UDD rally continues in Chiang Mai

* Source: Bangkokpost
* Published: 29/01/2010 at 05:19 PM
* Online news: Breakingnews

The red shirts of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group continued their rally in front of the Region 5 Police headquarters in Chiang Mai on Friday, demanding the suspension of regional police chief Pol Lt-Gen Somkid Boonthanom.

Security measures have been stepped up to prevent the red shirts breaking into the office. Gates of the regional police head office have been closed.

Petcharawat Wattanapongsirikul, leader of the group, said a petiton has been sent to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and acting police chief Pateep Tanprasert as that Pol Lt-Gen Somkid to suspended because he has been indicted in the Criminal Court in connection with the disappearance of a Saudi businessman in 1990.

He said the red-shirts would seize the police office if there was no response to the petition today.

Mr Petcharawat said former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would phone in to talk to the protesters on Friday night about 9pm.

Police made an announcement on a local radio station today telling the people to avoid using the road leading past the police headquarters,and expected the protest to continue over the weekend.