This is response and answer to bcools journals and the comments on it.

First I want to say I have a huge amount of respect for the vast mjaority of PAD members because they are just people who are trying to be political active and change something they see as wrong through peaceful means.

The problem is the same as in any group where empassioned people see themselves as fighting on the side of right or when they are being wronged. Some people will follow the principles they say they are following and others will be more violent and extreme.

As soon as PAD locked the workers in their offices they had taken hostages and broken the law. Regardless of if they told them to leave. They had to know some people would not leave or else they would have gone early and prevented them from going to work or after work and they didn't. Once they crossed that line anyone who stayed and took part became an acessory to a hostage situation.

In reference to the police responce...

yes a tear gas canister from 15 years ago can possibly have gone bad and become more explosive. The explosive is often a basic dynamite type compound and over years the ingredients can start to separate from the ingredients that make the nitro or other main explosive compound stable, Also older tear gas canisters (especially chinese/russian design) were different then current ones and to spread the the chemical agent more (also prevent them from being picked up and thrown back at the police/military) have a minor explosive charge and the chinese made ones from then could've had a more explosive kick.

As soon as pad locked people in their office they had officially taken hostages and broken the law and that required a response. Pad started off with great ideals and lost it's way. Anyone who supports them it's their responsibility to take the movement back and get rid of the violent/extremeists elements which are prevalent in any impassioned movement. This includes political, social, and as we all know religious and it's up to the people of the movements to control their movement.

So as some people on tf need a summation. Old tear gas canister can become unstable and bemore explsoive, pad crossed the line and had committed illegal acts, any group can have violent segments and if their aim if peaceful protest or a movement they must self police against those who try to make it violent.

And your point is?

the protesters want to atagonize the police that way they make martyrs out of a few of their gullable flock

in todays crappy bangkok post

even pro-pad eng-language newspapers are having a hard problem protecting the pad actions

http://www.bangkokpost.com/151008_News/15Oct2008_news04.php