Thai Patriotic Front pulls out

The anti-government Thai Patriotic Front has announced that it will end its rally at Sanam Luang after nearly four months, citing conflicts with other anti-government groups also based there.

Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Admiral Banawit Kengrian and Air Marshal Watchara Ritthakanee told the press yesterday that the group was not giving up its protest against former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, but needed to re-evaluate its position and review lessons learned over the four months.

The Thai Patriotic Front, the Palang Thammatippatai and farmers’ groups protesting the rice-pledging scheme, joined forces in March in Si Sa Ket, before moving to Sanam Luang in May to continue their protest. However, conflicts among the three groups and a lack of new supporters, has forced the Thai Patriotic Front to revise its position, Chaiwat said. Since January, the group has received donations of about Bt5.7 million, said Somboon Thongburan, one of Thai Patriotic Front’s group leaders. It has spent Bt5.5 million, he said. 

Banawit said the turning point came on Thursday when the Thai Patriotic Front asked Comrade Pichit, aka Thongdee Namsaengkot, leader of Palang Thammatippatai, to join the rally at the Defence Ministry, but their request was turned down. The Thai Patriotic Front then decided it needed to review its position, he said, adding that only Palang Thammatippatai would remain at Sanam Luang. 

Meanwhile, Criminal Court chief justice Tawee Prachuaplarp said yesterday the court would look into whether Thai Patriotic Front leader Chaiwat Sinsuwong had violated his bail conditions in the airport closure case, after he attended the rally outside  the Defence Ministry. Tawee said Chaiwat would be summoned for questioning to assess his actions.

Chaiwat is a suspect in the 2008 closure of Suvarnabhumi Airport when he took part in protests with the People’s Alliance for Democracy.

Tawee said the court did not summon him while he was rallying at Sanam Luang, as there had been no reports of disturbances. 

However, it would look into whether his actions during the Thursday rally – aimed at trying to prevent Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from entering the Defence Ministry – had violated his bail. Chaiwat was joined by 300 Thai Patriotic Front supporters. 

The court has scheduled July 29 for a hearing in the airport closure case, said Banawit.