Govt, PAD supporters gather in Udon Thani
YUTTAPONG KUMNODNAE
Udon Thani province is tense amid worries of a possible confrontation between anti- and pro-government camps tomorrow when Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his ministers attend a mobile cabinet meeting in the province.
At least 20,000 people are expected to turn up to show support for Mr Samak and his government.
Local supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and a pro-government group clashed in Udon Thani on July 24, leaving several people injured.
Kwanchai Praipana, leader of a pro-government group in Udon Thani, yesterday spoke on local radio, encouraging people to gather at the radio station today to prepare for a rally to support the government.
He asked for 2,000 supporters to gather at Udon Thani airport to prevent PAD supporters arriving on the day of the cabinet meeting.
Charoen Mookhachonphan, PAD leader in Udon Thani, said the group's local chapter would gather to oppose the cabinet meeting.
He said the PAD protesters would wear black in a show of protest.
Local police will deploy from all stations to guard against possible violence, said Pol Maj-Gen Permsak Pharadornsak, the provincial police chief.
A source in the People Power party said northeastern MPs and core leaders from the ruling party were trying to make sure their supporters turn up and rally behind the embattled government.
The source said 10 MPs from the province and local officials were organising at least 20,000 people to welcome Mr Samak.
This would show that people in the provinces, particularly in the Northeast which is the largest support base of the PPP, still like the government and disagree with the continuiing anti-government protest by the PAD, the source said.
At the same time, people in major cities in the Northeast will turn up at various sites in their respective provinces to show support for the government on that day, the source said.
A senior provincial official had tried to dissuade people in the government from holding the cabinet meeting in the province, but to no avail.
Mobile medical units will also be on standby in case of violence, the official said.
Core leaders of the pro-government United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) are already in the province to prepare measures to deal with PAD supporters who might turn up to disrupt the meeting.
PAD core leader Chamlong Srimuang said it is up to local supporters of the alliance to decide whether to hold rallies against the government.
Sawat Theerarattananukulchai, president of the provincial chamber of commerce, said he was surprised that the private sector was not invited to attend the mobile cabinet meeting, as in the past.
Thepthai Senpong, assistant secretary-general of the Democrat party, said the mobile cabinet meeting may be a deliberate attempt by the government to mobilise supporters from the provinces and pit them against the PAD in Bangkok.
About 300 supporters of the government yesterday gathered in downtown Ubon Ratchathani in a show of support for Mr Samak and to criticise the PAD.
Chuwit Pitakpornpallop, an Ubon Ratchathani MP for the PPP, said anti-PAD groups in many provinces plan to rally outside provincial halls for three days.
''If the PAD refuses to vacate Government House, supporters of the government will resort to retaliatory measures,'' Mr Chuwit said.
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