Pinthongta Shinawatra, daughter of the ousted prime minister, gives a wai to her supporters and the press after testifying about the Shin Corp sale to the Assets Examination Commission yesterday. Pinthongta is with elder brother Panthongtae and younger si

Conversely, her supporters rudely attacked the committee and its witnesses.

Her uncle, General Chaisit, did not accompany her, but Pinthongta had her siblings, Panthongtae and Paetongtarn, with her. All three wore yellow clothing symbolising their loyalty to His Majesty the King.

Pinthongta wore a yellow cardigan, black blouse and black skirt with white dots, while her brother and sister wore yellow polo shirts with jeans.

Despite having to face the panel, Pinthongta seemed relaxed, unlike elder brother Panthongtae and younger sister Paetongtarn, both of whom seemed unenthusiastic.

On January 10, Panthongtae testified to the panel in the same case. He was apparently exhausted after his testimony.

On their arrival a little before 11am, the three paid their respects to Jaruvan Maintaka, an AEC member who greeted them at their blue Volkswagen van.

Twenty followers accompanied them in a silver-bronze Volkswagen van and a black Toyota Fortuner SUV.

Thaksin's children also had 100 supporters carrying red roses symbolising their encouragement. Supporters also had posters with messages for the committee and the Council for National Security.

On the posters were written, "Wolves and the lambs," "You can't attack the father, so you attack the children," and "Aim [Pinthongta's nickname], hang on. Don't be a political tool".

However, the 40 military officers and 50 police officers securing the venue seemed to have learned from when Panthongtae met the AEC. They lined barricades along the path Pinthongta had to pass, preventing more than 200 reporters and photographers as well as her supporters from reaching her and her followers.

When Panthongtae testified to the AEC, more than 100 reporters and photographers flocked to the compound. Some were hurt and pushed to the ground in the scrum that formed around him as they tried to snap pictures and get a quote from him before he entered the building. Flowerpots decorating the place were upturned.

It was not so difficult for Pinthongta to go upstairs. But just as with Panthongtae, the AEC officers let her go into the investigation room alone after inspecting her to make sure she had not taken any communication or electronic devices into the room.

AEC staff prepared fried rice and a Thai-style dessert for her lunch.

In the meantime, supporters of Thaksin's children verbally and rudely attacked AEC members and others entering or leaving the office. Kaewsan Atibhodi, Nam Yimyaem, Bank of Thailand Governor Tarisa Watanagase and Democrat Party deputy secretary-general Korn Chatikavanij all got the treatment. The aggressive shouts reached a point where people had to use side doors instead.

They shouted, "Go to hell, man without a human face" to AEC secretary Kaewsan.

Nam said the AEC was not slandering Pinthongta, but rather just doing its job.

Pinthongta emerged from the investigation room at 5.30pm, still smiling. She told reporters she did not feel stressed.

Noticing a Kasetsart University classmate among the reporters, she asked her friend how she had been.

Before getting into the van 10 steps away from the building, Pinthongta received presents from and paid her respects to her supporters gathering on her left and right with some wais and smiles.

As soon as she and her group left, the supporters dispersed.

After that, AEC officers returned the flowerpots to their normal places.

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation