Pattaya Daily News

Published : April 16, 2010 :: 11:04:15 [ 1,781 views ]

Amidst the congestion which is the streets of Bangkok’s business district, Red Shirt leaders announced that they had started legal proceedings against Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva over the April 10 clashes. Current reports state that 24 people have died and over 800 were injured in the violent confrontations between Red Shirt protesters and security personnel last Saturday.

Bangkok, the 16^th of April 2010 [PDN]: Key Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan announced on Thursday that a pro-Red legal team had begun compiling legal documents and evidence for a lawsuit against the Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. He explained that the incident, which caused the loss of 24 lives and injured many hundred more, is equivalent to murder and as such Mr. Abhisit should be held responsible for his government’s part in the tragic incident. In addition, Mr. Prompan urged the Deputy Metropolitan Police Chief, Major General Amnuay Nimmana to proceed with police investigations into the incident without buckling to the politicians and pro-government media.

The government retort to the announcements made by Red Shirt leaders was to further subjugate claims that the offenders in April 10^th’s clashes were a ‘terrorist’ group not only responsible for the Saturday violence but also several other clashes and bombings that have been seen throughout Bangkok over the last month. Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), further added that these ‘terrorists’ are believed to be aligned with the Red Shirt leaders who had had prior knowledge of their presence at the rallies. He showed a video clip, featuring a Red Shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong, saying on a temporary stage outside Army headquarters that an unknown force took sides with the protesters and that it was ready to oppose the Army. This video was taken prior to the April 10 clashes.

Red Shirt leaders, namely Natthawut Saikua, have continuously denied claims that the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) are aligned with any such terrorist groups, stating that the accusation was ‘dreamt-up’ by the government to deflect attention away from their own involvement. Due to the current crisis being a global issue now, Red Shirt leaders fear that further unjustified government announcements will begin to appear in an attempt to encourage resentment of the Red Shirt cause.

Speculation and rumours at present stipulate that the government will now begin to disperse the gathered protesters in the heart of Bangkok’s CBD by shooting rubber bullets from the high-rise buildings surrounding the rally site. An increase in security force personnel surrounding the Ratchaprasong intersection, main rally location, has been seen over the last 24hrs. This increase is reportedly in response to reports that the Reds numbers will increase further over the coming days as Songkran (Thai New Year Festivities) comes to an end throughout the country. Police are also believed to be keeping tight security at several government offices including Government House and Parliament, whilst Prime Minister Abhisit is believed to be in hiding fearing an assassination attempt.

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Type : Politics News
Story : John Weston
Photo : Internet

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