BANGKOK, Feb 25 – A Red Shirt leader has called on the Royal Thai Navy to stop protecting protest leaders of the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).
Thida Thavornseth, chairwoman of the Red Shirt’s United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said the navy should withdraw its personnel who have provided safety for Phra Buddha Issara at Chaeng Wattana rally site and PDRC secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban.
She said Rear Adm Winai Klom-in, commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command was creating conflicts between Thailand and its neighbour in his statement that foreign forces were responsible for last Friday’s attack on a rally against the government in the eastern province of Trat.
The navy chief should warn the SEAL commander for making the statement, Mrs Thida said.
She condemned the shooting and bombing of anti-government rallies in Trat and Ratchprasong over the weekend, saying that such violence should not occur no matter if it involved any faction.
Mrs Thida said the Red Shirt assembly of key leaders nationwide, held in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday, was not politically motivated.
The objective was to exchange views among members in light of attempts by some military groups to discredit independent organisations and obstruct the democratic system, she said.
“It doesn’t matter whether people from which sides are killed and injured, we have to condemn assailants. The world community is watching incidents in Thailand,” she said.
