No weapons please, we're PAD


The protesters demanding the overthrow of the prime minister on Saturday vehemently denied they had a cache of firearms or other lethal weapons to use in case they were attacked by pro-government opponents.

Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), told a press conference it was impossible to hide weapons from plainclothes police officers assigned to security duty at the protest venue along Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue for the past two weeks.

Police would have arrested any protesters with weapons, he said.

However PAD members have flag poles, homemade plywood shields and baseball bats for self-defence, and show them openly, in case "the police can't protect us".

Pro-government groups indicated on Saturday they would marshall anti-PAD supporters near the rally in front of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) headquarters building in the old section of Bangkok.

Maj-Gen Chamlong also said he had called off plans for a hunger strike by his supporters. As they needed energy to move around all the time, making fasting impossible, the Buddhist follower said.

PAD members during the past two days have organised a "mini-protest strategy," dispatching small teams to independent organisations and government agencies to demand action in prosecuting ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Somsak Kosaisuk, another core leader of PAD, said demonstrators would next Monday travel to the Office of the Auditor General to offer moral support to members of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC) who are performing duty to protect the country's interests.

Deputy Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tharit Phengdit said his agency has followed established rules and procedures in conducting its investigations of the ex-premier and had by no means intimidated any members of the Election Commission or the ASC which had also investigated the charges. (TNA)

Bangkok Post