Opposition to focus on military cordoning of protest area

BANGKOK, 31 May 2010 (NNT) – The opposition will focus its grilling of the government on the latter’s operation to seal off the protest areas of the anti-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

Opposition Chief Whip, Wittaya Buranasiri, elaborated that 70% of the debating contents would be about the operation to seal off the protest areas, and 10-12 speakers would be assigned for this topic alone. He said the rest would be on corrupted projects of the government.

Mr Wittaya hence urged people with information on hand about the incident, including injuries, fatalities, or missing people, to notify the Puea Thai Party so that their details would be used in the debate. He said new information to be added was gained from visits of party MPs to local areas.

The opposition chief whip announced that Puea Thai Party List MP, Sunai Chulpongsatorn, and Puea Thai MP for Chiang Rai, Pichet Chuamuangphan, have been assigned to counter protests from the government side during the debate.

As for presentation of video clips, Mr Wittaya admitted that the credibility of the censure debate would be reduced if video clips could not be presented. He said the party might choose to give a press conference with media during the debate instead if the clips could not be played in the session.

The opposition chief whip confirmed that the video clips could clearly show what troops did with UDD protestors and people seeking shelter at the sanctuary of Pathum Wanaram Monastery during the political unrest.