Since 5AM this morning, the People's Alliance for Anarchy decided that by taking over the government house, by taking over certain ministerial offices, the NBT station, and blocking roads all over the country, they can somehow force a democratically elected and royally appointed government to leave office. They also thought that they had the military on their side. However the military learnt a pretty good lesson from what happened after Sep. 19 2006.

The PAA has so far broken more laws than I can count. They have overstepped their boundary this time, and I am glad that they have done so. Now the Thai people can see for themselves who are the real enemies of the state. Who are the ones who refuse to heed the advice of His Majesty for Thai people to reconciliate and live in a harmonious society? Who are the ones instigating constant hatred and trying to provoke the authorities to use force? Fortunately the only force and violence used so far have been from the People's Alliane for Anarchy in trying to seize power from the government. I use the word ANARCHY because that is precisely what it is. What other word could a person use to describe what has happened all day today? People saw with their own eyes the savagery involved in the takeover of NBT station (which has been condemned by Media groups from all over the world). How much more shame must they bring to our beloved country? What will the world think when the see these people breaking down gates, running like mad men and women, yelling and shouting profanities, and taking control of government property without ANY legitimacy?

So far, the government and police have barely taken any action against these criminals. From what I have gathered so far, arrest warrants are being issued for the 6 core leaders of this gang. Over 80 people who stormed NBT this morning have already been arrested and are being interrogated. The Minister of Interior has apparently been given full authority by the Prime Minister to ensure that these anarchists are evicted from the Government House and from any other places they are illegally occupying. I am happy that so far the authorities have not resorted to using violent means to deal with them; let the people witness who the real law-breakers and criminals are. Like I have previously stated, there must be a limit to what these people are allowed to get away with. What happened today is not acceptable by any standards. Khun Sonthi Limthongkul annouced that him and his goons have "won" but so far but I am unable to see what good they have achieved. Perhaps they have succeeded in making Thai people look like uncivilized and uneducated hooligans; or maybe they succeeded at showing peace-loving and law-abiding Thais what it means to break the law and behave like criminals.

Having said all that, I hope that things return to normal soon. If the government is to be kicked out, it must be through constitutional means i.e. through the courts of law, through parliament, through an election. An elected government must never be kicked out by thugs who think they can do what they want and get away with it. If the government resigns tomorrow, what kind of precedent will it be setting? To tell the future generations that all you have to do is gather some folks, storm government-run buildings, and take control? The right precedent to set right now is for every single one of these law-breakers to be brought to justice. They must only be allowed bail if they promise not to stage any form of public disturbance until they have been cleared of any guilt through a court of law. Finally, the time has come for every peace loving and law abiding Thai to condemn what the anarchists have done today. Everyone should look at each other, enter into discussions, and move our country forward. Then, and only then, will things be even close to 'normal'.

Maximsilentfoot

Hi Max, thanks for your thoughts on this issue, I will move this thread over to the Talk Thailand Folder

The government needs to put their foot down and put an end to this illegal action by the PAD, their actions are verging in the edge of a coup but at the same time the government needs to allow people to protest peacefully

Thanks for moving it CB, sorry I posted in the wrong section!

You're right, these people need to be dealt with. The gov. has in fact been negligent for not dealing with them sooner. Nevertheless the people's rights to a peaceful assembly must be respected, so long as they do not infringe on other people's rights; if anyone reading this still consider yesterday's events as amounting to a peaceful assembly then....well i actually dont know what to say!
cheers.

In any western "developed" country this group would have had the full weight of the police, the Judiciary and the military on them 5 minutes after they entered NBT or blocked the highways. There is little difference between the PAD and the insurrection people in the south. The planning of the overthrow of the government and the implementation of that plan is subversive. Even HM has come out in favor of the PM and his government not once but twice, so much for PAD following HM's words. While everyone should have the right to protest there has to be limits on how far they can go. When a protest affects the currency, the economy, tourism and the working of the government as the PAD protest has done, it has overstepped it's limit.

The police should collect the ID cards of all those involved, not just the leaders and have them surrender themselves in person at the police station to collect them along with a bill for their share of the cost, something like 10,000 Baht, to the public before they get their card back. If you don't have an ID card in Thailand you can't get anything done, drivers license, health care, passport, property registration. These people have to learn that there are consequences to their actions for their 500 Bt a day.

I've also noticed a marked change in the wording of the press and finally they may have figured out they were previously sucked in to the vortex. NBT was their breaking point, they realize they could be next on the hit list.

PAD = People Against Democracy

---

Quote:Criminal Court issues arrest warrants for PAD's nine leadersBy The Nation

They are facing life imprisonment or capital punishment, if convicted.

People's Alliance for Democracy suffered a big blow on Wednesday after Criminal Court decided to issue arrest warrants for PAD's nine co-leaders for their involvement in the raid on NBT TV station and the Government House.

Court made the decision at the request of police that provided the video footages of the incidents.

The warrants cited serious charges, such as inciting crowds to turn unruly, bids to oust the government and intimidate the media, via the NBT raid, and illegally entering government installations, he said.

The nine PAD leaders were Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Suriyasai Katasila, Amorn Amornwattananon and Therdpoom Jaidee.

The four charges are Article 113 of the Criminal Code for treason, Article 114 for conspiracy for incite treason, Article 215 for conspiring with more than 10 people to cause disturbances or physical harms, Article 216 for resisting to disperse when ordered by law enforcement authorities.

If convicted, the nine could face life imprisonment or capital punishment.