Anti-government activists confirm details of October 14 protest

Crowds are gathering at the Ratchprsong intersection in Bangkok, one of the promised locations for a rally in response to last night’s refusal of the Thai PM to resign. Thousands have already gathered and, if the weather holds out, the numbers will continue to swell as the evening approaches.

Ratchprasong intersection is one of the busiest intersections in the city, right in the middle of the central Bangkok shopping district.

People have crowded the roads at the intersection, with hundreds of onlookers watching from the skywalk that is strung under the BTS tracks. The crowd is building along Ratchdamri Road, in front of Central World. Banners are being prepared on site with demands for the Thai prime minister’s resignation and other calls for action. Some of the banners are being taken from protest to protest, becoming a canvas for thousands of protesters to share their signatures and messages to the Government.

Messages on one of the banners read “We are the people”, “Everyone is a leader”, “Thailand is for the people”, “Police should protect the people”.

Musical performances are planned for this evening as the peaceful rally slowly grows in number. People’s Party and Free Youth merchandise is also being sold, along with the usual assortment of food stalls along the sides of Ratchadamri Road.

Many of the protesters have also mentioned the prospect of pro-royalist protesters turning up but have expressed their hope that the protests to continue peacefully. At this stage, there has been no sign of yellow shirted demonstrators at the site.

There are very few police patrolling the intersection as of 4.45pm, outnumbered at this stage by opportunist motorcycle taxi riders waiting for the conclusion of the rally. First aid, food, safety gear and merchandise are all on hand, much of the assistance from University volunteers.

There has also been a smattering of foreign protesters joining the Thais, also flashing signs of support, in English.

Tomorrow protesters have promised to march from the Sam Ron intersection to the German Embassy, a symbolic march to draw attention to the chosen overseas domicile of a “very important person”.

Many of the key protest leaders remain in jail, refused bail yesterday by the Appeals Court. They are still in residence at the Bangkok Remand Centre

The State of Emergency, forbidding the gathering of any more than 5 people, was dropped last Thursday morning after being in operation for a week.

Some protesters today say they would have been happy to keep defying the State of Emergency and fear that the removal of the emergency provisions could draw out more Royalist rallies with the potential for violent interaction between the two groups.

10pm came and went. Last night’s deadline had been set for the Thai PM to resign. It was never likely to happen, and it didn’t. Protesters yesterday promised that, if the prime minister didn’t stand down, the protests would resume again. 2 protests have now been announced in central Bangkok for today and tomorrow.

PM Prayut was attending Buddhist prayers at Wat Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram in Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. When asked about his response, the 66 year old merely responded “won’t quit”.

“I urge everyone to conciliate and help solve problems together.”

Now protesters say that rallies will resume today and tomorrow.

The Dao Din group, one of many smaller factions that are all operating under the broader Khana Ratsadon 2563 student-led protest movement, including the Free Youth movement, has announced that a rally will be held at Ratchaprasong intersection at 4pm today.

There has also been a gathering announced for a rally at the Sam Yan intersection at 5pm on Monday where protesters will then march to the German Embassy, about 1.5 kilometres away on Sathorn Road, a clear reference to HM the King’s favoured overseas domicile.

Jatupat “Pai Dao Din” Boonpattararaksa, who was released from the Bangkok Remand Prison on Friday. called on protesters to assemble at Ratchaprasong today.

The telegraphing of the 2 events will likely spur police to secure the busy intersections. But, in the past, the protesters have been able to switch venues at the last minute using social media and encrypted message apps to stay one step ahead of the security and police forces.

Tomorrow the 2 houses of the Thai Parliament will meet for 2 day emergency session called on by the speaker of the lower house Chuan Leekpai. Lower house elected MPs will be in session with the hand-picked NCPO-appointed senate. Opposition MPs have voiced concern that there will be no votes following the 2 days of debate and have accused the government of using the emergency session to stall true reform. Votes from the government’s fragile lower house coalition plus the votes from the senate will be able to put down any motions during the session.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

27C with a low chance of rain. That’s what the protesters will be facing after their promise to resume anti-government protests at 10pm this evening if the Thai PM doesn’t accede to their demands for him to resign.

Phatupat Boonpathararaksa, alias Pai Daodin, released on bail from the Bangkok Remand Centre yesterday, announced this morning that speeches will be delivered tonight by a range of protesters focussing on issues relating to the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The protesters have been assembled in Thung Song Hong since last night, although there was a reprieve early this morning when traffic was allowed to pass. Police say the protesters’ occupation of area in front of the Bangkok Remand Prison is illegal and that they must disperse. The protesters have also been demanding the release of 3 other protest leaders that remain detained after losing an appeal for their release earlier this afternoon. the Appeals Court denied their release on the grounds that they “may repeat similar offences if released”.

Parit “Penguin” Chivarak, Panasaya “Rung” Sitthijirawattanakul and Panupong Jardnok, aka.Mike Rayong. were charged with inciting unrest, in accordance with Section 116 of the Criminal Code, and violations of the Archaeological Venues Act (when they embedded a replacement plaque in the Sanam Luang concourse on September 20).

It appears that, after the 10pm deadline passes, there will be fresh protests at many locations around the country.

Earlier this week, following an address to the nation by Prayut Chan-o-cha, the protesters said they would give the PM until Sunday night at 10pm to deliver his resignation. That deadline was shuffled back a day to this evening. No particular reason has been offered for the revised deadline.

Police are now on site out the front of the remand prison and await the announcement of any other protest sites, a system that the protest organisers have been able to keep secret until the last minute.

Meanwhile, Royalist rallies have been held today in Nakhon Sawan, Chiang Mai, Chainat, Loei and Kamphaeng Phet provinces as a deeper polarisation starts to emerge between the two factions. Wearing the trademark yellow shirts (the colour that reprints the Thai King), the demonstrators have pledged their loyalty to the monarch and support for the Thai PM and the current ruling coalition. The pro-Monarchy demonstrators say their providing a balance to the anti-government protests and point out the comments made by the pro-democracy demonstrators and criticisms of the current Thai King.

There now seems a concerted effort to win the ‘numbers’ game and see who can attract the largest numbers to rallies. With parliament being called back to an extraordinary session on Monday and Tuesday to debate the current impasse, there is little doubt that the rallies, from both sides, will continue to ramp up in number and rhetoric in coming weeks.