POLITICS
The Civil Court yesterday adjourned until today its hearing on the People's Alliance for Democracy's (PAD) appeal against the court injunction that forces it to unblock traffic lanes outside Government House where it is protesting. PAD leaders Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Pibhob Dhongchai, yesterday appealed against the court's injunction, issued on Monday after parents and students from Rajavinit school near the protest site lodged a petition with the court complaining they were inconvenienced by the demonstration.
The petition complained the PAD rally caused traffic snarls in the area and students could not concentrate on their studies because of the constant blaring of the loudspeakers.
The court considered the complaint and on Monday ordered the PAD to unblock traffic lanes on Rama V and Phitsanulok roads and lower the volume of its loudspeakers between 7.30am and 4.30pm from Monday to Friday.
PAD leaders, accompanied by about 100 supporters, yesterday told the court that while they respected the injunction they felt it was unconstitutional.
PAD leaders insisted they have the constitutional right to hold peaceful rallies that did not harm the health or property of individuals.
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| Parents can now use one lane of Phitsanulok road to take their children to Rajavinit school after the People's Alliance for Democracy rally cleared away part of its stage and opened the road to traffic as ordered by the Civil Court. — PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN |
The PAD leaders charged that the petition was politically motivated. They believed it was a ploy to disperse their protest because the plaintiffs' lawyer, Methee Jaisamut, is a younger brother of Supachai Jaisamut, a deputy spokesman of the People Power party (PPP).
The PAD brought witnesses to testify in their defence yesterday. Two students from Rajavinit school, three parents and a cleaner at the school backed their claim.
They said they were not bothered by the traffic because they used alternative roads to get to the school. Most parents parked their cars at the Royal Turf Club nearby before walking their children to the school. Noise from the protest was also not loud, they said.
After adjourning the hearing, the court told PAD supporters it had no intention of making the PAD end its rally.
The PAD yesterday acted on the court injunction and unblocked one lane on Rama V road and two of the five traffic lanes on Phitsanulok road.
Metropolitan Police deputy chief Pol Maj-Gen Panu Kerdlarbpol said police will ask the Legal Execution Department to force the PAD to reopen more lanes.
The Civil Court also ruled yesterday on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's complaint that PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul and other figures in the group offended him during their speeches to PAD demonstrators.
The court granted an injunction forbidding Mr Sondhi from referring to Mr Thaksin while addressing PAD supporters.
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