ID :
104451
Wed, 02/03/2010 - 20:18
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/104451
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PM pledges to prevent violence by anti-government protesters
BANGKOK, Feb 3 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday pledged that his government will control the situation during this period to prevent the recurrence of any violence such as last year's mid-April chaos, while urging the public not to fall into the trap of persons who attempt to incite violence.
The prime minister commented following the Monday throwing of bags of faeces and fermented fish into the compound of his Sukhumvit area home, as well as concerns over possible violence related to the planned rallies of the Red Shirt anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) ahead of the court's decision on the case of Bt76 billion (US$2.3 billion) in frozen assets of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra scheduled for February 26.
Mr Abhisit said what had happened during last mid-April was seriously violent and the government will prevent any repeat of such violence during this period.
The so-called Red Shirt protesters last year stormed into the main meeting venue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the seaside resort of Pattaya, forcing the government
to abruptly cancel the regional pact meeting on April 12, while the other UDD activists blocked several key intersections in the capital the following day and staged riots which left two people dead.
Mr Abhisit himself narrowly escaped serious injury in the violence initiated by red-clad protesters who invaded the Ministry of Interior compound minutes after he announced the enforcement of a State of
Emergency.
The premier said he believes that the public understands the purpose of this month moves, urging the people not to accept or become a prey of groups of persons who try to incite violence.
"The Red Shirts will intensify their campaign before the court's ruling on Thaksin's frozen assets case," Mr Abhisit said. "There are also attempts to incite many groups to make such a move."
When asked whether the government will invoke the internal security law to maintain order during the UDD protests this month, the premier said he has to review the situation first whether or not it
warrants invoking the law as he does not want to enforce it too frequently.
Mr Abhisit said that he has instructed security-concerned agencies to closely monitor the situation following unconfirmed reports the anti-government activists are forming armed groups which he said might
lead to violence.
He also denied media reports that his father had spent Bt300,000 (about US$9,000) a month to protect him and his family, saying that he is confident with the security team and measures provided by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security.
"It's totally groundless. You can ask my father. There is no reason why I should not trust the security team," said Mr Abhisit. "Mr Suthep has been supervising security matters for some time and there's no reason that
we would not trust each other. I'm still confident with the work of the security officials."
The premier conceded, however, that security measures at his home will have to be tightened following Monday's
attack which bags of human waste and fermented fish were hurled into his home compound. (TNA)
The prime minister commented following the Monday throwing of bags of faeces and fermented fish into the compound of his Sukhumvit area home, as well as concerns over possible violence related to the planned rallies of the Red Shirt anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) ahead of the court's decision on the case of Bt76 billion (US$2.3 billion) in frozen assets of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra scheduled for February 26.
Mr Abhisit said what had happened during last mid-April was seriously violent and the government will prevent any repeat of such violence during this period.
The so-called Red Shirt protesters last year stormed into the main meeting venue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the seaside resort of Pattaya, forcing the government
to abruptly cancel the regional pact meeting on April 12, while the other UDD activists blocked several key intersections in the capital the following day and staged riots which left two people dead.
Mr Abhisit himself narrowly escaped serious injury in the violence initiated by red-clad protesters who invaded the Ministry of Interior compound minutes after he announced the enforcement of a State of
Emergency.
The premier said he believes that the public understands the purpose of this month moves, urging the people not to accept or become a prey of groups of persons who try to incite violence.
"The Red Shirts will intensify their campaign before the court's ruling on Thaksin's frozen assets case," Mr Abhisit said. "There are also attempts to incite many groups to make such a move."
When asked whether the government will invoke the internal security law to maintain order during the UDD protests this month, the premier said he has to review the situation first whether or not it
warrants invoking the law as he does not want to enforce it too frequently.
Mr Abhisit said that he has instructed security-concerned agencies to closely monitor the situation following unconfirmed reports the anti-government activists are forming armed groups which he said might
lead to violence.
He also denied media reports that his father had spent Bt300,000 (about US$9,000) a month to protect him and his family, saying that he is confident with the security team and measures provided by Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who oversees national security.
"It's totally groundless. You can ask my father. There is no reason why I should not trust the security team," said Mr Abhisit. "Mr Suthep has been supervising security matters for some time and there's no reason that
we would not trust each other. I'm still confident with the work of the security officials."
The premier conceded, however, that security measures at his home will have to be tightened following Monday's
attack which bags of human waste and fermented fish were hurled into his home compound. (TNA)
