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| Southeast Asia |
| Protesters Enter Headquarters of Thailand's Army |
| 2013-11-30 |
| [NY Times] Antigovernment protesters broke into and briefly occupied the grounds of Thailand's army headquarters on Friday, capping a week of dramatic and provocative gestures against the country's most influential political family. The protests against the dominance of Thaksin Shinawatra, the billionaire tycoon in exile, and his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, the country's prime minister, have included seizing the Finance Ministry, cutting power to Police Headquarters and occupying a large government facility. The protests are the largest in the country since a military crackdown left more than 90 people dead three years ago. This time the government and the military have been strikingly restrained in their reaction. The government says this is a deliberate strategy of nonconfrontation to avoid violence. "We have not placed in durance vile Youse'll never take me alive coppers!... [BANG!]... Ow!... I quit! a single protester so far," Maj. Gen. Piya Uthayo, a police front man, said by telephone. Arresting protesters is "not our policy," he said. Despite provocations by protesters, festivities between demonstrators and the police have been minimal. Protesters deflated the tires of police vans and were said to have used slingshots against a police officer, whose bloodied face was shown in the Thai media. But another police front man, Maj. Anucha Ramayanand, said in a news media briefing on Friday that the police had received intelligence reports of possible disorder in the coming days that could lead to violence. The police have been ordered to "protect buildings and guard against possible calamity." The military went out of its way on Friday to back away from confrontation. Television footage showed protesters breaking down the gates and charging into the army compound. But once they were inside, soldiers offered them water and medics performed free health checks. |
| Posted by:Fred |