ID :
119658
Sat, 05/01/2010 - 15:36
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/119658
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Protesters slam hospital for evacuating patients
BANGKOK, May 1 (TNA) – Key anti-government leaders Saturday criticised management of Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Hospital for its chaotic evacuation of patients to other hospitals following the surprise raid there two days ago, and a road blockade in front of the hospital entrance put up by demonstrators was finally demolished on Saturday.
Jatuporn Prompan, a key leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told journalists that ranking UDD leaders were trying to contact and apologise to the hospital’s senior officials after a group of UDD protesters stormed the hospital Thursday night on suspicious that armed soldiers were staying inside the hospital building and prepared to disperse the protesters.
No soldiers were found, but the hospital moved inpatients out of the hospital to other hospitals. Some patients whose symptoms were not too severe were allowed to return home late Thursday and early Friday.
Mr Jatuporn said his group feared that Chulalongkorn Hospital might use the patients’ lives as a propaganda “tool for the government” to disparage the demonstrators and said he considered the patient evacuation as “too strong a measure against the Red Shirts”.
The goverment was using the evacuation as a ploy to make the protesters look bad, Mr Jatuporn complained, and the public now has bad feellings against the Red Shirt protesters.
He went on to say that three key UDD leaders have been assigned to hold talks with Army Specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, a staunch supporter of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, asking him to let protesters remove the blockade made up of car tyres and sharpened bamboo rods, making it impossible for emergency cases of patients to enter the hospital.
Protesters demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House on Friday afternoon dismantled the blockade in front of a Chula Hospiyal entrance on Ratchadamri Road. However, it was put in place a few hours later after Gen Khattiya turned up and advised the protesters to reinstall the blockade.
As senior police officers were again requesting a UDD guard leader for the protesters to remove the blockade early Saturday, Gen Khattiya, now temporarily suspended from duty following his attacks on the army chief, appeared at the scene and told the demonstrators not to remove the blockade. Protesters then surrounded police officers who later withdrew into the hospital.
However, the road blockade was finally removed.
The general atmosphere is expected to become tense again after Mr Jatuporn told protesters that more people from upcountry would join them soon. The UDD is expected to make a major move to press the government later. (TNA)
Jatuporn Prompan, a key leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), told journalists that ranking UDD leaders were trying to contact and apologise to the hospital’s senior officials after a group of UDD protesters stormed the hospital Thursday night on suspicious that armed soldiers were staying inside the hospital building and prepared to disperse the protesters.
No soldiers were found, but the hospital moved inpatients out of the hospital to other hospitals. Some patients whose symptoms were not too severe were allowed to return home late Thursday and early Friday.
Mr Jatuporn said his group feared that Chulalongkorn Hospital might use the patients’ lives as a propaganda “tool for the government” to disparage the demonstrators and said he considered the patient evacuation as “too strong a measure against the Red Shirts”.
The goverment was using the evacuation as a ploy to make the protesters look bad, Mr Jatuporn complained, and the public now has bad feellings against the Red Shirt protesters.
He went on to say that three key UDD leaders have been assigned to hold talks with Army Specialist Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, a staunch supporter of fugitive ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, asking him to let protesters remove the blockade made up of car tyres and sharpened bamboo rods, making it impossible for emergency cases of patients to enter the hospital.
Protesters demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House on Friday afternoon dismantled the blockade in front of a Chula Hospiyal entrance on Ratchadamri Road. However, it was put in place a few hours later after Gen Khattiya turned up and advised the protesters to reinstall the blockade.
As senior police officers were again requesting a UDD guard leader for the protesters to remove the blockade early Saturday, Gen Khattiya, now temporarily suspended from duty following his attacks on the army chief, appeared at the scene and told the demonstrators not to remove the blockade. Protesters then surrounded police officers who later withdrew into the hospital.
However, the road blockade was finally removed.
The general atmosphere is expected to become tense again after Mr Jatuporn told protesters that more people from upcountry would join them soon. The UDD is expected to make a major move to press the government later. (TNA)
