Hundreds gather in Chiang Mai for pro-government rally and black magic ritual
By Manop Thip-osod
Around 300 people joined the anti-People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally which kicked off in Chiang Mai_home province of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra_yesterday. The demonstrators, led by the Northern People Council, gathered near the Tha Phae gate around 5pm. Red banners were put up around the area, calling for charter amendment and reinstatement of the 1997 charter_a move initiated by the ruling People Power party (PPP).
The pro-government group comprised the Association of Northern People for Democracy, the Grassroots and Otop Association, the Urban Villages' Group, the Group of Northern October People for Democracy and the June 24th Group for Democracy.
The group held a black magic ritual to curse the PAD supporters. The effigies of PAD leaders were also torched.
The group declared the northern city a PAD-free zone and vowed to resort to every means possible to stop five PAD leaders from setting foot in Chiang Mai.
They referred to Sondhi Limthongkul, Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, Somsak Kosaisuk and Democrat party-list MP Somkiat Pongpaiboon.
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| About 300 pro-government demonstrators burn the effigies of the five leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy in Chiang Mai to express their opposition to the anti-government rally in Bangkok. — CHEEWIN SATTHA |
Deputy Prime Minister and PPP deputy leader Somchai Wongsawat said the government and the PPP had nothing to do with the rally, although former leader of the pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Weng Tojirakarn took the stage.
Mr Somchai said he did not want to see anybody protesting the pro-government demonstration, citing fear of violent clashes.
In Bangkok, PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila yesterday said the anti-government rally would stay put at the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok avenue over the next two days.
According to Mr Suriyasai, a group of PAD supporters will gather in front of the government-run NBT television station today to condemn the channel for broadcasting biased news coverage, which aims to serve government politicians more than the public.
Demonstrators would move to Government House if PPP MPs submit a motion for a charter rewrite on Tuesday_the first day of the extraordinary House meeting, he said.
Maj-Gen Chamlong said on stage that he did not have faith in a coup, but over the past three months the government had done the country more harm than good.
''Our struggle will continue, with more or fewer participants,'' he said.
He conceded that the military had a limited role to play and army chief Anupong Paojinda had to report to the government.
''He [Gen Anupong] said he stood by the people, and that's more than enough,'' Maj-Gen Chamlong said.
Mr Pibhop said the group would not stop fighting until Mr Thaksin was brought to justice.
He said PAD wanted to make sure that all cases involving Mr Thaksin's alleged wrongdoings are processed in the judiciary system.
''Many people said PAD should call off the protest for the sake of reconciliation, but we cannot do that, because reconciliation is not a solution to injustice,'' he said.
Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Tuanthong, deputy spokesman for the Royal Police Office, said 150 police officers would be deployed at the NBT station on Vibhavadi Rangsit road during the PAD's mini-protest today to ensure safety for the prime minister, who will come to the station for his live weekly talk show.
''I don't think there will be any trouble today, but if protesters instigate unrest, they will face legal actions,'' he said.
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