Protesters
fear bloody crackdown
PONGSAK
BAI-NGERN and
ANAN
PAENGNOY
The Nation
THE
Assembly of the Poor (AOP) warned yesterday that the continuing
confrontation between authorities and protesters at the Pak Mool Dam may
lead to a violent crackdown similar to the one in October 1976 when scores
of demonstrators were lynched by vigilantes.
In a
statement released yesterday, the group, which is behind the protest at
the dam, accused the authorities of giving "false information"
to local residents about the possible negative impact the protest could
have on them in order to create animosity.
The
assembly said that in issuing warnings about possible electrical failures
and flooding in Ubon Ratchathani and other northeastern provinces, the
local authorities aimed to incite violence similar to that seen on October
6, 1976 at Sanam Luang and inside Thammasat University.
On that
day, right-wing vigilantes backed by policemen and soldiers stormed
Thammasat University, where students were protesting against the return of
former dictatorial prime minister Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn, who
had entered the country as a novice monk.
Scores of
the protesters were killed inside the university compound and some were
dragged across the road to Sanam Luang and lynched by the angry mob. Some
were burnt alive, while others were hung from tamarind trees and beaten to
death.
"The
Assembly of the Poor is still firmly behind a peaceful protest and
deplores any action that will lead to violence and loss of life similar to
what happened on October 6, 1976," the statement said.
Ubon
Ratchathani deputy governor Prapas Boonyindee, who issued a warning about
possible electrical failures and flooding as a result of the prolonged
protest, yesterday denied the his comments were aimed at provoking hatred
towards the protesters.
"I am
sure I have performed my duty properly. I can't let anyone damage Pak Mool
Dam because it is public property," Prapas said.
Hundreds of
villagers affiliated with the AOP have been gathering at the dam's power
plant, operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, since
May 15 to protest against the dam's negative impact on their livelihood,
mainly fishing. All four generators at the plant have stopped working as
the protesters have denied Egat's maintenance workers access. The dam's
five water gates also remain closed for the same reason.
Community
leaders and residents from three villages in Ubon Ratchathani's Sirindhorn
district reported that the Mool River had overflowed and flooded their
farms yesterday, provincial disaster prevention official Seri Boonkwang
said.
Egat public
relations director Amnart Chotechuang said the agency had received more
than 50 complaints from villagers in Sirindhorn district about their
plantations being flooded.
In Ubon
Ratchathani, police have yet to arrest the 14 protest leaders, although
warrants have been issued. A senior policeman, who requested anonymity,
said the main reason was that those people were mixing with other
protesters and their arrests could lead to violence.
At 10.40am
yesterday, some 200 protesters from the AOP camping out near Government
House moved to block the front gate. Armed with ladders, they threatened
to break into the compound if authorities used force to disperse the
protest at the dam.
Some 200
police officers, including a crowd-control unit, were dispatched to keep
order at the Government House's front gate. There were no reports of any
trouble.
Deputy
national police chief Sant Sarutanont said yesterday protesters who try to
break into Government House could face police dogs used to control crowds.
"The
dogs will certainly do their job, otherwise they will be seen as failing
to do their duty properly," he said.
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