PAD ‘Yellow Shirts’ rally against Thaksin, Hun Sen

BANGKOK, Nov 15 (TNA) – Supporters of Thailand’s People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gathered Sunday to stage a major protest in the Thai capital, to show their power in protecting the nation’s dignity, while expressing their dissatisfaction with recent moves of fugitive, ousted Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The so-called Yellow Shirt gathering began at 4pm Sunday at Bangkok’s Sanam Luang. PAD key leader Sondhi Limthongkul was scheduled to address the crowd on “Why we must fight for His Majesty?” at 7.40 pm and then a declaration on protecting national dignity will be announced by PAD core leaders at 9.45pm.

Protesters were to hold a mass candle lighting to honour His Majesty the King and disperse peacefully before midnight.

Some 1,500 riot police were deployed to maintain order and facilitate traffic near the rally site.

Key PAD leader Pipob Thongchai said that Sunday’s gathering was not restricted to PAD supporters, but for all Thais who love their country and the monarchy to express their disapproval to Mr Thaksin and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that they are doing inappropriate things and that both should stop ‘destroying Thailand’.

The PAD leader said Mr Hun Sen has interfered Thailand’s domestic affairs and insulted the Thai judicial process.

PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila earlier in the day said that a permanent organisation to inform facts and information to both the Thai and Cambodian grassroots will be established in order to create better understanding of the situation for citizens of the two neighbours.

The diplomatic falling out between the Thai and Cambodian governments flared up after the Cambodian government appointed Mr Thaksin as its economic adviser. The two kingdoms recalled their respective ambassadors in retaliatiatory actions.

The Cambodian government also invited Mr Thaksin to Phnom Penh to lecture over 300 Cambodian businessmen and economists as his first assignment, at the same time rejecting Thailand’s request to extradite the fugitive former premier.

As the diplomatic row continues, Mr Thaksin’s interview with Britain’s Timesonline website sparked criticism among Thais.

In the article, Mr Thaksin commented about the Thai monarch and his successor, with remarks considered offensive to the monarchy. The ousted premier, however, reportedly defended himself by sayin his interview was ‘distorted’ by the reporter.

The PAD Yellow Shirts played a pivotal role in the movement to topple the Thaksin government, with protests leading to the military coup d’etat on September 19, 2006. The movement staged series of street protests which toppled two successive governments which it accused of being Mr Thaksin’s proxies. (TNA)