10.10.09 Red shirts rally as PM pays visit
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will be in
Ubon Ratchathani today, and deputy national police chief Jongrak
Juthanond has asked red shirts who plan to protest the visit to do so
peacefully.
The prime minister will visit the northeastern province today to
hand over 4.9 million baht in compensation to Grandma Hai Khanjantha
and her relatives who lost their land because of construction of the
Huai Laha Dam.
It is expected that red shirt supporters in the province will rally to protest against Mr Abhisit's visit.
Pol Gen Jongrak said he has prepared a security plan for the prime
minister. He did not believe there would be any violent incidents. He
also asked for cooperation from red shirt leaders in leading a peaceful
rally.
Protesters should not carry weapons or throw anything at their opponents.
Police officers monitoring the rally will also carry only shields and batons, said Pol Gen Jongrak.
Today, the prime minister will give the compensation to Grandma Hai
and two other affected villagers whose paddy fields were submerged by
water at the dam in Na Tan district.
The cabinet agreed to pay Grandma Hai, Sua Khamphan and Fong
Khanjanta damages for lost opportunities during the dam construction.
Grandma Hai has fought for 32 years to get compensation from the state to ease her plight.
Key leaders of the Assembly of the Poor in Ubon Ratchathani
yesterday prepared to welcome the prime minister at the Thai Ban Folk
Intellect Centre.
Around 6,000 members of the Assembly of the Poor will gather at the centre.
Their leaders did not believe the red shirts would be able to enter the compound of the centre.
Somkiat Phonphai, a leader of the Assembly of the Poor, said apart
from holding a northeastern welcoming ceremony for Mr Abhisit, the
Assembly of the Poor will discuss other problems encountered by the
group's members with the prime minister. Source: Bangkok Post, 10.10.09 http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/25357/red-shirts-rally-as-pm-pays-visit
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