Red Shirt protest at Army HQ ends peacefully

BANGKOK, Jan 29 (TNA) - Thailand's anti-government red-clad United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) on Friday evening ended its rally at Royal Thai Army headquarters against Deputy Army Chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, whom they claim is connected with rumours of a planned coup.

The Red Shirt rally started Friday noon amid tight security and rain. Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue where army headquarters is located was closed as the protest continued until 6pm despite rain. Traffic police advised drivers to bypass the area during the protest.

Army commander-in-chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda and Gen Prayuth however were visiting Pattani for a security operations briefing in the restive southern province.

The UDD leaders took turns on temporary stage verbally attacking the 2006 coup d'etat which toppled then premier Thaksin Shinwatra, now convicted felon and a fugitive, and accusing the deputy army chief of plotting a new coup.

Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said that rumours over a new coup swirled after a meeting of senior army officials at Air Force Headquarters last Friday.
He said many army personnel who attended the meeting disagreed with the idea and told the Red Shirts about the planned coup.

Gen Prayuth earlier denied his involvement in plotting a coup as alleged by Mr Jatuporn, saying that he wanted to see the country run smoothly and the military to serve the country according to their duty and responsibility.

Mr Jatuporn added that next Wednesday the UDD key leaders will hold a meeting before heading to the Defence Ministry asking about the alleged evasion of military concription of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The Red Shirt leader said the protesters will also protest at the Election Commission to ask for a progress report on the Bt258 million-baht donation case of the ruling Democrat Party.

Mr Jatuporn attacked the army for the arms procurements inwhich he claimed irregularly purchase such as the controversial patrol and surveillance airship and the expensive bomb detector GT200 which the effetive is in question.

He also attacked Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda who was allegedly supported and protected businessmen who encroached forest reserve land in Chantaburi's Khao Soi Dao.

Mr Jatuporn urged the Red Shirt supporters to seize provincial offices nationwide if a coup takes place.

Another UDD leader, Veera Musikapong, accused that the prime minister had evaded military conscription and urged the army not to protect him but to implement legal action against him.

Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, a prime suspect in the M79 grenade attack on army headquarters, was also at the demonstration but did not come to the stage, saying that he was only observing the protest.

Crime Suppression Police last week issued an order requesting Gen Khattiya to report to police within one week for possessing military weapons without permission.

The protesters dispersed at 6pm. (TNA)