Stand-off in the provinces
Thai Rak Thai MP Wichai Chaijitwanichkul was at the centre of a clash with Udon Thani's People's Alliance for Democracy campaigners when they gathered to heckle caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
An alliance leader and activist Weera Somkwamkid led about 100 anti-Thaksin protesters from Rajabhat Udon Thani University to the regional airport where the premier was due to arrive. Alliance members, calling themselves Udon Thani people, marched on the airport and Weera read a statement, demanding the cancellation of a deal allowing the Singapore airforce to use the airfield as a training ground for its pilots. They displayed banners and distributed anti-Thaksin documents. However, Udon Thani MP Wichai and his staff arrived to welcome the premier and walked straight up to the crowd and shouted: "You're talking nonsense! Go home!" The demonstrators chanted back: "Tyrant get out! Thaksin's dog get out!" A protester left the crowd and faced Wichai, almost causing a clash between the two groups and the MP's followers removed him and Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat eased the tension. About 500 Thaksin supporters lined the road near the alliance protesters and ruling party members called for peace. Thaksin's supporters had risen to around 1,000 when the premier arrived but he used a different exit and avoided the PAD demonstration.
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