Thailand

Thai protesters give blood for anti-government rally

DrPot — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:15:24 +0000

Anti-government protesters in Thailand today began donating blood to be spilled at the Thai government headquarters in a protest calling for new elections.

Hundreds of demonstrators, wearing red shirts, formed long queues to have their blood taken by nurses after protest leaders pledged to collect enough blood to fill 1,000 standard soft drink bottles for the protest at Government House.

As many as 100,000 protesters converged on the Thai capital, Bangkok, on Sunday to demand that the prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, dissolved parliament by midday yesterday.

Source: Thai protesters give blood for anti-government rally

Freedom under threat in Thailand

Francesca Woodward — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:04:44 +0000

RE: Lese majeste: Giles Ji Ungpakorn

"We wish to express our deep concern at the decision of the Thai special branch to prosecute associate professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn of the political science faculty at Chulalongkorn University, with lèse majesté - that is, with insulting King Bhumibol. Mr Ungpakorn is a well-known commentator on Thai politics widely quoted in the international media...."

Source: Freedom under threat in Thailand

Thais 'leave boat people to die'

DrPot — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:42:29 +0000

Thai soldiers are detaining illegal migrants from Bangladesh and Burma and forcing them back out to sea in boats without engines, survivors say.
Survivors say their hands were tied and they were towed out to sea with little or no food or water.
About 500 migrants are now recovering from acute dehydration in India's Andaman islands and the Indonesian province of Aceh.
Thai officials were not immediately available for comment.

Source: Thais 'leave boat people to die'

Old Etonian become Thai PM

Niall — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 13:00:07 +0000

Mr Abhisit, who is known as "Mark Vejj" to his British friends, was a contemporary of London mayor Boris Johnson at school and university and a year above Tory leader David Cameron. He is Thailand's fourth prime minister this year.

There have been two weeks of furious negotiation for the votes of MPs. There are widespread allegations that the army was responsible for organising or coercing Mr Abhisit's supporters.

Source: Old Etonian become Thai PM

How did Thai protesters manage it?

DrPot — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:33:51 +0000

Claiming victory, the yellow-clad hordes from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rolled up their mats and sleeping bags. They queued for souvenir autographed scarves - yellow of course - from the leaders who had taken them into this astonishing act of insurrection, and boarded buses and pick-up trucks for the ride home..........
How could a country as advanced and as dependent on exports and tourism as Thailand allow such a vital transport hub to be stormed by a mob that never numbered more than a few thousand? What is the PAD, and what gives the movement the confidence to commit its dramatic acts of economic sabotage without fearing any legal sanction?

Source: How did Thai protesters manage it?

Thailand's grievances can be solved without violence

Niluccio — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:11:05 +0000

The yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) occupied Bangkok's two international airports last week in an attempt to bring down the democratically-elected government, preferrably by provoking the police and ultimately triggering a coup d'etat.

Source: Thailand's grievances can be solved without violence

Thai army calls for new elections

fionamc — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:53:22 +0000

The head of Thailand's powerful army has asked the government to dissolve parliament and call new elections.

Gen Anupong Paochinda denied the move amounted to a coup, and called on anti-government protesters to withdraw from Bangkok's international airport.

Source: Thai army calls for new elections

Bangkok protesters fire on rivals

fionamc — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:21:31 +0000

Thai anti-government protesters have opened fire on government supporters during clashes in Bangkok which left at least 11 people injured, officials say.

The incident came after the People's Alliance for Democracy blocked the road to the city's old airport in a renewed attempt to unseat the government.

Source: Bangkok protesters fire on rivals

Former Manchester City FC owner Thaksin Shinawatra banned from Britain - Telegraph

Wily Fox — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:29:15 +0000

The former Thai prime minister and one-time owner of Manchester City has been banned from entering Britain, it has been reported.

Source: Former Manchester City FC owner Thaksin Shinawatra banned from Britain - Telegraph

Thailand pulls back from the brink

Niall — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:22:51 +0100

Cambodia's military says that Thai troops have pulled back from a disputed border zone after its prime minister issued an ultimatum.

There was no immediate Thai confirmation of the reports which came shortly before the Cambodian deadline was due to expire.

Source: Thailand pulls back from the brink

Amnesty Blogs: Belfast and Beyond : One night (not) in Bangkok

Patrick Corrigan — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 19:30:16 +0100

Meanwhile, in Bangkok, over fifty people lay dead. Hundreds more were injured. Thousands more were arrested. There were among the estimated 200,000 who had taken to the streets. It seemed to be Thailand's 'Tiananmen Square' and became known to Thais as 'Black May'...

Source: Amnesty Blogs: Belfast and Beyond : One night (not) in Bangkok

Thai government tries to shut down 400 websites | Media | guardian.co.uk

damianrafferty — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 16:17:32 +0100

Thailand's Information and Communications Technology Ministry sought court orders yesterday to shut down about 400 websites and advised internet service providers to block 1,200 sites it considers a danger to national security or disturbing social order.

Source: Thai government tries to shut down 400 websites | Media | guardian.co.uk

FT.com / World - Thai PM declares a state of emergency

damianrafferty — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:15:02 +0100

The decree banned gatherings of more than five people, declared Bangkok’s inner administrative area “off-limits” to the public, allowed authorities to prevent people from travelling, and said media would be censored if their reporting threatened national security.

“It’s the government strikes back to the extreme,” said Sunai Phasuk of Human Rights Watch. In a nationationally televised press confernece, Mr Samak said the army and police would restore order, and that the emergency rule would only last a few days.

Source: FT.com / World - Thai PM declares a state of emergency