Thailand Bangkok Censorship and Another Eton Rifle Bloodbath

Websites are blocked by Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or IP address. However, only about 20% of blocked sites are identified by IP; the remaining 80% are unable to be identified at a physical location. Sites identified as being located in Thailand have legal action taken against their operators.

 

Several technologies are employed to censor the Internet such as caching, blacklisting domain name or IP address, or simply redirection to a government homepage. Blacklisting the website is beneficial for this kind of web censorship as the webmasters would be unaware that their websites are being blocked. This measure is said to be used to make websites appear unavailable.

 

Because of the above my articles are either scrambled or unavailable here in Thailand. Certain mainstream outlets are still available but all objective commentary or opposition censored which runs into the thousands now. TV stations of the people or those reporting events objectively have been closed down.

 

 Several reporters critical of the establishment are serving sentences of up to 20 years presently here. I have been fiercely critical of the BBC's coverage of occupied Ireland in the past but I must acknowledge their coverage of events here have generally been reasonably balanced. In the absence of being able publish his articles presently BFClarke a usual anchor here has asked me to publish this on his behalf, to try to describe events exactly, as he has been forced to furnish the links below long with an article that was scrambled last night because of present circumstance.

Latest Update : 3 dead +,  Hundreds injured.

Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, or Seh Daeng, the head of Redshirt security has been shot in the head at the protest site in central Bangkok . He was admitted to Hua Chiew hospital and is receiving an emergency treatment for a gunshot wound where his condition is said to be stable. At least 10 people were also njured in the clashes between the army and protesters near Lumpini Park. Demonstrators threw stones at close circuit television cameras and blockaded the area with steel fences.

 

Immediately after he was shot at Sala Daeng intersection, Seh Daeng was rushed to Hua Chiew hospital. He is still receiving emergency treatment.

 

Snipers carrying weapons and live ammunition moved into position prior to the shooting. Gunfire and loud explosions were heard near the area where the Redshirts are camped out at their protest site in Bangkok. The gunfire started after the 6pm (1100 GMT) deadline set by the government passed without the protesters moving off the scene.

 

Sean Boonpracong a Redshirts spokesperson earlier said, "We believe that this is the beginning of the army plan to crack down on us. We have been prepared for this for a long time,"

 

"We will send out groups to surround these vehicles to prevent them from advancing," Jatuporn Prompan, a protest leader said. "We believe the army will try to crack down this evening or tomorrow morning."

 

Earlier reports said army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda on Wednesday approved "Operation Ratchaprasong" involving 32,000 troops and 120 APCs to seal off the rally site.

 

The government had threatened to cut off power and water supplies to the Rajprasong neighbourhood of Bangkok, where the demonstrators are massed, if the protesters did not disperse by midnight local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday.

 

The Prime minister's spokesperson Korbsak Sabhavsau said,
"It's clear that the red shirts have only verbally accepted to join the reconciliation roadmap but have not agreed to end the protests," In Thai culture a verbal agreement, is very different to a formal written one with an official presence.

 

It is clear that the Redshirts will not back down, that there will be a bloodbath if the army and APCs move in to the protest site. It is likely that marksmen are going to take out the hardcore leaders, as is usual with Eton educated British leadership with protest movements like occupied Ireland and other neo-colonies.

 

 

Earlier in the day, Seh Daeng or Commander Red said in an interview before he was shot,

"I'm not afraid of dying. They've marked my head. If I'm afraid, it is who will lead the Redshirts?. All I have on me is a small pistol and a stick ... ..If anyone comes to arrest me, I can assure you I'll shoot and fight to the end ..... Soldiers are on to me. There are snipers out there. But they'll never get me, I'm a Redshirt security commander-in-chief, I can't fear anything, I will not wear protective armour, such dress would make me feel like one who fears death and would prevent me from leading others who do not have protective clothing."

 

NEWS on The HOUR Link Livestation

 

 

COMMANDER RED

 

 

UPDATE ;

"We will continue to rally here at Ratchaprasong. If the government wants to disperse us, do it tonight and don't wait till tomorrow because we'll fight to the end," Redshirt Leader Jatuporn declared.
He said army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawadipol, also known as Seh Daeng, was now in a stable condition after he was shot in the head. While he was giving the speech, Redshirts were shining spotlights at nearby buildings to prevent snipers from attacking the red-shirt leaders.

 

Link to troops and protesters clash

 

Link to Thailand's red-shirts Staying Power

 

Live event: Unrest in Bangkok - Link

 

 

CRACKDOWN ON THE REDS BANGKOK THAILAND

Latest Update : I dead, I critically injured.

Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, or Seh Daeng, the head of Redshirt security has been shot in the head at the protest site in central Bangkok . He was admitted to Hua Chiew hospital and is receiving an emergency treatment for a gunshot wound where his condition is said to be stable. At least 10 people were also njured in the clashes between the army and protesters near Lumpini Park. Demonstrators threw stones at close circuit television cameras and blockaded the area with steel fences.


Immediately after he was shot at Sala Daeng intersection, Seh Daeng was rushed to Hua Chiew hospital. He is still receiving emergency treatment.

Snipers carrying weapons and live ammunition moved into position prior to the shooting. Gunfire and loud explosions were heard near the area where the Redshirts are camped out at their protest site in Bangkok. The gunfire started after the 6pm (1100 GMT) deadline set by the government passed without the protesters moving off the scene.



Sean Boonpracong a Redshirts spokesperson earlier said, "We believe that this is the beginning of the army plan to crack down on us. We have been prepared for this for a long time,"


"We will send out groups to surround these vehicles to prevent them from advancing," Jatuporn Prompan, a protest leader said. "We believe the army will try to crack down this evening or tomorrow morning."


Earlier reports said army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda on Wednesday approved "Operation Ratchaprasong" involving 32,000 troops and 120 APCs to seal off the rally site.



The government had threatened to cut off power and water supplies to the Rajprasong neighbourhood of Bangkok, where the demonstrators are massed, if the protesters did not disperse by midnight local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday.



The Prime minister's spokesperson Korbsak Sabhavsau said,
"It's clear that the red shirts have only verbally accepted to join the reconciliation roadmap but have not agreed to end the protests," In Thai culture a verbal agreement, is very different to a formal written one with an official presence.



It is clear that the Redshirts will not back down, that there will be a bloodbath if the army and APCs move in to the protest site. It is likely that marksmen are going to take out the hardcore leaders, as is usual with Eton educated British leadership with protest movements like occupied Ireland and other neo-colonies.



Earlier in the day, Seh Daeng or Commander Red said in an interview before he was shot,
"I'm not afraid of dying. They've marked my head. If I'm afraid, it is who will lead the Redshirts?. All I have on me is a small pistol and a stick ... ..If anyone comes to arrest me, I can assure you I'll shoot and fight to the end ..... Soldiers are on to me. There are snipers out there. But they'll never get me, I'm a Redshirt security commander-in-chief, I can't fear anything, I will not wear protective armour, such dress would make me feel like one who fears death and would prevent me from leading others who do not have protective clothing."




NEWS on The HOUR Link Livestation


COMMANDER RED


UPDATE ;
"We will continue to rally here at Ratchaprasong. If the government wants to disperse us, do it tonight and don't wait till tomorrow because we'll fight to the end," Redshirt Leader Jatuporn declared.
He said army specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawadipol, also known as Seh Daeng, was now in a stable condition after he was shot in the head. While he was giving the speech, Redshirts were shining spotlights at nearby buildings to prevent snipers from attacking the red-shirt leaders.

Thailand Voices in the Shadow of Another Military Bloodbath

The Thai Government and military are preparing for another attack on the protesters in Bangkok, Thailand. Their spin doctors are in overdrive preparing the Thai people for another atrocity and have labelled the protesters as terrorists, to legitimize and sanitize another bloodbath.


The Protest site has been designated a danger zone, due to the stockpile of weapons and the "terrorists" congregated in the area claimed Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday.


He said rally organisers admitted, they were supported by "unidentified warriors", who were ready to resort to violence, in order to counter-attack the Army's forces. Last Saturday a number of weapons were stolen from soldiers and might end up inflicting casualties in another round of violence, he added. He said the authorities were trying to restore normality by dislodging the Reds from the Rajprasong area and that they were now prepared to deal with live ammunition fired by the "terrorists" from the red shirts' side.


"Please rest assured that the law will definitely be enforced, in any operations, soldiers and policemen will try to avoid losses or, if that is not possible, to contain the losses within acceptable limits," he added. He said police were preparing to enforce arrest warrants issued against 24 red-shirt leaders.


Natthawut Saikua, one of the 24, said the red shirts were preparing a "welcoming party" if the government cracked down on protesters. "I confirm the red shirts will not waver if the government is to launch a new round of anti-riot operations early next week," he said, adding that the red shirts would not disperse before the dissolution of Parliament.

Red-shirt chief security officer Aree Krainara said he had doubled the number of guards to protect the leaders and the rally site.

Opposition Party political spokesman Prompong Nopparit led surviving relatives of what he said were 30 dead victims to file a police complaint charging the prime minister and other authorities with murder related to last Saturday's "bloodbath".

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan has said the funeral for the victims would be postponed until the completion of legal proceedings. Under Thai law, the bodies must be kept, pending the completion of an investigation into the killings, he said, vowing to bring culprits to justice before the expiry of the statue of limitations in 20 years. He said the red shirts would start 900 legal cases related to Black Saturdays bloodbath.

Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said the Prime Minister has no intention of resigning or dissolving Parliament, to pave the way for a new election. He maintained doing so would damage the country long term.

"If the government still wants to re-take this area, we can do nothing except wait. We have overcome fear. Nothing can scare us anymore," said red-shirt leader, Nattawut Saikuar.


Pressure is still mounting on Thailand's government to stand down with 23 people now dead. The head of the Thai army has called for parliament to be dissolved. The country's election commission says Prime Minister Abhisit's party can be charged with misusing donations.



People in Bangkok Talk



Daung , Bangkok

My husband and I were at the demonstration on Saturday. I had not supported the red-shirt movement before then.

My husband said the soldier's gun had live rounds because there was no adaptor on the barrel
But after the government shut down the People TV station, we were only seeing the government's side of the story on their own channel, so we went to see what was happening. It was peaceful for hours before the trouble started. The soldiers had been sweating in the afternoon sun so we gave them some of our water. We were in the front line.

A helicopter dropped the first tear gas at about 1700, then about two hours later they dropped more. Even with a damp cloth over my face it hurt, especially because I wear contact lenses.
At about 1930 the troops started walking forward. My husband saw one soldier who was on the tank unlock an M16 gun. My husband said the weapon had live rounds because there was no adaptor on the barrel.
Some media reports said the red-shirts had guns too, but it's not true. The soldiers started hitting us, my husband was fighting back.
I saw many people lying on the ground, some were bloody, some were in shock from the tear gas. I had to leave when the tear gas got too much.
I didn't join the red-shirt demonstration to support Thaksin; I joined because I don't like the Democracy Party.I think we should have new elections, but I think the government will try to hold onto power instead.
If the red-shirts choose violence I will not support them any more. We joined them because they are fighting peacefully.


Ekasit Paosila, Bangkok


The news on the ruling party's illegal donations means parliament may have to be dissolved.
I'm not pleased about this. There is no one better qualified to rule than Prime Minister Abhisit; I support him totally. I would rather parliament stayed as it is. The red-shirt mob are causing a lot of problems; they behave as if they own Bangkok.

They always claim to be peaceful and say any bomb-throwing or gun-firing etc is done by someone else.
The weekend events were totally unexpected. I think the protesters were expecting rubber bullets, but the soldiers were certainly not prepared to receive live ammunition.

There is talk about a third party being involved. There is video showing men wearing black with their faces covered carrying machine guns. They were firing from the mob, we presume at the soldiers. Of the 23 people killed, five were soldiers, but many more soldiers are seriously injured in hospital. At the same time, there may have been some people against the red-shirt mob, who were firing from rooftops. I think the majority of people in Bangkok are against these red-shirt gatherings, but I don't know how many would come forward to say so. They are typically non-committal.


Polkrit Thanetjindarat, student, Bangkok

I have supported the red-shirts for three years and am convinced that they fight for real democracy and not just for Thaksin.I support them because the government does not support democracy, Thailand is like a military state now. We would like to see parliament dissolved, and power given back to the people so they can choose their own government by themselves.
Will this happen? I think the government will hold onto power for as long as they can, because they know that if they hold an election, they will lose. It's like they don't dare to listen to the people's voice.

Press and media are controlled by the government; they say the government and the military is right and they don't report how many people died at the weekend. I know 23 people died because I saw this on a private TV station, not the government one. The protesters have the right to protest, but the soldiers have no right to use a gun, even when they're angry. And the government should know not to let them.



Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said he had issued orders for soldiers to be equipped only with shields, batons and tear gas.

"They were unarmed, so some of them were killed," he said.

This conflicts with reports from several reporters who witnessed the atrocity including a BBC journalist who saw soldiers carrying and shooting high velocity guns.

Underneath the propaganda war the bigger picture of the military's defeat and stress is now a major factor.

"There are some divisions in the armed forces," said Prof Surachart Bumrungsuk, a military and politics expert at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "Some units don't want to be involved in such a crackdown, others wanted it to be more assertive.


Human Rights Watch urged the Thai government to keep its promise to set up an independent commission to investigate last weekend's atrocity. Five soldiers and 18 civilians including a Japanese Reuter's cameraman were killed.

All parties should immediately cease political violence, the group said, and the government should hold those responsible accountable. It also called for an end to censorship of a satellite television station, more than 10 radio and television stations, and 36 internet sites.

Military in Thailand Admit Shooting.

Military in Thailand Finally admit Shooting.

The Thai miltary has admitted yesterday, that some of its soldiers fired live rounds at red shirt demonstrators but they are now saying, that it was only to provide cover, for injured soldiers who were retreating, a spokesperson for the Government's Centre for Public Administration in Emergency Situations is claiming.

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd tried to maintain yestersday that they had no choice, after the Army attacked the protesters but to open fire at gunmen hiding among demonstrators, to protect their comrades from more atrocities. He claimed to have soldiers ready to testify to a committee purportedly investigating the atrocity, similar to the Widgery tribunal after Bloody Sunday in occupied Ireland. Widgery's report was later discredited internationally as a whitewash by the British Government and another inquiry which cost almost 300 million dollars set up under a failing peace process, still cannot be published 38 years later because of "security concerns".

The Thai Government, headed by a British born Eton educated, unelected Prime Minister, yesterday released the statement, as public anger grows over the use of violence by government forces during the April 10 atrocity on Black Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand. Video footage, including news coverage by foreign media outlets, show pictures of soldiers firing automatic gunfire, directly into the protesters.

http://www.france24.com/en/20100411-exclusive-france-24-footage-payen-show-soldiers-firing-crowd-riot-clashes-violence-demonstration-bangkok-thailand-crack?page=1 
http://siamreport.blogspot.com/2010/04/sniper-assaassination.html 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHNrn9btDWA

Col Sansern maintained at a news conference yesterday soldiers fired only live rounds for two reasons. They fired into the air to intimidate demonstrators he said and to protect injured soldiers from the advancing crowd. He tried to maintain they fired only one bullet at a time and that they did not switch to automatic gunfire so as to avoid causing more casualties, he maintained.

The Government's spin doctors, showed reporters five video clips of Saturday's atrocity. Just one of the clips showed soldiers firing at demonstrators. In another clip, a red shirt demonstrator was shot in the head from behind, which according to the Government meant the man was not shot by a soldier.

Other clips show protesters saying they saw a civilian wearing a blue shirt firing an explosive from a rooftop, another protester asks, "Has Seh Daeng come to help us?" with footage of protesters attacking a vehicle apparently carrying the injured soldiers to hospital.

Col Sansern said judging from the five video clips he believed protest leaders were aware there was an armed group among the demonstrators. Khattiya, a rebel army specialist who supports the Reds said, "Ronin warriors" fired weapons at soldiers only after the military attacked and fired M16 rifles at demonstrators first.
He said he believed those firing M16 rifles were army snipers. They fired from the rooftops of buildings in the area. "Ronin warriors", were set up by the Red movement, after the 2006 coup,  when they were trained by Seh Daeng.

Bangkok Emergency Medical Service's confirmed yesterday that there were two more deaths from the Black Saturday Atrocity increasing the number of deaths to 23. The latest victims are Pvt Anupol Hommalee, 29, and Napaton Paopanas. Pvt Anupol died of shrapnel wounds to his head, while Napaton died from a gunshot wound to his stomach. They also reported 195 injured civilians and soldiers who are still in hospital, 14 of whom are in a serious condition.

Links to Further Coverage and Analysis http://www.allvoices.com/users/BFClarkeNUJ