ID :
17302
Thu, 08/28/2008 - 19:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/17302
The shortlink copeid
PM vows 'no force to disperse protesters' at Government House
BANGKOK, Aug 28 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej vowed that force will not be used to crack down the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters who remained inside the premises of Government House for a third day Thursday even though the court ordered them to leave and give way to traffic.
Thailand's Civil Court on Wednesday granted an immediate injunction
ordering all PAD demonstrators to depart from the Government House
compound in Bangkok and end their road blockades, to allow cabinet members
access to Government House.
Mr. Samak said the government would not interfere but that he would let
the agencies concerned carry out their duties to maintain order in the
country and reaffirmed that he would use a gentle approach to deal with
the protesters.
"The agency concerned will not use force to clear the protesters from the
government house compound," he said.
The prime minister said that the weekly cabinet meeting might be moved to
be held at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Nonthaburi or other
suitable location.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the kindness of the Civil
Court which had issued the injunction ordering protesters to leave the
compound of the government house.
"Simply stated, the court has given the government a 'sword,' but
officials concerned will enforce the court order with caution," Mr. Samak
said.
The prime minister said he wanted the nine core leaders of the PAD who
have been served arrest warrants to surrender themselves voluntarily
instead of facing arrest at the protest venue.
Arrest warrants were issued against Sondhi Limthongkul, Piphop Thongchai,
Maj-Gen. Chamlong, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon and PAD
coordinator Suriyasai Katasila. The other three persons are Chaiwat
Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananond and Therdpoom Chaidee, who led PAD
stalwarts in Tuesday's raid on the state-owned NBT television station.
Mr. Samak also thanked opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
and Suthep Thueksuban for expressing a reasonable stance against the
event.
Meanwhile, Gen. Chamlong said the core leaders who had had arrest warrants
issued would not surrender and the protesters would stay put within the
Government House compound.
He stated that the anti-government protest would be terminated when the
political parties in the coalition government pledged not to amend the
2007 constitution at all and the government agreed to resign.
Gen. Chamlong also urged the PAD supporters from the provinces to join the
protest at Government House as the reduced number of protesters would
otherwise open the opportunity for the government to clear the protesters
out of the compound.
The PAD leadership planned to appeal the court injunction but until now no
PAD lawyers have appeared at the civil court.
As for the plan to organise the ceremony to boost national unity "From
Mother's Day to Father Day --116 Days" as a campaign scheduled to be held
at Government House on August 30, Mr. Samak said it will be held as
scheduled.
But the venue of the ceremony, to be presided over by His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, would be switched to Suan Amporn
Auditorium, he said. (
Thailand's Civil Court on Wednesday granted an immediate injunction
ordering all PAD demonstrators to depart from the Government House
compound in Bangkok and end their road blockades, to allow cabinet members
access to Government House.
Mr. Samak said the government would not interfere but that he would let
the agencies concerned carry out their duties to maintain order in the
country and reaffirmed that he would use a gentle approach to deal with
the protesters.
"The agency concerned will not use force to clear the protesters from the
government house compound," he said.
The prime minister said that the weekly cabinet meeting might be moved to
be held at the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters in Nonthaburi or other
suitable location.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude for the kindness of the Civil
Court which had issued the injunction ordering protesters to leave the
compound of the government house.
"Simply stated, the court has given the government a 'sword,' but
officials concerned will enforce the court order with caution," Mr. Samak
said.
The prime minister said he wanted the nine core leaders of the PAD who
have been served arrest warrants to surrender themselves voluntarily
instead of facing arrest at the protest venue.
Arrest warrants were issued against Sondhi Limthongkul, Piphop Thongchai,
Maj-Gen. Chamlong, Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon and PAD
coordinator Suriyasai Katasila. The other three persons are Chaiwat
Sinsuwong, Amorn Amornrattananond and Therdpoom Chaidee, who led PAD
stalwarts in Tuesday's raid on the state-owned NBT television station.
Mr. Samak also thanked opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva
and Suthep Thueksuban for expressing a reasonable stance against the
event.
Meanwhile, Gen. Chamlong said the core leaders who had had arrest warrants
issued would not surrender and the protesters would stay put within the
Government House compound.
He stated that the anti-government protest would be terminated when the
political parties in the coalition government pledged not to amend the
2007 constitution at all and the government agreed to resign.
Gen. Chamlong also urged the PAD supporters from the provinces to join the
protest at Government House as the reduced number of protesters would
otherwise open the opportunity for the government to clear the protesters
out of the compound.
The PAD leadership planned to appeal the court injunction but until now no
PAD lawyers have appeared at the civil court.
As for the plan to organise the ceremony to boost national unity "From
Mother's Day to Father Day --116 Days" as a campaign scheduled to be held
at Government House on August 30, Mr. Samak said it will be held as
scheduled.
But the venue of the ceremony, to be presided over by His Royal Highness
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, would be switched to Suan Amporn
Auditorium, he said. (
