By Xinhua,
Bangkok : Thailand’s Civil Court on Wednesday dismissed the appeal of the People Alliance for Democracy (PAD) to uphold an earlier order demanding the group to stop blocking roads and using loudspeakers in its anti-government rallies in central Bangkok during school hours.
The court cited in a statement that the injunction issued on Monday was not in violation of the group’s rights for gathering and free expression, but meant to protect the rights of the public.
The court had issued the injunction after the 10 teachers and parents from Rachawinit Secondary School, located next to the PAD rally site near the Government House in central Bangkok, filed a petition against the five core PAD leaders — Sondhi Limthongkul, Somkiat Pongpaiboon, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chamlong Srimuang, Pibhop Dhongchai, as well as its coordinator Suriyasai Katasila, accusingthem of causing disturbance to school classes and traffic nearby with their road barricades and loudspeakers.
The court on Monday ordered the PAD to lower volumes of its loudspeakers between 7.30 a.m. (0130GMT) and 4.30 p.m. (0930GMT) from Monday to Friday and open roads around the rally site.
The PAD had been holding protests in central Bangkok since May 25 and moved its main venue to outside of the Government House on June 20, demanding the step-down of the government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. The rallies have blocked traffic on some of the city’s busiest arteries and drawn complaints from local residents.
The PAD leaders appealed to the court on Tuesday, citing their constitutional rights and duties and arguing that their rally was beneficial to the country in many ways.
It at the same time carried on its rallies on Monday and Tuesday as usual and had only removed barricades on some traffic lanes.