NCCC probes clash in Udon Thani

The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) decided to look into the matter, in which a group of progovernment people attacked protesters affiliated with the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) dur¬ing their rally at a park in Udon Thani province, a source said.

Among those to be investigated are Udon Thani Governor Supot Laowansiri, the provincial police commander Maj General Permsak Paradonsak, and Police Colonel Kokiat Wongsumet, superintendent of the Muang Udon Thani district police station.

Thirteen people were injured in the incident, including a few police officers trying to block the angry mob.

Wicha Mahakhun, a member of the NCCC, is to head the investiga¬tive panel.

Charoen Mookachornphan, the PAD coordinator in Udon Thani, said yesterday police appeared to allow the angry mob to easily pass their barriers and that they failed to pre¬vent the PAD protesters from being assaulted.

He yesterday lodged a petition with the House committee on police affairs asking for an investigation into the matter.

Chalermchai Srion, an MP from the opposition Democrat Party who heads the House panel, said the com¬mittee would today visit Udon Thani to collect firsthand information.

Charoen also filed a similar com¬plaint with Senator Somchai Sawangkarn, chairman of the Upper House committee on human rights, freedom and consumer protection, in order to determine measures to pre¬vent such an incident from happen¬ing again.

Somchai said physical assault was a violation of human rights and that his committee would gather firsthand information in Udon Thani today and summon relevant officials, including the national police chief, the Interior Ministry permanent sec¬retary, the provincial governor, and the provincial police chief, to testify.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Thailand yesterday issued a state¬ment calling for speedy police inves¬tigation into the attack and urgent government action in preventing a repeat of the violence.

In a related development, six Education Ministry officials peti¬tioned the Civil Court yesterday to issue an injunction against the rally site of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) at Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge. The case will be ruled on today (July 30).

The six officials contend the PADled demonstration had interfered with their work at the Education Ministry.

They asked for the rally site to be moved 200 or 300 metres away from the present location and the min¬istry. They also sought a stop to protesting activities and the use of loudspeakers from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

The court has convened a hearing and will rule on the case today.