ID :
115563
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/115563
The shortlink copeid
Red Shirts claim invasion of Parliament not a leadership decision
BANGKOK, April 7 (TNA) –The key leaders of Thailand’s anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Wednesday announced that the storming of Parliament incident in which protesters led by singer-activist Arisman Pongruangrong was his own spontaneous action and not a decision taken by the Red Shirt leaders themselves.
The court on Wednesday summoned 19 Red Shirt leaders now at Ratchaprasong to acknowledge the charges, while metropolitan police chief Pol. Lt-Gen. Santan Chavanont said that police recorded the incident at Parliament and are collecting further evidence to seek court approval for arrest warrants against the protest leaders.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan explained that the UDD had assigned Suporn Attawong, Jeng Dokjik and Payap Pankate to lead the protesters to surround Parliament, where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was attending a weekly Cabinet meeting, as part of the group’s intensified campaign to oust the Democrat-led coalition government.
With the premier’s absence there, Mr Jatuporn said, the trio was told to retreat and led the protesters to the Thaicom Satellite Station instead.
Mr Jatuporn charged that the chaos at the Parliament took place when Mr Arisman, with other Red Shirt supporters, moved into the area and an object which he said was a firebomb was hurled from inside the Parliament compound, causing tension and anger on the part of Mr Arisman and other protesters who later broke into the compound seeking to question Deputy Premier Suthep about the incident.
He emphasised that the Wednesday incident was instigated by others and that that the Red Shirt leaders never ordered their supporters to hunt for anyone.
The UDD will not abandon Mr Arisman as he has shared the same ideology with them, but the leadership will discuss and revise his role, Mr Jatuporn said.
The red-shirted protesters led by Mr Arisman broke through both the fence and a cordon of riot police, making their way into the Parliament compound on Wednesday, forcing the House session to end abruptly.
The prime minister however left the building long before the protesters arrived, while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who supervises national security and government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn remained inside the building.
Mr Suthep, Mr Panitan and several Democrat MPs were evacuated by helicopter and arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment to attend a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), while the Red Shirts rallying at Parliament returned to their main rally site at Phan Fa Bridge.
Mr Arisman himself explained to the Red Shirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection after the chaos at Parliament that he only wanted to find Mr Suthep to ask him about the firebomb incident.
The Red Shirt activist said it was fortunate that no one was wounded in the incident.
Mr Arisman added that the Red Shirts’ seizure of an M16 assault rifle and a 9mm handgun from security officials at Parliament means that the deployed security personnel are not unarmed as it earlier said.
If the deputy premier does not give a clear answer over the Wednesday incident to the Red Shirts within one hour, Mr Arisman threatened, he will lead the UDD supporters to dog Mr Suthep everywhere he goes to seek an answer. (TNA)
The court on Wednesday summoned 19 Red Shirt leaders now at Ratchaprasong to acknowledge the charges, while metropolitan police chief Pol. Lt-Gen. Santan Chavanont said that police recorded the incident at Parliament and are collecting further evidence to seek court approval for arrest warrants against the protest leaders.
UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan explained that the UDD had assigned Suporn Attawong, Jeng Dokjik and Payap Pankate to lead the protesters to surround Parliament, where Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was attending a weekly Cabinet meeting, as part of the group’s intensified campaign to oust the Democrat-led coalition government.
With the premier’s absence there, Mr Jatuporn said, the trio was told to retreat and led the protesters to the Thaicom Satellite Station instead.
Mr Jatuporn charged that the chaos at the Parliament took place when Mr Arisman, with other Red Shirt supporters, moved into the area and an object which he said was a firebomb was hurled from inside the Parliament compound, causing tension and anger on the part of Mr Arisman and other protesters who later broke into the compound seeking to question Deputy Premier Suthep about the incident.
He emphasised that the Wednesday incident was instigated by others and that that the Red Shirt leaders never ordered their supporters to hunt for anyone.
The UDD will not abandon Mr Arisman as he has shared the same ideology with them, but the leadership will discuss and revise his role, Mr Jatuporn said.
The red-shirted protesters led by Mr Arisman broke through both the fence and a cordon of riot police, making their way into the Parliament compound on Wednesday, forcing the House session to end abruptly.
The prime minister however left the building long before the protesters arrived, while Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban who supervises national security and government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn remained inside the building.
Mr Suthep, Mr Panitan and several Democrat MPs were evacuated by helicopter and arrived at the 11th Infantry Regiment to attend a meeting of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), while the Red Shirts rallying at Parliament returned to their main rally site at Phan Fa Bridge.
Mr Arisman himself explained to the Red Shirt protesters at Ratchaprasong intersection after the chaos at Parliament that he only wanted to find Mr Suthep to ask him about the firebomb incident.
The Red Shirt activist said it was fortunate that no one was wounded in the incident.
Mr Arisman added that the Red Shirts’ seizure of an M16 assault rifle and a 9mm handgun from security officials at Parliament means that the deployed security personnel are not unarmed as it earlier said.
If the deputy premier does not give a clear answer over the Wednesday incident to the Red Shirts within one hour, Mr Arisman threatened, he will lead the UDD supporters to dog Mr Suthep everywhere he goes to seek an answer. (TNA)
