ID :
54940
Sun, 04/12/2009 - 00:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/54940
The shortlink copeid
Indian traffickers 'RED SHIRT' DEMONSTRATORS CLAIM MILITARY INVOLVEMENT IN ATTACKS
PATTAYA, April 11 (Bernama) -- Anti-government protestors in red shirts today accused the military of disguising their men in blue shirts and attacking them with nails, "ping pong" bombs and smoke bombs during a clash here Saturday morning.
Their leader, Arismun Pongruanrong, said they had confiscated dozens of blue
shirts found at temporary military outposts along the road leading to the
Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (Peach).
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must take responsibility to cancel
the Summit as well as step down from the post which he had held since December.
"The government sponsored this attack on us... we have the proof to show
that the soldiers were disguised in blue shirts and attacked us. We even found
some spent bullets," he told a media conference inside Peach as hundreds of
protestors shouted anti-govermment slogans outside.
He said several people, including women, were injured and hospitalised. The
red shirts, linked to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, began their
siege of Government House, the office of the Prime Minister, on March 26 in
Bangkok before blocking major roads on Wednesday in their move to topple the
Abhisit government.
Arismun, a former popular singer, was also an ex-lawmaker under Thaksin's
Thai Rak Thai Party, which was dissolved by the Constitution Court after
Thaksin's ouster in September 2006.
He also accused that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in
charge of security matters, had met a former Thaksin ally, Newin Chidchob, here
last night to plot today's clash.
"They met at a restaurant at Jomtien Beach last night. They plotted and
planned the attack by blue shirts against the red shirts," he said.
Thai government spokesman Panithan Watanayagorn said police were
investigating the incident and in the process of identifying the suspects
involved.
He said it was too early to point fingers at any particular group, adding
that the situation was under control and at no time the safety of leaders
attending the Asean Summit was at stake.
Panithan said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was expected to
arrive as planned in this resort city today despite the ongoing protests and
uncertainty over the fate of the Summit.
It is learnt that Abhisit, who is staying at the Royal Cliff resort with
other Asean leaders, would propose holding a teleconference with their dialogue
partners from China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and India who
are staying in several other hotels outside the Peach compound as they could
not travel to the meeting due to the blockade.
-- BERNAMA
Their leader, Arismun Pongruanrong, said they had confiscated dozens of blue
shirts found at temporary military outposts along the road leading to the
Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall (Peach).
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must take responsibility to cancel
the Summit as well as step down from the post which he had held since December.
"The government sponsored this attack on us... we have the proof to show
that the soldiers were disguised in blue shirts and attacked us. We even found
some spent bullets," he told a media conference inside Peach as hundreds of
protestors shouted anti-govermment slogans outside.
He said several people, including women, were injured and hospitalised. The
red shirts, linked to ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, began their
siege of Government House, the office of the Prime Minister, on March 26 in
Bangkok before blocking major roads on Wednesday in their move to topple the
Abhisit government.
Arismun, a former popular singer, was also an ex-lawmaker under Thaksin's
Thai Rak Thai Party, which was dissolved by the Constitution Court after
Thaksin's ouster in September 2006.
He also accused that Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in
charge of security matters, had met a former Thaksin ally, Newin Chidchob, here
last night to plot today's clash.
"They met at a restaurant at Jomtien Beach last night. They plotted and
planned the attack by blue shirts against the red shirts," he said.
Thai government spokesman Panithan Watanayagorn said police were
investigating the incident and in the process of identifying the suspects
involved.
He said it was too early to point fingers at any particular group, adding
that the situation was under control and at no time the safety of leaders
attending the Asean Summit was at stake.
Panithan said Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was expected to
arrive as planned in this resort city today despite the ongoing protests and
uncertainty over the fate of the Summit.
It is learnt that Abhisit, who is staying at the Royal Cliff resort with
other Asean leaders, would propose holding a teleconference with their dialogue
partners from China, Japan, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand and India who
are staying in several other hotels outside the Peach compound as they could
not travel to the meeting due to the blockade.
-- BERNAMA
