Reds block train carrying military equipment

KHON KAEN, April 21 (TNA) – Several hundred of anti-government Red Shirt supporters in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen on Wednesday blocked the rail line to Bangkok preventing the departure of flatbed railway freight carriages laden with military vehicles and equipment amid fears that they are destined to use dispersing the Red Shirt protesters in Bangkok’s prime commercial area.

Four hundred activists from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) placed large cast concrete drainpipes, metal pipes and logs across the main tracks to obstruct special train scheduled to depart Khon Kaen railway station for Hat Yai at 3pm.

Numbers of protesters sat across the railwaytracks as human barriers to prevent the train from departing.

The train’s 20 railway carriages carried 24 Humvy military vehicles, military trucks and water cannon cars, as well as military equipment. All the materiel belonged to the 8th Infantry Regiment, located in this northeastern province.

Khon Kaen deputy governor Payat Charnprasert and concerned security officials negotiated with the local Red Shirt leaders, saying that the train is bound for the three restive southern provinces.

The Red Shirts however urged the authorities not to move the train within these five days as they fear the vehicles and military equipment will be used for security operations in Bangkok.

The protesters added that if the train really must go to the insurgency-torn southern provinces, some of Red Shirt supporters must be allowed to board the train to observe the activities of the officials.

In Nakhon Ratchasima province where the Reds threatened to close Mitrapab Road,Provincial Police Region 3 commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Dechawat Ramsonpob said the police had prepared response measures, while urging the protesters not to block the railway to cause public disruption.

The police commissioner said the blockade is considered a violation of the law and the police are duty-bound to take legal action immediately.

In Bangkok’s Silom commercial area, security measures were tightened Wednesday evening during a tense confrontation between Red Shirt protesters and the Silom community network who opposed the UDD movement.

The members of the Silom community network gathered at Dusit Thani Hotel at Sala Daeng intersection booing the red-shirted protesters led by Suporn Attawong and Kwanchai Praipana who rallied at the other side of the junction, Lumpini Park.

The hour-long confrontation ended when the anti-government protesters were told to return to the rally site to hear the speech of their leaders.

Meanwhile, Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said Wednesday evening that Army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda has ordered the closure of roads around the Ratchaprasong intersection, prohibiting the Red Shirt supporters from
entering the area, but allowing them to leave the rally compound.

Mr Jatuporn threatened to lead the unarmed protesters to reopen the closed routes as soon as he knows which road is closed.

The UDD protesters are rallying at Ratchaprasong intersection for the third week,demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve Parliament immediately after two rounds of negotiations ended in a deadlock, followed by the violent clashes on April 10 at Khok Wua intersection on Ratchadamnoen Avenue which left 25 people dead and more than 800 injured. (TNA)