ID :
17450
Sat, 08/30/2008 - 10:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/17450
The shortlink copeid
FEARED THAI EX-GENERAL WARNS OF BLOODSHED
By D. Arul Rajoo
BANGKOK, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Thailand's deep political crisis has taken a new twist after a retired general known for his notorious harsh tactics warned that the ongoing stand-off between the government and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will turn into bloodshed if he enters the fray.
Gen Pallop Pinmanee, best known for his handling of the Krue Se mosque
incident in southern Thailand's Pattani in 2004 that left 32 Muslims dead, said he was prepared to take over the leadership of the anti-government PAD if their nine leaders are arrested.
He told Channel 3 station he was monitoring the situation and would step in
if his close ally and PAD strongman Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang is
arrested.
"I will use my own way if I am involved, but it will not be a peaceful one.
It could be something like the May 1992 bloodshed," said Pallop, who was once
accused by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of a conspiracy to kill him
in 2006. Chamlong had led the May 1992 pro-democracy demonstration against the
military government that ended in bloodshed.
Thai newspapers Friday front-paged Chamlong's announcement that Pallop
would take over the PAD struggle if he (Chamlong) was arrested, raising fears
that the
peaceful atmosphere for the past four days since the invasion of the Government
House would not last long.
"If I become involved in the protests, I will need just three days to force
the government to tender its resignation. It is wise for Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej to resign now rather than be forced out," Pallop was quoted as saying
by the Bangkok Post.
Samak, despite giving the ultimatum for PAD to vacate his office, has shown
restraint and had asked police to delay using force to evacuate thousands of
protesters occupying Government House since Tuesday.
The protesters have so far defied a court order for them to move out, and
the nine leaders with warrants of arrest remain free as Samak and the
six-month-old government try to wear down the anti-government forces.
But PAD continued to receive support from other movements, including the
workers of the railway union which has a large number of workers taking sick
leave to disrupt train services Friday.
Even the hundreds of policemen deployed inside Government House have become
lame ducks while dozens of reporters were working with fear as they came under
siege from PAD guards and protesters who have restricted their movement.
"It's like we are in prison. It has brought great shame on us that police
have been detained by the protesters," a police officer told the Bangkok
Post.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Thailand's deep political crisis has taken a new twist after a retired general known for his notorious harsh tactics warned that the ongoing stand-off between the government and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will turn into bloodshed if he enters the fray.
Gen Pallop Pinmanee, best known for his handling of the Krue Se mosque
incident in southern Thailand's Pattani in 2004 that left 32 Muslims dead, said he was prepared to take over the leadership of the anti-government PAD if their nine leaders are arrested.
He told Channel 3 station he was monitoring the situation and would step in
if his close ally and PAD strongman Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang is
arrested.
"I will use my own way if I am involved, but it will not be a peaceful one.
It could be something like the May 1992 bloodshed," said Pallop, who was once
accused by ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of a conspiracy to kill him
in 2006. Chamlong had led the May 1992 pro-democracy demonstration against the
military government that ended in bloodshed.
Thai newspapers Friday front-paged Chamlong's announcement that Pallop
would take over the PAD struggle if he (Chamlong) was arrested, raising fears
that the
peaceful atmosphere for the past four days since the invasion of the Government
House would not last long.
"If I become involved in the protests, I will need just three days to force
the government to tender its resignation. It is wise for Prime Minister Samak
Sundaravej to resign now rather than be forced out," Pallop was quoted as saying
by the Bangkok Post.
Samak, despite giving the ultimatum for PAD to vacate his office, has shown
restraint and had asked police to delay using force to evacuate thousands of
protesters occupying Government House since Tuesday.
The protesters have so far defied a court order for them to move out, and
the nine leaders with warrants of arrest remain free as Samak and the
six-month-old government try to wear down the anti-government forces.
But PAD continued to receive support from other movements, including the
workers of the railway union which has a large number of workers taking sick
leave to disrupt train services Friday.
Even the hundreds of policemen deployed inside Government House have become
lame ducks while dozens of reporters were working with fear as they came under
siege from PAD guards and protesters who have restricted their movement.
"It's like we are in prison. It has brought great shame on us that police
have been detained by the protesters," a police officer told the Bangkok
Post.
-- BERNAMA
