PAD calls off protest in Bangkok

Thailand's anti-government People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has called off a planned protest in Bangkok Monday, defusing political tensions after the prime minister apologized for a crackdown on the movement last week. PAD leader Sonhdi Limthongkul announced the cancellation of a planned protest outside the Royal Thai Police Headquarters late Sunday night after Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat publicly apologized for a police crackdown on the movement on October 7 that left two dead and almost 500 injured. The cancellation of the protest has defused fears of another bloodbath in Bangkok. Some 1,350 police officers had been stationed outside the police headquarters, and about 10,000 pro-government followers of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) had gathered in Bangkok to counter the PAD. Instead of protesting, the PAD will attend the funerals of two victims of the October 7 crackdown, in which police fired tear gas canisters directly in to the demonstration, causing casualties, and prompting a violent response from the PAD followers, many of whom were armed with golf clubs, iron rods, sticks and pistols. An investigation is still underway into how so many people could be injured Prime Minister Somchai, in a televised speech Sunday night, also called for national unity and noted that the government is tasked with several important jobs in coming months including organizing a state funeral for Princess Galani Vadhana on November 14, King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 81st birthday on December 5 and hosting the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in mid-December. The PAD has been leading anti-government rallies in Bangkok since May, this year, culminating with their seizure of Government House - the seat of the government administration - on August 26. The movement is staunchly opposed to the return to power of coup-ousted former premier Thaksin Shinwatara, who is currently living in self-exile with his family in London. Although Pol Lt-Col Thaksin is banned from politics and facing numerous corruption charges in Thailand, the government is headed by the pro-Thaksin People Power party (PPP). Mr Somchai is ex-premier Thaksin's brother-in-law. The deposed prime minister faces several corruption charges dating back to his two-term premiership from 2001 to 2006, and his wife Pojaman has been sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion. He was ousted in a bloodless military coup on September 19, 2006. source bangkok post