United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) chairman Jatuporn Promphan admitted today (Monday) the challenge for people of different political ideals to come together as a united force, after decades of political polarization in Thailand.
He said, however, that he will keep trying to do so, in the hope that, after Songkran, more people will join the Samakkee Prachachon group, which has been rallying for the second consecutive day at Santiporn Park, on Bangkok’s Ratchadamnoen Avenue, to demand the ouster of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
The rally today hit a snag when Adul Khieuboriboon, leader of the relatives of people killed by the military in the Black May massacre of 1992, asked protesters not to raise three-fingered salute, but to use the clenched fist salute instead.
His request caused resentment among several active and former vocational students, who walked out of the protest site. Some red-shirt supporters followed suit in protest.
This prompted Jatuporn to intervene. He climbed on stage to offer an apology, saying it was a misunderstanding. He also asked representatives of the vocational students to approach the stage and offered them another apology.
Adul then took to the stage again to apologize to the vocational students, saying that he was unaware of the true significance of the three fingered salute.
The Samakkee Prachachon group has vowed to continue the protest at the park until the prime minister resigns or is forced to quit.
