PAD, Tries, Win, Silent, Majority...., UPDATE

UPDATE: For updates see below

... but stunts like this won't help:

Electricity at NBT cut off, all broadcast programmes suspended

Protesters led by People's Alliance for Democracy managed to break police corridor to enter compound of the National Broadcasting Television on Vipavadi Rangsit Road on Tuesday.

Some 2,000 protesters pushed the entrance gate where police line tried to push back. Finally the protesters managed to push down the gate and entered the compound.

The electricity was cut off, resulting in all programmes to be suspended at 8.30am.

NBT station's acting director Suriyong Huntasarn said the protesters are now in the station's compound but has not yet entered the buildings.

Suriyong said most of the station's staffs already left the station.

The protesters started gathering in front of the station at about 6am, making police to seal off some roads leading to the station.

Suriyong said it was not the station that cut off the electricity. He is talking with police in order to control the situation.

Earlier protesters block entrance of National Broadcasting Telelvision station on Vipavadi Rangsit Road on Tuesday.

Police detained on Tuesday a group of protesters who tried to seize an NBT television station on on Vipavadi Rangsit Road.

The attempt took place at about 5.30am when there are a few staffs of the NBT at that moment.

The group, comprising about 60 men, covered their faces with black pieces of cloths and dressed in black t-shirt and jeans.

Two NBT television hosts said in a news television programme at about 6.10am that police found a handgun and long knives from the group.

The group also broke a glass door in their way to go to the station's building. They separated into several groups and went into the station. NBT staffs were told to leave the office.

Police are interrogating the group. Police brought the protesters who had weapons into 3 trucks to a police station while searching for protesters who might hide in the office.

Main protest will go to the Government House where Samak Cabinet will meet in its weekly meeting.

BP: Are they worried that PPP won't win and so there is no longer the Thaksin scapegoat? NBT stations in the provinces have apparently been seized. Next, they want to raid police HQ (or is it The Nation going overboard with their headline?). Then, you also have this:

About 1,000 protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy have shut down traffic on Phetkasem Road at Ta Sae district, Chumphon disrupting the transportation between Bangkok and the South.

Protesters were reportedly mobilised from many southern provinces, including Chumphon, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat. They have vowed to block the traffic until the government resigned.

Police have directed vehicles to use alternative routes.

Another group of PAD-led protesters are seen congregating at Bang Saphan district, causing concern that they might be planning to put up additional road block which, if happens, will completely cut off traffic to and from the capital.

BP: Let me guess, the PAD didn't attend the "winning-the-hearts-and-minds" lesson. Even for the PAD who are usually very discplined for a Thai mob, I am failing to see how they can benefit from this. Tolerance in many sectors was wearing thin with their continued disruption of traffic yet not seemingly being able to achieve anything. Seizing a TV station and trying to seal off the capital is taking things too far. If ever, and no doubt he wants to, Samak can use the police to break up the protests, he can now do so. Look for some negotiations first to strengthen police claims they did everything possible, but the government tipping point has almost certainly been breached.

I'll try to update as time permits. Any interesting news stories/photos post in the comments.

UPDATE: AA has a good comment with some more details:

I've been watching Thai television and even TPBS sounds a bit ticked off at PAD.

NBT are trying to rebroadcast from mobile units at Bor Kor 02. Chamlong and the PAD at Makkawan Bridge are saying wait 4 hours for more good news. Sondhi is also at Makkawan Bridge.

Provincial PAD units have shut down some roads at Km.492 in Chumporn, Route 111 in Phichit, and Route 2 near Lam Thakong in Korat. Reporters have asked when they will allow traffic to pass, and the reply is: "when Bangkok tells us to".

PAD have also began moving to the National Police HQ, they have surrounded Gov't House, but the government have been silent and have almost allowed them to lay siege to Gov't House, various ministries including Agriculture, Education, Finance, and Transport.

Samak and the Cabinet are meeting at a new location (the combined Military HQ, not Army HQ) where the top generals are also discussing the events. Apparently Samak is not stressed.

Earlier, the deputy Gov't spokesman claimed involvement from a general "who likes to discuss assassinations" and another bigwig. So far, he has been the only one to come out and speak for the Gov't. He says the gov't is prepared to use the "ultimate strategy" of arrest... The Police have also come out to say they will prosecute anyone who breaks the law and refrain from violence.

We shall see how this unfolds, but it doesn't look good for PAD or commuters, unless the government manages to do something even uglier than what the PAD has managed.

BP: That general who likes to discuss assassinations is Gen. Panlop. No dbout that former Foreign Minister and Thaksin nemesis (from the beginning) Prasong Sonnsiri and other Chamlong classmates are involved.

11:00 am Thai Rath reports that PAD said that if they will go to Police HQ, they will not just stay outside, they will go inside too. Police say that PAD are in 6 locations, 1,000 at the Finance Minsitry, 1,000 at Agriculture Ministry, 2,000 at Finance Ministry, 1,800 at NBT, 2,000 at the Jor Por Ror intersection (near Ratchadomnern), and 5,000 at Chamai Maruchet Bridge .

BP: Military reshuffle is coming up... Hmm. PAD are out of control now. Where will they stop?

11:30 am. The Nation has a good set of updates. PAD detaining female NBT staff, Chamlong demanding 80 PAD protesters who the police detained after the NBT raid be released - this part of the threat to raid Police HQ if they don't, footage of PAD breaking things at PAD, and Anupong stating there will be coup.

From Matichon, the Supreme Commander also says no coup. Samak is being very quiet and waiting until after the Cabinet meeting (I am sure he is itching to say something). Abhisit disagrees with PAD protests of closing roads and government ministries.

BP: Is this a surprise party for Prem's birthday? I should note that Gen. Anupong is back in the country after going to a trip to Malaysia.

Lost Boy has a blog post.

13:00: PAD enter the Metropolitan Police HQ and the chief of Metropolitan Police is negotiating so they don't enter the building - Thai Rath has a photo of them starting to push down the fence. PAD storm the Finance Minstry building.

Also, well-known TV presenter Kitti who went to see the protests has stated he was punched by the PAD protesters. Matichon appparently has video on the frontpage although it is not loading for me.

BP: Journos usually don't like when protesters turn on them so expect that to get some play on Thai TV.

From the wire services. AP:

Dozens of anti-government protesters armed with knives, guns and golf clubs stormed a TV station and briefly forced it off the air Tuesday, while thousands more peacefully laid siege to government ministries, witnesses and local media said.

Members of the People's Alliance for Democracy stormed the government-controlled National Broadcasting Services of Thailand studios in the Thai capital, forcing it to shut down for a few hours before police arrested the 50 to 80 protesters without incident, the broadcaster said.

Hundreds more activists protested unarmed outside the gates of the media compound.

As many as 8,000 more PAD supporters were peacefully protesting outside the gates of several government ministries including the main Government House, preventing employees from entering the offices, witnesses and local media reported.

"We are now controlling most of the key government offices to prevent them from coming to work," said Sondhi Limthongkul, a co-leader of the PAD. "Today, we declare a long, long holiday for the government."

AFP:

Protesters marched before dawn on Government House and the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT) office, forcing the station off the air after storming the premises for a second time.

"Now we have completely taken over NBT and I want more people to join them," PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul told demonstrators at another location in the Thai capital.

"Today is judgement day. I am ready if they want to arrest me. If we have to go to police headquarters this time we will not simply stay outside. We will get inside there," he told the cheering crowds.

Deputy government spokesman Nuttawut Saikua told AFP: "PAD have seized NBT to cut off the government communication. Now up to 3,000 people have occupied NBT and they plan to do their own broadcast."

A first attempt to take over the station ended with the arrests of 80 protesters. Police charged them with trespassing and seized a handgun, slingshots and golf clubs.

Elsewhere, thousands of protesters surrounded Government House, with PAD demonstrators using trucks to block all entrances.

"As of now the government has stopped functioning," an official who asked not to be named told AFP, saying only 10 percent of staff had made it to work.
...
"We are here today to show the government that the Thai people don't need them. We want the government to step down," said Prahert Surachetphanich, a doctor, as he joined the rally at Government House.
...
Thai television news reported that PAD protesters were burning tyres and blocking traffic on major highways into Bangkok.

Highway police chief Colonel Somyos Promnim told AFP that about 2,500 people had protested on roads in the north, northeast and south of Thailand, but said traffic was still getting through.
...
Asked if the government planned to declare emergency rule, Nuttawut [the deputy government spokesman] replied: "Wait for the prime minister. So far there is no special instruction."

Bloomberg:

``We are going to protest all over town to oust Samak,'' said Parnthep Pongpourpan, an organizer. ``Samak has tried to stop our rallies so many times but he cannot. We expect that he will resign under the pressure.''

The baht fell to the weakest in almost a year and stocks dropped as the government said it was preparing to arrest those seeking to overthrow the government. Two years ago, protests led by the same group resulted in a coup that ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The People's Alliance for Democracy, which claims Samak is a nominee of Thaksin, said they'll block highways connecting Bangkok with northern provinces, seize ministries and close Phuket and Hat Yai airports today.
...
The protests may backfire as they disrupt traffic and businesses, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute for Strategic and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

``This is all provocation today from the People's Alliance to generate an overreaction from the government,'' he said. ``If Samak doesn't react hastily and holds his ground, the protesters may become frustrated. Then we might see the worst case scenario where the protesters become uncontrollable.''
...
``Thailand is in a nightmare,'' Kongkiat Opaswongkarn, chief executive officer at brokerage Asia Plus Securities, told Channel 9 television. ``How can the country exist when people don't obey the rules?''

Clubs, Knives Seized

Earlier this morning, police detained 80 people and collected dozens of golf clubs and foot-long knives from protesters who tried to take over the station, said Surapol Thuanthong, a police spokesman. Police had managed to secure the office before the second wave of protesters.

``We are compiling evidence for charges of an attempt to overthrow the government,'' Surapol told Thai PBS. Senior police officials are meeting now to develop a response to the break in.
...
A People's Alliance spokesman condemned the use of weapons and encouraged police to arrest those who break the law.

``Some people can claim they are from the People's Alliance and we don't have DNA tests to prove whether they are or not,'' said Parnthep. ``We request that policeman follow the law and arrest those people.

BP: If the PAD is conemdning those who use weapons, why have they been threatening to storm Police HQ until the police release those arrested?

I agree with Thitinan, the quotemeister, Samak's response is key. He can just let police arrest the 5 leaders without a serious crackdown at move venues. I also agree with him that if the government doesn't react soon PAD will try to provoke them more, but further provocation provides an opportunity for police to send in negotiators and prolong it.

Expect to see a new law restricting political gatherings on roads soon.

Other news, Matichon reports one of the PAD leaders Suriyasai as saying they will do an overnighter at the Finance Ministry.