Pardon-petition campaign peaks

source : bangkokpost.com

Politics

UDD petition campaign culminates at Sanam Luang

Writer: Bangkok Post.com

Published: 31/07/2009 at 04:27 PM

Supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra gathered at Sanam Luang on Friday afternoon as the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) group wrapped up its signature campaign for a petition seeking a royal pardon for the fugitive politician.

"We expect to have as many as five million signatures in the end," UDD leader Nattawut Saikua said.

"We plan to seek royal mercy on our leader's behalf."

The final day of campaigning began at noon and was due to end at midnight.

The date when the petition will be submitted would be announced later, another UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan said.

Mr Jatuporn said Thaksin planned to phone in around 8.30pm to express his gratitide to his supporters.

The rally at Sanam Luang would continue until 5am Saturday, he said.

Police surrounded Sanam Luang to ensure a peaceful rally.

Pol Lt-Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha, the metropolitan police commander, said about 1,800 police were being deployed to maintain peace and order.

Of the total, 600 police were stationed around the main public ground, another 150 were assigned to traffic duty and the remainder were on standby in nearby areas.

Pol Lt-Gen Worapong said there had been no reports by mid-afternoon of red-shirts mobilising at other locations. He expected the crowd at Sanam Luang to swell to about 30,000 red-shirt supporters.

The government coalition party Chart Thai Pattana urged Thaksin to tell his supporters to abandon the petition, to prove his loyalty to the royal institution.

Watchara Kannikar, the party's spokesman, echoed the government's message that the law stipulates that only convicted prisoners already serving a sentence, or their relatives, were entitled to seek a royal pardon.

Chuan Leekpai, chief adviser of tthe prime minister's Democrat Party, warned the government to pay close attention the red-shirts' activities.

"I have warned the government not to ignore the red-shirt movement," he said.

"They previously announced that the government would not last more than three months, and then there was chaos in April, which was the third month that the government was in office.

"And now they are on the move again," Mr Chuan said.

(www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/150728/udd-seeks-royal-pardon-for-thaksin)