Emotional Prommin urges calm, recalls Oct bloodshed
A tearful secretary-general to the prime minister has called for calm in the streets and says he fears a return to the bloody Octobers of 1973 and 1976.
And a top Thai Rak Thai official called on pro-government factions to take the high road and avoid confrontation with anti-Thaksin Shinawatra demonstrators. Secretary-general to the prime minister Prommin Lertsuridej yesterday tearfully called for pro- and anti-Thaksin demonstrators to halt violent clashes. Prommin said both sides in the current political stand-off should treat each other with love and not hatred. "Let me speak as a member of the October [1973] generation and someone who witnessed the October 6, 1976 [massacre]. It's painful to see people inciting hatred and for Thais to kill one another. "The October generation on both sides must cease this provocation, hatred and mutual destruction." He called on those people to remember their friends who sacrificed their lives. Prommin said it was wrong to make heroes out of those who abused the prime minister in public places and to do so would only encourage them to continue, thereby perpetuating street clashes. He said Thaksin had started to trim back his public appearances to cool the current polarity. But, the anti-Thaksin camp had to back off, too. Meanwhile, Thai Rak Thai spokesman Sita Divari called on Thaksin supporters to avoid becoming embroiled in a public war of words with opponents. "If the [anti-Thaksin] mob causes a nuisance, use reconciliatory measures by prostrating them and urge them to remain peaceful. "If violence looks imminent, retreat. If you see illegal activities, report them to the police." He advised. He encouraged party supporters to participate in its activities but to do so without resorting to attacks on those of other political hues. "One should also go to cast their vote [on election day]," recommend Sita. For the anti-Thaksin camp, Sita urged it to end "mob activity" and to perpetrate it was to invite physical attack. "Whether you like or dislike Pol Colonel Thaksin, you should constructively enlist yourself with the political party of your choice," said Sita. He warned those without a political corner to stay away from partisan gatherings. They should follow the news and then vote accordingly, he said.
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