PAD calls major protest | Bangkok Post: learning

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The PAD announced it is planning a major rally on Saturday to try to force the government from office.

Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, right, speaks to fellow members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, including Parnthep Pourpongpan, second right, and Praphan Khoonmee, wearing glasses. The alliance is pressing the government to bring home Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkhwamkid and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon after the two were sentenced to jail on Tuesday by a Phnom Penh court for espionage. PATTANAPOPNG HIRUNARD

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PAD calls major protest

Key member arrested over airport seizures

POST REPORTERS

A key member of the People's Alliance for Democracy has been arrested on outstanding charges stemming from the movement's seizure in 2008 of Bangkok's two commercial airports.

The arrest last night comes as the PAD announced it is planning a major rally on Saturday to try to force the government from office and derail plans to hold a general election on the government's own terms.

Former senator Karun Saingam was arrested last night at Suvarnabhum airport as he returned from Cambodia.

He had been in Phnom Penh as part of a legal team put together by the Thai Patriots Network to assist seven Thais arrested on Dec 29 for illegal entry to Cambodia.

Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, one of the PAD's key leaders, said yesterday the alliance planned to raise the intensity of its anti-government rally near Government House after the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday sentenced Thai Patriots Network coordinator Veera Somkhwamkid to eight years in jail and his secretary Ratree Pipatanapaiboon to six years for spying.

Maj Gen Chamlong said the Abhisit government must see to it that the two are brought home within three days.

If the government ignored its demand, the alliance would seek a "consensus" on Saturday as to what action should be taken against the government by PAD supporters across the country.

He told his supporters last night it was up to them to decide on Saturday if the PAD would invade Government House. "Don't listen to anyone who orders you to invade Government House. Just listen to me and the other leaders and Parnthep [Pourpongpan, PAD spokesman]," he said.

The PAD supporters occupied Government House for 193 days in 2008 in an attempt to topple the Somchai Wongsawat government. Maj Gen Chamlong said last night: "Don't worry. It's easy to enter Government House. No one knows the place like I do."

A source close to Maj Gen Chamlong said the move to step up the protest was aimed at trying to oust the government from office and to prevent a general election called by the government.

The PAD does not believe an election will bring about a government able to end the problems besetting the country.

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fellow – used for talking about people who are similar to you or are in the same situation  เพื่อนร่วมชะตากรรม
People’s Alliance for Democracy – the union of several groups protesting against the past government and which staged large protests against the Thaksin government as well พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย  
Thai Patriots Network – The group formed to pressure the Thai government into not approving any agreements which would result in the loss of territory to Cambodia เครือข่ายกลุ่มคนไทยหัวใจรักชาติ
press – to try in a determined way to make someone do something ผลักดัน, บังคับ, รบเร้า, กระตุ้น
coordinator – someone whose job is to organise the various parts of an activity and make sure that all the people involved work well together (used to identify Surasai Katasila, PAD coordinator)  ผู้ประสานงาน
sentence – (of a court of law) to give a punishment ลงโทษ
espionage – spying the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another country or of finding out another company's secrets by using spies  จารกรรม
key – most important  ที่สำคัญ
arrest – (of the police) to take someone under control because they are believed to have committed a crime จับกุม
seizure – the act of taking control of something, especially by using power or force  การบุกเข้ายึด
outstanding – finished, solved, etc ค้างชำระ
charge – moving very fast towards someone or something and attacking them การโจมตี, การจู่โจม
movement – a group of people who share the same aim and work together to achieve it การเคลื่อนไหวเพื่อวัตถุประสงค์ทางการเมือง
stem from – to be caused by เกิดจาก
commercial – for business purposes เกี่ยวกับการค้า
rally – a large public gathering of people to support someone or to protest against something การชุมนุม
derail – to prevent something from continuing in the way that it was planned ทำให้ล้มเหลว
terms – conditions; requirements  ข้อกำหนด
senator – a member of the Senate ฒิสมาชิก
legal – relating to the law or lawyers เกี่ยวกับกฎหมาย
illegal – against the law  ผิดกฎหมาย
intensity – strength ความเข้มข้น
spying – espionage; secretly collecting and reporting information about the activities of another country or organisation การจารกรรม
ignore – to intentionally not listen or give attention to ทำเพิกเฉย
demand – a very firm request for something ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้อง
consensus – a generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people ความคิดเห็นของคนส่วนใหญ่
invade – to enter a place in large numbers, usually when unwanted บุกรุก
occupy – to be in control of a place that you entered by force as a group ยึดครอง
topple – to force out of power; to cause to fall (also oust, unseat or overthrow)  โค่นอำนาจ
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
step up – to increase; to cause to get stronger ทำให้เข้มข้นขึ้น
protest – a meeting or rally, sometimes forceful or violent, of people who strongly disagree with something ชุมนุมประท้วง
aim – to have as your purpose or goal   มีเป้าหมาย  มีจุดมุ่งหมา   
oust – to force to leave a position of power  ขับออกจากอำนาจ
beset – to cause someone difficult or danger over a period of time  รุมเร้าด้วยปัญหา

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