PAD appeals road blockade, noise ban

On Monday, the court granted the injunction to 10 teachers and parents from Rachawinit Secondary School, located next to the PAD rally site near Government House, after their request last week.

After PAD's petition to overturn the injunction, the court yesterday spent almost all day hearing testimonies from the group's representatives including Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai and Nakhon Chompoochart, a human rights committee member from the Law Society of Thailand.

Maj-General Phanu Kerdlarp-phol, deputy metropolitan police commissioner, said he was ready to talk to the Legal Execution Department and ask PAD to comply with the court's injunction.

PAD only lifted barricades in some traffic lanes and had not fully opened roads so that people could commute conveniently as the court had ordered, he said. Traffic on Rama V Road was able to travel only one way while protesters' tents still blocked Phitsanulok Road.

Last night PAD blocked the roads and continued their stage programme as normal. In court, PAD leaders and its coordinator cited their constitutional rights and duties and argued that their rally was beneficial to the country in many ways.

The lawsuit was filed against the five PAD leaders - Sondhi Limthongkul, Somkiat Pongpai-boon, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chamlong and Pibhop - as well as its coordinator Suriyasai Katasila.

The plaintiffs accused the defendants of infringement of their rights. They sought to have the defendants remove the stage and other structures obstructing traffic on Rama V and Phitsanulok roads as the road blockade and loud noise from the protest were in violation of their rights, although the defendants were exercising their constitutional rights in holding the protest.