Grenade launchers seized in AyutthayaAbout a hundred homemade M79 grenade launchers have been seized from an auto parts maker in Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi district.

Army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said a security force had raided Fuji Auto Co and found about one hundred homemade devices capable of launching the M79 grenades.

An investigation was underway to figure out who owns the weapons and whether they are linked to the anti-government rallies of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

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Thaksin still banned from entering Germany: German envoy

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra would not be able to see his two daughters in Germany as he has been banned from the country since last year, German Ambassador to Thailand Hanns Schumacher said Sunday.

Thaksin tweeted he would leave Dubai to see his daughters Pinthongtha and Paethongthan Shinawatra somewhere in Europe soon.

His two daughters are now in Germany for a business engagement.

Thaksin was banned from Germany as he illegally obtain one-year residency last year, the German envoy said in a telephone interview.

However there was so far no information that Thaksin tried to enter German since then, the ambassador said.

Asked if it is possible that Thaksin would enter Germany with under different name, Schumacher said there are many illegal entries in the country but in that case the German authorities need to enforce the laws.

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"So far, we are not aware of movement of former Prime Minister Thaksin to Germany since he has been banned," he said.

Responding to a query if Thaksin is found in Germany, the envoy said Thaksin would be dealt with according to German immigration laws.

Thaksin's whereabouts was under Thai government's surveillance since his red shirted supporters held a huge demonstration in Bangkok.

For the government concern, Thaksin might use any country for a launching PAD against Thailand.

The Cambodian government, which Thaksin is an economic advisor, denied a news report earlier of Thaksin's presence in Cambodia.

Foreign Ministry's Spokesman Koy Kuong was quoted by Xinhua Saturday that Cambodia has received no information that Thaksin is planning to come to Cambodia.

He said since Friday afternoon, following reports from the Thai press many, inquiries were asked on the presence of Thaksin in Cambodia.

    

Natthawut threatens to move protesters to 11th Infantry Regiment

Natthawut Saikua, a red-shirt leader, announced that the protesters would move to rally outside the 11th Infantry Regiment if the prime minister does not dissolve the House by 9 am Monday.

Speaking at a press conference at 5 pm Sunday, Natthawut said the red-shirt people gave the prime minister until 9 am to dissolve the House or the protesters would move to pressure him outside the regiment.

The protesters would travel on Larn Luang Road, passing the Victory Monument to Phaholyothin to the 11th Infantry Regiment, where the prime minister has been using as a safe house.

But Natthawut said the protesters would not remain at the regiment because the Pan Fah Bridge would be used as their command centre.

Natthawut said the protester would hound the prime minister no matter where he may go.

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Monks join anti-government rally

Hundreds of monks from northern and northeastern regions arrived in Bangkok on Sunday to take part in the mass rally of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

The monks collected alms, calling on the government not to use violent measures against the red-shirt protesters.

A group of monks spoke on the anti-government stage, saying they were not involved in politics.

They also chanted prayers for the demonstrators

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Army base targeted


March to Bang Khen starts at 9am, but protests likely at many sites

Red shirt protesters plan to storm the 11th Infantry Regiment - the government's "war room" and safe house - if Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva does not dissolve Parliament by today, to try to achieve its goal of toppling the "aristocrat-backed" government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected the reds' demand, saying yesterday his government had the right to stay in office until the end of the current electoral term - late next year.

"Dissolving Parliament or the resignation of a government is a normal practice in the democratic system. I have no problem with that, but how can we dissolve the Parliament to have a snap election when our politics is still in deep divide and conflict?" he said.

The next election, if there was one, would have to go through violence because many people were dissatisfied with the electoral rules, he said.

The red shirts claim Abhisit has no legitimacy to stay in power as his Democrat Party did not win the previous election. They have mobilised a large mob in an effort to bring his administration down.

Prime Minister Abhisit, Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda and Army chief General Anupong Paochinda are using the the 11th Infantry Regiment compound as a "safe house" during the protest.

The huge red-shirt group will start marching from Rajdamnoen Avenue - the main protest site - at 9am via Victory Monument and walk along Phaholyothin Road to the infantry regiment in Bang Khen district.

Red shirt leader Nattawut Saikua said the protesters would not break into the army compound or surround it for a long time but would protest at many spots - follow Prime Minister Abhisit everywhere he goes.

Another leader, Jatuporn Promphan, said he learned that the military boosted its force at the infantry regiment to 7,000 troops, and prepared anti-riot equipment such as water cannons and tear gas for possible use against the protesters.

A military source confirmed that the Army has brought an additional 20 companies of troops to the infantry regiment to protect government leaders and military commanders.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsubhan was seen yesterday with Army chief Anupong and commanders inspecting troops' readiness at the compound.

"We are here to protect the law and democracy. We don't see the protestors as the enemy but we have to prevent them from breaking the law," Suthep told the troops.

"This is the first ever, soldiers, that you have to perform your duty without weapons. I know it is every difficult, but we have to do it."

Lt General Daophong Ratanasuwan, deputy Army chief of staff, said the military would try its best not to use violence against the protesters. He told soldiers to exercise utmost restraint and not to use force even if protesters provoke them.

Red shirt protesters continued to arrive from the provinces to the capital yesterday to join the rally. Their leaders claim that 300,000 people have massed but the authorities gave a more conservative figure - 52,000.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is de facto leader of the red-shirt group, phoned in to the rally's main stage at Rajdamnoen Avenue last night. He asked supporters who could not get to Bangkok to set up separate rallies in their provinces to help pressure the government.

The red shirts had been moulded into a solidarity movement, he said in a 45 minute speech.

Troops were based at many locations around Rajdamnoen Ave near the protest site including Thammasat University's Tha Prachan campus where a company of soldiers was, a university official said.

Prime Minister Abhisit said his government respected the red shirts' right of assembly in accordance with the Constitution, as long as they protest peacefully.

The Constitution Court set guidelines in 2008 that gave protesters constitutional protection as long as they demonstrate peacefully and under a legal framework, he said.

    

Don't harm the reds, Thaksin tells Army

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra warned the Army yesterday against trying to subdue his red-shirt followers or launching a putsch.

"Let me pass on my message to Prayuth (Chan-Ocha, deputy Army chief). I have heard that you're so prepared to use force. Don't do it. Don't ever think of staging a coup," Thaksin said.

He also told Army chief General Anupong Paochinda not to use force to quell the red shirts, who were rallying to restore real democracy and rid Thailand of the "ammat (elite) system".

Thaksin phoned in to address supporters last night from an unknown location, as he sought to woo their support to bring about a regime change.

Tens of thousands of red shirts were gathered at Phan Fa Bridge to demand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down or dissolve Parliament to pave the way for a new election.

Wearing a light brown pullover with a red collar, Thaksin delivered his animated speech to his cheering red shirt audience via webcam. He also wore glasses with a thin silver frame. His hair looked unnatural, almost like a wig.

Thaksin called on the red-shirts to wait for the 24-hour "deadline" for Abhisit to disband the House. If Abhisit fails to comply, they would need to listen for further instructions from the group's core leaders.

A giant stage was erected at Phan Fa Bridge where the red shirts began to fortify their street demonstrations. Jatuporn Phromphan, one of their leaders, declared that the grassroots movement would finish off the Abhisit government within four days.

Thaksin, once again, accused Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, of being the man behind his downfall.

He repeated his story that the elite were afraid of his political popularity so they made all kinds of attempts, including the 2006 coup, to eject him from power. The elite were also behind a series of political manoeuvres to undermine his party and supporters.

"The ammat are the problem of the country. They are behind all the rumours so that they can continue to maintain their power," he said.

The Abhisit government was the most corrupt and ignored the plight of the people, he said.

The killing of Pol Colonel Sompian Eksomya by southern insurgents in a bomb attack on Friday represented a failure by Abhisit to handle police transfers properly, he said.

Sompian had asked to be rotated out of Yala's Bannang Sata district to Trang after serving in the police force for 39 years, but his orders got stuck in bureaucratic red tape.

The government had brought a military contingent to Bangkok from upcountry, and distributed arms to them; it was the largest ever to deal with the red shirts, he said.

"But the military has a duty to defend the country - not to crack down on the people," he said.

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Protesters threaten to break into 11th Infantry Regiment

The red-shirt leaders threatened at 1 pm to have protesters storm into the compound of the 11th Infantry Regiment if the leaders are not allowed to enter into the compound to negotiate with the government.

Confusion broke up at around 1:10 pm when the red-shirt leaders announce they wanted to go inside the compound where key government leaders were monitoring the situation.

The Nation

    

Red-shirts returning to Ratchadamnoen

The red-shirt people gathering in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment on Phahon Yothin road have been told by their leader Veera Musikhapong to head back to their main rally site on Ratchadamnoen avenue.

Mr Veera, one of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's core leaders, made the announcement through loudspeakers from the top of a truck .

He said they should return to the Ratchadamnoen avenue rally point, where UDD leaders would cnosider their next move to mount pressure on the government.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in a televised speech from the peace-keeping operation centre in the 11the Infantry Regiment about 10am, long before the arrival of red shirts, that he would not give in to the UDD's demand for animmediate House dissolution. He said he had the support of the other parties in the Democrat-led coalition.

Shortly after making his speech, the prime minister left the peace-keeping centre in a helicopter.

    

2 soldiers injured in M79 grenade attack

A M79 grenade was fired into the compound of the First Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment Monday afternoon, injuring two soldiers.

The regiment is located in front of the NBT station.

The soldiers were rushed to the Mongkut Klao Hospital.

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Suspect arrested related to the firing of M79 grenade into Army unit

Police have arrested a man suspected of firing an M79 grenade into the compound of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment Monday.

The suspect was taken to the Thung Mahamek police station for questioning.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Santhan Chayanon and other senior police officers rushed to the station to interrogate the man.

Police said the man was arrested at a checkpoint following tips-off by witnesses.

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