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When opposing crowds clashed violently, provincial police made themselves scarce instead of putting up a buffer.

A key mob leader was a political office holder appointed by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in May.

A few police officers spoke through megaphones to plead for calm but did nothing else to dissipate the violence. The angry crowds dispersed by themselves after inflicting serious injuries.

Samak may think silence is a virtue while waiting for the whirlwind of condemnation to blow over. But he will have to face up to his responsibility eventually.

There is no excuse for violence regardless of the contempt heaped upon street protesters.

The People's Alliance for Democracy has been organising anti-government rallies since 2006. Its previous campaign led to the downfall of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. It is now trying to dislodge Samak and his government.

It is understandable that elected leaders like Samak cry foul about non-parliamentary means. It is unacceptable, however, to instigate violence in order to crush the opposition movement.

Udon Thani saw at least two major confrontations between PAD and anti-PAD crowds.

In 2006, pro-Thaksin crowds laid siege to a PAD rally site located in a university campus. PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila cancelled the planned rally in order to avoid clashes between the opposing groups.

It was evident that local radio host Kwanchai Praipana, also known as Kwanchai Sarakham, was the key organiser of the pro-Thaksin crowds. He used his radio programmes to incite mobs and hype up anti-PAD sentiment.

Kwanchai is seen as being close to many MPs from the disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party who are now in the People Power Party. He is a staunch ally of Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew.

Following the PAD resuming street protests in Bangkok in May, he was involved in many incidents designed to intimidate PAD supporters in Udon Thani. He led the movement to harass pro-PAD businessmen.

By the PM's Office Order signed by Samak, Kwanchai is a political appointee attached to Government House effective since May 6. Theerachai reportedly pushed for Kwanchai's appointment, seen as a reward, through the Newin Chidchob faction in the PPP.

Kwanchai receives a salary of Bt27,000 and appears to be in charge of orchestrating the anti-PAD movement in the north-eastern province.

On Thursday he was recorded in news clips giving a fiery speech encouraging the crows to turn unruly and attack the PAD rally site located in a public park.

This led to horrific scenes of opposing crowds wielding flag poles clashing with one another.

Before the clashes, the opposing groups had congregated separately from each other. The PAD crowds were inside the park while their opponents started to form as onlookers outside the park gate.

There was no exchange of barbs or any activities that could be construed as a confrontation. In short, the opposing crowds appeared at peace with one another until Kwanchai arrived at the scene.

Kwanchai's speech transformed curious onlookers into a violent mob. Many young men who appeared drunk suddenly showed up.

The angry crowd charged several hundred metres into the park to dismantle the PAD rally stage and pummel the peaceful protesters.

Several PAD men on the outer perimeter tried to raise their flag poles in self-defence but this did not prevent severe beatings by their opponents. Blood was spilled and an infamous scene of Thais wielding flag poles attacking one another was recorded for posterity.

Several women collapsed on the ground while men stomped on their bodies.

What happened was not a spontaneous clash of opposing groups but a deliberate act by one man to incite violence to crush the PAD-led rally.