From: David Hickmott [DHickmott@uli-atl.com]

Sent: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 10:22 AM

To: David Hickmott

Cc: David Hickmott; David Hickmott

Subject: FW: [Fwd: Update Thailand local situation (5th mail - April 14, 09)]

Dear Valued Unique Customer,

Kindly see the below updates #3, #4, and #5 (latest) regarding the situation in Thailand.

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Dear All  (5th mail - April 14, 09)

herewith the latest situation in Thailand. 

Red-shirts core leader Veera Musikhapong announced an end to the current anti-government protest in Bangkok on Tuesday morning as hundreds of soldiers surrounded the Government House camp where the remaining demonstrators had gathered.

Mr Veera said the leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) agreed to end the rally because they were worried about the safety of the protesters.

"This does not mean that we loose," he told the protesters, some of whom appeared to be angry with the decision.

Weng Tojirakarn, another core leader, said the UDD would continue its opposition to the government  through the international stage.

About 2,000 protesters remained at the only rally site in Bangkok, according to army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

The decision to disband was announced half an hour after Col Sansern said in a nationalised television broadcast that red-shirt protesters blocked traffic at 15 locations in Bangkok early on Tuesday, but soldiers and police were able to control the situation.

"The situation at all locations has eased," Col Sansern said, including Uruphong and Yommarat intersections and Victory Monument.

The protest was now confined to Government House where there about 2,000 protesters, he said.

He said there were two attacks on soldiers in Bangkok overnight. One soldier was seriously wounded.

Two men on a motorcycle opened fire at a military check point near Mahboonkrong shopping centre at 11.30pm on Monday, criticially wounding one soldier. He was being treated at an emergency unit at Police Hospital.

About 2.45am Tuesday a group of men in a pickup fired at soldiers at Thukchai intersection. There were no injuries.

Col Sansern attributed the attacks to "ill-intentioned people trying to create unrest in the country".

rgds/Yong

Dear All  (4th mail - April 14, 09)

herewith the latest situation in Thailand.

Military and police forces tightened their grip on red-clad rioters in inner Bangkok on Monday night after violence escalated dramatically following a pre-dawn crackdown on anti-government demonstrators Sunday.

At least two people were confirmed killed and nine injured after a group of residents clashed with the rioters in Nang Loeng in a show of public dissatisfaction against the protest.

A third man, a United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), reportedly died from his injuries in the army assault on Monday morning.

Altogether, 113 people, excluding those from Nang Loeng, were injured in the pre-dawn joint military-police charge against the rioters who had blocked traffic at Din Daeng and Victory Monument and in later incidents throughout the day.

Soldiers and police, armed with assault rifles, batons, shields and teargas, fired into the air as they advanced towards the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) demonstrators.

The protesters retreated but regrouped at key traffic intersections and countered with petrol bombs, bricks and stones. Officials claimed some of the rioters also possessed firearms.

Some of the rioters burned tyres and commandeered buses, using them to block the streets or rig them to steer driverless towards the soldiers and police. Some of the buses were also burned to prevent the troops from advancing.

The toughest resistance was put up by a group of red-shirt protesters at Din Daeng. They seized an LPG tanker to block the road in front of the Din Daeng apartment community and threatened to blow it up if soldiers tried to disperse them.

It took the police and soldiers close to six hours before they were able to disperse the rioters.

As they retreated towards Government House, their main base, the UDD rioters went on a rampage, leaving a trail of damage to public and some private properties

Apart from setting fire to more buses and tyres, the rioters also reportedly attempted to burn an ATM machine in the Urupong area and threw petrol bombs into the army headquarters and the nearby Education Ministry compound, causing a fire in one of the buildings. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Angered by the rioters' action, some local residents banded together and attacked the protesters to drive them out of their communities. Two residents in Nang Loeng were shot and killed by rioters following a clash between their groups.

PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said soldiers and police were sent to intervene to prevent the situation from getting out of control.

Prime Minister Abhisit insisted no protesters were killed by the government forces in the operation and most of the injuries were from the initial pre-dawn assault on a group of UDD protesters.

Only four - two soldiers and two civilians - suffered from bullet wounds while most of the rest of the injuries were caused by tear gas, officials said.

Mr Abhisit emphasised the military-police action was not aimed at creating fear or putting pressure on or to harm any group of people.

"It's a step-by-step process to restore order and stop the violence," the prime minister said in a television address. Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said the "situation in Thailand is being brought back under control".

"In the next few hours, several security measures will be established ...to secure major ports, international airports and infrastructure," he said.

Supreme Commander Songkitti Jaggabatara said at a news conference soldiers and police would not use weapons indiscriminately against the protesters and that firearms would be used only in self-defence.

The red shirts continued to hold their ground at Government House last night and vowed to fight on.

"Government House will be our last bastion. Let's see what Abhisit can do to us," said Jatuporn Prompan, a core UDD leader.

"I urge all our friends to come and gather with me here. If we are to die, let's die here," said Veera Musikhapong, another core UDD leader.

As night fell, the UDD numbers at Government House appeared to be dwindling. The UDD leaders lost their main communication tool with their supporters in Bangkok and other parts of the country after government troops took control of Thaicom satellite station in Lat Lum Kaew, Pathum Thani.

The UDD and its boss, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had been using a satellite-based DStation to broadcast protest activities and Thaksin's speeches. They encouraged people to join their campaign to overthrow the Democrat-led government, using signals from a Thaicom satellite.

Thaksin, in an interview with CNN yesterday, denied he was bank-rolling the anti-government riot, saying the protest was the work of Thai people who wanted to see full democracy in Thailand.

He criticised the government for using force against the protesters and claimed many people had been killed as a result.

Thaksin's claim was denied by Prime Minister Abhisit in a separate interview by the same TV channel.

"Our priority is restoring law and order. We respect the people's right to protest."

Dear All  (update situation 3rd mail - April 12, 09)

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in different areas of Bangkok and nearby provinces such Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Prathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya provinces on Sunday afternoon, in an attempt to deal with the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters.

He assured members of the public that the situation would be restored as quickly as possible, and asked them to cooperate with the authorities.

this situation still not impact BKK International Airport (Suwannabhum),

PAT (Port of Thailand) and LCB (Leam Cha Bang) ocean port.

i will advise you more information asap.

rgds/Yong

Dear All,    (update situation 2nd mail - April 12, 09)

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in Pattaya and Chon Buri on Saturday afternoon after red-shirt protesters broke into the Royal Cliff Beach hotel, the venue of the 14th Asean Summit in Pattaya.

The emergency was lifted Saturday evening after the foreign guests left safely, but without any arrests or violence.  

this situation still not impact BKK International Airport (Suwannabhum),

PAT (Port of Thailand) and LCB (Leam Cha Bang) ocean port.

any progressive,  i will advise you in future.

rgds/Yong

Dear All,            ( update situation 1st mail - April 11, 09)

The political of Thailand is serious again. 

now, The Prime Minister has announced " state of emergency "

at PATTAYA, CHONBURI province (Eastern of Thailand)

but it is not impact BKK International Airport (Suwannabhum),

PAT (Port of Thailand) and LCB (Leam Cha Bang) ocean port.

all shipping line and airlines are remain their schedule.

i will follow this situation and advise you progressive in future.

Pls be informed,  ULI/BKK office will be closed on April 13 - 15, 09 

due to " Songkarn Festival Day "

we will be resume on April 16, 09

rgds/Yong