TPN [Yellow Shirt] protesters submit petition to [Thai] King

18/01/2011
Bangkok Post

About 1,000 protesters of the Thai Patriots Network marched from in front of the Government House to the grand palace on Tuesday morning and lodged a petition against the government to His Majesty the King.

They said the government had failed in its handling of the Thai-Cambodian border dispute and not done enough to secure the release of the seven Thais detained in Cambodia.

The protesters, led by Chaiwat Sinsuwong, began to move on foot at 9.59am from the Government House despite having learned that four more Thais arrested in Cambodia, except Veera Somkwamkid, a TPN coordinator, have been granted bail.

Mr Chaiwat, holding a lamp and a list of 82,000 names of TPN supporters, led the procession.

The protesters arrived at the Grand Palace at 11.15am. They lodged the petition at the Wiset Chaisri gate.

Mr Chaiwat alleged that the Thai and Cambodian government had conspired to release the four Thais and keep Mr Veera in detention to prevent him from returning to take part in the protest.

Although six of the seven Thais had been freed on bail, the TPN's objective is to bring all seven of them back to Thailand, he said.

The TPN would further announce a new protest - this one against the country's justice process, he added.

Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai said 450 policemen had been assigned to maintain law and order during the TPN protest.

Thawil Pliensri, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said a rally like the one being held by the TPN would continue to take place as long as there is not a law on public gatherings.