The following appears in THE NATION:

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Ping-Pong Bomb Thrown at Suthep by Reds on Visit to Pathum Thani

 

Published on March 15, 2009

 

Protesters Burn Abhisit, Suthep in Effigy Outside Meeting Venue

 

Anti-government protesters yesterday threw a small, home-made bomb at Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban's motorcade, injuring a cameraman for the NBT station at the College of Local Administration in Pathum Thani.

 

About 500 red-shirt protesters gathered at the college in the morning burning effigies of Suthep and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva as Suthep was to hold a meeting with local leaders of Pathum Thani.

 

They chanted and booed the Abhisit government. When Suthep's motorcade arrived, they threw eggs at his car and hit a Channel 5 cameraman.

 

After the meeting, as Suthep was leaving the college in his car, the protesters threw eggs, shoes, water bottles and a home-made explosive device known as a "ping-pong bomb" at his car.

 

The explosion injured Chatchai Gaybui, a cameraman for NBT, in the stomach, drawing blood. A staffer of the college was also assaulted.

 

Suthep ordered police to bring the culprits to justice but did not issue a deadline, saying police did their duty well in the face of malicious acts.

 

"Police reported that there was evidence that the red-shirt protesters were responsible for the violence. Peaceful protest is all right, but throwing objects and bombs is illegal. No one minded them booing. I condemn the act because it tarnishes the country's image,'' he said.

 

Suthep said he would arrive in Surat Thani on an official inspection today and would face any public resistance in any area.

 

Meanwhile Social Development Minister Issara Somchai met with resistance from red-shirt protesters in Si Sa Ket. Issara was explaining policy to permanent officials and local leaders in the province about special allowances to seniors while the protesters accused the Abhisit administration of snatching power from an elected government.

 

The protest did not turn violent as police kept tight security.

 

Issara said he was neither afraid nor worried because he had expected such an incident. "It is a political phenomenon, and they have freedom of expression in a democratic system as long as they don't throw things and hurt people,'' he said.

 

He said he had told officials not to break up the red-shirt protest but to prevent it turning violent.

Issara said he was neither afraid nor worried because he had expected such an incident. "It is a political phenomenon, and they have freedom of expression in a democratic system as long as they don't throw things and hurt people,'' he said.

 

He said he had told officials not to break up the red-shirt protest but to prevent it turning violent.

It seems to me that throwing eggs, shoes, water bottles and home made explosives and injuring a cameraman is turning violent.

It seems to me that throwing eggs, shoes, water bottles and home made explosives and injuring a cameraman is turning violent.

 

The coment of Issara referred to the Si Sa Ket protest, as quoted below, and it did not turn violent. I hope all the violence stays in Bangkok, and does not spread to the far East, Northeast!!

 

"Meanwhile Social Development Minister Issara Somchai met with resistance from red-shirt protesters in Si Sa Ket. Issara was explaining policy to permanent officials and local leaders in the province about special allowances to seniors while the protesters accused the Abhisit administration of snatching power from an elected government.

 

The protest did not turn violent as police kept tight security.

 

Issara said he was neither afraid nor worried because he had expected such an incident. "It is a political phenomenon, and they have freedom of expression in a democratic system as long as they don't throw things and hurt people,'' he said.

 

He said he had told officials not to break up the red-shirt protest but to prevent it turning violent."