Opposition warns PAD it must maintain order

Opposition Leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to steer clear of violence, saying the government was an elected and legitimate administration.

Abhisit was referring to "Dow Kra Chai'', the PAD's strategy to spread its protest to various pockets and areas in order to bring down the government.

About 200 supporters of the PAD went to protest against Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung at the ministry yesterday.

They brought along two ducks to signify the government's loss of focus between solving political problems and people's problems. PAD protesters also went to the Office of the Attorney General.

Abhisit said the PAD had the right to make its voice heard but that he hoped it would not lead the country towards violence. He urged it to remove questions about amending the Constitution from its list of demands.

He said the call for the government to step down was not such a simple matter because it had obtained a mandate from the people to run the country.Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung suggested the PAD move its protest from Makkhawan Bridge to Lumpini Park to ease traffic congestion in the area. He said students and others were being affected by the demonstration.

He threatened to file a libel suit against PAD leaders this weekend and urged some political parties not to mobilise protesters from the provinces.

Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat poured scorn on the PAD's plan to protest at places connected with cases of alleged corruption by ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. He said Thaksin could not interfere with the justice system.

Department of Special Investigation director-general Pol Col Thawee Sodsong said he could not meet the PAD over expediting the prosecution of Thaksin in the SC Assets case. He said the department has completed the investigation but public prosecutors want authentication of documents from foreign agencies.

Justice Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said the government would send an official to talk with the PAD about ending the conflict, but would not say who that would be.

Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang said he was sure that if representatives from the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Class 7 were sent to negotiate with the PAD, they would not ask it to end the protest but support it.

"If General Panlop Pinmanee or Lt-General Manoonkrit Roopkachorn are the ones, they are my good friends and they would not ask me to end the protest,'' he said.

Air Chief Marshal Chalit Pookpasuk said Dr Prawase Wasi's proposal of setting up a national government was well intentioned, but he did not believe the country had reached a dead-end to resort to that.