SERC to go on indefinite nationwide strike

In response to the alleged violent means used by the Government in dealing with the demonstrators, Thailand’s State Enterprises Workers’ Relations Confederation (SERC) called on Friday for a nationwide strike by employees of all 43 state enterprises next week.

It has been reported that SERC Secretary-General Sawit Kaewwan said that his group wants to pressure Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and the government to resign. He has urged State enterprise employees throughout the country to rally behind the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), starting on Nov.24, and go on strike indefinitely beginning the next day, until the government steps down.

Sawit claimed that it has been decided by SERC that the government repeatedly used violence and brutality to suppress demonstrators, with the most recent example being the Thursday grenade attack, which killed one PAD demonstrator at Government House and wounded more than 20.

The PAD have been staging anti-government protests since May 25in Bangkok and have occupied the Government House for rally since Aug. 26.