Pad's "final fight"
11:10 NBT is back on air from a mobile studio. They are showing some very dramatic footage of events that took place earlier this morning. Of particular interest was when announcer Duangporn Asawawilai was escorted out of the building through a jeering mob to safety. She is back reporting non-stop, but says that their signal could be cut at any time by protestors. She also says several woman staff members are still trapped inside.Reports are that protestors have surrounded six government sites, including Government House, the Ministry of Communications, the Ministry of Finance, NBT, the Ministry of Agriculture and one other. Water has been cut at police headquarters.
dramatic – sudden, surprising and exciting
footage – film of a particular subject or event
escort – to go with someone in order to protect them or keep them under control
jeering – shouting or laughing at someone in an unkind way that shows you have no respect for them
Here are earlier reports from the bangkok post.com website:
Army chief: Soldiers won't stage a coup
BangkokPost.com) - Army chief Anupong Paochinda vowed that soldiers will not stage a coup d'etat while anti-government group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rallied at important venues around Bangkok."Soldiers will not stage a coup," he said during a radio interview on Tuesday morning.
Gen Anupong also told people to stay calm and that they should not panic.
"It is police's authority to take care of the situation," he said. "Soldiers will not get involved."
vow – to make a serious promise
coup d’etat – the seizure of power in a country by a small group of people, usually members of the armed forces
Protesters seize NBT
BangkokPost.com
Supporters of People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) enclosed the National Broadcasting Service of Thailand (NBT), a government-run television station, on Tuesday morning, forcing it off the air to demand that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet be removed.
They reportedly entered the back entrance of the station and forced all the employees out of the venue.
The station briefly showed pictures of protesters breaking down the station before blacking out.
Police later arrested a group of 80 protesters, who were reportedly armed with two pistols, knives, and golf clubs.
But PAD core leader Sondhi Limthongkul denied that the men were carrying weapons, saying that it was the protest was done peacefully.
Other groups of protesters, meanwhile, invaded into the compound of the Transport Ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. They, however, did not enter the government buildings.
Another group of PAD supporters also blocked roads around the Government House, forcing the government to cancel the weekly meeting at the site Tuesday.
Local media reported that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej called an urgent meeting with Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit and chiefs of armed forces at the army headquarters after the weekly cabinet meeting was called off.
cabinet – the group of government ministers who make and approve government policy คณะรัฐมนตรี
toppled – forced out of power; caused to fall
showdown – a big fight, meeting, argument, etc. that settles a disagreement between people and proves who is the best or strongest
surrender – to say officially that you have been defeated and will stop fighting
stage – to organise and event
rally – a public meeting that a lot of people go to in order to support someone or protest against someone or something
defiance – the refusal to obey a person or rule
bow to – to agree to do what someone wants you to do even though you do not want to
means – methods
duty-bound – required by duty
demonstration
law enforcers – people, mainly police, whose job is to see the laws are obeyed
estimate – to say what you think an amount or value will be, either by guessing or using available information to calculate it
draw – attract
strategy – a plan or method for achieving something, especially over a long period of time
paralyse – to make something be unable to operate normally
administration – the activities in managing a government, business, organisation or institution
seizure – the action of taking something or taking control of something, especially using power or force
disrupt – to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by creating a problem
extraordinary – very unusual and surprising
state mechanisms – the work of government
commando – a soldier trained to attack in areas controlled by an enemy
secure – to make an area or building safe
panic – a sudden strong feeling of fear or worry that makes you unable to think clearly or calmly
utmost – as much as possible
patient – able to wait for a long time or deal with a difficult situation without becoming angry or upset
resort to – to do something extreme or unpleasant in order to solve a problem, usually because other methods have failed
Metropolitan police chief Pol LtGen Aswin Kwanmuang said police would not block protesters’ movements and would help manage traffic flow.
‘‘Police units will be in place to facilitate movement, not to break up the rally,’’ Pol Lt-Gen Aswin said.
Police spokesman Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong said the national police chief has told officers to be patient in the face of the demonstrations.
Special Branch police chief Pol LtGen Thiradet Rodphothong said people from Chon Buri would form the largest number of demonstrators in Bangkok.
The protest would be joined by 2,000 to 3,000 staff of the Provincial Electricity Authority, according to Phien Yongnoo, chairman of the labour union of the Metropolitan Electricity Authority.
But Sirichai Mai-ngam, chairman of the labour union of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, said the PAD leaders have not yet approached them to join today’s protest.
‘‘We will wait to see the situation before making any move,’’ he said.
ridicule – to try to make someone or something seem silly by making fun of them in an unkind way
campaign – a series of actions intended to produce political or social change
facilitate – to make it possible or easier for something to happen
approach – to speak with someone about something, especially in order to ask for help or make an offer
