Abusive protesters hounded Somchai

Somchai, an alumnus of Thammasat, went to the university to record three chorus songs with other alumni. The songs will be aired on Channel 9 on December 9.

Before the video shooting, Somchai gave a speech about his decision to study at the university but his speech was disrupted by two alumni who made loud noises using the so-called "clapping-hand" devices, which were a symbol of the People's Alliance for Democracy.

The two also shouted "Return Thammasat's dignity to us" and they abruptly left the room.

Somchai apparently turned pale and ended his speech, saying he might talk too much about his personal life.

Somchai joined the university in 1966 while the two alumni joined in 1971.

Somchai also met fierce opposition when he arrived at Siam Paragon to campaign for Prapas Jongsangua, the People Power Party's Bangkok governor election candidate.

When he and Prapas arrived in front of the shopping mall, two women made noise with "clapping hands" and shouted "Somchai, betrayor, get out".

They also hurled abusive words at him.

When Somchai walked inside the mall, five other women made noise with the "clapping hands" and shouted abusive words at him.

Apparently turning pale, Somchai tried to walk away but the women hounded him and continued to shot abusive words at him.

Somchai fled to a toilet room and went inside a restaurant after leaving the rest room.

The women turned up in front of the restaurant and kept on shouting. Bodyguards of the prime minister tried but failed to keep the women away.

Speaking to reporters inside the restaurant, Somchai said he had to be patient and firm.

"I have to be patient and strong so that I will not be shaken under this kind of situation but I worry that this kind of behaviour will affect the popularity of Prapas," Somchai said.

Prapas said the PAD protesters should have separated national politics from the Bangkok election.

By noon, the number of protesters in front of the restaurant grew to about 30. They kept on shouting at Somchai.

When their number grew more and bodyguards feared that it would not be safe for the prime minister, Somchai decided to leave the restaurant.

When he was leaving the mall, about 100 protesters at the foods centre shouted abusive words against them.

Somchai then took the BTS train at Siam station to Taksin station to continue the election campaign.

Somchai told reporters that he was not angry but he would like Thais to be more rational.

He said he had assigned Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh to hold talks with the PAD.

When he visited his home province of Nakhon Si Thammarat on Saturday, PAD supporters also hurled abusive words at him.