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Tension high in Bangkok as protesters confront riot police
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-01 09:16
The five core leaders of PAD, including media mogul and consistent Thaksin critic Sonthi Limthongkul, and former Bangkok governor and veteran political activist Chamlong Srimuang, were absent from the rally site Saturday night. Observers said they might have avoided public presence for fear of arrest. Earlier in the evening the Samak government seemed to have softened their stance, as Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung assured that the government would not use force as it earlier warned to end the rally. Chalerm said PM Samak threatened to use force to disperse the rally during a special TV program on Saturday morning because earlier intelligence report suggested that a group of ill- intentioned people had gathered at a law office in Bangkok to plot violent attacks at the rally to instigate the situation. Now that the government managed to thwart the plot, there was no need to use force to end the rally, said Chalerm, adding that the protesters are allowed to continue their rally as long as it is conducted in line with laws. In the live broadcast speech, Samak demanded the PAD remove their rally out of the area within Saturday, which he said had disturbed normal orders in the capital, or he might "take actions" using police and military forces. The PAD had launched the new round of street rallies last Sunday to protest the Samak government's move to amend the post- coup 2007 Constitution. After the charter rewrite motion went aborted before entering parliamentary session, lacking enough endorsement by lawmakers on Friday, the PAD vowed to continue their rally. The PAD leaders have called on supporters to continue rally with a goal to oust the Samak government, which took office after the Samak-led People Power Party (PPP) won the post-coup general election last December. They have claimed the resignation of Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair on Friday as a victory. Jakrapob had faced pressure from the opposition Democrat Party and the PAD who demanded his step-down over a lese majeste charge regarding an English speech he made last August at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Thailand in Bangkok. Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday warned that violence might occur if the government forcefully disperse the PAD protest. He urged the government to recruit a moderator to talk to PAD leaders to ease conflicts. The PAD had played a significant role in the downfall of the Thaksin administration by organizing a series of mass anti-thaksin protests in central Bangkok, which climaxed in the military top brass' step-in to finally oust Thaksin with the September 19 coup in 2006, citing heightened social rifts between anti and pro-Thaksin groups. The group, led by a group of anti-Thaksin political activists, academics and businessmen, ceased operation after the coup ousted Thaksin, but declared resurrection after PPP, seen as the new banner for Thaksin and the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, formed a coalition government with another five political parties early this year. |
