Thai protesters seize key satellite station
Has anyone been following this?
Thailand is in a state of turmoil.
Thailand’s anti-government protesters defied thousands of security forces firing tear gas and water cannon to seize a key satellite transmission station on Friday.
The protesters’ victory at the ThaiCom station on Bangkok’s outskirts in the face of the first use of force by the authorities in the month-long crisis has raised questions about the ability of Abhisit Vejjajiva, the prime minister, to control the escalating conflict.
“We showed the government that we won’t listen to their orders – we can do anything we like,” said Karkaew Pikulthong, one of the demonstration’s leaders.
Some 12,000 red-shirted protesters had gone to the station to demand it restore the signal of the People Channel, the television station that is their main broadcast voice. The government blocked the signal on Thursday, using powers that could be invoked after it declared a state of emergency a day earlier.
The protesters tried to push their way through razor wire, provoking the troops to fire tear gas canisters and use water cannon.
However, in an unexpected development, the troops then withdrew, ceding the field to the protesters and leaving riot gear abandoned in a pond.
The protesters gave up the building voluntarily after the TV signal was restored and returned to their main protest camp.
“This was a very sad day for the nation, but we are not losing hope,” said Panitan Wattanayagorn, Mr Abhisit’s spokesman, who promised the government would continue to try to exert control while maintaining its commitment to non-violence.
Why is the government seeking to censor these protesters?
They don't want violence, but they plan on imposing law and order. What's the difference?
“We will try again tomorrow to impose law and order. We will try again to return the areas to the public, but we need to do it very carefully to avoid conflict,” he said.
The failure of the security forces to hold the line against the protesters will fuel the widespread belief that the highly politicised army, formerly one of Mr Abhisit’s strongest supporters, could be reluctant to follow orders should he eventually try to order troops to use force.
The demonstrators have been campaigning for a month for the resignation of Mr Abhisit. They believe his administration, which came to power in a controversial parliamentary vote 16 months ago, lacks legitimacy and want him to call new elections.
Mr Abhisit has said he will not capitulate to the demands of the mob, but his room for manoeuvre is rapidly narrowing.
He started off with a low-key approach, which he hoped would defuse the tension, but declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after the protesters stormed parliament. The emergency laws ban political gatherings of more than five people, allow the security forces to detain suspects without charge and enable the authorities to shut down or censor the media.
But the protesters do not seem cowed. Mr Karkaew is one of 17 facing arrest and could face a year in jail for leading an illegal gathering.
“I can’t go back home, I’m going to have to stay here,” he said, pointing to a patch of Tarmac at one of the city’s busiest junctions.
The demonstrations now form a pattern. Protests thin out during the day, only to grow at night as the underclass that keeps Bangkok running quits work and dons red T-shirts.
The mob wants the PM to resign, or else. Declaring states of emergency, and attacking protesters is not going to help your case my friend.
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Originally Posted by Triangle
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