27.06.09 Police warn red shirts not to blockade Govt House
Source: Bangkok Post
Police have vowed to take legal action against
supporters of the red shirts if they fan out in their rally today and
block roads around Government House.
Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Worapong Chiewpreecha said
police will use their powers under the 2004 National Police Act to keep
the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship in check.
As the country does not have a specific law to govern public
gatherings, the enforcement of the act would be necessary as it would
allow officers to better control the demonstrators, he said.
The act's enforcement is viewed as the most sensible step as the country still has no crowd control law, he said.
All the roads around Government House are no-go zones for the red-shirt demonstrators, he said.
Seven closed-circuit television cameras were installed yesterday
around Government House as part of security measures by the government
before today's red-shirt rally.
The cameras have been installed on lamp posts along Prem Pachakorn
and Phadung Krungkasem canals and Nakhon Pathom Road and at a gate near
Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge to keep the red shirts under watch.
Thirty fire trucks and 450 troops will also be deployed inside the compound of Government House.
Legal and political experts invited by city police to give their
views on the issue backed the measure, but said police officers would
be wise to first opt for negotiations in case the rally-goers decide to
defy the law.
The UDD's April rally deteriorated into riots and there were street clashes with soldiers in Bangkok.
Today, key members of the pro-Thaksin Shinawatra group will hold a
rally at Sanam Luang to criticise the performance of Prime Minister
Abhisit Vejjajiva and his government.
City police have asked the army to deploy troops on the streets as a
back-up for police in case things go wrong, said army spokesman Col
Sansern Kaewkumnerd.
It has been agreed that 2,400 soldiers will be deployed to help
police guard important state agencies and buildings, especially
Government House, said Col Sansern.
The soldiers would only be armed with batons and shields, he said.
Army chief Anupong Paojinda said today's rally would not be allowed to turn into a riot like at Songkran.
"I don't believe the situation will escalate into violence," said
Gen Anupong, adding that most people today are more concerned about
finding a cure for the country's economic ills than ending political
conflicts.
Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the cabinet may enforce the
Internal Security Act during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
foreign ministers meeting next month in Phuket.
The meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers will take place on the resort island from July 16 to 23.
Poor security arrangements forced the cancellation of the Asean
summit in Pattaya in April when red shirts stormed the meeting venue at
a hotel.
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