CRISIS
THAWEESAK BUTCHAN & THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
Two train services to the Northeast were cancelled last night after the State Railway of Thailand's (SRT) labour union staged a strike in support of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD). State-run hospital unions have also threatened a nationwide strike if the government uses force to disperse the PAD rally.
Train services to Sikhoraphum in Surin and Ubon Ratchathani, which were scheduled to leave Hua Lamphong station in Bangkok at 9.50pm and 11.40pm respectively, were cancelled, according to officials at Hua Lamphong station.
The cancellations came after about 100 SRT staff in Nakhon Ratchasima province took leave en masse yesterday afternoon. The mass absence of rail workers crippled train schedules on the northeastern route.Sathorn Silpru, the chairman of Nakhon Ratchasima's SRT labour union, said as a result of the strike all outbound and inbound train services on the northeastern route were likely to suspended for a few days from today.
Jinnawat Silloy, the secretary-general of the State Employees Confederation of Thailand, said state hospital labour unions had agreed to stop working if the government used violence against the PAD demonstrators.
A source said the SRT labour union had also vowed to stop other train services if force was used to break up the PAD demonstration at Government House and at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge.
The PAD network in the South asked Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej not to set foot in the region.
Ekkachai Issarathat, a coordinator of the PAD network in Songkhla, said PAD supporters in the South would take drastic measures against Mr Samak if he dared visit the region.
Meanwhile, pro-government groups in the North and Northeast yesterday moved against the PAD.
In Chiang Rai, a group called ''June 24th Democracy Group'' submitted a petition to the governor, asking the government to take action against nine PAD leaders wanted on arrest warrants.
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