Remove the Democrats, reds told

Pheu Thai MP and red-shirt leader Weng Tojirakarn yesterday called on fellow red shirts to eradicate the Democrat Party.

"Come out and launch a political fight to eradicate the Democrat Party from the Thai political platform. The Democrats have breached parliamentary regulations such as defying Parliament President Somsak Kiatsura-nont during the House meeting and taking his chair away. Such behaviour is tantamount to destroying democracy and the Constitution," weng said on the stage at the "Pheu Thai, the Truth for Democracy" event.

Pheu Thai and Democrat parties yesterday attacked each other at separate rallies.

Late in the afternoon, Pheu Thai staged a rally at Chalerm Phra Kiat Park opposite Min Buri district office, the exact place where the Democrats spoke to supporters a day earlier.

Meanwhile, many Demo-crats including Songkhla MP Thaworn Senneam and former foreign minister Kasit Piromya spoke in Yala's Muang district. Topics included the government's alleged unfair treatment of flood victims and violence who were eligible to receive compensation, and low prices for agricultural products and rubber, despite rising commodities prices. They also spoke on how the government-sponsored reconciliation bill and the constitutional amendment would hurt the country.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Natthawut Saikua said yesterday that both the major political parties should hold rallies as none of the parties would be able to make up stories, as people could consider whether what is said is true.