Most PAD supporters disperse

Thai PAD yellow shirt protesters marched to Preah Vihear temple on 18th July 2008 to demand that the temple be returned to Thailand.

Published: 2/11/2010

Bangkok Post

Most of the supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), who rallied in front of the parliament on Tuesday morning dispersed in the afternoon after the House resolved to set up a joint committee to review three memos of the Thai-Cambodian Joint Border Commission (JBC).

The 30-member joint panel has 30 days to reivew the three memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

The PAD claims the MoUs put Thailand at a disadvantage in settling its border dispute with Cambodia and demand the parliament rejects them.

PAD spokesman Panthep Puapongpan said the setting up of a panel to review the controversial border MoUs with Cambodia was just a government's effort to buy time.

Mr Panthep said the panel should comprise of 15 senators and 15 MPs, but instead it was decided by the House that the committee will comprise of seven senators and 23 MPs.

He said that 15 of the 23 MPs are from the government.

After learning of the parliament resolution, the PAD made an appointment to rally again at Makhawan Rangsan bridge on Dec 11.

Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang told the protesters to be prepared for a prolonged rally.

The mass rally will not end until the government revokes the MoUs and cooperates with the army to push Cambodians who have settled in the disputed land along the border back to their own country, he said.

However, Veera Somkwamkid, leader of the Thai Patriots Network, said his supporters will not disperse from the area in front of the parliament until the two demands are met.

A few hundred supporters of the Thai Patriots network remained there as of Tuesday afternoon.