ID :
54591
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 15:12
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http://m.oananews.org//node/54591
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Anti-government protesters threaten ASEAN summit disruption
BANGKOK, April 9 (TNA) - Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Thursday vowed to intensify their protest by disrupting this weekend’s three-day Pattaya summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with its international dialogue partners after their demands were rejected by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
The action is not only a loss of face for the Abhisit government, but will cause national embarrassment and economic losses, according to tourism and hospitality business leaders in the resort town who asked the UDD to abandon its proposed action.
On Tuesday, the UDD issued a 24-hour ultimatum to three privy councillors and the prime minister to quit their posts unconditionally.
Jatuporn Promphan, a key UDD leader, announced at a press conference that the anti-Abhisit organisation will announce raising the level of its anti-government protest at 4pm Thursday after the government refuses to bow to their demands.
"I apologise to the people for the painful consequences which they will inevitably encounter, Mr. Jatuporn warned, saying his Red Shirts might carry the protests to blockade the site of the ASEAN summit and meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners in Pattaya April 10-12 “to disrupt the meeting."
The three-day meeting of 10 ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand will open in Pattaya this weekend.
Prime Minister Abhisit earlier said he would not postpone the ASEAN meeting, but that military security can supplement police to handle the situation if needed.
"I’m confident there will be no repeat of Tuesday’s incident,” Mr. Abhisit said. “Adequate security measures will be provided to foreign leaders.
“What happened to me would never happen to other leaders," he affirmed.
The prime minister's car was attacked by red-clad UDD protesters as he left Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Pattaya for Bangkok.
International-standard security measures would be implemented and maintained during the ASEAN summit, Mr. Abhisit said.
Earlier UDD leader Natthawut Saikuea intensified its protest to topple Thailand’s bureaucratic polity by aiming at three privy councillors, Gen. Prem Tinsulanond, Gen, Surayud Chulanont and Charnchai Likhitjitta, demanding their resignations.
Mr. Natthawut downplayed reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Pojaman Damapong and the couple’s children had fled the country, saying that even if the report is true, it would not undermine the ongoing protest, cause it to lose momentum, nor indicate that the Thaksin family were insincere in supporting the anti-government campaign.
As the UDD announced its stance to the media, some protesters led mini-protests at key sites, including the ruling Democrat Party’s headquarters, urging the prime minister to step down, and the Constitution Court, where Red Shirts expressed anger at the Dec. 2, 2008 ruling dissolving three parties in the previous governing coalition of Thaksin allies after they were found guilty of electoral fraud.
Protesters also rallied at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand that Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya resign.
The ‘Red Shirts’ have protested since March 26 demanding that the government dissolve the House of Representatives and hold new elections.
Pattaya business leaders on Thursday urged the UDD protesters to end their rallies during the ASEAN summit, saying they tarnish the country’s image and Pattaya’s tourism industry.
Chatchawan Suppachayanont, president of the Thai Hotel's Association branch here said that local residents want to live peacefully and don’t want any incident which will lead the confrontation during the ASEAN meeting. (TNA)
The action is not only a loss of face for the Abhisit government, but will cause national embarrassment and economic losses, according to tourism and hospitality business leaders in the resort town who asked the UDD to abandon its proposed action.
On Tuesday, the UDD issued a 24-hour ultimatum to three privy councillors and the prime minister to quit their posts unconditionally.
Jatuporn Promphan, a key UDD leader, announced at a press conference that the anti-Abhisit organisation will announce raising the level of its anti-government protest at 4pm Thursday after the government refuses to bow to their demands.
"I apologise to the people for the painful consequences which they will inevitably encounter, Mr. Jatuporn warned, saying his Red Shirts might carry the protests to blockade the site of the ASEAN summit and meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners in Pattaya April 10-12 “to disrupt the meeting."
The three-day meeting of 10 ASEAN leaders and their counterparts from China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand will open in Pattaya this weekend.
Prime Minister Abhisit earlier said he would not postpone the ASEAN meeting, but that military security can supplement police to handle the situation if needed.
"I’m confident there will be no repeat of Tuesday’s incident,” Mr. Abhisit said. “Adequate security measures will be provided to foreign leaders.
“What happened to me would never happen to other leaders," he affirmed.
The prime minister's car was attacked by red-clad UDD protesters as he left Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting in Pattaya for Bangkok.
International-standard security measures would be implemented and maintained during the ASEAN summit, Mr. Abhisit said.
Earlier UDD leader Natthawut Saikuea intensified its protest to topple Thailand’s bureaucratic polity by aiming at three privy councillors, Gen. Prem Tinsulanond, Gen, Surayud Chulanont and Charnchai Likhitjitta, demanding their resignations.
Mr. Natthawut downplayed reports that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's ex-wife Pojaman Damapong and the couple’s children had fled the country, saying that even if the report is true, it would not undermine the ongoing protest, cause it to lose momentum, nor indicate that the Thaksin family were insincere in supporting the anti-government campaign.
As the UDD announced its stance to the media, some protesters led mini-protests at key sites, including the ruling Democrat Party’s headquarters, urging the prime minister to step down, and the Constitution Court, where Red Shirts expressed anger at the Dec. 2, 2008 ruling dissolving three parties in the previous governing coalition of Thaksin allies after they were found guilty of electoral fraud.
Protesters also rallied at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand that Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya resign.
The ‘Red Shirts’ have protested since March 26 demanding that the government dissolve the House of Representatives and hold new elections.
Pattaya business leaders on Thursday urged the UDD protesters to end their rallies during the ASEAN summit, saying they tarnish the country’s image and Pattaya’s tourism industry.
Chatchawan Suppachayanont, president of the Thai Hotel's Association branch here said that local residents want to live peacefully and don’t want any incident which will lead the confrontation during the ASEAN meeting. (TNA)
