UDD: Cuộc đột kích vào đài phát thanh là tín hiệu của một cuộc đảo chính

UDD: Radio station raids sign of coup

Bangkok Post
Published: 27/04/2011

The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) believes the government raids on 13 community radio stations on Tuesday are an indication of a pending military coup.

UDD co-leader Natthawut Saikua said on Wednesday that the raids were a threat on the rights and freedom of the people and news media.

The government wanted to close the people's ears and eyes, Mr Natthawut said.

He said a week from now there was a period with a high risk of a coup, beginning with the action taken against community radio stations although everything was going in the direction of a general election.

"We are not talking about a coup out of paranoia. It's a real threat. Even some of the 111 [former Thai Rak Thai executives under a five-year political ban] who are now with the government are worried that there may not be an election," Mr Natthawut said.

UDD core member and opposition Puea Thai list MP Jatuporn Prompan said police who raided the 13 radio stations were accompanied by officials from the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).

The raids took place when the cabinet approved a budget of 8.7 billion baht for the Isoc, he said.

Mr Jatuporn said the UDD believed there would be a coup because those in power knew it would be difficult for the current government to win the election.

Puea Thai list MP Jatuporn Prompan

UDD chairwoman Thida Thavornseth said she believed a coup was highly possible because the red-shirt movement was growing bigger every day. If there was an election, the Puea Thai Party would certainly be the winner.

"They (the military) are afraid the facts surrounding the dispersal of the red-shirts last year will be exposed. So they will stage a coup similar to the one in the Oct 14, 1973 student uprising," she said.

National police chief Wichean Potephosree said legal action would be taken against groups of people obstructing police raids on community radio stations in Bangkok and a neighbouring province.

Pol Gen Wichean’s threat came after small crowds of people prevented police from raiding a community radio station at Wongsakorn market in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district, and two others at Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district on Tuesday.

The radio stations are accused of broadcasting a speech containing comments offensive to the monarchy.

The police chief said a task force from the Central Investigation Bureau had seized transmission equipment from several community radio stations they raided on Tuesday.

Gen Wichean said the task force would again raid community radio stations in Sai Mai and Lam Luk Ka district. If people gathered in crowds to prevent them entering the premises' stations they would be charged with obstructing police in the execution of their duty.

Police yesterday raided 13 community radio stations in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces which they alleged had broadcast a controversial April 10 speech made by Mr Jatuporn, who is facing lese majeste charges for his speech.

He invokes his parliamentary immunity to stay out on bail on this and terrorism charges relating to the April-May violence last year.

 

Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/234067/udd-radio-station-raids-sign-of-coup