Bangkok Dangerous (But St. Paul Is More So)

In Thailand, the PM Samak Sundaravej has declared a state of emergency to stop ten of thousands of protesters demanding freedom. It's been less than two years since the Thai Army kicked out the last Prime minister and replaced him, and the People's Army of Democracy (known as the PAD) has taken to the streets in massive numbers over the last couple of months to protest.

But Thailand's current Army chief isn't too thrilled about sending in the troops.

Thai soldiers would not use force to evict protesters occupying the prime minister's office, army chief Anupong Paochinda said on Tuesday despite a state of emergency giving him the power to do so.

"If we thought we could use police and soldiers to get them out with a peaceful conclusion, we would do it. But we think that that would create more problems," he told reporters after a man died in clashes between pro- and anti-government protesters.

The emergency powers invoked by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej banned public meetings, declared government buildings off limits, and restricted media reports that incite unrest.

But with the army reluctant to enforce the decree -- Anupong said his soldiers would be unarmed and would act only as a buffer between the protesters -- the stand-off looked set to drag on.

"Announcing a state of emergency is proper and timely. But if you ask me if this is the beginning of the end? No, it isn't," said Puwadol Lapudomsuk of Asia Plus Securities.

And so, the standoff continues. Now compare that to how America treats its own protesters demanding democracy in the streets of one if its cities.

Following up on this weekend's extreme raids on various homes, at least 250 people were arrested here today in St. Paul, Minnesota. Beginning last night, St. Paul was the most militarized I have ever seen an American city be, even more so than Manhattan in the week of 9/11 -- with troops of federal, state and local law enforcement agents marching around with riot gear, machine guns, and tear gas canisters, shouting military chants and marching in military formations. Humvees and law enforcement officers with rifles were posted on various buildings and balconies. Numerous protesters and observers were tear gassed and injured. I'll have video of the day's events posted shortly.

Perhaps most extraordinarily, Amy Goodman of Democracy Now -- the radio and TV broadcaster who has been a working journalist for close to 20 years -- was arrested on the street and charged with "conspiracy to riot." Audio of her arrest, which truly shocked and angered the crowd of observers, is here. I just attended a Press Conference with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Police Chief John M. Harrington and -- after they boasted of how "restrained" their police actions were -- asked about the journalists and lawyers who had been detained and/or arrested both today and over the weekend. They said they wouldn't give any information about journalists who had been arrested today, though they said they believed that "one journalist" had been, and that she "was seemingly a participant in the riots, not simply a non-participant." I'll have video of the Press Conference posted shortly.

Think really long and hard about under GOP rule in 2008, how being a protester in Bangkok, Thailand is less likely to get you arrested and detained to stifle your voice then in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is the Police State the people of St. Paul live in this week, their only crime being in the same city as the GOP's orgy of influence-peddling and corruption.

Think about that when you vote. We're already more of a police state than Thailand under an Army-imposed state of emergency. Give it another four years of the GOP and see where we are.

Here are several photographs taken from around St. Paul from this morning -- before the march or any of the protests started -- showing how militarized the city was. For whatever reasons, the brigades of police officers would periodically chant military terms and march around in formation ("Double Time!"), while helicopters hovered overhead and Humvees drove by frequently:



Clearly, and particularly in the wake of this weekend's thuggish raids, the intent was to create a highly intimidating, militarized and high-tension climate.

I'd say it's working. I'd say you will see more of this in every American city should things get as bad as I think they will with the collapse of the housing market and runaway inflation evolving into rampant deflation, unemployment, and economic disaster. Imagine this on YOUR street corner...and every other street corner in America.

Now keep in mind the mechanism to do this is already in place. It just needs a reason.