Red Shirt demonstrators build up at home of Privy Councillor Surayud

BANGKOK, Jan 11 (TNA) – The numbers of the supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)–the Red Shirts—are growing early Monday at the vacation residence of Privy Councillor Gen Surayud Chulanont at Khao Yai Thiang in Nakhon Ratchasima, but the protesters vow that they will neither use violence nor trespass into the home of the former prime minister during the rally.

The UDD, which started its mission Sunday, claimed that their rally is aimed to call attention to what they branded as the government’s practice of double standards.

Red Shirt leaders said the protest will continue until Tuesday, and if there is no response from the government, they will then consider their next move.

The protesters are pressuring the government for an answer on the alleged encroachment into the forest reserve by Gen Surayud.

They consider as complicit the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for ignoring the case and charged that many villagers at Khao Yai Thiang have been sued for trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.

Security has been tightened both inside and outside Gen Surayud’s home, with 700 police personnel dispatched to maintain order in the area.

Police stood in rows outside the front gate of the residence to prevent any entry by the UDD, but no violence has taken place.

The Office of the Attorney General on Friday announced it would not sue Gen Surayud for his ownership of land in the forest preserve, saying that the former prime minister violated no law and that his land purchase was legal.

An Attorney General’s spokesperson said Gen Surayud was not guilty as he had legally acquired the land, and that the property had twice changed ownership before him.

The spokesman, however, said an earlier Cabinet resolution prohibits local residents who were allocated forest reserve land from selling it to others excepting their statutory heirs. Otherwise the land must be returned to the state.

The case has been forwarded to the Royal Forestry Department for further action, but the department has yet to officially inform the Attorney General.

The spokesman reemphasised that the Attorney General conducted Gen Surayud’s case fairly and in accordance with the law.

Gen Surayud said earlier that he was willing to comply with the law regarding his controversial land ownership and would follow the Attorney General’s decision. (TNA)