Army resists declaring a state of emergency
The army has objected to the declaration of a state of emergency. The situation is not serious enough yet. Only when the chaos is widespread and leads to violence will the National Security Council propose to declare a state of emergency.
The possibility of a state of emergency was discussed on Wednesday by the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (which is responsible for the security situation in Bangkok) and yesterday by the army command. It has been agreed that soldiers will advise the police on the deployment of riot police.
The Internal Security Act, a special emergency law, has been in force in Bangkok for two months now, which does not go as far as the emergency regulation. The emergency ordinance requires the deployment of the military in maintaining public order.
The discussion about the state of emergency is a result of the plans announced by action leader Suthep Thaugsuban and the response of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
From January 13, the protest movement will occupy twenty intersections and T-intersections in Bangkok. Threats were also made to cut off water and electricity from the homes of cabinet members and government buildings. Public transport will continue to operate normally. The actions will continue until the Yingluck government resigns and the elections scheduled for February 2 are postponed.
The UDD has announced that it will organize counter rallies throughout the country. Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said yesterday: “We are starting the new year by making January the month of fighting. It will be the month of the final confrontation, but according to the principle of ahimsa (non-violence).' Details are not yet known.
According to political observers, the military's reluctance to get involved has everything to do with the events in 2010. The red shirt riots left 90 people dead and 2.000 injured. The military is under fire for that; action leader Suthep, then deputy prime minister, and then prime minister Abhisit are being prosecuted for murder. In the current conflict, the army prefers to play the role of mediator, a government source said.
Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has asked the authorities responsible for public infrastructure to step up their security measures. He calls the threat to cut off water and electricity a violation of rights.
(Source: bangkok mail, January 3, 2014)
More news later today in News from Thailand. See also Breaking News below News from Thailand from January 2.
Photos: The Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue on November 24. Photo homepage: Red shirt rally on November 29 at the Rajamangala stadium in Ramkhanghaen. Four people were killed in the fighting.
Unfortunately for me, the fun for our booked Thailand holiday is over. Read the news every day and consider just not going if this continues. Rather lose the money than spend a holiday in such a troubled society. It is very sad for all citizens who suffer from these calamities here. Politics…. what a huge clique, not only in Thailand but all over the world.
Dear Anita, I understand your concern but it is not necessary. Go to Chiang Mai or to the islands, you won't notice there. Don't forget that even people living in Bangkok don't notice the protests except for some traffic.
Hi Anita.
Don't worry yourself, and certainly don't let your holiday be ruined.
I just got back (from mid-Novemer to end of December) from Hua Hin.
And there too there is nothing to notice of all this happening.
At the end of November there were also protests in Bangkok, but this city is so immense that you don't even notice the congestion there, as described here before.
So just enjoy your holiday and don't let all these messages drive you crazy.
There are so many beautiful places in Thailand.
Hi Anita, don't worry. Celebrated New Year's Eve with wife with her family in BKK last weekend. Apart from a number of places in BKK, nothing else to notice from the TH politics. Just drove through the city with the car from above BKK, without seeing a single demonstrator. Well, BKK was also on holiday, so many people went to their own family and relatives to celebrate. So you can see how the Thai people themselves stand in it. Not all of them are marching with the fanfare, pardon me: demonstrations, and not all of them are just busy with blockades. In-laws, their and our friends and acquaintances are just back to work, just living their everyday life, and happily looking forward to the next day. It is absolutely not the case that there is a restless society, nor is there a calamity. Just come and eat Pad Thai, and leave politics for what it is! Do it!, I would say. Have fun!
Hi Anita, I do understand your feeling! We will soon be leaving for Thailand for the first time . We review the situation in Bangkok just before we leave. If it is too restless there, we will immediately travel further into the country! But we keep hoping that our days in Bangkok can continue as usual!
Don't forget to buy a good sunscreen
For further advice see my text below which is intended for anita.
jeffrey
Anita,
I also advise you not to worry too much about all the negative messages.
I also just got back from bangkok.
If you don't specifically look it up, you won't notice it.
Last Wednesday I went to Amsterdam on the Zeedijk.
Bought Peking duck for my wife.
That's a scary neighborhood
I can assure you that half an hour walking on the seawall gives me more unrest than walking around bangkok for 10 days.
We are also leaving next week for an organized group tour through Thailand, the first 4 days we will stay in Bangkok. Is this responsible, or are we forced to stay in the hotel for those days.
Not that I'm immediately worried, but I don't want to take any unnecessary risk either.
Ton
@ writer As things stand, the advice is: avoid the 20 protest locations. If new developments occur, we will report this on the blog. See also the travel advice from the embassy. You write: an organized group tour. Surely the guide will inform you about the do's and don'ts?