PAD: No plan to cordon off Parliament

via CAAI

BANGKOK, Feb 9 -- Thailand's yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will rally at Bangkok's Royal Plaza Friday with no plan to blockade Parliament as the government feared and will not protest in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket bordering Cambodia, a PAD core leader Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang said here Wednesday.

The PAD, encamped at Makkhawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue near Government House for 16 days, earlier announced their intention to intensify their protest.

Gen Chamlong said Monday that the Yellow Shirt protesters will move Friday to other key sites, but did not say where.

Gen Chamlong said he will lead the PAD demonstrators to Royal Plaza Friday at 10am to represent Thai nationals to take a patriotic oath before the King Rama V Equestrian Statue to voluntarily protect Thai territory and to use every means to press for the return of land from Cambodian occupation.

The PAD will then return to the protest area at Makkhawan Bridge. There will be no road blockade or rally at Parliament as the government feared, he said.

The PAD core leader also said a small PAD group would travel to Kantharalak district of Si Sa Ket, the scene of Thai-Cambodian border clashes to give relief supplies and aid to villagers affected by the recent fighting.

Gen Chamlong said Pol Maj Gen Wichai Sangprapai, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1 met him this morning to ask the PAD to open road for traffic, but the Yellow Shirt leader rejected the request.

Meanwhile, PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said the ultra patriotic organisation tomorrow will petition the Administrative Court asking it to overrule the government's imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in seven districts of Bangkok between Feb 9-23.

Mr Panthep said the petition will argue that the PAD's rally has so far has been in compliance with the law and has caused no violence, so the use of the ISA therefore was unjustified.

The PAD demanded that Thailand withdraw from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, revoke the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Cambodia and push Cambodians now living in border areas which they claim belong to Thailand back to their homeland.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva rejected their ultimatum, saying the revocation of the 2000 agreement will not make Thailand lose territory to the neighbouring country. (MCOT online news)