PRO-THAKSIN RALLY
March 12: 'most worrying day'
By THE NATION
Published on March 5, 2010



It may be declared an extra public holiday


The government's Security-related Situation Monitoring Committee agreed at its meeting yesterday that March 12, when the red shirts plan to gather at six locations around Bangkok, would be the "most worrying" day of their new major activities, a source said.
At the meeting at Army headquarters, the possibility of declaring March 12 an extra public holiday was also raised, according to the source.



During the Songkran festival last April, the government declared some extra public holidays after a road blockade at the Victory Monument and violent protests at other locations in Bangkok turned into riots.



Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, chaired the meeting, which lasted more than three hours. The other participants included Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, permanent secretary for defence General Apichart Phenkitti, armed forces supreme commander General Songkitti Jakkabatra, the commanders-in-chief of the three armed forces, and acting national police chief General Patheep Tanprasert.



Maj General Ditthaporn Supawong, spokesman for the Internal Security Operations Command and for the panel, told a press conference after the meeting the participants expressed concern for the safety and convenience of Bangkok residents.




www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/03/05...ng-day-30123994.html

Red-shirt will set up main stage at Pan Fah Bridge next weekend



Natthawut Saikual, a red-shirt leader, announced Friday that the protesters will set up the main stage at the Phan Fah Bridge on Rajdamnone Avenue when they hold a mass rally next Sunday.


Natthawut said the back of the stage will be the Pom Phrakan fort. He said the protesters will occupy the Rajdamnone Nok and Rajdamnone Nai roads until they reach Sanam Luang and the Royal Plaza.



He said small stages and sound systems will be set up along the road.


www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Red-shirt-...Bridge-30124023.html

sana walang gulo...

In case magkagulo, stay safe everyone.

Malay niyo, Jesus will come habang nagra-riot sila. Eh di sila ang unang matitigok.

Heard the monks are joining the rally, guess their "presence" will help keep the rally safe and peaceful..I mean I just hope.


Let's hope for the best,it's normal for people to stand for what they believe in, whether we agree or not. May the March 14 rally be both peaceful and lawful but would like to anticipate as well that some may take advantage of the situation for personal motives, after all, these times and no matter what happens, people will tend to blame the "reds" directly.

Anyway, be safe and stay away from trouble SPs.

hindi ko na maisuot ang yellow at red kong mga damit!!! tapos may dagdag pa na blue team daw!!!

eugenelucas wrote:
hindi ko na maisuot ang yellow at red kong mga damit!!! tapos may dagdag pa na blue team daw!!!


Govt to impose ISA as PM cancels trip to Australia

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday was granted an audience with His Majesty the King at Siriraj Hospital to report about the current situation.

There was no official word on the meeting, particularly what was discussed, but it was understood that the simmering political situation was included in Abhisit's routine briefing to the King.

His Majesty has stayed in hospital since he was admitted in September last year with a lung infection and fever. He left for the Chitralada Palace on the night of February 27 and returned to hospital a few hours later.

The audience took place just hours after the government announced Abhisit had postponed his trip to Australia. The government also decided to impose the Internal Security Act in a bid to contain the red shirts' mass rally in the capital this weekend.

The decision came after the Security-related Situation Monitoring Committee resolved earlier yesterday to propose to the Cabinet that the Act be imposed from this Thursday until March 23 in Bangkok and certain areas of Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya and Samut Prakan provinces.

When asked about the trip, Abhisit responded: "It has been cancelled." The prime minister was scheduled to make an official visit to Australia from Saturday till next Wednesday.

The prime minister told a meeting of ministry permanent secretaries yesterday that intelligence showed small groups of people would try to cause violence and chaos in a bid to effect political change, according to a Govern-ment House source.

At the meeting organised at the Thailand Cultural Centre, Abhisit instructed the top bureaucrats to step up security measures in their agencies.

The prime minister said the street protests would start this Friday, not on Sunday as had been announced by the red shirt leaders, according to the source.

www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/03/09...iefing-30124223.html

let's all be safe on these days...they said it will last until Sunday..or worst longer...knock on wood..

Let us cross our fingers that the rally may be peaceful and will not paralyze the mobilization in Bangkok.

softrock wrote:
Let us cross our fingers that the rally may be peaceful and will not paralyze the mobilization in Bangkok.

I have the same sentiments as you Ms Softrock.

But I believe the traffic will be mostly affected as this is what usually happens during the past rallies.