POLITICS
The pro-government group the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) yesterday resolved to end their demonstrations nationwide in an effort to help the government's handling of the political situation. The UDD moved its demonstration site from Sanam Luang to Samut Prakan province after the fatal clash on Tuesday.
Gatherings had also been held in several provinces to support the Samak government and to protest against the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally.
The resolution was reached during yesterday's meeting of UDD leaders, who instructed their supporters in every province to stop their activities, according to UDD leader Pornchai Kowattanamongkol, who led the gathering of government supporters in Samut Prakan province.
The group yesterday demolished their stage in the province to the surprise of government supporters who had travelled from other provinces to join the gathering.
''The UDD has agreed to end the rally to ease the authorities' work. We hope the PAD will follow suit,'' he said.
A sister of UDD supporter Narongsak Kobthaisong, who was killed in Tuesday's clash at the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge, filed a police complaint against six PAD leaders yesterday.
Chaba Singhaklangpol, 70, accused the PAD leaders of instigating the unrest, which left many injured and her 55-year-old brother dead.
She asked Nang Loeng police to bring a case against Somsak Kosaisuk, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Pibhop Dhongchai, Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul and Suriyasai Katasila.
Ms Chaba was accompanied by Viputhalaeng Pattanaphumthai, the leader of the UDD, and the group's lawyer. She gave VCDs, newspaper clippings and photos of the clash and her brother's death certificate to police.
Police said they would not file any charges until they had collected evidence and questioned witnesses.
She said her brother was an idealist. He disagreed with the PAD taking over Government House and disrupting the government's work.
He had travelled from Nakhon Ratchasima to see her in Kanchanaburi to ask for money to join the UDD gathering in Bangkok.
She declined and told him to go home. He refused and pawned his ring with her neighbour and had 200 baht to travel to Bangkok.
She maintained her brother was unarmed.
''I want him to be the last victim of violence,'' she said.
A PAD lawyer petitioned the National Counter Corruption Commission, asking it look into the heavy-handed police crackdown on protesters at Government House last Friday, which left 29 PAD supporters injured.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday decided to reopen 24 BMA-run schools in Phra Nakhon, Dusit and Pomprap Sattruphai districts on Monday, while another 411 schools in other districts will reopen today.
The temporary closure of schools was announced shortly after the emergency decree was declared on Tuesday after the fatal clash between the pro- and anti-government camps.
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