People’s Alliance for Democracy leader Chamlong Srimuang has announced that no PAD supporters will be allowed to stay overnight at Government House for safety reasons.The protesters who wish to spend the night they will be transported to Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Muang Airport. No one will be allowed to spend the night at the Government House. They will still be permitted to attend the rally and listen to the speakers and various programs on the stage at the government seat during the day. (TOC)
A rather extraordinary announcement !
On one hand we can understand the security issue (grenade attacks in the night, with casualties)… but if people leave the compound then… the security forces could take it back ! Easily !
So, many questions here. Is it a retreat ? A form of good will, but without loosing face ? Or a test to put the police -once again- in a difficult positon ?
Or is it a tactical retreat in order to reinforce the real target, AKA the airport ?
Let’s remember that the Government House is occupied, non stop, by the PAD since end of august...
So we will see tonight : maybe the police is going to ring at the door. 
But as usual, nothing is clear…
The People’s Alliance For Democracy Monday ended its occupation of the Government House.
Suchart Srisai, an official of the Dharma Army of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, announced on the stage inside Government House at 2 pm that the PAD would end it occupation of the complex. (Nation)
I think this seems to be a really positive sign. Wouldn’t you say this would mark first time PAD has retreated in a major way since the group has formed.
But the government is up in Chang Mai anyway, so maybe it’s like a trap to bring them back to BKK?
I don’t see it as “retreat”. More like a “tactical retreat”.
If you are cynic, you would say that the airport is far more valuable than the Government House, as a target, right ?
Brilliant move, actually. Now the PM will not have an excuse to “hide” up in CM. He will have to come back to BKK to face this situation. I would think that from the standpoint of the PAD, Swampy is a much better “holding” anyway. Occupying Gov’t house did little for them relative to the effects of Swampy.
this is a good tactic. it achieves alot of goals.
1.to the neutral public it is a sign of one step back( they have been calling for it)
2. the pad was way overstretched occupying 3 locations.
3. the last attacks have been in the govt. house,,, in the 2 airports there are more foreign press. also in suvananbhumi the tave a tactical advantage being on higher ground they can see the enemy approaching from far.
Of cause the PD protesters will move. How else can they continue to receive their daily protest allowance, free meals, medication, clothing and accommodation? Once this crisis is over rent a crowd will rejoin the ranks of the unemployed. Ruining the country doesn’t worry them as, literally, they have nothing to lose.
Thailand is another Myanmar in the making. Only the military can win.
With the coming huge unemployment comes a surge in crime and lawlessness. This in turn will result in less tourists and decreased interest in companies considering investment in Thailand. And so on….
Yes Sir, it does accomplish many things. I just hope this is settled in the quickest manner, resulting in the best for the citizens of Thailand. Plus, I have holiday coming soon and there is nowhwere else I would rather be than Thailand, but if I can not fly in, I can not fly in.
The government house wont last a week, unless the police move in and secure it RIGHT NOW.
All the stuffs were looted and the PAD need to cover their track.
I predict a mysterious bomb or third-hand arsonist…