8 RKK members arrested in South

Today's Sports News - Wednesday December 12, 2007

8 RKK members arrested in South

(BangkokPost.com) - Security forces arrested eight members of the Runda Kumpulan Kecil (RKK) separatist group late Tuesday in Narathiwat Province.

The insurgents were captured in a house in Cho Airong district, where they were planning to stage insurgent attacks.

According to Pol Col Choti Chawanwiwat, they refused to surrender so police and soldiers threw tear gas into the house.

The arrested members were men aged between 23 to 30. They were taken to a nearby military camp for investigation.

Four guns together with other objects, which were hidden in a well located inside the compound, were also confiscated.

12:02 Dec 12, 2007

Update : NLA postpones meeting after rally

(BangkokPost.com) - National Legislative Assembly (NLA) speaker Meechai Ruchupan ordered the cancellation of Wednesday's meeting after hundreds of protesters stormed into the chamber's hall to stop legislators from passing laws.

The protesters, including political activists, students and political activists, claimed that the lawmakers, appointed by the military junta, had no mandate to pass legislation.

"I'm deeply sorry with what happened today...but I insisted that the NLA will have to continue with our duty until a new parliament is formed," Mr Meechai said.

He insisted that the NLA did not pass legislation with haste, adding that laws passed by this NLA could still be amended.

When asked when the NLA will convene again, Mr Meechai said the date is to be set.
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Earlier story

NGOs call for dissolution of legislative branch

(BangkokPost.com) – Some 1,000 members of non-governmental organizations sealed off the entrance to Government House Wednesday morning, calling for the dissolution of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA).

Led by NGO executive Jon Ungpakorn, the rally-goers marched outside Government House just moments before members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) were due to start meeting.

The group claimed that the government’s legislative branch has been responsible for causing the country’s downfall by passing laws they described as “a violation of human rights”.

The NLA was also accused of empowering government agencies through the implementation of some of these laws.

They cited the National Security bill as an example of how the NLA had played a part in perpetuating military power.

They also branded the law on independent universities, saying it raised the cost of education and said new privatization laws only benefited investors at the cost of the general public.

Emergency police were called to the scene to ensure order as NLA members were unable to leave the building.

11:07 Dec 12, 2007

Bangkok Post