Democrats deny claims they backed arson attack

The Army chief also asked the reds to be careful not to stir up conflict in the far South.
Democrat Party spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said Democrats were not involved with the incident and asked red shirts to stop provocative activity in southern provinces.
“Our party does not use fire to solve problems. The red shirts have to know that they aren’t the only ones who can use violence. Locals who disagree with them can also fight for their rights,” Chavanond said. “So we ask the red shirts stop any activity that causes disharmony.”
Prominent red-shirt Korkaew Pikulthong alleged some Songkhla MPs were party to a movement against the reds, although he had no evidence to confirm his claims.
“We have no evidence of the arson because it was dark and too dangerous to go out at the time of the incident. But we believe someone big in the area doesn’t want the red shirts to set up an anti-drug and anti-coup village,” Korkaew said.
Hours before the pavilion was burnt down, red-shirt leader Thida Thawornseth presided over an opening ceremony for a red-shirt village at the site late on Monday.
Democrat Songkhla MP Thaworn Senneam questioned yesterday whether the red shirts burned down the pavilion themselves to instigate a drama.
He said he did not acknowledge the incident was arson but had not discussed it with local people.
Thaworn was accused of joining a gathering of people on Monday opposed to the latest red-shirt village, but he denied this.
The MP did not answer when a reporter asked if he was in Jana district on Monday but said local people acted by themselves, as they did not want division. About 90 per cent of Songkhla people were Democrat Party members, he said.
Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha also commented that setting up red-shirt villages in the three southernmost provinces was not appropriate because the area was wracked with unrest and very sensitive.
“The red shirts have to rethink about setting up red-shirt villages in three southernmost provinces. I ask everyone to prevent any kind of violence and care about the country first,” Prayuth said.
However Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit argued with General Prayuth’s comment that the red-shirts’ village was founded on the goodwill of the people to promote democracy.
“Red-shirt villages aren’t set up to fight against the government but to protect the primary institution of the country. I don’t think setting up of red-shirt villages in the far South is going to be a problem,” Yongyuth said