PAD beefs up security at govt house rally site

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday stepped up security measures at its rally site inside Government House following Wednesday's grenade attack that injured 10 people.

Crowds will be frisked before entering the site and additional tyre barriers have been set up along Rajadamnoen Nok Avenue to safeguard the perimeter of the protest grounds.

Meanwhile, organisers said yesterday at least another 4,000 supporters of the PAD from Nakhon Ratchasima would join the demonstrators in the marathon protest against the government.

Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Maj-General Amnuay Nimmano said investigators were coordinating with the military in checking tapes from Army-installed security cameras close to where Wednesday's explosion occurred.

Investigators confirmed that a grenade was thrown into the PAD-led crowds. PAD guard Kitti Chaisaisa-ard said witnesses saw one of two unidentified men riding on a motorcycle lob the device.

In regard to the "noise bomb" attack at a judge's home, national police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan said the home-made device found at the home of Charan Phakdithanakul was similar to one thrown earlier at the home of Supreme Administrative Court president Ackarathorn Chularat.

Investigators were pursuing all leads to solve the Charan case and might expand the probe to determine any links with the Ackarathorn case, he said.

Army expert Maj-General Khattiya Sawasdiphol - an adviser to the pro-government demonstrators - denied involvement in the bomb attack against the PAD's rally site. He said, however, that the outbreak of violence might be a warning for PAD-led crowds to vacate Government House.

The grenade attack was consistent with guerrilla warfare, he said, cautioning that continuing protests might provoke assaults by heavier weapons such as M-79 anti-tank rockets.

Supapon Iammethawi, leader of the PAD's Nakhon Ratchasima chapter, said more supporters from the northeastern province would gather at Government House in support of the group.

He said that the bomb attack on the PAD guards was obviously the work of the group's enemies aimed at discouraging people to join the rally.

"That's a wrong idea. The attack was like throwing oil into a fire and making things worse. It will instead help expand the PAD's nationwide network," he said.