http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/01/06/politics/politics_30092558.php
An election campaign in Lampang led by Democrat Party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai was cut short Tuesday after he was pelted with eggs and water bottles.
The pro-Thaksin red-shirted people staked out at the Democrat office in Lamphun, waiting to pelt him with rotten eggs but police managed to prevent the attack in Lamphun.
The two-time prime minister met with protests from the red-shirted people once he arrived at the Chiang Mai airport at 7:40 am.
While he was leaving the airport, five members of Chiang Mai Loving People, approached him and shouted at him.
The group was led by Kanyaphak Maneejak, a local DJ. They shouted that Chiang Mai people do not welcome Chuan and they kept shouting abusive words at him until he left in a van on his way to Lampang.
Once he reached Lampang at 10 am, Chuan and his entourage met with a protest by about 100 red-shirted people.
The supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra initially gathered in front of the Srichoom Temple. They later travelled on 12 vehicles and some motorcycles to wait for Chuan in front of the Namthong Market in Muang district.
Chuan was initially scheduled to walk with the Democrat candidate in the Lampang by-election in the market to beg for support after riding the campaign pick-up truck together.
But the campaign truck was blocked on the road by the protesters, who called themselves the Lampang Loving Group.
After they managed to block Chuan's campaign vehicle, the protesters rushed to surround it. They then bombarded the truck with plastic water bottles and eggs, causing a mess at the back of the truck.
Chuan's face and clothes were wet with broken eggs.
The attack prompted the campaign team to immediately halt the campaign activities.
Police then stepped in to rescue and provide a safe passage for Chuan from Lampang to Lamphun.
Police escorted Chuan's vehicle from Lampang to Lamphun and deployed patrol units along the way.
Chuan's vehicle was not allowed to stop on the way for fear that it would be surrounded by the red-shirted people and came under attack again.
The red-shirted people chased after Chuan's vehicle and honking their vehicles' horns, turning on headlights and shouting at the Democrat chief advisor until he left Lampang.
After Chuan reached the Lamphun office, some 30 members of the Chiang Mai Loving Group turned up outside the office at 2 pm.
They carried bags of rotten eggs, waiting to attack Chuan and his campaign team.
When a van was leaving the Democrat office, some protesters pelted it with rotten eggs.
Police stepped in and prevented the protesters from pelting the van, allowing it to leave the office, heading to a shopping plaza in Muang district where Chuan helped his party candidate to campaign.
Meanwhile in Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said local people should allow to launch election campaigns.
He said the Democrat and its candidates should be allowed to talk to the people and supporters of other parties should carry out their own campaigns without trying to disrupt other parties' campaigns.
Abhisit said the government tried to reach understanding with the protesters.
"The government will not create rifts and we have been trying to preserve a good atmosphere," Abhisit said.
He added that protesters could rally and raise banners to criticise the government but they should not pelt others with things.
PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said he worried about Chuan's security so he made a phone call to Chuan's team.
"The staffs said Chuan thinks he can handle the situation," Sathit siad.
"He knew what he would face but he may think that he can talk and reach understanding with the local people."
An election campaign in Lampang led by Democrat Party chief advisor Chuan Leekpai was cut short Tuesday after he was pelted with eggs and water bottles.
The pro-Thaksin red-shirted people staked out at the Democrat office in Lamphun, waiting to pelt him with rotten eggs but police managed to prevent the attack in Lamphun.
The two-time prime minister met with protests from the red-shirted people once he arrived at the Chiang Mai airport at 7:40 am.
While he was leaving the airport, five members of Chiang Mai Loving People, approached him and shouted at him.
The group was led by Kanyaphak Maneejak, a local DJ. They shouted that Chiang Mai people do not welcome Chuan and they kept shouting abusive words at him until he left in a van on his way to Lampang.
Once he reached Lampang at 10 am, Chuan and his entourage met with a protest by about 100 red-shirted people.
The supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra initially gathered in front of the Srichoom Temple. They later travelled on 12 vehicles and some motorcycles to wait for Chuan in front of the Namthong Market in Muang district.
Chuan was initially scheduled to walk with the Democrat candidate in the Lampang by-election in the market to beg for support after riding the campaign pick-up truck together.
But the campaign truck was blocked on the road by the protesters, who called themselves the Lampang Loving Group.
After they managed to block Chuan's campaign vehicle, the protesters rushed to surround it. They then bombarded the truck with plastic water bottles and eggs, causing a mess at the back of the truck.
Chuan's face and clothes were wet with broken eggs.
The attack prompted the campaign team to immediately halt the campaign activities.
Police then stepped in to rescue and provide a safe passage for Chuan from Lampang to Lamphun.
Police escorted Chuan's vehicle from Lampang to Lamphun and deployed patrol units along the way.
Chuan's vehicle was not allowed to stop on the way for fear that it would be surrounded by the red-shirted people and came under attack again.
The red-shirted people chased after Chuan's vehicle and honking their vehicles' horns, turning on headlights and shouting at the Democrat chief advisor until he left Lampang.
After Chuan reached the Lamphun office, some 30 members of the Chiang Mai Loving Group turned up outside the office at 2 pm.
They carried bags of rotten eggs, waiting to attack Chuan and his campaign team.
When a van was leaving the Democrat office, some protesters pelted it with rotten eggs.
Police stepped in and prevented the protesters from pelting the van, allowing it to leave the office, heading to a shopping plaza in Muang district where Chuan helped his party candidate to campaign.
Meanwhile in Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said local people should allow to launch election campaigns.
He said the Democrat and its candidates should be allowed to talk to the people and supporters of other parties should carry out their own campaigns without trying to disrupt other parties' campaigns.
Abhisit said the government tried to reach understanding with the protesters.
"The government will not create rifts and we have been trying to preserve a good atmosphere," Abhisit said.
He added that protesters could rally and raise banners to criticise the government but they should not pelt others with things.
PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey said he worried about Chuan's security so he made a phone call to Chuan's team.
"The staffs said Chuan thinks he can handle the situation," Sathit siad.
"He knew what he would face but he may think that he can talk and reach understanding with the local people."
