Blue-shirts guard PM on tour
3,000 POLICE FOR BURI RAM VISIT, BUT RED SHIRTS KEPT AT BAY BY NEWIN GROUP
- Published: 12/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
BURI RAM : Blue-shirt government supporters encircled about 200 red-shirt protesters in Buri Ram yesterday to ensure the prime minister's tour of the province encountered little resistance.
UPCOUNTRY: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is driven around on a local farm vehicle as he tours eucalyptus and rubber plantations in Lam Plai Mat district of Buri Ram yesterday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the Northeast - stronghold of the opposition Puea Thai Party - to boost the Democrat Party's popularity among northeastern voters.
He took along with him promises of big spending from the government's economic stimulus package.
Red shirts vowed to disrupt his tour, but found themselves unable to budge for most of the day as 500 blue-shirts encircled them on the road and kept them hemmed in with six-wheeler trucks.
The blue-shirts encircled the red shirt protesters for seven hours, and only let them go after they agreed to apologise to the people of Buri Ram.
Mr Abhisit's one-day tour ended safely, but he failed to meet Newin Chidchob, the Buri Ram native and power broker for the coalition Bhumjaithai Party who helped organise the trip.
Before he boarded his return flight to Bangkok, he called to thank him instead.
The prime minister arrived at Buri Ram airport at 9.20am amid tight security. His entourage moved to the provincial railway station to open a station library, before heading to Lam Plai Mat district to inspect government projects.
A security helicopter followed his convoy along the route.
About 200 red-shirt demonstrators, mostly from other provinces, gathered at Nang Rong district and moved to Lam Plai Mat to protest.
However, shortly after they entered Lam Plai Mat, they were met by two six-wheeled trucks and were encircled by about 500 government supporters wearing blue.
The blue-shirts were hired by the Bhumjaithai Party, which has nine MPs in the province. They kept up their blockade of the government protesters until Mr Abhisit ended his provincial tour last night.
The blue-shirts demanded the red-shirts apologise to Buri Ram residents, or they would not be allowed to go. The red shirts finally agreed to do so.
About 3,000 police provided safety and set up checkpoints in the province. Local administration staff also provided security.
Mr Newin did not show up to meet Mr Abhisit.
Making brief stops only for most of his tour, Mr Abhisit said his Democrat Party-led coalition planned to invest in mega-projects to help Buri Ram over the next three years.
Buri Ram alone would get 6.5 billion baht spent on it in the next fiscal year, starting in October, he said.
Buri Ram would get a new water irrigation system, asphalt roads to replace gravel ones, and upgraded health care stations.
The government would set aside 20% of the three-year, 1.56 trillion baht Thai Strength policy for a water irrigation system nationwide, in which priority would be given to Buri Ram and other northeastern provinces, Mr Abhisit said.
"The huge investment will help open the gates of Isan," he said.
Buri Ram has been chosen for several pilot projects under the Thai Strength policy, said Mr Abhisit.
He presided over the opening of several projects, including a dust-free (asphalt) road scheme for which the pilot road is located near the home of Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum, a Bhumjaithai MP.
He also visited a health station which has been upgraded to a mini-hospital.
At least half the health stations nationwide would be transformed over the next three years, he said.
The prime minister was accompanied by Bhumjaithai Party leader and Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul and Democrat MPs and politicians.
Conceding that he had never been a favourite in the Northeast, Mr Abhisit said his government would still work for every region.
"There are people who disagree with me, but I will treat everybody equally," he said.
At several events, Mr Abhisit's address on stage received a lukewarm reception from the crowds.
The prime minister said he planned trips to other provinces as the government implemented its Thai Strength policy nationwide.
About the author
- Writer: SURASAK GLAHAN
