Here is a press release (25 July 2007) from The United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship

The events of the past few days leave me with great consternation. Firstly there was unprovoked aggression by the state, in the form of reckless baton wielding and tear gas showered upon what was an essentially peaceful protest against the unconstitutional activities of Gen Prem, leaving a lot of people injured and in pain. Secondly, my colleagues in select domestic media have chosen to offer a heavily biased coverage of the tragic incident, pushing into oblivion, the plight of the protestors and putting to rest the concept of “neutral reporting”. To them, I can only make exhortations to display greater courage and responsibility.

Late on Tuesday night (July 23rd), the government demonstrated that not only it capable of displays of overt aggression, like the kind it did to the protestors, but its also capable of activities of subtle, private coercion. My associate Oley dropped me off at a safe house and later on his way home he stopped at a convenience store to pick up food , when all of a sudden, four men emerged from the darkness and whisked him off in a bag to an unknown destination. He was then forced to drink a strong dose of what is suspected as sleeping medicine, and led to other places, before finally leaving him in the passenger seat of his own vehicle at a Big C Super market in Bang Bua Thong district. A definite statement of the vulnerability of all elements of the UDD against the great government machine.

Let it be known that such threats of action will only make our resolve to stand up for democracy and individual freedom much stronger, and that our moral fiber is dyed to the last strand in the colors of the cause and cannot and will not fade with either force or lure of any kind. The government has resolved to arrest the leaders of the UDD under the trumped up charges of engineering mob violence at the demonstration, and is facing a tough time in the courts trying to prove its assertions. The UDD is wedded to belief in the power of truth and non-violence and is committed towards adopting just those means to accomplish its noble objectives.

The government has displayed its true colors by engineering the drafting of a constitution, that will prolong its stay in power, and is now looking to engineer its adoption by gagging free debate on the topic. Also, it might just be a matter of time before the UDD leadership is put behind bars to make smooth for the CNS.

However we’re prepared for all eventualities, and will be proud to resist every force that will try to restrain fellow Thais from achieving their natural rights of freedom and self determination

Jakrapob Penkair
The United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)
104 Soi 40 Phatthanakarn Rd.
Suan Luang, Bangkok 10250
Tel: (662) 720 4500 Fax: (662) 720 4707