Expects major political change to occur soon
POST REPORTERS
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has cancelled its planned rally at the Royal Thai Police headquarters, in anticipation a major political change will occur soon.
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| Eight-year-old Natcharin Chartmontri looks at the image of her father Pol Lt-Col Methee Chartmontri, who was cremated in a royally sponsored funeral at Wat Sommanasrajvoraviharn yesterday. The chief volunteer guard for the People’s Alliance for Democracy died when a car exploded in front of the Chart Thai party headquarters on Oct 7. APICHART JINAKUL |
Key leader Pibhob Dhongchai said yesterday the PAD will wait and see if the political change contributes to its plan to introduce its New Politics.
The PAD will closely monitor the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Position's verdict in the abuse of authority trial of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife related over the Ratchadapisek land purchase, he said.
The court will give its ruling on Tuesday .
The National Counter Corruption Commission (NCCC) will also soon decide if the government violated Article 190 of the constitution in its handling of the Preah Vihear temple issue.
If the NCCC finds there is sufficient evidence backing the allegation, the whole current cabinet would have to immediately step down.
Mr Pibhop expected Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat would then opt to dissolve parliament rather than resign.
PAD leaders had not yet discussed their next move if the government decides to call a snap general election, Mr Pibhob said.
The PAD disapproved of the two committees set up by the prime minister to look into the Oct 7 clashes between its supporters and riot police. The government was responsible for the violent dispersal of the protesters that day and therefore should not be appointing the investigators.
The two committees should be appointed by neutral bodies such as the opposition or the Senate, he said.
The NCCC yesterday set up a panel to look into the Oct 7 violence. It decided to take action only against senior police officers.
But PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila said those in power were now trying to make police officers scapegoats for the Oct 7 violence.
"They pressured police officers in charge of the operation to take responsibility," Mr Suriyasai said.
"Those officers have come out and said they are ready to be held responsible. Then they'll resign, which will end the case, so that those in the government won't be held responsible."
Mr Suriyasai said PAD leaders believed there might be a major political event during the countdown to Oct 21. "We're in the period of the last seven dangerous days," said he said.
The Oct 7 unrest killed two people and more than 400 were injured as the PAD tried to block parliament from meeting for the government's policy statement.
One victim, Angkhana Radappadanyawut, was cremated on Monday in a royally sponsored ceremony presided over by Her Majesty the Queen at Wat Sri Prawat in Bang Kruai district in Nonthaburi province.
Yesterday former prime minister Anand Panyarachun headed the cremation ceremony of another victim, retired Pol Lt-Col Methee Chartmontri, at Wat Sommanasrajvoraviharn in Bangkok.
Mr Anand said after the funeral that only Mr Thaksin could bring an end to the mounting political confrontation. He was not certain the current government had the independence to make a decision on its own.
"I don't have any suggestions for Mr Thaksin.
"If Mr Thaksin really wants to ease the political tension, he is a clever man and mature enough to take action right away, without suggestions from anybody," Mr Anand said.
Mr Thaksin and his family live in London. He and his wife are seeking political asylum after jumping bail, claiming they would get unfair treatment from the judiciary if they returned to fight the corruption cases.
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