Saturday September 19

BANGKOK: Thailand's infamous red and the yellow shirted protesters rallied 560km apart Saturday, one marking the third anniversary of the coup that ousted their leader while another clashed with local villagers along the border with Cambodia.

Several thousand red shirted supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) braved heavy rain at the Royal Plaza near Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's office to demand an end to his 10-month military-backed government.

The gathering, watched closely by thousands of anti-riot policemen and baton-wielding soldiers guarding Abhisit's house and key government facilities, was to mark the Sept 19, 2006 ouster of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"We are here to fight for democracy, the right of the people and we want Abhisit to hand over the power to the people. We are not here to create violence," UDD leader Veera Musigapong said as military and government officials dismissed talks of another coup.

Thaksin's allies won the December 2007 election called by the then military junta, but six months of antigovernment protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) last year resulted in the downfall of his two handpicked prime ministers.

Abhisit, leader of Democrat, secured enough support from smaller parties in Parliament to form a new government and remained the Kingdom's fifth premier in four years, despite conflict with military and coalition partners, as well as within his party.

The government has invoked the Internal Security Act to deal with the protesters, but the real drama unfolded in Si Sa Ket province bordering Cambodia, where thousands of yellow shirt supporters are trying to move to the controversial Preah Vihear ancient temple.

Local media reported that about 4,000 protesters in more than 500 buses, vans and pickups had arrived at the province to march to the Khao Phra Viharn national park where the temple is located.

The report said several hundred local villagers, unhappy with the planned protest, clashed with the yellow shirt supporters as police moved in to disperse the crowd.

The PAD, which blocked Bangkok's two major airports last November and seized the prime minister's office for three months, wants the Cambodian Government to withdraw troops from the disputed area.

Despite the 1962 decision by the International Court of Justice to award the temple to Cambodia, troops from both countries had clashed several times in recent months over the overlapping boundaries. - Bernama

More than 9,000 soldiers and police have been deployed throughout the city

The Red Shirts want current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and hold elections

The putsch of September 19 plunged the kingdom into three years of political turmoil

By Thanaporn Promyamyai (AFP)

BANGKOK — Thousands of red-shirted protesters rallied in Thailand's capital amid tight security on Saturday to mark the third anniversary of a coup against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The putsch of September 19, 2006 plunged the kingdom into three years of political turmoil which shows little sign of ending, with supporters of the exiled Thaksin leading the latest round of protests.

Tensions rose further on Saturday when rival anti-Thaksin "Yellow Shirt" demonstrators clashed with police near an ancient temple on the disputed northeastern border with Cambodia.

In Bangkok, the government imposed a draconian internal security law for the latest "Red Shirt" demonstrations and deployed more than 9,000 soldiers and police to guard key locations.

"We came here today to mark the third anniversary of the coup, which has caused huge damage to the country," Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told the crowd, as a thunderstorm drenched the protest site.

The Red Shirts want current prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to resign and hold elections. Massive anti-government riots in April left two people dead and derailed a major Asian summit.

Police estimated that around 5,000 people had arrived at the protest site by the middle of the afternoon and that more would come for a video or telephone speech by Thaksin scheduled for the evening.

"This will be a peaceful protest and will end by midnight if the government does not use violence," Jatuporn said.

On the Cambodian border, around 5,000 demonstrators broke through barricades and were moving towards the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, the scene of several deadly battles between Thai and Cambodian troops over the past year.

Television footage showed yellow-clad protesters armed with sticks beating local villagers and Thai riot police, who pushed back with shields.

The staunchly royalist Yellow Shirts want the government to push out Cambodian forces from an area around the temple.

The Yellow Shirts helped bring down Thaksin in 2006 and effectively toppled the previous pro-Thaksin government in December when they blockaded Bangkok's airports, but have started to turn their fire on the current administration.

In Bangkok, Abhisit said he had ordered authorities to keep the peace at both protests and said there were reports that unidentified groups of troublemakers could set off bombs in the capital to create unrest.

"I have instructed officials to be aware of inciting incidents and to closely monitor the movements of those groups. I am worried about the situation tonight and have warned intelligence agencies," Abhisit told reporters.

Thailand remains deeply divided between supporters of the twice-elected Thaksin, who are concentrated in rural areas, and his foes in the Bangkok-based power cliques of the palace, military and bureaucracy.

Powerful army chief Anupong Paojinda on Friday denied rumours the military was about to stage a coup against Abhisit, who has been weakened by a recent battle with coalition partners over the new national police chief.

Abhisit is heading to New York at the weekend for the UN General Assembly -- and it was while billionaire Thaksin was out of the country to attend the same event that the military overthrew him in 2006.

The ongoing political chaos has damaged Thailand's image as a tourist-friendly destination and affected foreign investment in an already struggling, export-dependent economy.

Writer: BangkokPost.com
Published: 19/09/2009

National army chief Anupong Paojinda on Saturday called on the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters in Si Sa Ket province not to enter the Thai-Cambodian disputed border as it would be dangerous.

The yellow-shirt PAD vowed to move into 4.6 square kilometres of land around the ancient Preah Vihear temple that is claimed by both countries.

"The army will act in accordance with the government's bilateral negotiation plan. We are now working on it and we will not do anything beyond this course," Gen Anupong said.

"The protesters can say they love the country but going into the disputed area would be dangerous and there could still be landmines," he said.

He said protests can take place if it can help improve the situation.

If the protesters entered into the disputed area, they could be arrested and the Cambodian government would say Thai people were trespassing on its territory. If the Thai government refused to accept the claim, the protesters might not be released, he said.

Gen Anupong also shot down the coup rumours, saying people should stop thinking about them.

"There is no need to stage a coup because we can solve problems through understanding and cooperation. I insist that no one will stage a coup," the army chief said.

An injured demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy is lead away following a clash with local villagers near Sisaket, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on an ancient temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.(AP Photo)

Supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) scuffle with riot police during a march along a highway leading to the 900-year-old Preah Vihear temple, along the Cambodian border September 19, 2009. Hundreds of protesters marched to the disputed Thai-Cambodia area of Preah Vihear to demand for the return of the 11th century temple area to Thailand.REUTERS/Stringer

Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy clash with local villagers near Sisaket, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on a temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.(AP Photo)

Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy clash with Police and local villagers near Sisaket, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on a temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.(AP Photo)

Demonstrators from the People's Alliance for Democracy clash with Thai Police and local villagers near Sisaket, Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on a temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.(AP Photo)

Thai villagers fall on the ground after clashing with protesters, left, as riot police officers try to safe him during a protest against the occupation of land by Cambodian people in Sisaket province, northern Thailand Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Violence broke out as a political group broke through police lines to march to a temple on the Cambodian border and demand the Thai government recover disputed territory.(AP Photo)

Thai riot police officers, foreground, and soldiers, background, block the road leading to a disputed area near the Thai-Cambodian border as protesters, not seen, marching through during a protest against the occupation of land by Cambodian people Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009 in Sisaket province, northeastern Thailand. Hospitals said 15 people were slightly injured.(AP Photo)

A Thai villager fights his way with a knife during clash with protesters, not seen, as riot police officers look on during a protest against the occupation of land by Cambodian people in Sisaket province, northern Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Violence broke out as a political group broke through police lines to march to a temple on the Cambodian border and demand the Thai government recover disputed territory. Hospitals said 15 people were slightly injured.(AP Photo)

RED SHIRTS

Supporters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather in the rain at the royal plaza in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on an ancient temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

A supporter of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra holds up a poster with his portrait during a rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday September 15, giving the military broad powers to control the planned rally on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

A supporter of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra holds up a poster during a rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday giving the military broad powers to control a rally this weekend by supporters of Thaksin on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash

Supportters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather in the rain at royal plaza in Bangkok on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. More than 6,000 police were out in force Saturday in Thailand's capital as anti-government protesters marked the third anniversary of a military coup they say was a major setback for the democratic system. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Supportters of ousted Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather at royal plaza in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. More than 6,000 police were out in force Saturday in Thailand's capital as anti-government protesters marked the third anniversary of a military coup they say was a major setback for the democratic system. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a coup three years ago, gather under umbrellas in Royal Plaza Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand. Demonstrators were gather to mark the anniversary they claimed stalled democracy in Thailand.(AP Photo/David Longstreath)

Soldiers take part in a drill outside Government House in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday giving the military broad powers to control a planned rally this weekend by supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

Soldiers take part in a drill outside Government House in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday giving the military broad powers to control a planned rally this weekend by supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

Soldiers walk into Government House in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday giving the military broad powers to control a planned rally this weekend by supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

Soldiers walk inside Government House in Bangkok September 19, 2009. Thailand's government enacted a tough security law on Tuesday giving the military broad powers to control a planned rally this weekend by supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the third anniversary of the coup that led to Thaksin's ouster. REUTERS/Sukree Sukplang

Preah Vihear has been scene of deadly clashes between Thai and Cambodian troops [EPA]

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Thai "Yellow Shirt" protesters have clashed with police and villagers at an ancient temple in territory at the centre of a dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

At least 15 people were injured in northeastern Sisaket province after members of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) tried to march to the gates of the temple near land claimed by both Thailand and Cambodia, demanding the Thai government seize the disputed territory.

Protesters broke through barricades in attempts to reach the 11th century Preah Vihear temple near the border with Cambodia on Saturday.

Thai riot police used their shields to push back protesters armed with sticks who were trying to beat local villagers.

'Splinter group' blamed

Wayne Hay, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the region, said about 4,000 protesters had descended on the disputed border with Cambodia "to try to force some Cambodian villagers out of the area and back into Cambodia proper".

"There is a Thai police blockade that the PAD broke through with a bit of violence and also about four or five hundred villagers came out to try to stop the PAD from progressing," Hay said.

"There are also some skirmishes. We are hearing that there were several injuries as [protesters] went through that police blockade."

The PAD's leaders in Bangkok had distanced themselves from the protest, saying that a "splinter group" was behind it, Hay said.

Tear gas deployed

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, said security forces were trying to persuade the protesters to back down, amid fears that their actions could spark further conflict with Cambodia.

"I am asking the police and soldiers to negotiate with the PAD," he told reporters in Bangkok.

The temple, granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008, has been the scene of several deadly battles between Thai and Cambodian troops over the past year.

Cambodia said on Thursday it had deployed riot police with dogs, batons and tear gas at the temple.

Deaths in gunbattle

The Yellow Shirts have demanded that the government push Cambodian forces out of the disputed area around it.

The two countries have been at loggerheads for decades over Preah Vihear.

The World Court ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear belonged to Cambodia.

But Thailand retains rights to enter the ancient Khmer temple, which has crumbling stone staircases and elegant carvings.

A gunbattle in the temple area in April left three people dead while four people died in clashes in 2008.

Source: Al Jazeera and agencies

Demonstrators and supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra listen to Thaksin's speech during a rally marking the third anniversary of the coup that overthrown Thaksin from power at Royal Plaza in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on an ancient temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)

Ousted Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seen on a gaint screen as he addresses his supporters from an undisclosed location during a rally marking the third anniversary of the coup that overthrew him from power in Bangkok, Thailand Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Thai nationalists clashed with police and villagers Saturday as they tried to march on an ancient temple on the Cambodian border, while anti-government protesters in the capital marked the third anniversary of a coup that continues to create political turmoil. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)

By GRANT PECK (AP)

BANGKOK — As thousands of demonstrators marked the anniversary of a 2006 coup in the Thai capital Saturday, a rival group of protesters clashed with police and villagers near the Cambodian border, showing the country's long-running political crisis is far from settled.

In the three years since the coup there have been multiple violent demonstrations, court rulings that have purged two prime ministers from power, and massive damage to the tourist industry after protesters shuttered the airports last year.

The country now appears locked in an endless cycle of protest and counter-protest by supporters and opponents of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in the Sept. 19, 2006 coup on accusations of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for the constitutional monarch. Thaksin himself remains in self-imposed exile, able to rally his followers only by phone.

"Thai politics three years after the coup has become more confused, convoluted, and the stakes have increased. There has been no progress, no headway towards reconciliation and reform," Thitinan Pongsidhirak, a political scientist at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University said this week. "The political situation has become more combustible."

The alliance that led demonstrations culminating in the coup tried Saturday to march toward the gates of a temple on disputed land near the Cambodian border, triggering clashes that left 17 people injured, according to local hospitals. The People's Alliance for Democracy demanded that the Thai government recover the territory that is claimed by both countries.

Supporters of Thaksin and pro-democracy activists rallied in Bangkok to mark the coup's anniversary, with more than 6,000 police on hand to prevent a repeat of rioting that killed at least two and injured hundreds in the last major anti-government protests in April.

Saturday's crowd — which drew 20,000 to 30,000 people in Royal Plaza, a major public square — was addressed by Thaksin via video.

"I want to ask people who hate me and those who love me to review the past three years and answer if you have seen anything changed for the better," he said. "Is the economy better? Have people reconciled? How about the people's rights and justice? Have the past three years hurt the country enough?"

Saturday's protesters want current Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to step down, claiming he came to power illegitimately with the help of the military and the judiciary, seen as pillars of the Thai ruling class. Abhisit took office late last year by wooing Thaksin's supporters in Parliament after the former leader's allies were forced out of office by court rulings of conflict of interest and electoral fraud.

Despite early promises, Abhisit has made little effort at effecting reconciliation, with his government frequently castigating Thaksin and his supporters. On Friday, it launched a campaign, the "United and Strong Thai Project," calling on all Thais to sing the national anthem at 6 p.m. daily to promote "unity and patriotism."

Thaksin's supporters, many from poor rural areas that benefited from his social welfare programs, say the coup was a blow to Thailand's democracy and was engineered by the country's traditional Bangkok-centered elite — dubbed the "aristocracy" — who feared losing their privileges if the people in the countryside were empowered.

"I'm here to show I'm against the coup and all undemocratic interventions, it's so backward of our country and everything's become unfair," said Pop Saenplum, a 45-year-old lawyer. "The government should come from the people. The Abhisit administration didn't and it also failed to fix social and economic problems."

Abhisit's government warned that demonstrators might try to stir up trouble, though protest leaders denied they had violent intentions. The government invoked an emergency law earlier this week that would allow the military to restore order, and police were mobilized around the site.

The crowd began to dissipate late Saturday and no major trouble was reported.

Saturday's clashes near the Thai border with Cambodia were linked to a decades-old dispute over land. Cambodia was awarded control over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple in 1962, but Thailand claims a portion of the land.

The People's Alliance for Democracy seized on the land issue last year to stir up nationalist sentiment and attract support, accusing the government of failing to defend Thailand's sovereignty.

Hundreds of Thai villagers who opposed Saturday's protest and hundreds of marchers clashed, both sides armed with sticks, slingshots and other homemade weapons. Police, who were ordered to show restraint, only carried riot shields making it difficult for them to fend off attacks by the alliance's marchers.

Abhisit told the army and police to negotiate with the protesters, who agreed to send a small group near the temple to make their statement on Sunday. The protesters began withdrawing Saturday night under police escort.

Sun, September 20, 2009
By THE NATION ON SUNDAY, AGENCIES
Published on September 20, 2009

Red shirts defy heavy rains to mark third anniversary of coup with peaceful rally; Violence mars yellow shirts' bid to march to disputed area on border with Cambodia

The country was hit by two mass protests yesterday when about 20,000 anti-government red shirts held a rally in Bangkok and thousands of the rival yellow shirts marched towards a disputed border area near Si Sa Ket.

The Bangkok protest was generally peaceful although it was disrupted by a heavy downpour. However, the march by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to a cliff next to the disputed area near the Preah Vihear temple led to a clash between the yellow shirts and local villagers, who said they feared the protest would further sour ties with Cambodia.

The red shirts gathered at the Royal Plaza to mark the third anniversary of the military coup that ousted the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now a fugitive overseas.

"We came here today to mark the third anniversary of the coup, which has caused huge damage to the country," red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan told the crowd as a thunderstorm drenched the protest site.

"This will be a peaceful protest and will end by midnight if the government does not use violence," said Jatuporn, who is also an MP from the opposition Pheu Thai Party.

Thaksin was due to address the crowd later by video-link.

Authorities deployed more than 6,500 soldiers and police and imposed the Internal Security Act in the protest area, amid fears of a repeat of riots by the same group in April, which left two people dead.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said there were reports unidentified groups of trouble-makers could set off bombs in the capital to create unrest. "I am worried about the situation tonight and have warned intelligence agencies," he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security, warned yesterday that four to five groups of trouble-makers might try to incite violence during the red-shirt protest.

The red shirts continued their protest despite hours of heavy rain that flooded the protest site around the Royal Plaza.

Heavy rain started at 2.20pm and the downpour didn't stop till more than two hours later. Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship leaders Veera Musigapong, Nattawut Saikua and Chatuporn Prompan took turns to address protesters on the stage, urging them to stand their ground and not to leave the protest site.

Some protesters who came by their personal vehicles left the scene and some waded through knee-length water at certain spots and found shelter at roofed bus stops.

When the rain stopped, they converged again at the Royal Plaza. They held hands vowing not to give up even if it rained heavier. The back of their main rally stage read: "Three years against bureaucratic polity to found a new Thai state".

More than 100 pieces of plywood were kept behind the stage, ready to be installed if the authorities turned on a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to disrupt their protest.

Sanchai Chadapet, a leader of the red shirts, took to the make-shift stage on a pickup truck loaded with loud speakers after moving on Si Ayutthaya Road to the Si Sao Residence of Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda. He slammed the elder statesman for 30 minutes before an audience of 50 red shirts before dispersing to join the main stage. They carried a 500-metre long cloth with a message "Give us back the 1997 Constitution".

Police threw a security blanket around Prem's residence.

The red shirts accuse Prem of masterminding the 2006 coup.

Earlier yesterday, some 4,000 red-shirt supporters of Thaksin showed up outside Prem's country home in Nakhon Ratchasima but called off their protest when confronted by an Army guard and informed that the chief royal adviser was not there.

By THE NATION ON SUNDAY
SI SA KET
Published on September 20, 2009

Seventeen people were injured yesterday as thousands of protesters from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) clashed with local residents who live near Preah Vihear temple.

A protester from Chachoengsao, Phongsak Ritthichaikul, was hit in the right eye by a stone, while villager Prasert Piewkhao suffered facial injuries after being beaten up.

Teenagers armed with sticks and slingshots attacked the yellow shirts as they marched through their village to Preah Vihear.

Local villagers opposed the PAD protest, as they feared it could spark a war with Cambodia. The villagers have already suffered from the temple being closed, which has cost them income from the lack of tourists. Access to their farms has also been blocked by the military since last year.

The villagers were a similar mob to one that clashed with the PAD in July last year when yellow shirts rallied at the site to oppose the site being nominated for World Heritage listing.

However, thousands of PAD protesters led by Veera Somkwamkid managed to break the police and villagers' barricades in Si Sa Ket's Ban Phumsarol to reach the gate of Pha Mor Ee Daeng, next to Preah Vihear temple.

Veera said the villagers were misinformed about the PAD mission.

"We have come here to demand the removal of Cambodians from the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area," he told reporters after the clash.

The PAD just wanted to enter Pha Mor Ee Daeng to read out their statement. However, they would stay put if the Abhisit government made no clear proposals to evict the Cambodians, he warned.

Si Sa Ket provincial governor Rapee Phongpuphakit had lengthy negotiations with Veera but failed to get the protesters to leave the site.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila yesterday called on the government to ensure safety of the protesters and prevent future clashes with local residents.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in Bangkok, said he did not understand the PAD's intent. "I don't understand what is the purpose behind their protest," he told reporters.

The government had tried to brief the Cambodian government about the PAD protest and begged Phnom Penh to understand the situation to prevent a military clash, he said.

Second Army Region Commander Wiboonsak Neeparn said the protesters would not be allowed to get into Preah Vihear and the disputed area.

The most they would be allowed to do was for some representatives to read a statement at Pha Mor Ee Daeng.