Wednesday, 19 January 2011

TPN protesters submit petition to King


via CAAI

Published: 18/01/2011

About 1,000 supporters of the Thai Patriots Network marched from in front of Government House to the Grand Palace on Tuesday morning and lodged a petition against the government addressed to His Majesty the King.

They said the government had failed in its handling of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute and had not done enough to secure the release of the seven Thais detained in Cambodia.

The protesters, led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong, began their march at 9.59am from the Government House despite having learned that four more Thais arrested in Cambodia, except Veera Somkwamkid, a TPN coordinator, had already been granted bail.

Mr Chaiwat, holding a lamp and a list of 82,000 names of TPN supporters, led the procession.

The protesters arrived at the Grand Palace at 11.15am. They lodged their petition at the Wiset Chaisri gate.

Mr Chaiwat alleged that the Thai and Cambodian governments had conspired to release the four Thais and keep Mr Veera in detention to prevent him from returning to take part in their protest.

Although six of the seven Thais had been freed on bail, the TPN's objective is to bring all seven of them back to Thailand, he said.

The TPN would announce details of a new protest , this one against the country's justice process, he added.

Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai said 450 policemen had been assigned to control the TPN protest.

Thawil Pliensri, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said the TPN rally could could continue as long as there is no law against public gatherings.

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