May 28, 2008
Bangkok - Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung is ready to welcome Sondhi Limthongkul’s challenge to debate about the constitution.
Chalerm claimed the debate is better than the street protest.
Sondhi Limthongkul, one of the leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), is now joining the PAD to protest against the charter change.
The interior minister said he would like to hold a debate through either Channel 9 or NBT channel (formerly known as Channel 11).
Chalerm confirmed the government had no policy to arrest the leaders of the PAD.
He added that the interior ministry also did not have the policy to arrange a mob against the PAD, believing the police would be able to control the situation.
However, four men were yesterday arrested by the PAD security guards, confessing they were each hired for one hundred baht to mess the PAD rally up.
Chalerm who unsuccessfuly petitioned against the Chiang Rai court’s order to temporarily free Sondhi yesterday, previously said he could not guarantee the PAD demonstrators’ safety.
