A PROTEST drive from Democracy Monument across Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge and then back late afternoon today (July 3) attracted over a hundred vehicles with the drivers blaring their horn and shouting slogans to pressure Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to step down , Thai Rath newspaper and Sanook.com said.
Led by Mr. Sombat Boonngam-anong, a political activist who is also known as Bor Kor Lai Chud and who drove an orange Nissan March vehicle, the protest drive which started at 5 p.m. attracted a lot red shirt followers and members of the People’s Party (Rasadorn Group) who came with their own cars and motorcycles for the demonstration entitled “Sombat Tour.”
At 6 p.m. this group of demonstrators marched to join the Thais Won’t Tolerate group led by red shirt leader Mr. Jatuporn Prompan at Phan Fa Lilat Bridge.
Protest leader Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, and Amnesty International Thailand officials were expected to come in to observe the rally.
In an interview with the press, Jatuporn confirmed the 120-day timeframe to evict Gen. Prayut even though it is expected that he himself will be back in prison on July 8 stemming from an old case for which he had already served time but because he his now making a political move it has been revived.
He added that whether his group will be joining others in future depends on circumstances but all the groups have the same objective that is to oust Gen. Prayut.
Jatuporn is confident the Prime Minister will only be able to stay on for a few more days even though he has the support of the military because in the past the military was not able to withstand the push by the people.
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Today’s protest drive and red-shirt leader Jatuporn talking to the press while police are heavily controlling the area. Photos: Thai Rath and Sanook.com
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