The Red Shirts pro democracy gathering at the Royal Plaza
on September 19, 2009 - marking 3 years of political struggles in Thailand
since military coup in September 19, 2006. Although political rally is a basic
civil rights which protected by constitution (even by current constitution), the
Thai government under prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva openly opposes to
such expression against his administration. He reacted by imposed "internal
security acts" which allows full military power to shoot or arrest anyone (in
area that the ISA was imposed) without legal consequence. In short, it's a
"shoot to kill and go free". The Red Shirts, however, decided to defy internal
security acts by a large demonstration in imposed area.
September 18, 2009 : one day before main event --
Royal Plaza : Bangkok, Thailand
police forces under Internal Security Acts ordered by Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva
to prevent the Red Shirts from using their civil rights in protesting the government.
18 กันยายน 2552 - ลานพระบรมรูปฯ ตำรวจกำลังเข้าแถวรับคำสั่ง
มีกระเป๋า "ความจริงวันนี้" แขวนอยู่ข้างหลัง
what behind them were red bags that carried Truth Today brand.
Truth Today is a major faction of the Red pro democracy movements
Pitsanulok Road
near the Royal Plaza & The Government House : military vehicle carried barb wires
1st Army HQ : Bangkok, Thailand - next to the Royal Plaza
บรรยากาศหน้ากองทัพภาคที่ 1
Ratchadamnoen Road : Misakawan intersection / near the Government House
a policeman in red shirt (Truth Today brand red shirt) on a traffic police motorcycle
ตำรวจใส่เสื้อแดงความจริงวันนี้ ขี่รถผ่านทำเนียบรัฐบาล
Royal Plaza : workers building a stage for the red - กำลังตั้งเวทีที่ลานพระรูปฯ
September 19, 2009 19 กันยายน 2552
the Government House -- heavily barricaded themselves. ทำเนียบรัฐบาล
riot police on Ratchadamnoen Road in front of the government house
with the United Nations building in background
Pitsanulok Road near Thai Government House
the Red Shirts came to protest, and demanded 1997 constitution to be restored.
ถนนพิษณุโลก หน่วยสันติวิธีลากผ้าประท้วง ทวงคืนรัฐธรรมนูญ 2540
ID tag for the Red / UDD guards ป้ายการ์ดเสื้อแดง
the Red / UDD guard in black การ์ดแดงในชุดดำ
Ratchadamnoen Road - Pitsanulok Road: Misakawan intersection
the Red / UDD guards in black (Misakawan intersection)
an independent faction of the Red got their own protest mobile
they are more radical than main stream red - this on Misakawan intersection
soon got into trouble with the Red / UDD guards because of their extreme speech.
on Sri Ayuthaya Road near Royal Plaza
Muslim red and a service vehicle
great scene of cultural contradiction here (too long to explain)
view of Royal Plaza
and "Non Violent Unit" who serve as front line negotiators (when shit happens)
a mobile command unit with loud speakers - Banner says
"3 years of fighting Bureaucratic Polity (Amarttaya thipatai), to establish new Thai State"
pretty radical development to date..
Metro Police banner / info -- which says
"(political) rally is constitutional rights (of the people), please exercised within the laws"
seems like ordinary statement , however, considering complicated facts within Thai culture,
many of police forces sympathize with the Red, many of them are in the Red movements as
demonstrators or as UDD guards, and police is having major disagreement with current
government, especially with Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva. The government, especially Abhisit Vejjajiva
did not want this Red rally to happen, and so imposed internal security acts on gathering
ground - to prevent or intimidate the Red. Then, this Metro Police banner simply states that
anyone can express political opinions - like a face slap for Abhisit Vejjajiva.
ดูเหมือนป้ายบอกกล่าวธรรมดาๆ แต่มีความหมายแฝงเร้น..
