Bangkok Breaking News – February 1, 2014

On this page we will keep you informed about Bangkok Shutdown plus related news, such as the farmers' protest. The posts are in reverse chronological order. The latest news is therefore at the top. Times in bold are Dutch time. In Thailand it is 6 hours later.

Common abbreviations

UDD: United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (red shirts)
Capo: Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (body responsible for applying the ISA)
CMPO: Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (responsible body for the State of Emergency that has been in effect since January 22)
ISA: Internal Security Act (emergency law that gives the police certain powers; applies throughout Bangkok; less strict than the Emergency Decree)
DSI: Department of Special Investigation (the Thai FBI)
PDRC: People's Democratic Reform Committee (headed by Suthep Thaugsuban, ex-opposition Democrat MP)
NSPRT: Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (radical protest group)
Pefot: People's Force to Overthrow Thaksinism (ditto)

Foreign Affairs travel advice

Travelers are advised to avoid central Bangkok as much as possible, to exercise vigilance, to stay away from gatherings and demonstrations, and to monitor local media coverage daily of where demonstrations are taking place.

State of emergency

Thirteen government buildings, buildings of state-owned companies and independent offices, including courts, are 'No Entry' for the population. These are Government House, parliament, Ministry of Interior, Chaeng Wattana government complex, Cat Telecom Company on Chaeng Wattana road, TOT Plc, Thaicom satellite station and office, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Ltd, the Police Club.

Twenty-five roads also fall under this prohibition, but that only applies to persons who 'have a tendency to cause trouble'. These roads are: Ratchasima, Phitsanulok and roads around the Government House and Parliament, Rama I, Ratchadaphisek, Sukhumvit from Nana intersection to Soi Sukhumvit 19, Ratchavithi from Tukchai intersection to Din Daeng Triangle, Lat Phrao from Lat Phrao intersection to the Kamphaengphet intersection, Chaeng Wattana road and a bridge, Rama 8, which is occupied by the Dhamma Army.

[The above lists are taken from the website of Bangkok Post; the lists in the newspaper deviated from that. The Emergency Ordinance consists of 10 measures. The above two measures are effective immediately.]

Where should tourists stay away?

• Pathumwan
• Ratchapra song
• Silom (Lumpini Park)
• Latphrao
• Sew
• Victory Memorial

and also at:

• The government complex on Chaeng Wattana Road
• Phan Fa Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Avenue
• Chamai Maruchet Bridge–Phitsanulok Road

The locations are indicated on the attached map:  http://t.co/YqVsqcNFbs

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Pro-election protesters strike back. Symbolically, not literally: they light candles and send white balloons into the air. Pictured is such a gathering at the Don Muang district office with the protesters dressed in white.

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Latest news

– In between: If you start to find the Breaking News depressing, I advise you to pause 3:40 with this divine music: http://youtu.be/4g5Q1p6C7ho

16:01 The army has sent extra soldiers to the Lat Phrao intersection amid concerns about possible violence following the fighting around the Lak Si district office. Six people were injured in the clashes between anti- and pro-government protesters. Elections in Lak Si district have been cancelled.

15:46 The Electoral Council has decided to cancel the elections in the district of Laksi (Bangkok) because the 158 polling stations in the district cannot be supplied. Anti-government protesters have sealed off the district office, where ballot boxes and ballot papers are kept.

15:40 (Even more about the shooting at Laksi) The police have posted photos of the shooting at Laksi on its Facebook page with a request to identify the gunmen. Because the photos are also from a press agency, they cannot be posted here due to copyright infringement.
See: http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/392714/lak-si-gunmen-pictured

– In between: Sex tourists will have to find other entertainment tonight, because the gogo bars in Patpong, Nana and Soi Cowboy will not open tonight. As is customary during elections, no alcohol may be sold the night before as well as on the day of the election.

14:37 The court has approved arrest warrants for three anti-government protesters for disrupting Sunday's primaries. One of them is Issara Somchai, a PDRC leader who is in charge in Lat Phrao, the second is a man known as 'Little Sadam' and number three is a man spotted trying to strangle a voter.

On Wednesday, the court will consider 19 arrest warrants for PDRC leaders. It is the second time that the DSI has tried to get permission to handcuff them. They are suspected of disrupting the elections and violating the emergency ordinance. The first time it involved 16 leaders; later 3 were added.

14:13 (Continued from 10:27) As was to be expected, the fire has exploded around the district office of Laksi. At about 4 a.m., the sound of a bomb exploding was heard and shots fired an hour later. Shots were fired for about half an hour, resulting in six wounded.

Bystanders took cover on a nearby pedestrian bridge as well as in the shopping malls Lak Si Plaza and IT Square Mall. Soldiers were directed to Laksi to assist the police. Around half past seven, peace was restored.

Among the injured is a reporter from the Thai newspaper Daily News and an American photographer. Reportedly, both PDRC and pro-government protesters are said to wear the same color armbands as journalists. The Thai Journalistst Association has urged the PDRC to change the press colour.

10:27 In the Laksi district of Bangkok, tensions are rising between anti- and pro-election protesters. The antis have been camped out at the district office since yesterday to prevent it from being used as a polling place [although central action leader Suthep has said polling places would not be blocked] and the pros have approached them 500 meters away. Women and children were allowed into the office to seek protection in case it comes to matting.

Consultations with the protest leader on the spot, monk Luang Pu Buddha Issara, have yielded no results. Issara told the precinct staff to leave. The building will be locked until Sunday evening and water and electricity will be shut off.

If the situation does not change, the entire constituency 11 cannot vote.

10: 20 Voters in the southern province of Chumphon can stay home tomorrow, because the polling stations remain empty: no ballot boxes, no ballot papers. They are, at least until now, still in a police station and that is surrounded by two thousand demonstrators. The authorities have not been able to change their mind.

Chumphon is one of eight counties with 28 constituencies where the registration of district candidates was blocked by protesters last month. Voters can only vote for a national candidate.

The same problem also occurs in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla. There the post offices are surrounded.

09:19 "Why are the elections unconstitutional?" Prime Minister Yingluck asks that question to opposition leader Abhisit, who claims this on his Facebook page. “What does 'unconstitutional' mean? The elections comply with the 2007 constitution, although it is the result of a military coup. And that constitution – especially the section on elections – has been amended by the [Abhisit] Democratic government.”

"If we don't follow the rules laid down in the constitution, how can we explain it to the international community and how can we lead the country," Yingluck concluded her attack on her political rival.

06:40 Demonstrators, led by action leader Suthep Thaugsuban, are on their way to Yaowarat (China Town). Suthep and other leaders wear a red jacket in connection with the Chinese New Year that started Friday. In China, red represents happiness and prosperity. The 5 kilometer march ends in Lumpini Park.

06:35 Opposition leader Abhisit, who previously kept quiet about whether he will vote tomorrow, announces on his Facebook page that he will not vote. These elections are unconstitutional and do not serve the expected purpose, he writes. So protesters don't have to stop him either. Normally Abhisit would vote in the Swasdee Wittaya school. Abhisit lives in Sukhumvit soi 31. Abhisit's party, the Democrats, is boycotting the elections.

06:26 Australia, New Zealand and Japan have advised their nationals against traveling to Thailand on February 1 and 2, as violence could break out between anti-election protesters and authorities.

A total of 48 countries have issued travel warnings; Laos was the last to advise to avoid Thailand and in particular the areas where the state of emergency prevails as well as the rally locations. Hong Kong and Taiwan warn against travel to Bangkok.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates the damage to the tourism industry at 30 to 40 billion baht.

05:25 Shots were fired at the protest locations Lat Phrao and Chaeng Wattana last night. No one was injured. On Chaeng Wattanaweg soi 10, where demonstrators are staying overnight in front of the district office of Lak Si, a truck carrying banners was hit by eight bullets. In Lat Phrao, six shots were fired from a car traveling on the flyover and a giant firecracker was thrown. Two hours later, shots fired again.

02:39 The blockade of Laksi district office by protesters led by Luang Pu Buddha Issara has not yet ended. The district head has asked the CMPO to negotiate termination with them. The office contains the ballot papers and boxes for the 130 polling stations in the district. They must be delivered on time. The district chief has also asked the army for help.

01:55 Bangkok should, if it is up to the PDRC leadership, become one vast picnic area tomorrow with music and artistic activities à la Montmartre. Voters are not prevented from voting, but through this 'soft approach' they are encouraged to avoid the ballot box.

Would it? Not everyone is convinced of that. Certainly not red shirts, because in the Don Muang district they have been guarding the polling station day and night since Friday for fear that it will be besieged. There is also camping at the district office of Sai Mai.

Big words again from action leader Suthep Thaugsuban: Sunday's rally will be the 'biggest ever'. He asked his supporters last night to take possession of all the streets of Bangkok and park their cars there tomorrow.

Photos: Yesterday, protesters marched from Lat Phrao to Fortune on Rama IX road.

Suthep thought it best that three post offices in the South be besieged to prevent ballot boxes and ballot papers from being delivered to the polling stations. "Flee and do not fight and pray when the authorities come."

Those looking for a free Chinese meal should go to Henri Dunantweg. There, PDRC supporters from Chulalongkorn and Thammasat University hold a huh chi. Visitors sit at a table and are served Chinese snacks. Free food is also distributed on Rama I road, between the Pathumwan and Ratchaprasong intersections.

The square in front of Siam Center changes into the Parisian Place du Tertre. Thai artists sketch portraits of passers-by (provided they stop/sit for a moment). Mock elections are held at Pathumwan intersection with 'ballot papers' on which supporters can write down their thoughts on the election.

01:21 The Emergency Ordinance remains in effect, but the government is not allowed to confiscate goods, supplies and materials owned by the anti-government protesters. PDRC leader Thaworn Senneam thus recorded a defeat and a success in civil court yesterday.

The judge rejected Thaworn's claim that the government plans to use 16.000 riot police to quell the demonstrations. The government has not tried to do that, so there is no reason to impose a coercive measure.

The case is not yet over, however. The judge wants to hear Prime Minister Yingluck, the CMPO director and the police chief on Thursday.