tyb
AE68BD (usually a MAGMA call) departed AB San Isidro,Santo Domingo-Dominican Republic after a quick ground stop nw and back on ground at Miami Int'l
SAM571 USAF C-40B continues nw from Bogota, Columbia-this AC departed JBA on 0917 and stopped at Paramaribo, Suriname.
Yesterday it went to Boa Vista, Brazil for a ground stop prior to it's arrival at Bogota.
Thailand fails to block massive night protest near Grand Palace
espite light rain, Bangkok on Saturday night saw by far its largest demonstration since a coup in 2014 installed a military government and put a lid on free speech. Police claimed that only about 18,000 people turned up, while organizers said the figure was well above what authorities told media. "About 100,000 attended," Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, a key student leader, told reporters. "The turnout is proof of people's support for our demands," she said.
The turnout was expected to take the temperature of political activism, and provide an indication of the depth of support for political reform. By most accounts, the rally exceeded another of about 20,000 on Aug. 16 at Democracy Monument close to the administrative heart of Bangkok, stepping up critical pressure on the military-backed government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.
Protesters in recent weeks have openly called for a free debate on bold pro-democracy reforms – including for the first time the role of the formerly sacrosanct monarchy. The protest started early afternoon ahead of schedule with two trucks parked on Thammasat University's soccer pitch serving as a temporary stage for a succession of speakers. As with the Aug. 16 demonstration, older people also participated. Thanyathorn Pipitthanakajornchai, 55, told the Nikkei Asian Review that it was her first time at a protest. She said she was not against the monarchy but fed up with the present government. The prime minister keeps blaming everyone else," she said. "The economy is awful, but it is not just because of COVID-19."
At around 3:45 p.m., people led by Panupong Jadnok started moving away from the university soccer field to Sanam Luang outside the university's main gate. Police from nearby Chanasongkram police station arrived and ordered the crowd to disperse within an hour since the gathering was illegal under section 10 of the 2015 public assembly act and had not been notified to the authorities in advance. The police took no further steps at that time, but could charge organizers later.
Political use of Sanam Luang which has the dazzlingly illuminated Grand Palace at its southern end is normally not allowed, but local media had reported that it would be permitted on this occasion providing protesters did not come within 150 meters of royal property.
The organizers said they would stay overnight on the 12 hectare expanse that is used for major royal cremations and other ceremonies. A March to Government House on Sunday morning was also originally planned, but organizers said this had been changed without giving any details.
The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, or UFTD, an activist group at Thammasat University, scheduled the protest for Saturday afternoon despite officially being denied access to Thammasat University's historic Tha Phra Chan campus located between Sanam Luang and the Chao Phraya river.
At a press conference ten days ago, the organizers said a turnout of 50,000 to 100,000 was expected. The government had predicted a much smaller turnout, with security forces preparing for 20,000 protesters.
moar
https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Turbulent-Thailand/Thailand-fails-to-block-massive-night-protest-near-Grand-Palace
not good to be the King soon.