UDON THANI : Officials in this northeastern province are monitoring red shirt supporters after their return from Bangkok for fear they will hold another rally to oust the government.
"If the government fails to achieve the five-point road map for reconciliation soon, I believe the red shirts will come back and grow bigger to fight against the government," Udon Thani governor Amnart Pakarat said yesterday.
Udon Thani is one of the main strongholds of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Mr Amnart said provincial authorities had launched a campaign to inform red shirt supporters in the province why it was necessary for the government to use force in last Wednesday's dispersal.
While the breaking up of the protest on Wednesday was under way in Bangkok, about 3,000 red shirt protesters in Udon Thani were gathering at Thung Si Muang in front of the provincial hall to protest against the government.
The provincial hall and the Udon Thani municipality building were set on fire, with the total damage estimated at 400 million baht.
Almost 1,000 soldiers remain stationed at important government offices, shopping areas and some residential zones in the province.
"Life in the province has not yet returned to normal," Mr Amnart said.
"Even though the situation seems peaceful, there is still an underground movement of hard-core red shirt protesters in every tambon and community who are ready to instigate violence at any time."
Mr Amnart said he was also concerned that red shirt leaders in the province would use community radio stations to incite people against the government. Five stations under detained UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana have already been taken off the air.
Red shirt supporters here say the use of force to disperse protesters had deepened the divide between authorities and UDD supporters in the province.
Nitra Chorsungnoen, a red shirt supporter, said UDD members were waiting for an election to be held.
Thongsuk Puthamma, another red shirt supporter, said: "I would join a peaceful rally to restore democracy."
from bangkokpost
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