ID :
111522
Sun, 03/14/2010 - 13:15
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/111522
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Thai PM: Invoking Emergency Decree depends on urgency
BANGKOK, March 14 (TNA) -- Faced by pressures from anti-government protesters demanding the ouster of his coalition government, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Sunday invoking the Emergency Decree by the government would depend on a “necessity and urgency only”.
Thanking protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for holding a thus far peaceful demonstration in the capital, Mr Abhisit said during his weekly television and radio address that in an attempt to ease confrontations between security personnel and the protesters, the government had ordered a number of soldiers to be withdrawn from protest sites and replaced by police.
Intelligence reports received by the government showed certain ‘Red Shirt’ factions from the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani and the northern province of Chiang Mai may cause trouble during the rally, he said.
“The government must issue stringent measures and whether it would issue the Emergency Decree would depend on a “necessity and urgency only,” said Mr Abhisit.
The nearly 16-month-old government has effected a less stringent Internal Security Act from March 11-23 in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces in a bid to contain the protest from turning into violence.
Mr Abhisit’s remarks were made as more UDD protesters arrive in Bangkok by boat to join their demonstrators now gathering at Ratchadamnoen Avenue where a number of ministries and the United Nations ESCAP (Asia and Pacific regional headquarters) are located.
UDD leaders said earlier that one million protesters would join their rally in the capital in an attempt to oust the government and a call for a fresh election, but police estimated that the number of protesters stood at only 80,000 Saturday night.
Bangkok police, meanwhile, said they had not yet obtained an arrest warrant for UDD key figure Arisman Pongruangrong on charges of inciting violence resulting from his statements during two rallies in Bangkok and in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in late January.
The complaints were filed by the UDD's arch rival the People’s Alliance for Democracy (the PAD 'Yellow Shirts') on Monday.
Police said they would arrest him immediately if they receive the warrant approved by the Criminal Court on Saturday.
Military and personnel from the Marine Department provided security at Thewet pier Sunday as more Red Shirts from central provinces arrived by boat on the Chao Phraya River to join the rally in the capital.
The Royal Thai Navy and the Marine Department are conducting joint water patrols under the security plan for the vicinity of Siriraj Hospital where His Majesty the King is staying.
Boats which do not normally carry passengers are banned from the eight piers nearby Siriraj.
However, Red Shirt protesters are allowed to disembark at the Thewet, Samphraya and the Rama XIII bridge piers.
Meanwhile, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University conducted a poll on 1,090 respondents in Bangkok and seven other surrounding provinces over the enforcement of the security law and the Red Shirt protest.
Thirty-one per cent think that the Red Shirt protest makes foreign countries think that Thailand is an unstable country and that the Thai people don't love one another, while 24 per cent see that the protest causes trouble to people living at and near rally areas.
More than half, 57 per cent, believe that the UDD rally is not a true democratic expression, as it is being held to benefit one person and is considered as a political game to stir up the government.
Only some 24 per cent think that the protest is carried out as a true democratic expression as the public has the right to protest if they are treated unfairly.
Slightly over one in four -- 27 per cent -- also worry that Thailand's image will be tarnished in the international arena and one in four -- 25 per cent -- believe the protest will damage the country's economy in addition to the investment and tourism industries. (TNA)
Thanking protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for holding a thus far peaceful demonstration in the capital, Mr Abhisit said during his weekly television and radio address that in an attempt to ease confrontations between security personnel and the protesters, the government had ordered a number of soldiers to be withdrawn from protest sites and replaced by police.
Intelligence reports received by the government showed certain ‘Red Shirt’ factions from the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani and the northern province of Chiang Mai may cause trouble during the rally, he said.
“The government must issue stringent measures and whether it would issue the Emergency Decree would depend on a “necessity and urgency only,” said Mr Abhisit.
The nearly 16-month-old government has effected a less stringent Internal Security Act from March 11-23 in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces in a bid to contain the protest from turning into violence.
Mr Abhisit’s remarks were made as more UDD protesters arrive in Bangkok by boat to join their demonstrators now gathering at Ratchadamnoen Avenue where a number of ministries and the United Nations ESCAP (Asia and Pacific regional headquarters) are located.
UDD leaders said earlier that one million protesters would join their rally in the capital in an attempt to oust the government and a call for a fresh election, but police estimated that the number of protesters stood at only 80,000 Saturday night.
Bangkok police, meanwhile, said they had not yet obtained an arrest warrant for UDD key figure Arisman Pongruangrong on charges of inciting violence resulting from his statements during two rallies in Bangkok and in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in late January.
The complaints were filed by the UDD's arch rival the People’s Alliance for Democracy (the PAD 'Yellow Shirts') on Monday.
Police said they would arrest him immediately if they receive the warrant approved by the Criminal Court on Saturday.
Military and personnel from the Marine Department provided security at Thewet pier Sunday as more Red Shirts from central provinces arrived by boat on the Chao Phraya River to join the rally in the capital.
The Royal Thai Navy and the Marine Department are conducting joint water patrols under the security plan for the vicinity of Siriraj Hospital where His Majesty the King is staying.
Boats which do not normally carry passengers are banned from the eight piers nearby Siriraj.
However, Red Shirt protesters are allowed to disembark at the Thewet, Samphraya and the Rama XIII bridge piers.
Meanwhile, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University conducted a poll on 1,090 respondents in Bangkok and seven other surrounding provinces over the enforcement of the security law and the Red Shirt protest.
Thirty-one per cent think that the Red Shirt protest makes foreign countries think that Thailand is an unstable country and that the Thai people don't love one another, while 24 per cent see that the protest causes trouble to people living at and near rally areas.
More than half, 57 per cent, believe that the UDD rally is not a true democratic expression, as it is being held to benefit one person and is considered as a political game to stir up the government.
Only some 24 per cent think that the protest is carried out as a true democratic expression as the public has the right to protest if they are treated unfairly.
Slightly over one in four -- 27 per cent -- also worry that Thailand's image will be tarnished in the international arena and one in four -- 25 per cent -- believe the protest will damage the country's economy in addition to the investment and tourism industries. (TNA)
