Officials play down incidents involving opposition to red shirts
Several government officials played down a rally by Pattaya red-shirts in protest against actress Bongkoj "Tak" Khongmalai and an incident involving locals in Phuket opposed to red-shirts - on the weekend.
On Saturday night at the scene of a filming in the city of Pattaya, the actress was harassed by red-shirt protesters upset by her Facebook posts, voicing satisfaction about the death of Amphon “Akong” Tangnoppakul or “Uncle SMS”, who was convicted of lese majeste for several text messages he allegedly sent.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung dismissed suggestions that the rally affected the push for reconciliation. Rather, it was an expression of different ideas, an extra “flavour” to the country’s democracy.
In response to Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, who earlier urged him, as overseer of the police, to order officers to control the situation, Chalerm said police did not need not to be commanded, as they took action according to the law – as always.
He also complimented the actress by saying she was beautiful and sweet.
Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Nattawut Saikua, who was a red-shirt leader, said he felt sorry for the actress. She had different opinions but Akong’s death was a delicate subject and the actress should take more caution before expressing her ideas. He also said that red-shirt protesters should have better judgement and not be too extreme.
Yongyuth Wichaidit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said he did not consider the red-shirts’ action in Pattaya a rally. For him, the red-shirts were just enjoying a motorcycle ride.
He did not look at the event as harassment either, as if it was, she should have pressed charges. If the actress felt like her liberty was violated, she should file charges as such action was against the law.
People should also not infer from the picture that the event was inappropriate, the minister said.
Nattawut and Yongyuth also remarked on the rally by locals against red-shirts in Phuket. A group met on Saturday evening to oppose a red-shirt rally in the area after it was rumoured that red-shirts would set up a red-shirt village on the island.
Nattawut said the incident showed political action by the Democrat Party. It appeared the Democrats followed red-shirt policies and copied their rallying.
If the party continued this trend, the country might see Suthep Thaugsuban, the former deputy prime minister, in a headband, leading a rally one day, he said.
He advised the party to adopt a political stance, not aim to accuse the government all the time, as they might end up like the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which had been getting weaker.
Yongyuth, likewise, said he preferred the name “Love Democracy” or “Love Liberty and Justice” village to merely “red-shirt” village.
The founding of a village was up to locals, he said. If people in Phuket were against the idea then they would not force it. The red-shirts would set up villages in areas where people wanted them.
He also recommended people who oppose the idea to look at it in a positive way. The setting up of a village did not cause more conflict in society because it promoted an anti-drug policy and protection of the environment.
