UDD consider PM’s proposal

The United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), popularly known as the red shirts, has responded cautiously, bordering on positive, to the latest proposal for national reconciliation presented by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during a national television broadcast last night.

According to the National News Bureau, shortly after the televised address UDD deputy chairperson, Jatuporn Prompan, said the proposal was deemed a better solution than dispersing the crowd violently.

Read more

TCEB monitors losses

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau president, Akapol Sorasuchart, reports that only one event, financially supported by the Bureau,  has cancelled, so far, but  five events have been postponed, by a month or more, in the wake of protests in Bangkok.

He acknowledged that if the current political situation escalated to a point it was “out of control,” TCEB’s would be stretched to reach its 2010 meetings target.

“We set a 20% growth target this year with 785,816 MICE travellers and 400 events hopefully generating Bt56,950 million. That would be in jeopardy if the protest continues.”

Read more

Fractions in red-shirt ranks

This morning Red-shirt protestors marched from their base on Ratchadamneon Road for sequal to yesterday’s bloody “theatre of the absurd”  by pouring  a second batch of donated blood over the gate posts of Prime Minister Abhisit’s residence on Soi Sukhumvit 31, just off Bangkok’s major golden mile of hotels and  luxury condominums.

Read more

Chinese groups retreat

The Chinese government has issued an order telling citizens to cancel trips to Thailand until 23 March at the earliest, based on red shirt protests in Bangkok, according to Association of Thai Travel Agents honorary committee, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn. Read more

Cabinet ups security

The Thai Cabinet has authorised the use of the Internal Security Act BE 2551, from 11 to 23 March, in Bangkok and seven nearby provinces. Also it approved the use of 18 related laws during its meeting yesterday.

Contrary to media reports the Cabinet did not announce a “state of emergency.” Red shirt leaders have also given assurances that they will not attempt to close airports.  Security around airports has increased with roadside checkpoints.

Yesterday, the UK ambassador in discussions with opposition party Puea Thai that supports the red shirt leaders raised the issue of Bangkok’s airports and whether red shirt protestors would attempt to close them during their rallies, noting that a closure would harm both investment and tourism.

Read more