PAD seeks court ruling to revoke state emergency
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Tuesday sought the Administrative Court ruling to remove State of Emergecy imposed by the government.
The PAD vowed to continue their protest, accusing the government of violating the protesters' right to peaceful gathering by enforcing state of emergency.
Pipop Thongchai a leader of the PAD said the government had been using force to disperse the protest instructing police to crack down on protesters, destroy their property and stage at Makkhawan. Police fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters outside the Police Headquarters. Last night the government by some People Power Party MPs mobilised its supporters from north and northeastern provinces to converge at Sanam Luang and moved them to confront with the PAD at 11 PM at Jor Por Ror intersection. They built the stage there and the PAD did not take any action as they respect their right to protest. But they acted like gangsters.
Even though they have the ability to control the situation, it looked like police intentionally let the government supporters to harm and harass the PAD so the government can resort to state of emergency, the PAD said.
The PAD said the government decided to throw the hot potato to Army Commander so that it cause military force to confront the people.
“The only way to prevent the problem from worsening, Samak must resign and the PPP can no longer be the government,’’ Pipop said.
Somsak Kosaisuk, another PAD leader said the government supporters – the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship were hired to confront with the PAD Bt500 each. He said from Sanam Luang to Government House is about two kilometres, 100 police could easily stop them from coming close to the PAD but police instead leading them to confront the PAD leading to clashes and heavy casualties. “This is the work by the government to claim that it has to resort to state of emergency to prevent upheaval,’’ Somsak said.
He believed what happening was the repeat of the May bloodshed 1992 and student uprising in October 14, 1973. The Pad believed it would get the support from the Confederation of State Enterprise Union which planned to strike today and join the PAD protest at the Government House. “They will stop power supply and water to state agencies and politicains’ house as a show of civil disobedience,’’ Somsak said.
Pipop said he foresaw that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej would remove Army chief General Anupong Paochinda if he did not follow the government policies and appoint the military men who side with Thaksin into power.