PHUKET: The hundreds of thousands of protesters in Bangkok's streets will target television channels, the military and police today as concerns grow about Thailand's future.
The decision to march on the media outlets turns the massive but peaceful street revolt in an unpredictable and potentially dangerous direction.
Thailand's major free to air television channels effectively ignored the largest street demonstration Thailand has seen in years on Sunday, despite its obvious news value.
Many countries have issued travel advisories telling tourists to avoid the crowds in Bangkok. Today, with hundreds of thousands of people surging through the capital, those warnings are likely to become stronger.
Splintering the anti-government disturbance - by most estimates the protest brought between 500,000 and one million onto Bangkok's streets on Sunday - leaves police in Bangkok being forced to deal with incidents on-the-run.
The protesters aim to topple the ''Thaksin Shinawatra regime'' and end the corruption and nepotism now widely acknowledged under his government and subsequent ''Red'' governments.
However, many previous ''Red'' supporters have gone over to the traditionally ''Yellow'' opposition, blurring color lines and leaving the government of Thaksin's sister Yingluck, the present Prime Minister, increasingly exposed and liable to collapse at any moment.
Thirteen organisations and businesses have been nominated as the protesters' targets today.
They are the offices of Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 7, Channel 9 and Channel 11, along with Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Air Force, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, the Royal Thai Police, the Royal Thai Metro Police, the Ministry of the Interior and the Bureau of Budget.
The media is being targetted for showing allegiance to the government. Protesters say figures revealing the true large scale of the demonstration have been suppressed and footage has been screened sparingly, if at all.
While the reaction of the military and police can vary depending on the attitude of individuals in charge, Thailand's military is likely to be as divided on the issue of government corruption as the rest of Thailand.
The higher echelons of the police, however, with a few notable exceptions, have been singled out and openly accused of buying promotions under the ''Thaksin system.''
In many instances so far, officials in lower positions in government departments have been among those who have joined the protesters.
Remarkably, the long-running stand-off in Bangkok's streets has remained peaceful. Concerns have multiplied with today's call to the protesters to target 13 different places.
Tourist destinations in other parts of Thailand beyond Bangkok, including Phuket, Pattaya, Samui and Chiang Mai, have been largely unaffected.
The decision to march on the media outlets turns the massive but peaceful street revolt in an unpredictable and potentially dangerous direction.
Thailand's major free to air television channels effectively ignored the largest street demonstration Thailand has seen in years on Sunday, despite its obvious news value.
Many countries have issued travel advisories telling tourists to avoid the crowds in Bangkok. Today, with hundreds of thousands of people surging through the capital, those warnings are likely to become stronger.
Splintering the anti-government disturbance - by most estimates the protest brought between 500,000 and one million onto Bangkok's streets on Sunday - leaves police in Bangkok being forced to deal with incidents on-the-run.
The protesters aim to topple the ''Thaksin Shinawatra regime'' and end the corruption and nepotism now widely acknowledged under his government and subsequent ''Red'' governments.
However, many previous ''Red'' supporters have gone over to the traditionally ''Yellow'' opposition, blurring color lines and leaving the government of Thaksin's sister Yingluck, the present Prime Minister, increasingly exposed and liable to collapse at any moment.
Thirteen organisations and businesses have been nominated as the protesters' targets today.
They are the offices of Channel 3, Channel 5, Channel 7, Channel 9 and Channel 11, along with Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, the Royal Thai Air Force, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, the Royal Thai Police, the Royal Thai Metro Police, the Ministry of the Interior and the Bureau of Budget.
The media is being targetted for showing allegiance to the government. Protesters say figures revealing the true large scale of the demonstration have been suppressed and footage has been screened sparingly, if at all.
While the reaction of the military and police can vary depending on the attitude of individuals in charge, Thailand's military is likely to be as divided on the issue of government corruption as the rest of Thailand.
The higher echelons of the police, however, with a few notable exceptions, have been singled out and openly accused of buying promotions under the ''Thaksin system.''
In many instances so far, officials in lower positions in government departments have been among those who have joined the protesters.
Remarkably, the long-running stand-off in Bangkok's streets has remained peaceful. Concerns have multiplied with today's call to the protesters to target 13 different places.
Tourist destinations in other parts of Thailand beyond Bangkok, including Phuket, Pattaya, Samui and Chiang Mai, have been largely unaffected.
Let's hope they don't block the Airports tomorrow
As I need to get home!!
Posted by Gregg P Cornell on November 25, 2013 09:12