Activists storm House

General news - Thursday December 13, 2007

RACE TO PARLIAMENT

Activists storm House

Fifty protesters get into NLA, demand it stop passing 'damaging' bills, stopped by commandos

PENCHAN CHAROENSUTHIPAN & APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

About 50 activists stormed parliament yesterday morning, forcing an abrupt adjournment of a National Legislative Assembly (NLA) session debating human rights legislation.

Five hundred activists from many non-governmental organisations picketed parliament on U-Thong Nai road before surrounding the entrances.

Led by prominent activist and former senator Jon Ungpakorn, about 50 activists forced their way into the parliament building while the NLA was in session.

Another 50 managed to get over the fence but were stopped from going further.

Mr Jon said the NLA was issuing too many laws which threatened to violate human rights and harm democracy.The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, alcohol advertising controls, broadcasting, privatisation of state enterprises, and autonomy of universities.

The activists insisted the bills, if passed, would cause irreparable damage to the country.

''We want the NLA to stop doing its job now. Please let the bills be considered by people with the mandate to do it.

''We see no point in your still working, except to speed up bills to serve the military,'' Mr Jon said.

The activists gained access to parliament by climbing over a fence using bamboo ladders. Some were seen squeezing through a gap underneath the gate.

The protesters, who outnumbered the security guards, looked jubilant once they were inside parliament.

The incident took place an hour into the NLA session. The NLA was considering a health promotion fund bill at the time.

The protesters reached the second floor of parliament and grouped outside the main chamber. They shouted their demand for the ouster of the NLA members.

Some assembly members were visibly taken aback by the activists' presence.

Pojanee Thanavaranit, the NLA vice-president who chaired the session, tried to calm their nerves.

''Don't worry. We have commandos. I'd like to ask that the meeting be adjourned,'' she said.

Mrs Pojanee suspended the session at 11.50am.

Other prominent activists who took part were Sairung Thongplon and Pairote Polapet. They were later surrounded by commandos holding batons and plastic shields.

Some NLA members who are former activists came out to talk to Mr Jon. They included Tuanjai Deetes and Wallop Tangkhananurak. Both agreed that the NLA had passed too many laws, some containing flaws. But they insisted many other laws were beneficial to the public.

The incident prompted NLA president Meechai Ruchupan to cut short a physical checkup and return immediately to parliament. Once there, he called an urgent meeting with senior NLA and parliament officials, and senior military and police officers.

The meeting lasted more than an hour. Amid concerns that the confrontation could turn violent, Mr Meechai cancelled the NLA meeting for the rest of the day.

A visibly unhappy Mr Meechai maintained the NLA must be allowed to do its job until a new batch of lawmakers is elected and sworn in. If not, the country would be in trouble.

''What we have been doing is in line with the law. I am sorry about the incident because they [the protesters] don't understand the democratic mechanism.

''If they don't like the law, they can always seek changes when the next government is formed,'' he said.

Mr Jon described as an ''achievement beyond expectation'' the protesters' ability to stop the NLA session.

The protesters dispersed about 2pm.

The NLA plans to resume its session today.

Bangkok Post