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 April 2009 : Riot in Bangkok
Riots in Bangkok and ASEAN summit cancelled A series of riots took place between 9th-14th April, starting from blocking roads, invading the venue of the ASEAN summit in Pattaya, attacking the car of the Prime Minister and burning buses on Bangkok streets. Though the State of Emergency brought peace back to the city, the unrest culminated in the shooting of PAD’s leader, Sondhi Limthongkul. A gathering of demonstrators from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDDT), in front of Government House, started on 25th March, they demanded:
He anticipated that this WAR would be won before the start of the Songkran break between 13th and 15th April. On 9th April, demonstrators spread out to other parts of Bangkok and taxi cabs started to block roads leading Victory Monument. Traffic in Bangkok was paralyzed. The Government resolved the immediate problem by announcing that 10th April was to be an extra-day holiday, making a six-day long holiday week-end. That night, Thaksin telephoned again telling Bangkok residents to make sacrifice for the sake of the country. In the afternoon of 10th April, a group of taxis and motorcycles closed off the junction of Sathorn-Narathiwat roads. Office workers in the area came out against the demonstrators and chased them away. The demonstration leaders called off the action in Bangkok and asked the demonstrators to go to the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel in Pattaya where the ASEAN Summit +3 +6 was going to be held. Heads of ASEAN states and leaders from China, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand were scheduled to attend the summit there on 11th and 12th April. Early on 11th April, red-shirt demonstrators clashed with those wearing blue-shirts in front of the summit venue causing injuries. The red-shirt leader, Arisman Pongruangrong, demanded the Prime Minister’s resignation. Chaos broke out at 12.45 hours when Arisman and hundreds of red-shirts forced their way into the hotel lobby. The Government had to call off the ASEAN Summit and the Prime Minister announced a State of Emergency for Pattaya. Heads of State and VIP guests had to be evacuated from the hotel by helicopters and boats. After which the red-shirts returned to Bangkok and the State of Emergency in Pattaya was lifted that night. Early the next day, the police took Arisman in for an investigation. This caused the red-shirts to gather and demanded his release. At 13.00 hours, at the Ministry of Interior, the Prime Minister declared a State of Emergency for the Bangkok Metropolitan Area and its vicinity. But violence broke out when red-shirt rioters forced their way into the ministerial compound searching for the Prime Minister. They attacked his car and that of the Deputy Prime Minister, Suthep Tuaksuban, as drivers were trying to bring them out. Fortunately, the bullet-proof limousines managed to break through the locked iron-gate. Several of the cars including the one for the Minister for the Prime Ministerial Secretariat, Nibhon Promphan, were heavily damaged. Nibhon was injured and taken away by the mob before being released to hospital. After this incident, a few tanks came out of military compounds to guard the streets of Bangkok but they were seized by the red shirts. Similar unrest also occurred in the provinces as the red shirts there seized provincial government offices, closed roads, TV stations and the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. That evening, Thaksin telephoned to thank the red-shirts for their action. It was reported later that there were attempts to set fire to the Bangkok Bank and CP Phokaphan head offices on Silom Road. On 13th April, violence started at 02.00 hours when a M79 machine gun was fired into the Constitution Court building injuring one guard. At 04.00 hours, the red-shirts brought buses to block traffic in the Din Daeng area. Though they were initially dispersed by tear gas, they re-gathered and placed gas trucks in intersections while throwing bombs and burning tires. This threat and others caused local residents to turn against the red-shirts and helped security personnel. That evening people living in the Nang Lerng area came out against the red-shirts, resulting in two deaths and injuries to the residents. Another bus was burnt on Ratchadamnern Avenue while fighting went on in Nang Lerng. There were rumors during the day that many red shirts were shot dead on the streets and taken away by soldiers. That evening, the Ad Hoc Emergency Resolution Committee announced that soldiers used only blanks when firing at rioters and live rounds only when firing into the air. At 19.30 hours a group of soldiers took control of the red-shirts’ television D-Station and terminated its broadcasting. Early on 14th April, troops surrounded and isolated the remaining rioters. At 11.00 hours, 3 leaders of their leaders: Weera Musikapong, Nattavut Saigua and Weng Tojirakarn surrendered. Those who came from the provinces were sent home by bus. Other leaders including Chakrapob Penkae fled; later he told the foreign press that he would continue fighting underground. That night, Thaksin, interviewed by the foreign media, said that many people were shot dead by the troops. On 15th April, there was an official announcement to confirm that no red-shirt was killed while the two deaths at Nang Leang were of local residents. Bangkok went quiet for two days before the last violent incident broke out on 17th April at 06.30 hours. PAD’s leader, Sondhi Limthongkul, was shot by machine guns and grenades on the street. Though his car was hit by hundreds of bullets and one M79 grenade, the three men including Sondhi survived. On 22nd April, a group of MPs asked the House Speaker to convene an immediate session of Parliament to find a resolution to the political crisis. The two Houses convened for two days and resolved, on 30th April, to appoint two committees of 40 members, comprising of 23 MPs, 7 senators and 10 experts. The two committees are:
Budget for 2010 to be reduced On 21st April, after consideration of the current economic crisis and expected public income, the Cabinet agreed to reduce 200 billion baht from the 2010 fiscal budget, or reducing the budget from 1.9 to 1.7 trillion baht, resulting in a 3,500 billion deficit. These are within legal framework and financial discipline. The new figures will be notified to ministries before submitting them to the House. Public debts rose to 40% GDP On 27th April, the Director of the Public Debt Management Office revealed that, at the end of February, public debts rose to 3,598 billion baht, equivalent to 39.93% of GDP, these can be broken down as follows:
Bonus for 1.5 million state officers On 28th April, the Cabinet approved a plan to allocate 6.735 billion baht bonus to all state officers in 289 agencies, including state universities. The plan was proposed by the Office of Civil Servants to increase spending power and boost the economy. This is similar to the 2,000 baht cash checks given out in March to workers under the social security program. It is expected that in May, 5.5 billion baht will be given to operation officers and 1.185 billion baht to executive officers; a total of 1.5 million people will receive an average of 4,000 baht each. In some agencies, depending on internal criteria, the bonus could be as high as 10,000 baht. Officials at risk will get extra pay On 9th April, the regulation concerning extra pay for civil servants working under special circumstances, as defined in the regulation annex, specified that these officials are to get an extra monthly pay of 1,000 - 15,000 baht. “Special circumstances” is defined as being unpleasant, involving hardship, dangerous, austere, and pressurized or exposing to physical risks that might cause illness or lost of organs. In addition, jobs that have a high turn-over rate or require extensive experience in short supply are also included. Public health budget increased to 2,400 baht On 21st April, the Cabinet approved a budget of 89.322 billion baht for the 2010 public health program, in which 84.791 billion baht will be allocated to the 47,239,700 insured persons, making the average expenditure of 2,406.32 baht per person. New HRC named by Senate On 1st May, the Senate in a secret ballot voted for seven new Human Rights Commissioners, they are:
Klong Dan appeal rejected On 30th April, the Supreme Court rejected an application by former Deputy Interior Minister, Wattana Asavahem, to appeal the case involving the purchase of land for waste water treatment plant in Klong Dan Sub-district, Samut Prakarn Province. This means that the case is finally ended without appeal. The Supreme Court Division for People Holding Political Positions decided, on 18th August, to jail Wattana for 10 years. He fled the country shortly before the sentence was pronounced; his penalty will be effective for 15 years. This case is a precedent for cases brought under the Constitutional provision against people holding political positions. They are to be considered final after judgment by a single court, the defendants having with no right of appeal. Government to boost income in southern provinces On 7th April, the Cabinet approved a plan, proposed by a ministerial commission to boost per capita income in 5 provinces: Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun, from 64,000 to 120,000 baht annually. Two other plans were also approved:
Private education offices in southern provinces On 21st April, the Cabinet approved a plan, proposed by the Ministry of Education, to set up Private Education Offices to supervise private education in 5 southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla and Satun. Moreover, 37 educational sub-offices will be set up in every district in 3 provinces: Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, and in 4 districts of Songkhla: Jana, Na Thawee, Sabayoi and Thepa. These offices will be staffed with 982 new positions having a budget of 349.59 million baht. In 2009 Internal Security Operation Command Department (ISOCD) will be the responsible agency, but this will be transferred to the Ministry of Education in 2010. Appraisal for autonomous universities On 28th April, the Cabinet approved an appraisal system for state universities, which are now self-governing or autonomous, so that the Government can regulate budgets and evaluate administrations. Good governance and efficiency will be key criteria. Four authorities who will undertake the appraisal are:
Community Radio to be non-political The Working Group on Community Radio disclosed that a hearing on community radio broadcasting and management criteria will be held on 11th May and a conclusion will be ready for the National Broadcasting Agency by 20th May. It is expected that final criteria will be formally announced within 15-30 days after NBA approval and community radio registrations will begin subsequently. The registered community radio stations will be licensed to broadcast for one year on condition that their frequencies do not interfere or overlap with others'. Moreover, community radio broadcasting is not be used for politics, create public unrest or lèse majesté. Their programs should only contain news or items of local benefit and only non-profit associations or foundations are entitled to be registered. |
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