Student protests in Thailand

[buksida]

The attitude has leaned a lot towards 'foreign' influence driving the protests. Discussing how Thailand has never been colonised and foreigners don't like that. That the students are being manipulated by foreigners. And it's being lapped up.

As if Thailand needs any more anti-foreigner sentiment than it already has.

This is all propaganda coming directly from the junta, who are being influenced by China. Nothing like a bit of state-sponsored xenophobia to rile up the right-wing hardliners.

This sort of bullshit sums it up ...

NOPE, THE CIA ISN’T OFFERING ASYLUM TO THAI PROTEST LEADERS
The American Embassy in Bangkok on Wednesday denied reports that the U.S. spy agency has granted asylum to leaders of the pro-democracy movement in Thailand.

The claim was made by statistics professor Arnond Sakworawich, who accused the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA, of approving the asylum requests for multiple protest leaders and allowing them to flee prosecution in Thailand. The claim was also published as a news article by Nation TV news agency.

“Several Free Youth kids have already applied for asylum in the United States,” Arnond, who teaches at the National Institute of Development Administration, said in his Monday’s Facebook post.

“The CIA approved their application. These kids will be able to spruce up themselves and study with scholarships granted by the U.S. They will probably return and teach at Thammasat in the next five to ten years.”

But a statement released by the U.S. Embassy suggests otherwise. It said any application for asylum in the United States would be processed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or the USCIS.

“Recently, there has been a claim about political asylum in the U.S. which is absolutely false,” the statement wrote. “Such accusations show the lack of understanding in the asylum process, in which the applicant must be in the U.S. in order to apply for the asylum status.”

“Other government agencies in the U.S. may not process the application for asylum.”

Pro-establishment figures often claim that foreign governments are “meddling” in Thai politics and engineering the protests against PM Prayut Chan-o-cha.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics ... t-leaders/

[buksida]

Palace march turns ugly
Authorities on Sunday escalated tensions by using water cannon against the protesters who planned to march to the royal palace to submit a petition to His Majesty the King.

Meanwhile, a network of royalist groups said they intended to submit letters to the prime minister and army chief to call for a power seizure.

The anti-government protesters under the banner of "the People" gathered on Sunday afternoon at Democracy Monument to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a rewritten constitution and reform of the royal institution.

Their leaders did not say where they were heading, although the Free Youth group and affiliates announced that they were going to the Grand Palace near Sanam Luang.

The protesters broke through a police cordon in front of Rattanakosin Hotel before stopping in front of the Supreme Court where three public buses and barbed wire fencing had been deployed to block the roads. A water cannon truck was positioned behind.

Previously the police had issued a warning that the protest group must not enter within a 150-metre radius of the palace and instead send their representatives to talk. Volunteer marshalls tried to keep the protesters about 500 metres away from a police cordon.

However, at 6.20pm the protesters tried to push aside the buses that were impeding their progress to the palace.

After collectively moving one bus aside, they found themselves faced with barbed wire and police vans.

After 10 minutes of escalating tension, the police deployed the water cannon for a minute or two after the rallygoers ignored warnings to halt their march towards the royal residence.

This time the water sprayed from the cannon was not laced with any chemicals, as had been the case during an Oct 16 event, according to members of the protest group that the Bangkok Post spoke with.

Officers then apologised for the use of the water cannon but warned the protesters to keep at least 10 metres away from their cordon.

However, this admission only served to further rile the crowd, who yelled taunts and obscenities as security forces struggled to keep the situation under control.

Many demonstrators then moved to the open space at Sanam Luang while their leaders negotiated with a police team led by Pol Lt Gen Phukphong Phongpetra to end the stalemate.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... turns-ugly

[buksida]

Coup rumors swirl after a chaotic night of protest
Coup rumors were rife in Thailand on Monday after a chaotic night of protests that saw five demonstrators get injured by security forces during a pro-democracy rally.

Protesters gathered at Democracy Monument on Sunday and marched to the Grand Palace to deliver their petitions for reforming the royal institution. They also demanded the ouster of the Prayut Chan-ocha government and a redrafting of the military-backed charter.

The protesters were met by security officials who had parked busses and placed barbed wire to stop demonstrators from entering the royal plaza. The officials also deployed water cannons against the protesters which caused several injuries.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/20499/coup ... f-protest/

[buksida]

Police showed true colours in ugly clashes outside parliament
On Tuesday, clashes between pro-democracy protesters and police continued from mid-afternoon well into the evening. The protesters had marched to parliament to pressure the government to amend the military-backed constitution. They wanted the removal of the military-appointed senate and a true democratic transition for Thailand.

During these clashes, the police deployed water cannons, batons, barbed-wire, riot-shields, tear gas and threatened the use of rubber bullets.

The protesters had rubber ducks, raincoats, motorcycle helmets, and stones.

But while clashes were going on with police on one side of the street in front of parliament, the pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked and provoked by yellow-shirt royalist demonstrators on the other side.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/20881/opin ... arliament/

[STEVE G]

Thai parliament votes on constitutional reform after night of chaos
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/asia ... index.html

"At least two people were shot with live rounds during the protests, police confirmed on Wednesday. Police said one civilian was shot in the hip and a pro-democracy protester was shot in the left thigh.
Four others are believed to have sustained gunshot wounds, but police have not yet been able to talk to them so cannot confirm whether their injuries are from live rounds, according to police spokesman Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai. They are all being treated in hospital."

[buksida]

The photos of school children being carried off on stretchers and rabid yellow shirts, supported by the police and junta, wielding guns is not going to look good internationally - not that Thailand cares.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... -at-rally/

[Big Boy]

As I drove past the Clock Tower earlier this morning, there were Yellow Shirt protestors and police gathering for a march.

[buksida]

Protesters dismiss Prayut’s legal threat, refuse to bow to ‘failed govt’
The “Free Youth” pro-democracy group has urged its supporters not to surrender, after the prime minister declared that “all relevant laws” will be used against protestors.

On Thursday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha warned that the government and security agencies would step up law enforcement to handle demonstrators who act illegally and fail to respect other people's rights and liberty.

The warning came after two days of protest culminated in protesters splashing paint over signs and walls at police headquarters in Bangkok on Wednesday, in retaliation for a crackdown with tear gas and water cannon on Tuesday.

Responding via social media, Free Youth said Prayut’s threat to use “all relevant laws” would include using the lese majeste law against protesters who are calling for a more accountable and transparent monarchy. The police on Thursday confirmed they would use the lese majeste law against protesters if asked to do so.

Free Youth said the PM’s statement also sounded like a declaration of war by the government against the people.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30398241

A very rare article on the subject from this pandering rag ...

[caller]

At least the Government know the World is watching.

Yet another news report about Thailand and it's royalty the other day on ABC Australia and Human Rights Watch are on the ball:

"Thai police unnecessarily used water cannons and teargas against peaceful democracy demonstrators outside the parliament in Bangkok on November 17, 2020, in violation of international human rights standards, Human Rights Watch said today.

At about 2.25pm, police attempted to prevent a demonstration organised by the People’s Movement from reaching the parliament, where a debate on constitutional amendments, including possible reforms to the monarchy, was underway. Human Rights Watch observed crowd control units using water cannon laced with purple dye and an apparent teargas chemical, as well as teargas grenades and pepper spray grenades to disperse thousands of demonstrators, including many students. The dispersal operation continued until the demonstration ended at about 9pm Protests on November 18 proceeded without violence.

On November 18, the spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres “expressed concern about the [human rights] situation in Thailand … it’s disturbing to see the repeated use of less lethal weapons against peaceful protesters, including water cannons … it’s very important that the government of Thailand refrain from the use of force and ensures the full protection of all people in Thailand who are exercising a fundamental peaceful right to protest.”

Fukk story here:

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/protest ... ghts-watch

[Big Boy]

Fukk story here:

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/protest ... ghts-watch

Freudian slip?

[HHTel]

On Thursday, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha warned that the government and security agencies would step up law enforcement to handle demonstrators who act illegally and fail to respect other people's rights and liberty.

Unless you're wearing a yellow shirt of course!

[buksida]

Who'd ave thunk it - the red shirts have joined the students ...

Red shirts join protest with temple fair atmosphere
Anti-government protesters held a light-hearted rally on the western outskirts of Bangkok Sunday afternoon, where they were joined by red-shirted veterans of a 2014 protest at the same site.

About 1,500 people showed up at the latest edition of near-daily anti-government rallies. It took place on Aksa Road at the intersection between Buddha Monthon 3 Road in Bangkok's Thawi Watthana district and Buddha Monthon 4 Road in Nakhon Pathom's Buddha Monthon district.

Police were deployed to keep demonstrators outside the 150-metre radius of the Thawi Watthana Palace.

Protesters on stage once again repeated demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, constitutional changes and reform of the royal institution.

The rally took place at the site of a red shirt demonstration in 2014, and most of the demonstrators appeared to be former members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. They displayed coffins to commemorate comrades killed in previous protests.

Despite the symbolic gravity, the rally had the air of a temple fair and featured comedians along with speakers taking turns to criticise the government and the military.

Nonetheless, organisers said they had formed various groups of "guards" including vocational students to protect protesters from any attacks.

They confirmed that a rally would take place in front of the Crown Property Bureau on Wednesday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/po ... atmosphere

Unlike the students which have been peaceful despite provocation, this lot have and will resort to violence.

[europtimiste]

Even if they have not same purpose, it's a good move. Hopefully soon 10 thousands.

[buksida]

SHOTS FIRED, EXPLOSIVE THROWN AT PROTESTERS; INJURIES REPORTED
Shots were fired by unidentified assailants at pro-democracy protesters as they were leaving their rally at the headquarters of Thailand’s oldest bank on Wednesday night, wounding at least two people.

Eyewitnesses said they heard a loud explosion, followed by 3-4 gunshots, at about 10.45pm, soon after the protest in front of Siam Commercial Bank’s main office concluded. One of the assailants was apprehended while he was trying to run away with others; the rest reportedly managed to flee the scene.

Sombat Thongyoi, one of the volunteer guards who provided security for the protesters, said two people were shot. Both of them were sent to hospital.

“We cannot yet establish whether it was a personal matter or politically motivated,” Sombat said.

Forensic police at the scene said they found traces of bullets; police also said they found a handgun on the man apprehended by the protest guards, though it is unclear as of publication time if it was the same firearm used in the shooting.

A live video by The Standard news agency captured the moment the explosive was thrown at the protesters. It is not immediately confirmed what type of material it was; some reports said a firecracker, others a pipe bomb.

It was the second time in little over a week firearms were used during protests. Just last week, on Nov. 17, gunfire rang out when the guards of the pro-democracy movement clashed with royalists who were gathering close to parliament. Police did not intervene or try to separate the two sides.

Six people were shot, according to the emergency response unit Erawan Center. all of them on the side of the protesters.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... -reported/

Here we go ... and you can guess which side is causing the violence.

[buksida]

Its getting more farcical by the day - first, the junta want to prosecute the students for making spoof yellow duck banknotes, and now the kingdom's largest drink monopoly wants to sue them.

Singha says it will sue protesters for defamation
Boon Rawd Brewery, the parent company of Singha Beer, said that it plans on suing protesters for defamation after social media posts accused the company of aiding security forces in their crackdown on protesters at parliament.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/21180/sing ... efamation/

ACTIVISTS FACE POSSIBLE CHARGES FOR ‘YELLOW DUCK BANKNOTES’
The country’s central bank on Thursday declined to comment on the news that police are set to press money counterfeit charges against activists who distributed mock banknotes at Wednesday’s anti-government protest.

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/cri ... banknotes/

This sort of shit makes Thailand look like a laughingstock ... just as well the rest of the world doesn't give a rats arse what happens here!