[Thai] PM thanks all parties for keeping peace at Saturday's rally

A Thai villager fights his way with a knife during clash with protesters, not seen, as riot police officers look on during a protest against the occupation of land by Cambodian people in Sisaket province, northern Thailand, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. Violence broke out as a political group broke through police lines to march to a temple on the Cambodian border and demand the Thai government recover disputed territory. Hospitals said 15 people were slightly injured.

BANGKOK, Sept 20 (TNA) - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday thanked all parties, demonstrators and security officials as well, that there was no violence during the Bangkok protest of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Saturday, but called for Thais not to engage in further physical violence against one another, after many were injured near Preah Vihear temple in a scuffle.

The prime minister thanked officials and demonstrators for maintaining order and for following the rules for staging a peaceful protest in his weekly TV programme, broadcast from a Modernine TV Channel Nine studio on Sunday.

Responding to the clash between the members of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and local residents in the northeastern province of Si Sa Ket, the prime minister said he did not want to see Thais harming Thais.

“The government is not ignoring the conflict. Expressing different opinions is acceptable,” he said, “but we are all Thais. Don’t hurt others and cooperate with officials.”

Security personnel were directed to prevent further clashes between any groups, he added.

Four people were severely injured in the clash between the PAD and local villagers. The PAD was marching to Pha Mor E Daeng near the disputed area at Preah Vihear temple to read aloud their statement. The PAD demanded that Cambodian soldiers and villagers remove themselves from the disputed area.