PAD renews call for swift end to protests

The People's Alliance for Democracy is renewing its call for the government and armed forces to take swift action to suppress the red shirt rally.

PAD members yesterday visited military units in many provinces to air the view that the red shirts had damaged the country and monarchy and had established an unlawful state.

They urged the government to take decisive action to quell red shirt protests throughout the country and to invoke martial law to facilitate its operations.

In Bangkok, 500 PAD members led by Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Pibhop Dhongchai went to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen to submit their letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and army chief Anupong Paojinda.

In the letter, the PAD demands the government devise a concrete plan to tackle illegal protests and ''terrorists''. The group wants the government to enforce the executive decree on public administration in emergency situations and to declare martial law where necessary to stop what it said were illegal protests, terror attacks and a movement to destroy the royal institution.

The PAD urged the armed forces to be vigilant in dealing with movements which attack the royal institution and attempts to undermine order in the provinces. The group promised to mobilise supporters to assist soldiers in tackling the demonstrators.

Maj Gen Chamlong told his supporters soldiers had a duty to protect the nation from those who would destroy it. He urged that laws be enforced and warned that unless the government took decisive action, clashes would become more frequent and losses would mount.

Maj Gen Chamlong and Mr Pibhop filed their letter with acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn and Maj Gen Jiradet Sitpranete, the secretary to the army.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said the group did not set a deadline for the government or the army to take action. However, it would monitor the situation and plan further moves.

PAD supporters staged similar demonstrations in other provinces including Chachoengsao, Trat, Ranong, Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Buri Ram, Na khon Ratchasima and Nakhon Si Thammarat.

The number of PAD demonstrators in each of the provinces ranged from in the dozens to the hundreds, except in Nakhon Si Thammarat where there were over a thousand supporters.

Sunthorn Rakrong, who led the PAD supporters in Nakhon Si Thammarat, said he would raise funds in the South to reward officials who apprehend red shirt protest leaders with arrest warrants outstanding.

Source: Bangkok Post