ID :
116903
Thu, 04/15/2010 - 21:01
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http://m.oananews.org//node/116903
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Protesters deny terrorist connections
BANGKOK, April 15 (TNA) - Anti-government Red Shirt protesters Thursday denied that the group was related to a group of terrorists that was involved in the shooting during bloody clashes in the Thai capital last weekend, a top protest leader said on Thursday.
Natthawut Saikuea, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told a press conference that he believed that in the next four or five days there would be an attempt to charge that UDD protesters are connected with terrorists after the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) had shown video clips on the bloody violence.
Clashes between combined government forces and UDD protesters took place last Saturday on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok. One of the video clips, which appeared on TV, has shown that a group of heavily armed gunmen dressed in black with hooded faces fired at troops during the clashes.
Top UDD leaders will take responsibility if it is proven that they are connected with the terrorists, said Mr Natthawut, adding that his ‘Red Shirt’ people are against a plan which calls for setting up a joint committee of government and protester representatives to investigate Saturday’s clash.
However, he said the UDD would accept only a genuine neutral agency to conduct the probe.
He said the protesters have heard that the government plan to disperse protesters now occupying Bangkok’s prime business area of Ratchaprasong intersection on April 19-21, but the charge was rejected by Panitan Watanayagorn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister.
“ A charge that the government plans to take back Ratchaprasong area by firing at protesters from high-rise buildings between April 19-21 is a rumour,” Dr Panitan said.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not appear in public for a while for safety reasons. The present situation is abnormal and the prime minister will be interviewed less by the media as well as communicating less with the people except only in necessary cases.
As the number of the UDD protesters now gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection is expected to grow after the end of Songkran festival, police have doubled their personnel to 2,700 to provide safety to protesters as well as preventing a ‘third hand’ from creating troubles there.
Police reinforcements are now posted around the rally site and more checkpoints have been set up.
Although UDD protesters have left Ratchadamnoen Avenue and join fellow activists at Ratchaprasong intersection, police are keeping tight security at several government offices including Government House and Parliament. (TNA)
Natthawut Saikuea, leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told a press conference that he believed that in the next four or five days there would be an attempt to charge that UDD protesters are connected with terrorists after the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) had shown video clips on the bloody violence.
Clashes between combined government forces and UDD protesters took place last Saturday on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok. One of the video clips, which appeared on TV, has shown that a group of heavily armed gunmen dressed in black with hooded faces fired at troops during the clashes.
Top UDD leaders will take responsibility if it is proven that they are connected with the terrorists, said Mr Natthawut, adding that his ‘Red Shirt’ people are against a plan which calls for setting up a joint committee of government and protester representatives to investigate Saturday’s clash.
However, he said the UDD would accept only a genuine neutral agency to conduct the probe.
He said the protesters have heard that the government plan to disperse protesters now occupying Bangkok’s prime business area of Ratchaprasong intersection on April 19-21, but the charge was rejected by Panitan Watanayagorn, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister.
“ A charge that the government plans to take back Ratchaprasong area by firing at protesters from high-rise buildings between April 19-21 is a rumour,” Dr Panitan said.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva would not appear in public for a while for safety reasons. The present situation is abnormal and the prime minister will be interviewed less by the media as well as communicating less with the people except only in necessary cases.
As the number of the UDD protesters now gathering at Ratchaprasong intersection is expected to grow after the end of Songkran festival, police have doubled their personnel to 2,700 to provide safety to protesters as well as preventing a ‘third hand’ from creating troubles there.
Police reinforcements are now posted around the rally site and more checkpoints have been set up.
Although UDD protesters have left Ratchadamnoen Avenue and join fellow activists at Ratchaprasong intersection, police are keeping tight security at several government offices including Government House and Parliament. (TNA)
