April 2010 : Thailand descended into anarchy Royal admonition to new judges Thailand descended into anarchy Censure motion dropped Can Thaicom contract to be cancelled? Losses due to Red Shirt protest High GDP in Q1 Next year budget deficit 420 billion DSI to investigate plot to overthrow the monarchy Constitutional Court will decide on Democrat Party cases Royal admonition to new judges On 26th April 26, at Siriraj Hospital, His Majesty the King took the oath of 101 judges on their taking office. He reminded them to carry out their duty exactly as they have sworn to do for the sake of peace and justice in the country. He also asked everybody else to perform their duties honestly. Thailand descended into anarchy Throughout April, Red Shirt protests continued in Bangkok and in many provinces in the North and Northeastern regions; causing 30 deaths and almost 1000 injuries. Quantities of weapons were discovered and about 40 grenades used in Bangkok and elsewhere. An anti-Red group started by a few people who disagreed with the protesters grew after they were struck by five M97 grenades on Silom Road. Invaded and terrorised by Red guards, Chulalongkorn Hospital evacuated its patients and suspended out-patient services. Responding to calls by Red Shirt leaders and Thaksin Shinawatra, provincial supporters gathered in Bangkok every weekend and disrupted the city resulting in a small anti-Red group being started by a few academics and businessmen. Threats from Red Shirt leaders and angry confrontation between the two groups made the anti-Reds grew quickly, drawn from a social network via Facebook. The anti-Reds called themselves “Multicolour”. They gathered every afternoon to show their support for the Prime Minister and their opposition against Red Shirt’s demand to dissolve Parliament. On 4th April, arrest warrants were issued for 5 Red-Shirt leaders, Veera Musikapong, Chatuporn Promphan, Nathawut Sai-Kaue, Weng Tojirakarn and Adisorn Paengket. However, the police were not able to execute these warrants and on 5th April, Red Shirt protesters gathered at 11 places all over Bangkok. At the office of the Election Commission, they called for progress on charges of fraud against the Democrat Party, which could result in its dissolution. The next day, their protest at Rajprasong was blocked by anti-riot squads equipped with shields, clubs, tear gas and water cannons. This blocking operation failed and Red Shirts managed to overcome police barricades. That afternoon, two M79 grenades were fired into Democrat Party office, injuring a policeman. That evening in many provinces, hundreds of Red Shirts protesters gathered and threatened to burn down provincial town halls. Early on 8th April, the Red Shirt TV Channel, People Channel, was closed down on government orders. So in the afternoon, a large group of protesters invaded Thaicom satellite station in Pathum Thani's Lat Lum Kaeo district demanding the signal of the People Channel to be re-connected. The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation announced on 9th April, that they would use 7 escalating measures to tackle the situation: leaflets blockade shields and clubs water cannons loud speakers tear gas, and rubber bullets All these measures were applied at Lad Lum Kaew but failed to disperse the protesters. Moreover, troops were forced to retreat leaving their weapons including several M16 rifles in the hands of protesters. Meanwhile People Channel re-started and the blackout was criticized by the foreign press. Three domestic media associations criticized the distortion of information and its use to incite hatred and violence. On 10th April, an operation to persuade Red Shirt protesters to leave the Ratchadamnern Avenue area began at noon with announcements through loud-speakers followed by distribution of leaflets from a helicopter. Later, soldiers fired rubber bullets into the air when they were attacked by a mob of angry protesters. The clash continued until the evening when troops and armoured vehicles blocked roads into the area and launched tear gas from helicopters. The fight intensified as angry protesters fought back with everything they had: bottles, sticks, stones, clubs, and fire bombs. At Rajaprasong, Red Shirt leaders urged protesters to go and join those at Ratchadamnern. When night fell, armed men in black fired on soldiers with M79 grenades and live bullets. The troops had to retreat, with weapons seized from them displayed in Rajaprasong the next day when Red Shirts paraded two of their dead around town. The fight ended with 25 deaths and 863 injuries on both sides. Meanwhile, another operation to reclaim grounds from Red Shirts in the Ploenchit area also failed and police had to fall back. Red Shirt leaders at Rajaprasong announced their victory through their People Channel and ordered protesters in the provinces to torch local town halls if the government tried to disperse them again. On 11th April, their Majesties the King and Queen send their condolences and gave 50,000 Baht each to the families of the dead and injured. Several foreign countries warned their nationals that Bangkok was unsafe. On 15th April, there were C4 bomb attacks at three high voltage electricity pylons in Ayuthaya's Bang Pa-in district and a tank containing aviation fuel in Pathumthani was set on fire by one of two M79 grenades during the night of 20th April. From 14th April, all Red Shirts at Ratchadamnern joined up with those at Rajaprasong to increase pressure on the Government. Meanwhile every evening, a group of Multicolour demonstrated peacefully in support of the Government. Many from the civil society proposed solutions, such as the banning of aggression and provocation. Nevertheless, the attacks by M79 grenades continued, so the Government asked the Department of Special Investigation to look into these incidents as a special case. On 18th April, the Secretary of the Office of the Supreme Patriarch asked Red Shirts to turn their loud speakers away from Chulalongkorn Hospital where His Holiness was staying. On 19th April, the Chairman of the Opposition, Pheu Thai Party, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and former-Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat gave a press conference asking His Majesty to grant them an audience so they could seek His Majesty’s intervention in the conflict. Otherwise, they said, soldiers would kill more citizens. This came out of rumours of another military crackdown. Red Shirt leaders said that their next target would be Silom Road, and if anything happened to them, Reds in the provinces would take provincial Governors as hostages. On 20th April, Red Shirt leaders announced that Silom would not be taken, instead 6 barricades of rubber tires and bamboo stakes would be erected around the Rajaprasong intersection. Cooking gas containers and fire-cracker rockets were placed behind theses barricades. Joint military-police personnel guarded Silom round the clock, not only to protect the business area but also to prevent clashes between Reds and Multicolour. As the stand-off continued, more Red Shirts from the provinces came into Bangkok. In Khon Khaen province, a military deployment was detained at a railway station by a group of Red Shirts who feared soldiers would be used against them in Bangkok. This tactic was repeated elsewhere as Red Shirts set up roadblocks on many highways preventing police and troops travelling to Bangkok. Following Arisman, a Red Shirt leader’s threat to take over their ambulance, the Bangkok Emergency Medical Service's Erawan Centre pulled out of the conflict area. At night, Silom became was a danger zone. Tension rose at night as Reds and anti-Reds were only a street apart and threw missiles at each other. At night of 23rd April, the anti-Reds were temporarily dispersed after five M79 grenades were fired into their area, resulting in a death and 78 injuries. Red Shirt leaders denied responsibility, insisting that their protest was peaceful and non-violent. On 24th April, hundreds of coloured outfits were distributed to protesters in Rajapasong. They stripped off their red shirts and dressed themselves as Multicolour; preferring to be called the National United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) instead. UDD leaders ordered provincial supporters to prevent all police and troops coming into Bangkok, so confrontations and clashes occurred in several places. At the same time, provincial officers failed to keep order and to prevent UDD supporters from joining those in Bangkok. All security personnel, except the Pitsanulok Border Patrol Police, failed to make their way to Bangkok. On 27th April, it was discovered that all CCTV cameras at Skytrain stations around Rajaprasong were covered, so there was no evidence of person/s that put rubber tires on the tracks. It was several hours before the tracks could be cleared and the Skytrain operational again. The military set up a road block on Phaholyothin Highway not far from Bangkok on 26th April; two days later, hundreds of the UDDs led by Kwanchai Praipana clashed with troops there. An exchange of gun fire resulted in many UDD being injured and one soldier shot from a distance by an unknown assassin’s rifle. Later that evening, a motorcycle carrying dozens of M79 grenades was detained nearby; the rider escaped but was arrested later. As the situation deteriorated, several countries advised their nationals not to travel to Thailand. The Office of the Court of Justice described “terrorism” as an act or acts which intentionally threatened the State or caused severe damage or terror to the public or caused danger to public transport or public property or caused severe damage to the national economy. On conviction, the sentence ranges from 3-20 year-imprisonment to life imprisonment and to death. The fine ranges from 60,000 to 1 million Baht. On 29th April, a UDD leader, Payap Panket, with about 200 Red guards believing that there were soldiers in Chulalongkorn Hospital, forced their way into the hospital and searched its two main buildings. Patients, nurses and staff were terrorised. Following this incident, the Hospital evacuated its patients and suspended out-patient services. Her Royal Highness, Princess Sirinthorn asked for the Supreme Patriarch to be moved to Siriraj Hospital where the King was being treated. Censure motion dropped On 29th April, the Opposition, Pheu Thai Party, decided to drop its censure motion against the Prime Minister on the basis that the debate will only endorse the Government’s legitimacy. Prior to this, there were discussions among Pheu Thai members that there was enough evidence for a motion of no-confidence, but the Party changed its mind. Roi Et MP Sakda Kongpetch, suggested that this was because they must support Red Shirt demands for an immediate dissolution to create greater pressure on the Government. If there was a motion, a debate and voting must be completed before Parliament could be dissolved. Moreover, the Opposition realized that with fewer votes than the coalition Government they could not win a motion in any event. Can Thaicom contract be cancelled? On 27th April, the Cabinet asked the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications to consult with the Council of State on the possibility of cancelling the Thaicom contract and to report back to the Cabinet. Article 43 of the Contract stated that for requirements of national security or for the performance of its legal duty, the Ministry can prevent or perform any act that adversely affects the company’s rights. This attempt to cancel the contract arose out of the Red Shirt’s People Channel broadcasting programs that incite violence and unrest via Thaicom satellite. The Government asked Thaicom to cease these programs but they did not. Losses due to Red Shirt protest On 19th April, a meeting was held between the Economic Cabinet and representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the Thai Bankers Association and the Association of Thai Travel Agents, at the compound of the 11th Infantry Regiment. After the meeting, the Vice-Minister to the Prime Minister Office, Putthipong Punnakan, stated that the Red Shirt protest since 13th March has caused great damage to the economy. If the protest continues for another month, losses are estimated at 70,000-1,000,000 million Baht and GDP will drop by 0.3 to 0.5 percent. Prior to this, the Acting Vice President of the FTI, Thanit Sorat, said that following consultations among the private sector, it was estimated that the protest had caused a loss of not less than 35,000 million Baht for the tourist, hospitality and retail industries, from department stores to small traders. The Government announced several short-term measures to help those who affected by the protest. For example, the due date of tax payments including value added tax, corporate income tax, and withholding tax, will be extended to another 60 days. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will also consider extension for collecting the property tax to September. The Government has also cooperated with agencies concerned to help relieve entrepreneurs’ burden by seeking bill payment postponement on utilities such as power and water supplies. In addition, between 5th and 28th May, BMA will provide pedestrian and night markets places at 6-12pm for 1,895 vendors in Bangrak and Pathumwan districts. It will also encourage the Government Savings Bank to extend credit to small operators. High GDP in Q1 The Finance Ministry announced that GDP in the first quarter increased by 8-9% because revenue collection in the first half of fiscal 2010 was more than 675.5 billion Baht or 130 million higher than expected. Thailand came third after China and Singapore in Asian GDPs. In the circumstances, the Cabinet withdrew the Bill currently in the Senate authorising it to borrow 400 billion Baht. However, the current political conflict has affected tourism. The number of passengers passing through Suvarnabhumi Airport each day dropped from 30,000 to 21,000. Next year budget deficit 4200 billion On 27th April, the Cabinet approved the 2011 budget at 2070 trillion Baht which is 370 billion or 21.8 % higher than 2010. The 2011 budget deficit will be 420 billion and expenditures can be broken down into: 1660 trillion current expenditure, 30.346 billion treasury reserves, 344.495 billion investments and 32.5 billion loan repayments State revenue is expected at 1650 trillion in 2011. DSI to investigate plot to overthrow the monarchy On 3rd May, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will investigate the plot to overthrow the monarchy as a special case. The DSI has teamed up with twelve other agencies for investigating the case, comprising of the Office of the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Defence, the Judge Advocate General's Department, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the National Intelligence Agency, the Council of National Security, the Royal Thai Army, the Special Branch Police, the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Central Investigation Bureau, the Provincial Police and the National Police Bureau. In addition, DSI has accepted responsibility for the case concerning the concealment of Thaksin Shinawatra’s shares as charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reason is that this is a straightforward case since the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions had already found Thaksin guilty of asset concealment. DSI anticipates that the case would soon be ready to be referred to the Attorney-General. Constitutional Court to decide on Democrat Party cases On 28th May, Justices of the Constitutional Court have agreed to consider two cases filed by the Attorney-General, they are: the allegation that the Democrat Party received an illegal donation of 258 million Baht and an allegation that they misused 29 million Baht of the political party development fund. After being notified by the Court, the Party has 15 days extendable by another 30 days to submit their defence. The Election Commission (EC) found that the Democrat Party concealed the 258 million donation by hiring an advertising agency to produce public relation posters and that the Party mismanaged and misused political development fund distributed by the EC. Chuan Leekpai, former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Advisory Board of Directors of the Democrat Party, is leading its defence. If the Party is found guilty, the maximum penalty is party dissolution.