ID :
109387
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 18:25
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http://m.oananews.org//node/109387
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Red Shirts claim government plans to block supporters from joining Bangkok rally
BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) - A top leader of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Tuesday accused the Abhisit Vejjajiva government of planning to intercept Red Shirt supporters countrywide from joining the group's mass protest in the Thai capital next Sunday.
The UDD earlier announced that it will mobilise a million supporters nationwide from March 12, with 100,000 pickup trucks to be used to transport them to the rally venue in Bangkok March 14.
Nattawut Saikua, a UDD key leader said he heard the government will intercept Red Shirts upcountry in many ways ranging from ordering the temporary closing of some gas stations on the route to Bangkok,
as well as asking bus operators for cooperation in not carrying UDD supporters to the capital.
Mr Nattawut also charged that the government will also block the travel of the Red Shirts through checkpoints and the enforcement of traffic regulations.
"The government's measures to intercept the Red Shirts won't be effective because of the strong determination of upcountry people to join the protest", Mr Nattawut said.
Regarding a recent video of an aide to Red Shirt activist Army Maj-Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol 'predicting' Bangkok bombings one day before the actual bombings occurred at four branches of Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest, last weekend, Mr Nattawut denied the UDD's involvement with the general.
The Red Shirts have their own 'Red Guard' who are normal people to maintain order, Mr Nattawut said. We haven't talked to Gen Khattiya.
"If Gen. Khattiya forms an allied group, it's not related to the March 14 Red Shirt rally," said Mr Nattawut.
"I dont' want the public to confuse the two groups and if the authorities will link them to us, they must find evidence to prove that."
Meanwhile, Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit, urging the government to clarify over what he claimed the government's blacklist of anti-government activists, monks and opposition MPs.
The opposition and the Red Shirts earlier accused the government of blacklisting 212 persons who are staunch supporters of Mr Thaksin, tapping their phone calls, and following their moves, in which they said violated the people's rights.
Mr Prompong however refused to show the document of the blacklist in which he reaffirmed reliable and has got from a security-concerned agency after last year's April 13 chaos.
"I submitted the complaint letter as my name is also in the 16th on the blacklist, which includes many leading Puea Thai members, especially those in the North and Northeast who have joined the movement with the Puea Thai," said the spokesman.
"It's not appropriate as 17 monks are also in the blacklist," said Mr Prompong.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday dismissed the accusation, saying the so-called blacklist did not exist. He conceded that he has instructed security-related officials to closely monitor the moves of ten persons whose behaviours are likely to cause damage to the society.
Mr Suthep asserted that the order to monitor those persons did not violate their personal rights as the authorities have found ammunition and bullets at some of their homes and workplaces.
The deputy premier said he has asked government officials to carry out pro-active operations, rather than letting these people launch the moves which could damage government property or harm people.
"If they have documents, they should show us the blacklist so that the government could investigate," said Mr Suthep, adding that officials will take legal action against suspects who break the law. (TNA)
The UDD earlier announced that it will mobilise a million supporters nationwide from March 12, with 100,000 pickup trucks to be used to transport them to the rally venue in Bangkok March 14.
Nattawut Saikua, a UDD key leader said he heard the government will intercept Red Shirts upcountry in many ways ranging from ordering the temporary closing of some gas stations on the route to Bangkok,
as well as asking bus operators for cooperation in not carrying UDD supporters to the capital.
Mr Nattawut also charged that the government will also block the travel of the Red Shirts through checkpoints and the enforcement of traffic regulations.
"The government's measures to intercept the Red Shirts won't be effective because of the strong determination of upcountry people to join the protest", Mr Nattawut said.
Regarding a recent video of an aide to Red Shirt activist Army Maj-Gen. Khattiya Sawasdipol 'predicting' Bangkok bombings one day before the actual bombings occurred at four branches of Bangkok Bank, Thailand's largest, last weekend, Mr Nattawut denied the UDD's involvement with the general.
The Red Shirts have their own 'Red Guard' who are normal people to maintain order, Mr Nattawut said. We haven't talked to Gen Khattiya.
"If Gen. Khattiya forms an allied group, it's not related to the March 14 Red Shirt rally," said Mr Nattawut.
"I dont' want the public to confuse the two groups and if the authorities will link them to us, they must find evidence to prove that."
Meanwhile, Puea Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit submitted a letter to Prime Minister Abhisit, urging the government to clarify over what he claimed the government's blacklist of anti-government activists, monks and opposition MPs.
The opposition and the Red Shirts earlier accused the government of blacklisting 212 persons who are staunch supporters of Mr Thaksin, tapping their phone calls, and following their moves, in which they said violated the people's rights.
Mr Prompong however refused to show the document of the blacklist in which he reaffirmed reliable and has got from a security-concerned agency after last year's April 13 chaos.
"I submitted the complaint letter as my name is also in the 16th on the blacklist, which includes many leading Puea Thai members, especially those in the North and Northeast who have joined the movement with the Puea Thai," said the spokesman.
"It's not appropriate as 17 monks are also in the blacklist," said Mr Prompong.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday dismissed the accusation, saying the so-called blacklist did not exist. He conceded that he has instructed security-related officials to closely monitor the moves of ten persons whose behaviours are likely to cause damage to the society.
Mr Suthep asserted that the order to monitor those persons did not violate their personal rights as the authorities have found ammunition and bullets at some of their homes and workplaces.
The deputy premier said he has asked government officials to carry out pro-active operations, rather than letting these people launch the moves which could damage government property or harm people.
"If they have documents, they should show us the blacklist so that the government could investigate," said Mr Suthep, adding that officials will take legal action against suspects who break the law. (TNA)
