Govt urged to end protesters' movements

Their call came in the wake of the huge damage caused by the PAD decision to block the Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

The academics included Thanet Aphornsuvan, Yukti Mukdavijit, and Chaiwat Satha-Anand from Thammasat University, as well as Puangthong Pawakapan from Chulalongkorn University.

Together, they yesterday issued a statement under "The Rule of Law Thailand".

The statement said Thai society could no longer allow the PAD to stay above the law.

"The state officials must end PAD rallies. The country is now heading towards chaos because the government has repeatedly failed to ensure that political activities must be in line with laws," the statement said.

The siege of the Suvarnabhumi Airport by the PAD is like taking people and the country hostage, the Rule of Law Thailand said.

"The PAD has caused immeasurable damage to the country just because it wants to pressure the government, chiefs of armed forces and business groups to heed to its demands," the statement said.

It said PAD's rallies were no longer legitimate.

The Rule of Law Thailand also condemned the use of violence by PAD and its rivals.

"The means adopted by PAD will finally lead to the accumulation of weapons and encourage violence," Chaiwat said.

Yukti also criticised Thammasat University rector Surapon Nitikraipoj for calling on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to dissolve the House and the PAD to end its rally in order to diffuse any serious conflict.

However, other academics called on Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat to dissolve the House of Representatives to end the ongoing political conflict.

Thammasat deputy rector Parinya Thewanarumitkul said that it was time the government chose between House dissolution and violence. He said the former choice was better to prevent bloodshed.

Assoc Prof Sompong Jitradab, from Chulalongkorn University, said the country's social rift was dangerously widening and threatening to plunge the country into chaos.

He said the feuding sides should take part in talks brokered by figures acceptable to both sides in a bid to come up with a mutually acceptable agreement.

"I don't want to see Thailand going to the point when countrymen kill one another. Those involved in the dispute should consider whether it's worth it to allow this much loss for one person," he said.

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