ID :
54298
Tue, 04/07/2009 - 17:46
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/54298
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Security tightened on eve of Red Shirts' mass rally
BANGKOK, April 7 (TNA) – The metropolitan police chief in the Thai capital said on Tuesday that police were on highest alert, having prepared maximum security precautions to ensure law and order ahead of the mass rally of Red Shirt anti-government protesters-- whose organisers claim they are mounting Thailand’s largest-ever political event, intending to topple the Democrat-led government.
Police Lt-Gen. Vorapong Chiewpreecha said 23 companies of police would be deployed to maintain security, but the deployment will be adjusted to cope with a large number of protesters expected to join the rally from the route in front of Government House to the Si Sao Theves residence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.
The general said the combined routes haves the capacity of 86,000 marchers.
The metropolitan police chief gave assurances that the demonstration would not be disrupted, and would take place as planned, but intelligence reports indicate that low-intensity explosions, giant fireworks and even arson might be used to create disturbances during the demonstration.
Police were on highest alert to handle the situation, Gen. Vorapong said, adding that military reinforcements would be requested to help police if they lose control of the situation.
Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last week urged his supporters led by the 'Red Shirts', the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to come out in full force on Wednesday.
Promoting for many days “April 8” in the capital and in provincial halls nationwide, he has asked the public to repeat "the people's revolution" and continues calling for a historic change to ‘true democracy’ in Thailand.
The former premier spoke in a video link address from an undisclosed location lashing out at Privy Council President Prem of having engineered the 2006 coup ousting him from power.
Thousands of red-clad demonstrators have rallied outside Government House, the government seat in Bangkok since March 26, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down, and calling for fresh elections. (TNA)
Police Lt-Gen. Vorapong Chiewpreecha said 23 companies of police would be deployed to maintain security, but the deployment will be adjusted to cope with a large number of protesters expected to join the rally from the route in front of Government House to the Si Sao Theves residence of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda.
The general said the combined routes haves the capacity of 86,000 marchers.
The metropolitan police chief gave assurances that the demonstration would not be disrupted, and would take place as planned, but intelligence reports indicate that low-intensity explosions, giant fireworks and even arson might be used to create disturbances during the demonstration.
Police were on highest alert to handle the situation, Gen. Vorapong said, adding that military reinforcements would be requested to help police if they lose control of the situation.
Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra last week urged his supporters led by the 'Red Shirts', the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to come out in full force on Wednesday.
Promoting for many days “April 8” in the capital and in provincial halls nationwide, he has asked the public to repeat "the people's revolution" and continues calling for a historic change to ‘true democracy’ in Thailand.
The former premier spoke in a video link address from an undisclosed location lashing out at Privy Council President Prem of having engineered the 2006 coup ousting him from power.
Thousands of red-clad demonstrators have rallied outside Government House, the government seat in Bangkok since March 26, demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down, and calling for fresh elections. (TNA)
