Call to use security law, more strife predicted
POST REPORTERS
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| Thousands of supporters of the anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy march to the head office of PTT Plc on Vibhavadi Rangsit road yesterday. PAD core leaders clamoured for the resignation of the company's executives and demanded the country's top energy conglomerate be nationalised. — APICHIT JINAKUL |
A security expert yesterday urged the government to invoke the internal security law amid mounting political tensions following Thursday's clash between People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters and their opponents in Udon Thani province.
Panithan Wattanayakorn, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University, said the internal security law would be the best solution, as police apparently were not capable of keeping the situation under control.
According to Mr Panithan, the enforcement of the internal security law would not undermine the government's credibility as national stability depended on it. ''If violence is allowed to continue against PAD supporters without any action being taken, it won't bode well for the government's image.
''The government may hope that the violence would deter PAD protests which are in fact in accordance with the constitution. But in fact it will threaten the government's stability,'' he said.
Mr Panithan said the government is authorised to invoke the legislation under Article 3 of the constitution.
PAD yesterday demanded army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, as director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), take action, or risk possible bloodshed.
''The PAD is calling on army chief Gen Anupong Paojinda, as Isoc director, to show responsibility rather than staying aloof. If he allows the situation to drift further, bloodshed will result and national security will be threatened.
''Those who are mistreated will rise up in arms, and it is about time,'' said Sondhi Limthongkul, a PAD core member, reading from a statement.
The PAD condemned the violence in Udon Thani and accused the People Power party of supporting the use of violence against PAD demonstrators.
It said police and local administration authorities sided with ''government's thugs'' in attacking PAD supporters.
Addressing the crowds last night, PAD core member Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang challenged the army leader to step down if he was not able to take action following the clash.
''If you claim to have no power [over the issue], just quit, so you can [stay home] and be as powerless as you want. If the military does nothing, there will be bloodshed.''
Early in the day, Gen Anupong said it was not the army's duty to intervene. He denounced the clash in Udon Thani, saying it would cast the country in a bad light, and asked all parties to desist from violence.
In Udon Thani, the centre of attention, 700 Khon Rak Udon demonstrators led by Kwanchai Sarakham remained at Thung Sri Muang following Thursday's clash with PAD supporters in which scores were injured.
Khon Rak Udon yesterday denied they started the fight, saying the weapons belonged to PAD protesters who planned to use them against his group.
Mr Kwanchai said the violence would not have occurred had PAD supporters not organised a rally in the province.
''I will fight against them coming here. If they show up here 10 times, we will meet each other 10 times,'' he said.
People Power party MPs for Udon Thani Thongdee Manissarn, Wichian Khaokham and Anant Sirphan yesterday turned up at the rally site to give moral support to the demonstrators.
Muang Udon Thani police station and the provincial administration's public relations office were yesterday flooded with calls from residents who were outraged by authorities' failure to stop the violence.
National police chief Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan instructed provincial police chiefs to step up security and prevent such clashes. His deputy, Pol Gen Pansiri Prapawat, said Police Region 4 was ordered to set up a committee to investigate the clash and take legal action against all wrongdoers.
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