By Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation
Published on October 23, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was yesterday was greeted with boos and plastic bottles and shoes were thrown at him by protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy when he visited the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.
The ministry is located in the TOT building on Chaeng Wattana Road.
About 300 protesters shook "hand clappers" and shouted "TOT workers don't welcome you", "Somchai: murderer", "PM kills people" and "Cruel PM" alternatively. They were reacting to the October 7 violence.
Because of the protests, Somchai's vehicle was parked in the underground car park instead of in front of the building.
The prime minister then went up to hold a meeting with ICT Ministry senior officials.
Somchai had been informed about the PAD supporters' presence, but he insisted on visiting the ministry. "I will go to work," he said. He planned to visit all the ministries.
He said he was not doing the job for himself. Somchai said he could still resign but he did not believe the people would benefit from that.
"I know that no prime minister can stay in the post forever. It's all right for me if I have to quit. But the policies must stay," he said.
When Somchai arrived, 20 protesters armed with hand-clappers were waiting for him. He shook the hands of a few of them before security officers helped him get in a lift to the 13th floor.
The protesters then informed their friends, through speakers, to gather and cover all the lifts and exits of the building. They also surrounded Somchai's car.
In the meantime, Somchai's guards surveyed the building and prepared for an emergency exit if needed. They asked for a helicopter landing point and prepared a bullet-proof car for the prime minister.
Police officers from the nearby Thung Song Hong Police Station were called to back up but protesters booed and blew whistles against them on arrival. The protesters also blocked the officers from getting in.
When Somchai went downstairs, the PAD protesters surrounded him and shook the hand-clappers near his face. Some threw plastic bottles and shoes at him, which almost hit the prime minister on the head while he was taking ICT Minister Mun Patanotai's car out. Somchai's car was left there.
The premier later went to relax at his house, which is also on Chaeng Wattana Road.
Somchai told Mun and Deputy Transport Minister Varawut Silapa-archa, who greeted him, not to worry. He said he would be patient with such protests.
He told the ministry to keep an eye on and prevent illegal Websites.
Government spokesman Nutthawut Sai-kua said the protesters were over-exercising the right of gathering. It was undemocratic as they violated others' rights.
The PAD was trying to provoke people and make it appear that the prime minister had been rejected although they were only a few protesters. While PAD calls on the government to take responsibility for the October 7 suppression, it should also be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the police on that day, he said.
"PAD leaders should try living a normal life and go shopping in a mall or a market to check their ratings. For example, Sondhi [Limthongkul] or Maj-General Chamlong [Srimuang] might go to a mall and Suriyasai [Katasila] or Somsak [Kosaisuk] go to a market to see how people would react to them. They should not use more people as their guards than the prime minister does," he said.
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The Nation
Published on October 23, 2008
Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was yesterday was greeted with boos and plastic bottles and shoes were thrown at him by protesters of the People's Alliance for Democracy when he visited the Information and Communication Technology Ministry.
The ministry is located in the TOT building on Chaeng Wattana Road.
About 300 protesters shook "hand clappers" and shouted "TOT workers don't welcome you", "Somchai: murderer", "PM kills people" and "Cruel PM" alternatively. They were reacting to the October 7 violence.
Because of the protests, Somchai's vehicle was parked in the underground car park instead of in front of the building.
The prime minister then went up to hold a meeting with ICT Ministry senior officials.
Somchai had been informed about the PAD supporters' presence, but he insisted on visiting the ministry. "I will go to work," he said. He planned to visit all the ministries.
He said he was not doing the job for himself. Somchai said he could still resign but he did not believe the people would benefit from that.
"I know that no prime minister can stay in the post forever. It's all right for me if I have to quit. But the policies must stay," he said.
When Somchai arrived, 20 protesters armed with hand-clappers were waiting for him. He shook the hands of a few of them before security officers helped him get in a lift to the 13th floor.
The protesters then informed their friends, through speakers, to gather and cover all the lifts and exits of the building. They also surrounded Somchai's car.
In the meantime, Somchai's guards surveyed the building and prepared for an emergency exit if needed. They asked for a helicopter landing point and prepared a bullet-proof car for the prime minister.
Police officers from the nearby Thung Song Hong Police Station were called to back up but protesters booed and blew whistles against them on arrival. The protesters also blocked the officers from getting in.
When Somchai went downstairs, the PAD protesters surrounded him and shook the hand-clappers near his face. Some threw plastic bottles and shoes at him, which almost hit the prime minister on the head while he was taking ICT Minister Mun Patanotai's car out. Somchai's car was left there.
The premier later went to relax at his house, which is also on Chaeng Wattana Road.
Somchai told Mun and Deputy Transport Minister Varawut Silapa-archa, who greeted him, not to worry. He said he would be patient with such protests.
He told the ministry to keep an eye on and prevent illegal Websites.
Government spokesman Nutthawut Sai-kua said the protesters were over-exercising the right of gathering. It was undemocratic as they violated others' rights.
The PAD was trying to provoke people and make it appear that the prime minister had been rejected although they were only a few protesters. While PAD calls on the government to take responsibility for the October 7 suppression, it should also be held responsible for the injuries suffered by the police on that day, he said.
"PAD leaders should try living a normal life and go shopping in a mall or a market to check their ratings. For example, Sondhi [Limthongkul] or Maj-General Chamlong [Srimuang] might go to a mall and Suriyasai [Katasila] or Somsak [Kosaisuk] go to a market to see how people would react to them. They should not use more people as their guards than the prime minister does," he said.
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