Suthep: Govt falls by Sunday

Protest leader Suthep Thuagsuban called for what must be described as a people's coup, telling people to take over virtually all government ministries, police headquarters and key govt businesses.

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The problem for protests leaders, if they are not willing to compromise, is that they have to keep up the pressure or lose. Thus, Friday was another active day, but no one expected what was to come at the Government Complex last evening. Today (Saturday) we see if the rally leaders can actually carry out their ambitious plans.

Sunday

For today's coverage, click here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382533/final-confrontation

Saturday

All the various anti-government forces have now joined together as one group. What is this new group called? Let's start with the Thai.

คณะกก.ปชช.เพื่อการเปลี่ยนแปลงปทท.ให้เป็นปชต.ที่สมบูรณ์อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข: "กปปส."

ก=คณะกรรมการประชาชน
ป=เพื่อการเปลี่ยนแปลง
ป=ประเทศไทยให้เป็นประชาธิปไตย
ส=ที่สมบูรณ์อันมีพระมหากษัตริย์ทรงเป็นประมุข

In English the Bangkok Post translates this as  "People's Committee for Thailand's Absolute Democracy under the Constitutional Monarchy"

That, as we say in English, is a real mouthful and apparently the English name has known been set as
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC)

22:05

What will happen tomorrow? It doesn't look good. The anti-government groups will march from various rally sites in the city to, they say, take over all the important power centres. Meanwhile, red-shirts have arrived throughout the country to fill Rajamangala stadium. We'll be watching.

21:00

The situation near Ramkhamhaeng University has become very serious. The tension had been building for some time as many students were unhappy with the thousands of red-shirt supporters jamming Rajamangala stadium for the past several days.

Today, students went to the Hua Mark police station to deliver a petition alleging that a woman student had been assaulted by a red-shirt supporter. Shortly after, unruly members of the student crowd began attacking passing red-shirts, in one case, tearing off shirts and burning them. Rally leaders were unable to control them. A taxi was then stopped and damaged. Later, in a terrifying incident for those inside, a bus carrying a small group of red shirts was surrounded and pelted with hard objects. At least three people were injured. Two of the passengers were elderly and they were badly shaken by the incident.

The most serious incident just occurred about 30 minutes ago. Gunshots and possible grenades were fired and several people were apparently injured. (Latest: There were injuries, but one student was also shot dead.)

Earlier today, members of the Network of Students and People for Reform were out near police lines today, trying to remove some of the obstacles set up by police in preparation for tomorrow's takeover attempts. This was near the Maruchet Bridge where police threatened to use tear gas if the protesters continued. Although some had gasmasks, they did eventually leave.

17:00

There are lots of rumours going on. First Ekanat Prompan, spokesman for the People's Democratic Reform Committee firmly denies that any of the core leaders have been arrested.

There have also been reports that the Prime Minister's son was harassed by whistle-blowers at Harrow International School. The school has stated no political-related incidents have occurred, but the rumours persist. Ms Yingluck herself said her son was going to school normally, but appealed for people to leave her son out of any political conflicts. I think all should respect her wishes.

An partial internet outage is not a rumour. The CAT internet system is down and its main building is apparently without power. It is not clear if this a malfunction of if it was caused by anti-govenment "vistors". We are still waiting for confirmation from CAT officials. (Latest: People tweeting from the scene said a group of 300-400 protesters were responsible for the outage. For more see @FordAntiTrust @mobilebomb -- if you can read Thai. 17:50 Some electricity has returned and repairs are being carried out. Doesn't seem to be the end of the world for internet users.)

Meanwhile a serious confrontation seems to be taking place outside Rajamangala stadium between anti-government protesters and red-shirts there. This is the big story at the moment and I'll have more later.

16:15

There is much work going on reinforcing defences at many of the government sites on the protesters target list tomorrow.

12:30

The protesters have reached the TOT headquarters where a deputy has welcomed them and politely requested that they do not enter the building.

12:20

11:45

Thousands of red-shirts are reported to be headed to Bangkok in support of government. Estimates from Nakhon Ratchasima alone range from 10,000 - 13,000.

Meanwhile, Sathit Wongnongtoei is announcing the key objectives for tomorrow will be national police headquarters, the Education Ministry and Chalerm Yubangrung's Labour Minister. There will also be 3-4 unannounced targets.

11:40

The first group of protest marchers are, not at CAT or TOT, but are surrounding the nearby DSI headquarters. Meanwhile, at Ratchadamnoen, one core leader Sathit Wongnongtoei, says the first objective is to mobilise as many protesters as possible. This will continue throughout today and tonight, he says.

10:30am Saturday

Opps! There is news, big news. Ekanat Prompan, spokesman for the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), has just said the objective today is to takeover the entire area of the Government Complex, TOT and CAT with the exception of the courts and the army installations. Today will also be a day for mobilising large numbers of protesters for tomorrow's big push – the takeovers of the 10 remaining sites mentioned by Mr Suthep yesterday. Also, in upcountry areas, all provincial halls are being targeted. Latest: Crowds are now being organized to march to TOT and CAT. 10:55. The march has begun. The Democrat's Blue Sky network has live coverage which you can watch on the web at http://tv.ohozaa.com/live/bluesky/

10:00am Saturday

There is very little additional news to report this morning. The rally sites are featuring the standard morning speeches. At Ratchadamnoen, it was a mix of the northeastern and central dialects in apparent attempt to widen the movement which relies heavily on support from Bangkok and the South. There is surprising little security around the government businesses – CAT and TOT – on Mr Suthep's target list. Perhaps this is the calm before the storm. Blue Sky TV has a very slick, dramatic public relations video calling tomorrow the day of victory.

Friday

21:15

Suthep calls for a people's coup. The government must fall by Sunday

Rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban has just called for what is basically a people's coup. He has told protesters to essentially shut down the government by taking over ministries, police headquarters and key government businesses -- starting tonight by taking over the almost the whole Government complex.

This list is hugely ambitions. It includes Government House, the National Police Headquarters, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Ministry of Education, Dusit Zoo where police are stations, the Labour Ministry because  CAPO resides there. Also the Interior Ministry, Commerce Ministry,Foreign Ministry and Government communications businesses CAT and TOT.

18:00

The core leaders of the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD), led by Suthep Thuagsuban have spent much of the day in what were described as "tense" meetings to decide what to do next. We have been alerted that a major announcement should come a bit later tonight.

15:15

Protesters have now left Army headquarters. According to Wassana Nanuam, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha told them to submit their petition in writing and to return peacefully to their base. The army supplied them with water and medical help for those who needed. The protest group at Phue Thai have also left, so it is still peaceful in Bangkok.

That was not the case in nearby Samut Prakan, however, where there was a confrontation between a group of anti-government protesters who went to the provincial hall today and red-shirts who were upset that they did so. The ensuing battle was fought mainly with sticks and water bottles, but police worked hard to keep the two sides apart. It is not yet clear if there were injuries.

13:25

The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand have left their site at Nang Lerng and marched to Army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue where they forced their way in. Army commanders have asked them to stay on the grass. The protesters want assurances from Gen Prayuth that he will distance himself from the government. Our reporter on military affairs, Wassana Nanuam, is there and is sending reports out on twitter (@WassanaNanuam)

12:25

The crowd at Asoke will march to the US Embassy, not Phue Thai.

That is where the Charn Issara crowd is growing and there is a large police presence to keep order. Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has arrived at Asoke, apparently to join the march there. There is a third march scheduled by state enterprise workers who are to leave from the Finance Ministry. The crowds at Ratchadamnoen and the Government Complex are apparently not moving today as leaders plan the next move, which is likely to be a big one. Thai PBS reported that protesters all five stages, those under control of former Democrat MPs and the two other smaller groups will likely move simultaneously tomorrow.

11:30

Reports have come in that protesters are indeed marching towards Phue Thai headquarters, lots of them.

Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo, spokesman for Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has just gone on Channel 11 to voice concerns about possible violence now that rally leaders have announced an escalation in their efforts to oust the government. He pointed particularly to a new stage being set up near the Chamai Maruchet Bridge very near police lines and facing towards Government House. He also said the sand bags being prepared there and elsewhere might be used to help protesters scale walls and get into restricted areas.

10:45

The Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD) now has a twitter account (@CMDThai) and they have just announced that protesters will meet at Asoke and Charn Issara at 11:30pm. At our local market here in Ekamai, they say the target will be Phue Thai party headquarters but that is unconfirmed.

Here are some developments from yesterday and last night. For a summary of yesterday's events with many photos, see here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382098/where-are-we-and-what-next

Suthep spurns talks offer

POST REPORTERS

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban last night rejected out of hand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's dialogue proposal, saying he was not prepared to bargain.

Mr Suthep, who quit as a Democrat MP to lead the Civil Movement for Democracy (CMD), told protesters at the government complex which they laid siege to on Wednesday that he and the demonstrators would not hold talks with Ms Yingluck, the government or any of its representatives.

"Our only goal is that there must be no 'Thaksin regime' in Thailand anymore," he said.

"Thaksin regime" is Mr Suthep and the anti-government protesters' term for the influence of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and his family on Thai politics.

Mr Suthep was responding to Ms Yingluck, who earlier yesterday called on anti-government protesters to stop their demonstrations and end their takeovers of government offices.

She said if this happened, her government would be willing to begin a negotiating forum that could reach solutions acceptable to all parties.

Ms Yingluck said her government was elected under the constitutional monarchy and was authorised to enforce the laws.

Her government, she added, did not want to play any "political games" that would harm the country and that a proposal from demonstrators to create a "people's council" was unacceptable.

"The government is willing to listen to proposals and demands from all groups of demonstrators who are seizing government offices but the demand of the demonstrators for a people's council cannot be realised under this constitution," the prime minister said, referring to Mr Suthep's proposal to establish a people's assembly to "reset" the administration.

But Mr Suthep said a people's assembly could be established under Section 3 of the constitution which stipulates that national sovereign power belongs to the Thai people.

He said the government was illegitimate both legally and practically since it had publicly rejected the power of the Constitution Court and was also not accepted by the people. So he said people should take over power from the administration based on Section 70 of the constitution which stipulates that every person has a duty to uphold the nation, religion and the King.

"Yes, we have no people's assembly now but we will have it soon," he said.

Mr Suthep last night also lashed out at Democrat list-MP and former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij.

He said Mr Korn had expressed his unhappiness and disagreement publicly with the CMD's strategy to occupy the Finance Ministry and other state offices.

"He [Mr Korn] has the full right to disagree with our move and we also have the full right to make our decision," he told the crowd.

"The protesters don't owe Mr Korn anything and Mr Korn has never done us any favours. Mr Korn is not among the protest leaders so we make our own decisions.

"I feel lucky that I did not choose Mr Korn to be a co-leader," he said.

Mr Suthep said he was unhappy with Mr Korn and warned him not to criticise the CMD again otherwise he would "experience trouble in his life".

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