PAD siege broken
Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
PAD siege broken
Riot police launched a surprise tear-gas raid Tuesday morning to break up a siege and tear down barricades at parliament erected up overnight by supporters of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).
At around 6.20am, the PAD protesters retreated as unarmed police with shields and face masks moved through the barbed-wire barricades on Sukhothai and Rachavithi roads and tore them down.
Chaiwan Chaorenchoketawee, director of Vajira Hospital near the scene, said 71 people were injured, of whom 47 were treated at his hospital. One man, Chaiya Poomkaew, lost part of his left leg when he was hit directly with a tear gas grenade just before it exploded.
Her Majesty the Queen donated 100,000 baht to cover the medical expenses of the injured.
“I don’t think there are many injuries,” said Pol Maj Gen Viboon Bangthamai, who was at the scene.
Prime Minister and Defence Minister Somchai Wongsawat ordered police to clear the way into parliament for the scheduled policy debate on Tuesday morning. He had called an urgent cabinet meeting late Monday night after PAD human shields ringed parliament to prevent the meeting.
About five companies of police massed in riot formation marched up to parliament shortly after sunrise at 6am. Officers armed with grenade launchers immediately began firing tear gas cannisters at the barricades.
Most of the gas grenades burst in piles of tyres placed by the demonstrators as part of their barricade. With the CS gas still heavy in the air and wafting over the area, police moved in to tear down the steel gates and barbed wire that had been strung by the PAD.
Most of the policemen had no protection against the gas, and covered their faces with handkerchiefs. The PAD crowds pulled back from the area as police moved in to open roads and remove the protesters’ barricades.
PAD supporters screamed at police through the loudspeaker system as officers moved in.
From the rear, PAD leader Somsak Kohsaisuk called on the PA system, “I call on our followers from all over the country to come to Bangkok to join us. The police are using tear gas, bombs and guns on us.”
PAD founder and leader Sondhi Limthongkul could be heard deploring the “police attack on children in our midst” but he also did not come to the foreground of the action.
Earlier report:
By 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 meeting 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.
Earlier report:
(BangkokPost.com) - Thousands of anti-government protesters marched to Parliament on Monday night, extending their rallies from Government House, as the new cabinet is scheduled on Tuesday to begin delivering their policy statement to parliament.
The protesters led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) vowed to station themselves at Parliament to block government officials and MPs from entering but would not break into the compound.
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat said the house session would go ahead.
“The House speaker has already made the appointment. There will be no change. It is the duty of police to maintain law and order and make the way for lawmakers to enter parliament,” he told reporters.
“It is not right for the PAD to obstruct the representatives of the people,” he added.
The rallies were being led by a second batch of PAD leaders who were designated to replace the PAD’s core leaders in case they were all arrested, as arrest warrants had been issued for all of them. The protesters demanded the government resign as the cabinet served as former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s proxy.
Police esimated that 4,000 people had gathered at parliament, while 6,000 were at Government House. The PAD blocked entrances to parliament with trucks and unfurled barbed wire.
National Police Chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan called an emergency meeting to cope with the situation.
Protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul whipped up the crowd at Government House:
“Our fight has only 100 metres left, so we ask for PAD supporters to gather at the parliament for our final battle.
“Don’t let the arrests of Chamlong and Chaiwat be wasted,” he said, referring to the detention over the weekend of key PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang and protest organiser Chaiwat Sinsuwong.
Earlier Monday, the Criminal Court permitted police to detain PAD core leader Maj-Gen Chamlong for 12 days from Monday and ordered the investigating police officers to accelerate their interrogation. He was arrested on Sunday.
The court will consider on Tuesday afternoon requests for his temporary release. Like another detained PAD core leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Maj-Gen Chamlong said he would not seek bail.
Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh said he would continue to push efforts to hold talks with PAD representatives. He defended the police’s action in apprehending Maj-Gen Chamlong, saying an arrest warrant had already been issued for the PAD leader. He also brushed aside allegations the government was behind the move.
“All of us meant well. I don’t think anyone is trying to derail the negotiations. If the talks fail, it would be because of my performance; not anyone’s wicked attempt,” Gen Chavalit said.
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court rejected a release request by Mr Chaiwat, who was detained on multiple charges including insurrection, as it considered the arrest warrant issued against him was lawful.
The Criminal Court ruled since the Appeals Court had not issued or changed the order on the arrest warrants, police were empowered to make the arrest.
Mr Chaiwat’s lawyer said his client refused to seek bail as he considered his detention was unlawful. (With reports by TNA)
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