Explosives seized by police on Jan 24, 2011. (Apichart Jinakul)
Published: 25/01/2011
Bangkok Post
The People's Alliance for Democracy rally at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge will continue until the government accedes to the demands of the yellow-shirt group, PAD prominent member Chamlong Srimuang said on Tuesday.
He said the government must cancel its membership of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, revoke the memorandum of understanding on the Thai-Cambodian border signed in 2000, and expel Cambodian people from the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.
"If Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agrees to carry out our three demands, our rally will end immediately.
"If our rally inconveniences the public they should realise that what we're doing is for the good of our country," Maj Gen Chamlong said.
The yellow-shirt co-leader did not think the discovery of bombs near the rally site yesterday would stop people from joining the rally.
Security was tightened around the yellow-shirt protest rally sites today after police foiled an alleged bomb plot yesterday.
Metropolitan Police Division 1 chief Wichai Sungprapai said about 3,000 police were on duty to ensure law and order at the rally sites of the PAD and the Thai Patriots Network (TPN) - a yellow-shirt splinter group.
About 600 police were also deployed at the parliament building, where the TPN and the Santi Asoke sect are already encamped.
Pol Maj Wichai said he did not expect any problems during the rallies as he was in regular contact with both PAD and TPN leaders.
The police chief said he was more worried about traffic problems than security issues and would seek the cooperation of the demonstrators to ensure they do not block the roads.
Reports said riot police have erected barbed wire barricades in front of Government House to keep the protesters away from the compound.
At least 3,000 people were expected to take part in the rallies.
The man arrested in possession of explosives on Monday evening confessed to having been involved in three previous bombings, national police adviser Aswin Kwanmuang reported to Deputy Prime Minister overseeing security Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday.
Pol Gen Aswin and Pol Lt-Gen Jakthip Chaijinda, the Metropolitan police chief, were invited to meet Mr Suthep to brief him on the arrest of Tawatchai Iamnak, 37, and four other people on Monday night.
Mr Tawatchai was arrested near the Misakawan intersection on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue. He had two home-made explosive devices in his possession. One was designed to be detonated by a mobile phone signal, while the other was connected to a clock and set to go off at 7.45pm.
The man confessed to ikntending to plant the bombs at Chamai Maruchet bridge near Government House where members of the Santi Asoke sect planned to rally today, police said.
The questioning of Mr Tawatchai led to the arrest of four other suspects at a house on Soi 28 off Rama II road. Police found rocket propelled grenades and a launcher, other weapons and military ammunition.
Pol Gen Aswin reported to Mr Suthep that Mr Tawatchai confessed to having been involved in three previous bombings - at Big C Ratchadamri, in Samut Sakhon province, and at Rang Nam Road in Bangkok.
Mr Suthep said later that it was still not necessary to impose the emergency decree because police were able to keep the situation under control.
Pol Gen Aswin said police had followed the movements of this group since before the New Year, leading to yesterday's arrests. He denied the arrests were a set up to create an impression.
At the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters, Mr Tawatchai told police investigators he was given the explosives by a man called Phol when they met at a red-shirt rally. He had agred to keep the explosives for him.
He became disillusioned when the red-shirt protests achieved little and had then decided to put his faith in violence to bring about political change.
He said he had not intended to hurt anyone with the bombs, just create a lot of noise and smoke, according to police.
He said he acted alone in the hope of bringing about some change. The four other people arrested were not involved in the plot, he said.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said the red-shirt group was not involved in the plan to bomb the yellow-shirt rally.
The Puea Thai list MP said it was strange that senior police adviser Aswin took part in the investigation, because he had close links with the PAD.
"Whoever is behind the sabotage plan, there's a smell of a coup in the air and if the government thinks that using stupid methods like selling eggs by the kilogramme will be successful, I believe democracy will be destroyed and the perpetrator will be condemned," Mr Jatuporn said.
The People's Alliance for Democracy rally at Makkhawan Rangsan bridge will continue until the government accedes to the demands of the yellow-shirt group, PAD prominent member Chamlong Srimuang said on Tuesday.
He said the government must cancel its membership of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, revoke the memorandum of understanding on the Thai-Cambodian border signed in 2000, and expel Cambodian people from the 4.6-square-kilometre disputed border area near Preah Vihear temple.
"If Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agrees to carry out our three demands, our rally will end immediately.
"If our rally inconveniences the public they should realise that what we're doing is for the good of our country," Maj Gen Chamlong said.
The yellow-shirt co-leader did not think the discovery of bombs near the rally site yesterday would stop people from joining the rally.
Security was tightened around the yellow-shirt protest rally sites today after police foiled an alleged bomb plot yesterday.
Metropolitan Police Division 1 chief Wichai Sungprapai said about 3,000 police were on duty to ensure law and order at the rally sites of the PAD and the Thai Patriots Network (TPN) - a yellow-shirt splinter group.
About 600 police were also deployed at the parliament building, where the TPN and the Santi Asoke sect are already encamped.
Pol Maj Wichai said he did not expect any problems during the rallies as he was in regular contact with both PAD and TPN leaders.
The police chief said he was more worried about traffic problems than security issues and would seek the cooperation of the demonstrators to ensure they do not block the roads.
Reports said riot police have erected barbed wire barricades in front of Government House to keep the protesters away from the compound.
At least 3,000 people were expected to take part in the rallies.
The man arrested in possession of explosives on Monday evening confessed to having been involved in three previous bombings, national police adviser Aswin Kwanmuang reported to Deputy Prime Minister overseeing security Suthep Thaugsuban on Tuesday.
Pol Gen Aswin and Pol Lt-Gen Jakthip Chaijinda, the Metropolitan police chief, were invited to meet Mr Suthep to brief him on the arrest of Tawatchai Iamnak, 37, and four other people on Monday night.
Mr Tawatchai was arrested near the Misakawan intersection on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue. He had two home-made explosive devices in his possession. One was designed to be detonated by a mobile phone signal, while the other was connected to a clock and set to go off at 7.45pm.
The man confessed to ikntending to plant the bombs at Chamai Maruchet bridge near Government House where members of the Santi Asoke sect planned to rally today, police said.
The questioning of Mr Tawatchai led to the arrest of four other suspects at a house on Soi 28 off Rama II road. Police found rocket propelled grenades and a launcher, other weapons and military ammunition.
Pol Gen Aswin reported to Mr Suthep that Mr Tawatchai confessed to having been involved in three previous bombings - at Big C Ratchadamri, in Samut Sakhon province, and at Rang Nam Road in Bangkok.
Mr Suthep said later that it was still not necessary to impose the emergency decree because police were able to keep the situation under control.
Pol Gen Aswin said police had followed the movements of this group since before the New Year, leading to yesterday's arrests. He denied the arrests were a set up to create an impression.
At the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters, Mr Tawatchai told police investigators he was given the explosives by a man called Phol when they met at a red-shirt rally. He had agred to keep the explosives for him.
He became disillusioned when the red-shirt protests achieved little and had then decided to put his faith in violence to bring about political change.
He said he had not intended to hurt anyone with the bombs, just create a lot of noise and smoke, according to police.
He said he acted alone in the hope of bringing about some change. The four other people arrested were not involved in the plot, he said.
United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said the red-shirt group was not involved in the plan to bomb the yellow-shirt rally.
The Puea Thai list MP said it was strange that senior police adviser Aswin took part in the investigation, because he had close links with the PAD.
"Whoever is behind the sabotage plan, there's a smell of a coup in the air and if the government thinks that using stupid methods like selling eggs by the kilogramme will be successful, I believe democracy will be destroyed and the perpetrator will be condemned," Mr Jatuporn said.
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