanted to stop operations of NBT and radio Thailand station. He vowed to try his best to continue operations of NBT to provide accurate information to the general public.

In the meantime, about 1,000 PAD supporters, led by core leader Somsak Kosaisuk, are now rallying in front of NBT TV station on Vibhawadi Rangsit road causing heavy traffic congestion in the area. They sealed off the TV station, blocking staff from entering to perform duties.

National police bureau deputy spokesman Pol Maj Gen Surpon Thuanthong said police had tried to negotiate with protest core leaders to open way for traffic flow, but the attempts failed.

Mr Somsak admitted that PAD had sent its “Sriwichai warriors” to seize NBT because the TV station is a national asset by it misused to attack PAD by a pro-government group. He claimed that PAD just wanted to take back the country’s asset.

Afternoon update

PAD protesters move inside Government House compound

Around 100 anti-government protesters climbed into the compound of Government House at about 14:30pm as part of a widespread demonstration to unseat the seven-month-old coalition government, all news web sites reported.

The protesters waved Thai flags and yellow banners representing the monarchy before sitting on the lawn of the Government House compound. Police later opened one of the gates to allow the demonstrators freely into the area.

Top brass: no military coup

Army Chief Gen Anupong Paojinda affirmed that the military will not stage a coup and will leave it to the police to maintain law and order during the massive demonstration by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to press for the government’s resignation, all news web sites reported.

He asked the public not to panic, saying that the military would not intervene.

Lt-Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, commander of the First Army, also said he believed the police would be able to keep the situation under control.  He added that military forces have not been prepared to assist the police.  There will definitely be no coup or bloodshed, Lt-Gen Prayuth said.

Deputy Commerce Minister Pol Lt-Col Banyin Tangpakorn said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ordered the cabinet to shift today’s meeting from Government House, which has been surrounded by PAD protesters, to the Supreme Command on Chaeng Watthana road.

All was quiet at Government House, but traffic around it was particularly heavy since Phitsanulok Road and Ratchadamnoen Avenue were partly closed.

Meanwhile, Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda, who turns 88 today, turned down all requests by military officers and government officials to visit him at his Si Sao Thewes residence to give him their good wishes.

PAD rally at key ministries

From early this morning, PAD members went separately as part of “Operation Thai Khu Fa” to rally at various government offices including the office of the National Broadcasting of Thailand (NBT) television station, Government House and the ministries of Finance, Transport, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Education.

About 1,000 PAD demonstrators gathered at the Finance Ministry.  They included members of the labour unions of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), Nation online reported.

Police put barricades around the ministry and closed all gates.  Some of the PAD protesters then moved to join another rally in front of the nearby Public Relations Department on Rama VI road.

PAD demands release of 80 colleagues arrested earlier

About 500 PAD protesters rallied in front of the Metropolitan Police headquarters late this morning and demanded that their colleagues, arrested earlier for breaking into the NBT, be released, INN online reported.

Eighty PAD members, 78 men and two women, were arrested this morning after they broke into the NBT television station on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road. They have been charged with illegal possession of weapons and drugs, and causing damage to public property.

They have been detained at the Region 1 Border Patrol Police headquarters in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district.

No need to enact emergency decree: Gen Boonsrang

Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit expressed confidence that the police will be able to control the anti-government demonstrations and the situation is not so critical as to enact the emergency decree, Nation Website reported.

Gen Boonsrang said declaring a state of emergency is under the authority of the political branch and if Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej asks about it, the commanders of the armed forces must help think of the best way out of the problem. The supreme commander went on to state that he believes the premier will not impose emergency law because it could worsen the situation.

Manager Online reported at 11:50am that Gen Boonsrang had called a meeting with army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, navy chief Adm Sathiraphan Keyanont, air force chief ACM Chalit Phukphasuk and police chief Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan to assess the situation.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he believes the situation will not escalate and it will end peacefully. The retired general called on the government, the people and the core leaders of People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to exercise patience and turn to talks to find a resolution, according to Nation Website.

INN News Agency reported that Gen Panlop Pinmanee, former deputy director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), insisted that he is not behind the PAD’s anti-government rallies as has been suggested. He said he is now 72 and is too old to get involved in politics.

Development of PAD’s anti-government rallies

Nation Website reported that PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said at the Ministry of Finance that PAD demonstrators will stay overnight at the ministry to pressure Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee to resign. He cited the non-transparent spending of government funds as a reason for the demand.

Dr Surapong refused to pass comment on his ministry being sealed off by PAD supporters, Manager Online reported.

Krasae Hoon (Stock Sentiment) Online reported at 12:24am that PAD demonstrators had cut electricity and water supplies to the national police bureau headquarters.

Manager Online reported that PAD supporters cleared the area in front of NBT the building on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road for the setting up of a rally stage. This means that PAD will use the NBT building as another stronghold to continue rallying against the Samak administration.

The online media outlet went on to report that about 10,000 PAD supporters from 14 southern provinces will this afternoon join forces with their colleagues who are now blocking Phetkasem Road in Chumphon province.

Sunthorn Raklong, PAD coordinator in the South, called on Mr Samak to resign. If the demand is not met, members of his group will close the major bridge in Bang Saphan Noi district, which will block all vehicles from going down to the South or up to Bangkok.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul, coordinator of the Love Thaksin People group in Chiang Mai, said his group will immediately move against any attempts to lay siege to government offices and NBT the television station in the province by PAD supporters, according to INN News Agency.

Call for a halt of the obstruction of NBT’s work

The Reporters Association of Thailand issued a statement calling for PAD core leaders to stop obstruction NBT reporters from performing their duties, INN News Agency reported.

If the PAD considers NBT is biased and to have reported only one side of the story, it can use legal channels against the state-run TV station. The PAD should not laid siege to the NBT television station and black out its broadcasts, as had been done, the statement said. The NBT is a public organisation and the PAD, which has always cited its constitutional rights to stage protests, should also respect the freedom of the press.

The association also called on all media to provide unbiased and accurate information to the public.

Anti-PAD groups gather at Sanam Luang

Quoting Pracha Prasopdee, PPP MP for Samut Prakan and a key leader of the People’s Alliance for the Protection of the Constitution group, Nation Website and Manager Online reported that members of Mr Pracha’s group, the United front of Democracy against Dictatorship and the Saturday People against Dictatorship group gathered at Sanam Luang public ground at noon to assess the situation.

Mr Pracha said it is a peaceful gathering and the members of anti-PAD groups will wait to see how the government deals with PAD demonstrators who broke the law. If necessary action is not taken, there will be a mass gathering of the groups’ members in the evening. The PPP MP called on the government to invoke the emergency decree, citing that people will accept the use of force to crack down on PAD protesters because they created problems to the country.

BMA orders closure of 14 schools

Manager Online reported that the permanent secretary for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Pongsak Semsant had issued an urgent order directing all BMA officials to work 24 hours a day, from today to August 31, in preparation for any emergency cases. The BMA also ordered the closure of 14 schools located in the demonstration areas today for safety reason. The BMA also authorised the directors of these schools to continue cancelling teaching classes, if necessary.

Morning situation

NBT further reported that thousands of PAD supporters are now surrounding Government House, forcing the meeting venue to be shifted to the Armed Forces HQ. It was reported that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has not yet ordered a cancellation of the cabinet meeting.

ThaiPBS reported that Mr Samak had called a cabinet meeting at the headquarters of the Thai armed forces.

Nation Website reported at 9.50am that technical team of PAD is now trying to connect signal of the satellite-based ASTV with NBT in order to have NBT broadcast programmes of ASTV.

Thai PBS reported that Pol Gen Surapon said police are gathering evidences to take legal action against the five key leaders of PAD on charges of trying to overthrow the government.

The deputy spokesman of national police bureau said that police still have capability to control the situation. However, he said an emergency law might be invoked if the situation gets out of control, Manager Online reported at 9.00am.

True Vision cable TV’s TNN Channel and several other TV stations reported at 9.40am that about 1,000 members of PAD in the South have blocked the Petchkasem Road (Highway No 4) at  Khao Prang village Chumphon’s Tha Sae district. The protesters said they will wait for words from their leaders in Bangkok before making further move.

ThaiPBS and Manager Online reported that about 1,000 members of PAD in the four northern provinces of Phichit, Pitsanuloke, Kampaeng Petch and Nakhon Sawan used cars and pick-up trucks to block the Asian highway at Pluag Soong intersection of Phichit’s Vajira Barami district. The highway is the only main road from Bangkok to provinces in the North. Protesters said they want PM to step down.

INN News Agency reported that about 1,000 supporters of PAD in the Northeast blocked Mittraphab Highway at Lamtakong Dam in Nakhon Ratchasima province.

PAD’s “Thai Khu Fah” operation

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said PAD demonstrators will use the “Thai Khu Fah” (the name of Government House building) operation to seize Government House because the Samak administration no longer has legitimacy to run the country, according to Post Today Website.

Mr Suriyasai stressed that PAD will not allow cabinet meeting to take place and will rally at ministries and state office that PAD considers to have operational problems like the ministries of finance and foreign affairs.

Meanwhile, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, chairman of the People’s Assembly of Thailand, said his group’s members will in the same time stage anti-government in several provinces in the Northeast. If there is a final signal from PAD leaders in Bangkok, the members will launch the last operation by seizing provincial halls of every province.

Military monitoring the situation

Nation Website reported that Supreme Commander General Boonsrang Niempradit is chairing a meeting of military commanders to monitor the protests.

Sources said Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej is keeping in contact with the military.  So far, he feels there is no need yet to deploy troops to maintain peace and order.

Army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda said after arriving at the Thai armed forces headquarters this morning that he has closely watched the situation and insisted that there will be no coup. The army chief told Thai people not to panic about the situation, according to Nation Website.

INN News Agency reported that Army Region 1 commander (Central) Lt Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said he was confident that police will be able to control the situation. Gen Prayuth also insisted that there will be no coup. Meanwhile, police chief Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan said police is able to handle the situation.