Phuket PAD remembers protest victims

PHUKET: Phuket members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) yesterday took part in an alms-giving ceremony to remember the victims of the October 7, 2008 clashes between PAD protesters and government troops who forcibly removed them after a 193-day blockade at Government House in Bangkok.

The merit-makers offered donations of food and other necessary items to monks at Wat Charoen Samanakit, located on Toh Sae Hill Road in Phuket Town.

The protest three years ago came under the newly-installed government of Somchai Wongsawat, ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s brother-in-law, who was rejected by the PAD leaders as a Thaksin nominee. A few days prior to the violence, PAD leaders Chaiwat Sinsuwongse and Chamlong Srimuang were arrested by police on insurrection charges.

The resulting violence on October 6 and 7 claimed the lives of 11 PAD members and left hundreds more injured, according to the alliance.

Tensions eased when two days later Mr Chaiwat and Mr Chamlong were released on bail and the Supreme Court two weeks later ruled Mr Thaksin guilty in a land purchase conflict-of-interest case involving his wife.

— Warisa Temram