PAD supporter killed, 20 others in political violence in Udon Thani


Udon Thani - A supporter of the People's Alliance for Democracy was killed and 20 others were injured when PAD-led protesters clashed with their opponents in this northeastern province Thursday afternoon.

Police said about 1,000 anti-PAD people armed with sticks, machetes and iron bars, stormed into try to demolish the stage of the PAD at about 1:30 pm.

PAD guards tried to fight back and the man was killed in the clash.

The injured people were sent to the provincial hospital.

The Nation

pompui wrote:I understood that the man is in ICU so still just about alive.Anyway they can all fight again next week at the Napalai hotel when the next PAD meeting takes place.
Udon now on the map as the new war ground for these battles.
Forget the crappy bickering over the temple with Cambodia,let the Thais jsut fight each other.

RALPHCUSENS wrote:

pompui wrote:I understood that the man is in ICU so still just about alive.Anyway they can all fight again next week at the Napalai hotel when the next PAD meeting takes place.
Udon now on the map as the new war ground for these battles.
Forget the crappy bickering over the temple with Cambodia,let the Thais jsut fight each other.

pompui,

do you know what day next week the proposed PAD meeting is scheduled for?, so that I ensure that I do not come into Udon on that day!

RALPHCUSENS wrote:

pompui wrote:I understood that the man is in ICU so still just about alive.Anyway they can all fight again next week at the Napalai hotel when the next PAD meeting takes place.
Udon now on the map as the new war ground for these battles.
Forget the crappy bickering over the temple with Cambodia,let the Thais jsut fight each other.

pompui,

do you know what day next week the proposed PAD meeting is scheduled for?, so that I ensure that I do not come into Udon on that day!

Kwanchai Praiphana, leader of the Udon Thani Guard Group, admitted during an interview on Channel 3 that he let his supporters to beat up protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy.

Kwanchai vowed to lead his supporters to beat PAD protesters again if they hold another rally in the northeastern province.

On Thursday, Kwanchai led hundreds of protesters demolish PAD's stage and beat up PAD protesters, seriously injuring two of them.

Kwanchai said he had warned local PAD supporters several times not to organise a rally in the province, because he regarded that anti-government rallies damaged the province's reputation.

"Yes, I did it and I am not afraid of legal action because I will be charged only public brawl charges," Kwanchai said.

"I've warned them several times that they must not come here."

The Nation

cookie wrote:The misses just told me that there were also fights in Buriram between PDA and anti-PDA

Buri Ram - Police have arrested 14 men after 100 men stormed in to destroy a stage of the People's Alliance for Democracy here Thursday evening, injuring 14 policemen.

Buri Ram police chief Pol Maj-Gen Prasit Thamdee said ten of the 14 belong to the Buri Ram Guard Group and the rest to PAD.

They were charged with obstructing officers' operations and vandalism.

About 100 Buri Ram Guard members stormed in and clashed with police and PAD supporters to demolish the stage of PAD.

The Nation

(BangkokPost.com) - Udon Thani governor Supoj Laowansiri called on local villagers to reconcile after a clash took place at Nong Prachak Silapakhom public park in the municipal area, where around 150 People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) supporters were gathering.

Mr Supoj said he is concerned that there would be a revenge.

He also denied reports that there was a man killed in the clash on Thursday.

He insisted that authorities did not ignore the clash, but members of anti-PAD demonstrators were more than expected, thus went beyond the control of the authorities.

Exchange of blame for violence
By The Nation
Published on July 26, 2008

Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and the People's Alliance for Democracy yesterday traded blame for Thursday's violence by government supporters in the Northeast that left 29 people hurt.


"Supporters of [former PM] Thaksin can't stand it and they come out to scare away the [PAD protesters]. If the PAD doesn't stop this practice of holding rallies in the provinces, they will always face angry government supporters. And the bickering will never stop," Chalerm said.

But the PAD accused "the puppet government" of unleashing "pro-government thugs" on its demonstrations in Udon Thani and Buri Ram.

Chalerm said the PAD's recent activities upcountry had upset government supporters as their beloved politicians, especially Thaksin Shinawatra, were "unfairly" criticised with derogatory words. "I wonder if the PAD is concerned that news has spread all over the world that Thais are killing each other [although no one died]," he said.

The PAD in a statement denounced the assaults on its followers and hinted that they would counter-attack. "People at the receiving end may finally rise to fight back. And that time is near," the PAD warned.

The statement advised supporters against holding rallies in provinces where "you can't rely on police and state officials for security" and urged them to join the PAD's campaign in Bangkok instead. It also called on Army chief General Anupong Paochinda, as director of the Internal Security Operations Command, to "show more responsibility than staying neutral" in order to prevent widespread bloodshed.

In Udon Thani, 15 people were injured, including two police, when furious pro-government people forced their way past police barriers to attack PAD supporters at a local park.

In Buri Ram, a pro-government gang clashed with police and left 14 officers injured when the men forced their way into the PAD's assembly and tore down the stage. Fourteen people were arrested, two of them from a PAD-affiliated group, for obstructing police duties and destroying property.

Kwanchai Praipana, leader of the Udon Thai Patriots Club, said his people had been attacked by PAD supporters first. Charoen Mookhachornpan, a local PAD leader, said Kwanchai had used his control of a local radio station to incite violence.

Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said he had learned that funds had been distributed to provinces to hire participants for such anti-PAD activities.

"Some provinces got more than Bt30 million each."

Natthawut blames PAD for Udon Thani violence

Deputy Government Spokesman Natthawut Saikua Friday blamed the People's Alliance for Democracy for violence in Udon Thani and denied that the government an People Power Party were behind the attack against PAD's protesters.

Natthawut said PAD held smaller demonstrations in provinces with intention to provoke attacks from its opponents.

He said the government would legal measures instead inciting people to clash with the PAD.

Natthawut said the PAD should halt its plan to provoke violence in provinces.

The Nation