PAD disrupts policy statement
Written by changthai11 on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
POLITICS
PAD disrupts policy statement
POST REPORTERS
The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) last night sealed off parliament to prevent the government from announcing its policy today in a move that upset Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat.
He said the police had a duty to clear the way for the House to convene today.
The government has set today, tomorrow and Thursday to deliver its policy statement before the House.
Some 5,000 anti-government demonstrators, led by Sirichai Mai-ngam, Suwit Kaeowan and Samran Rodphet, gathered outside Government House last night. There were several thousands more at the Royal Plaza and nearby areas.
Their intention was to block the government from national administration. If the government is unable to make its policy statement, it cannot run the nation.
But Mr Somchai vowed the policy announcement would go ahead as planned.
About 1,000 police tried to reach parliament, but entry was blocked by PAD security guards and barricades.
The prime minister called an urgent cabinet meenting late last night at temporary Government House at Don Mueang airport to discuss ways to cope with the latest PAD trouble.
PAD leader Pibhop Dhongchai said the People Power party was likely to be disbanded in the near future and most of its cabinet ministers had violated the constitution, so it had no legitimacy to announce the government policy.
The Criminal Court yesterday approved a police request to detain key PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang for 12 days. He is being detained at Bangkok Special Prison.
Police arrested Maj-Gen Chamlong on Sunday morning when he left Government House to cast his vote in the Bangkok governor election
Earlier, another PAD leader, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, was arrested on Friday when he showed up at his house.
The two are among nine PAD leaders wanted on arrest warrants on charges of inciting insurrection after PAD protesters seized and occupied Government House on Aug 26.
Maj-Gen Chamlong contested the police request for his detention and said the warrant for his arrest was not valid because the Appeals Court was considering his appeal against the warrant.
However, the court said the warrant was still valid since the Appeals Court had yet to revoke it.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said he would not seek his release on bail.
The same court yesterday rejected Mr Chaiwat’s request for his release. He cited Article 90 as a basis for his argument.
After leaving the courtroom, he was sent to Bangkok Special Prison.
Somsak Kosaisuk, another PAD leader, said the other PAD leaders may leave Government House to lead demonstrations in the wake of the arrests of Maj-Gen Chamlong and Mr Chaiwat.
He also said the PAD leaders had resolved to let Maj-Gen Chamlong leave Government House to exercise his right to vote in the city governor election.
“Mr Somchai said he wanted reconciliation, but what the government is doing is sowing violence to wrap up the game more quickly,” Mr Somsak said.
