Suthep denies link to blue shirts
- Published: 10/06/2009 at 03:39 PM
- Online news: Local News
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban denied ordering Isan police to wear blue shirts and clash with red-shirt protesters in Pattaya when he appeared before the fact-finding committee into the Asean summit fiasco and the Songkran riots on Wednesday.
He did admit he had asked the Pattaya mayor and a Chon Buri MP to bring volunteers to oversee security when the police could not bring the situation under control.
But Mr Suthep denied instructing Provincial Police Region 3 to masquerade as civilians, wear blue shirts and prevent the anti-government protesters from entering the summit venue in Pattaya.
Provincial Police Region 3 is responsible for the northeastern provinces and has no jurisdiction in Pattaya, which is the responsibility of Provincial Police Region 2.
Puea Thai MP Surawit Khomsomboon claimed there were documents from the Royal Thai Police ordering Provincial Police Region 3 to wear blue shirts and to oppose the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship supporters in Pattaya.
Mr Suthep insisted he had no knowledge of police wearing blue shirts. He did not believe the volunteers were policemen in disguise.
He appeared before the inquiry committee chaired by Senator Anothai Ritthipanyawong.
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- Writer: BangkokPost.com
