Prem resists attempt by Thai PM supporters to link him to car bomb

from the Nation:

Thaksin supporters plead with Prem to save premier

Supporters' move seen as bid to link Prem to alleged murder attempt

Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday gathered outside the Privy Council president's home to urge him to "help protect the prime minister of the poor", but Thaksin's critics viewed this as an orchestrated attempt to link General Prem Tinsulanonda to the alleged plot on the premier's life.

A group of about 150 people submitted a petition calling for Prem's intervention to ensure the safety of Thaksin, who disclosed on Thursday that he was the target of an alleged assassination plot.

A military officer attached to the International Security Operation Command, Lieutenant Thawatchai Klinchana, was arrested on Thursday morning near the prime minister's residence. Police found explosive devices in his car.

Prem, who turns 86 today, yesterday welcomed well-wishers, including caretaker Defence Minister Thamarak Isarangura, top commanders of the three armed forces, and national police chief General Kowit Watana.

The people who described themselves as a "grassroots group" gathered outside the Sisao Thewet residence at about 8.30am, shortly before Prem started to welcome his guests inside the compound.

Prem's aide, Vice Admiral Pajun Tamprateep, accepted the petition from the group on behalf of the Privy Council president.

The petitioners claimed to represent the grassroots people. They expressed shock at the uncovering of the explosive-laden car allegedly meant for an assassination attempt on Thaksin.

"When Prem was the prime minister, he faced verbal attacks, survived an assassination attempt and was punched in the face. Therefore he should understand the plight of Thaksin," the petition said. [ed. nice, Thai politics-- you can just feel the slime and insincerity dripping off this crudely spun petition]

It asked Prem to help restore social peace and prod the government's opponents to abide by democratic methods.

One representative of the group appealed to Prem to "help protect the life of the prime minister of the people and help restore peace to Thai society".

Some apparently drunk members of the group started singing the patriotic song "Rak Kan Wai Therd" (Let's Love One Another), prompting others to follow. Pajun urged them to stop singing and said that it was improper to drink before joining such an occasion.

The group members came to Prem's home in 16 vehicles, most of which carried licence plates of Uthai Thani province.

PM's secretary-general Prommin Lertsuridej yesterday made a comment similar to that by the grassroots group. Prommin said Prem had faced similar threats when serving as prime minister.

"He [Prem] was fired at with war weapons. What happened then was similar to what is happening now. The methods may or may not have been similar, but the culprit was arrested. The attempt to change the regime is not based on democratic means,'' he said.

Prasong Soonsiri, an intelligence expert who is critical of Thaksin, yesterday said the appeal for Prem's assistance was an attempt to link the Privy Council president to the alleged plot to kill the PM.

"It's aimed at making Thai society believe that the threat to Thaksin's life is so serious he needs to appeal to Prem. This is an awful set-up. It's intended to defame [Prem] and the military," said Prasong, a former chief of the National Security Council.

Maj-General Chamlong Srimuang said the gathering of Thaksin's supporters in front of Prem's residence was aimed at sending out a message that Prem would like to kill the prime minister.

"This is absolutely nonsensical. They would like to destroy General Prem. They have tried once to kill General Prem by throwing a bomb in front of his house. But nobody was arrested. Now it shows that Thaksin will stoop to any level," Chamlong said.

Assoc Prof Kriangkrai Liewchanpattana, a coordinator of an anti-Thaksin group in Songkhla, said yesterday that the appeal to Prem was "aimed at implying that the Privy Council president can influence those capable of threatening the PM's life".

Two other Songkhla residents shared his view, saying they suspected certain politicians in power were behind the move by the grassroots group.

Prasit Janlamphu, 54, said: "It's a set-up aimed at linking [Prem] to the attempt on the PM's life. ... It appears Thaksin wants to appeal for public sympathy."

Thawil Kammankanurak, 63, said: "I believe politicians are behind [the appeal for Prem's help]. This is a bid to link Prem to this matter."

Phairoj Suwanchave, a former Thai Rak Thai party-list member, tried to ridicule Prem. He said: "I have been observing General Prem for several years. Now foreigners are startled when they see a military officer aged 70-80 years old wear full combat uniform. This kind of picture would not be seen in other countries, particularly civilised countries. When they asked me about it, I simply said 'no comment'."

Wattana Sengpairoh, a former Thai Rak Thai MP for Bangkok, said the assassination plot against Thaksin showed that a "charismatic person beyond the Constitution" does really exist.

"There are some forces in the Thai society, trying to influence politics," he said.