By: POST REPORTERS
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has pledged to make an all-out effort to end social division in the wake of fresh United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protests against his government's country tour.
SEEING RED: UDD supporters in Lop Buri throw water bottles at the motorcade of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Ban Dong Tan health centre on Saturday.
His comment came after a visit to Lop Buri where he faced a protest by UDD supporters who threw plastic water bottles at his motorcade as it arrived at a health centre.
The UDD will also hold a rally in Khon Kaen tonight with a planned phone-in by Thaksin Shinawatra the highlight.
Yesterday Mr Abhisit and his ministers proceeded with their tour to 36 provinces under a tight security blanket. In some provinces UDD supporters were outnumbered by PAD supporters.
The UDD promised to mobilise supporters at locations the prime minister and his cabinet ministers would be visiting, but Mr Abhisit said his trip had proved satisfactory.
"The people have a better understanding about the government's policies. They understand how things are processed," he said.
Mr Abhisit's first stop was at Wat Bot Kong Thanu in Muang district where he was greeted by national police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan and about 200 supporters.
Mr Abhisit told villagers about pending economic relief schemes including a rice mortgage programme for the second crop which would start on March 15 and community funding programmes which would reach 8,000 villages on March 19.
He then moved to the Ban Dong Tan health centre to record his weekly television address before returning to Bangkok.
However, Mr Abhisit's visit to Lop Buri was marred by red-shirted locals who pelted his motorcade with water bottles, sandals and feet clappers at the health centre. The protesters dispersed quickly after the motorcade left.
The prime minister said the protest was normal, and added he was pleased that no violence had erupted, even though there were minor scuffles.
"I am not alarmed by the protest. It is part of democracy. I am thankful the visit went well and there were no injuries," he said.
"[The government] will try to create national unity and end the division between yellow- and red-shirted groups as soon as possible."
In Nakhon Nayok where Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban made a visit, the situation was under control.
More than 500 police and plainclothes officers were deployed to provide security.
Mr Suthep and his team encountered UDD supporters when they arrived at Wat Pa Kha in Ban Na district. They walked past the demonstrators, who booed and jeered.
In Khon Kaen there was a slight disruption as Democrat party chief adviser Chuan Leekpai made a speech to about 1,000 people at Sri Muang Thong market in Muang district.
About 100 police were deployed to pressure 12 UDD supporters to lift a blockade and allow Mr Chuan to enter the market.
As Mr Chuan was addressing the crowd, a woman shouted abuse and shook her feet clapper at him.
Her actions angered the crowd and one of them walked towards the woman in a menacing fashion, but police intervened and whisked the woman away.
Mr Chuan claimed his visit was not politically motivated. He came to chair a palace-sponsored cremation ceremony for a monk, who was a relative of Democrat MP Niphon Wisityutthasat.
However, he was pleased when the mayor of Muangkao municipality organised a gathering to welcome him and give him a chance to talk to the people. Meanwhile, Thammasat University political scientist Surachai Sirikrai said the cabinet's upcountry tour was likely to help the government clarify its economic stimulus package.
He said if Mr Abhisit's measures, which differed from the former government's populist policies, worked the government would receive public support.
"So that's why the old power clique is mobilising red-shirted people to disrupt the visits.
"If the government succeeds in shoring up the economy, it will woo more votes," he said.
Source: Bangkok Post
No comments:
Post a Comment