Kawila Army Camp Besieged By Red Shirt Demonstrators

[ChiangMaiMail]

Kawila Army camp besieged by Red Shirt demonstrators Nopniwat Krailerg

Kawila Army Camp was besieged by hundreds of red shirted protestors on February 4, causing traffic chaos in the area in protest against the recent order to desist protesting in front of the Provincial Police Region 5 Headquarters. The protestors planned to meet with the Governor to lodge their complaint.

The group of demonstrators, consisting of members of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 Group, red-shirt federation members, and National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) members in Chiang Mai and from Lamphun province rallied about 500 people to protest in front of the army camp on the Chiang Mai Lamphun Road in Wat Ket.

Former Pol Lt Col Supol Chumooncharoen submitted a letter in protest of the coup to Lt Col Cherdsak Ketsom, who was on duty at the Kawila Camp. The leaders of the protestors then took turns on car stage to criticize the last coup staged by the military.

They said the 2007 Constitution, drafted and imposed after the military coup should be dropped and expressed their disapproval of any future coups.

The protest caused severe traffic jams on the Chiang Mai-Lamphun road, making the road impassable for several hours. The police asked them to leave the areas and they regrouped at the Grand Warorot Hotel.

Petchawat Wattanapongsirikul of Rak Chiang Mai 51 announced to members on Community Radio Station 92.to rally in front of Chiang Mai City Hall and demand to meet with Pairote Saengphuwong, Deputy Chiang Mai Governor. He said that the recent protests against the head of the Provincial Police Region 5 chief at the bureau had caused traffic jams and that per the government’s order, the group had pulled out of the area. However, he added that they were not satisfied with this result and sought clarification from the Deputy Governor.

Demonstrators from the Rak Chiang Mai Group 51, red-shirt federation, and UDD in Chiang Mai, submitted a letter of complaint to Lt-Col Cherdsak Ketsom of the Kawila Camp, in protest of the coup and to voice disapproval over future coups.

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-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/02/09

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