KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (KUNA) -- Crowds of the supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) (the Red Shirts) demonstrated early Monday at the residence of the former Prime Minister Gen Surayud Chulanont in Bangkok.
The UDD called on the Thai government to grill Gen Surayud for confiscating some of the villagers' lands, mainly his violation into the forest reserve, Thai News Agency said today.
The Red Shirt leaders said the protest, which started on Sunday will continue until Tuesday, and if there is no response from the government, they will then consider their next move.
They consider as complicit the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva for ignoring the case and charged that many villagers at Khao Yai Thiang have been sued for trespassing in the forests and forced to leave their land.
The Thai authorities imposed strict security measures inside and outside Gen Surayud's home, with 700 police personnel deployed to maintain order in the area. The Office of the Attorney General on Friday announced it would not sue Gen Surayud for his ownership of land in the forest preserve, saying that the former prime minister did not commit violations and that his land purchase was legal.
The Attorney General's spokesperson said Gen Surayud was not guilty as he had legally acquired the land, and the property had twice changed ownership before him.
Gen Surayud said earlier that he is ready to comply with the law regarding his controversial land ownership and would follow the Attorney General's decision. The Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted from office by a military coup in 2006 faces accusation by the superior court for taking advantage of his post to help his wife strike an illegal deal to buy a big land in one of the posh neighborhoods in Bangkok.(end) aab.mar KUNA 111123 Jan 10NNNN