Democrats call for end to intimidation of govt critics by the red shirts

Democrats call for end to intimidation of govt critics by the red shirts

The Democrat Party yesterday claimed to have endured a "week of harassment" last week as senior opposition figures including Chuan Leekpai and Abhisit Vejjajiva, as well as other critics of the government, were subject to intimidation by red-shirt supporters of the government.
Democrat spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut said the intimidation of former premiers Chuan and Abhisit, as well as an assault on two students involved in a protest, must not be allowed to happen again.
Democrat Party Trang MP Sathit Wongnongtoey said the party had assigned him to check with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung on the progress of investigations into the alleged red-shirt attack on two students protesting outside Parliament on Thursday during the policy debate.
Sathit said he was confident Chalerm would be able to rein in the red shirts. However, he said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Pheu Thai were responsible for the activities of red shirts, because she appointed them to carry out tasks related to political activities.
He urged the public to keep a watch for any double standard regarding the government's treatment of red shirts.
Democrat Party MP Kowit Tarana warned red shirts to behave appropriately, saying their leaders' rise to power does not give them impunity.
"The premier and her ministers preach reconciliation in press interviews, but take no action against those who assault people outside Parliament,'' Kowit said.
He said House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranont cannot avoid responsibility, as the incident happened in front of Parliament. The speaker must take action to see that law and order is maintained, Kowit said.
Chavanond said the Democrats will next week name a shadow Cabinet to check the government.
"To ensure that we can effectively check the government, we will select members who have potential and competency and can fully devote their time to carrying out their duties to best of their ability,'' the spokesman said.
He criticised as inappropriate Pheu Thai's decision to appoint party deputy spokesman Wim Rungwattnachinda as secretary to the PM's office minister in charge of overseeing the media, due to allegations that Wim was involved in bribing reporters.
The Democrat spokesman also said the Pheu Thai-led government's policy to suspend contributions to the Oil Fund was a distortion of the ruling party's election campaign promises, and will not curb the rising cost of living as claimed.
Chavanond said the suspension of the contribution would put the Oil Fund Bt5 billion to Bt6 billion in debt, a burden that would ultimately have to be shouldered by the public. Democrat Party Bangkok MP Attawit Suwanpakdi said the prime minister promised during an election campaign event at Rajamangala Sport Stadium that the Oil Fund would be permanently scrapped in order to drastically reduce the cost of living. However, the government now says the contribution to the Oil Fund will be suspended for six months. Thus, Attawit said, prices of goods will not come down because the measure is temporary.
He said the drastic drop in the benzene price to Bt34.77 will affect sugar cane farmers, since the margin between benzene and benzene gasohol is only 23 satang. Many motorists will stop using gasohol, and prices of tapioca and sugar will plunge, he said.
The suspension of the contribution to the Oil Fund, he added, will affect the subsidy for LPG, which Attawit said was used by every household for cooking. Even though the diesel price has dropped by Bt3, the price of LPG will rise from Bt280 to Bt570 per 15 kg cylinder, he said.