Red Shirt protesters hold rally in Bangkok under watchful eyes of police
BANGKOK, Feb 19 -- Traffic in prime business areas in the Thai capital became impassable as anti-government protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) marched from Ratchaprasong intersection to the Supreme Court and ending up at Democracy Monument on Saturday, commemorating the end of their nine-month marathon protest which was crushed by government security forces.
UDD protesters, led by the movement core leader Jatuporn Prompan, also a list MP of the opposition Puea Thai Party, first assembled at Ratchaprasong intersection before marching to the Supreme Court to read out letters written by imprisoned UDD core leaders complaining of their hardships while in jail on terrorism charges.
As the number of the protesters grew, police decided to seal off two traffic lanes on Ratchaprasong Road.
Police said about 4,200 police personnel had been assigned to provide security near the protesters on fears that a third hand party might mingle with the crowd and create unrest.
Security in front of and around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajivas residence in an alley off Sukhumvit Road, one of the areas which Internal Security Act is enforced, was also tight as police searched suspicious looking persons while closed-circuit surveillance cameras operated round-the-clock, said national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree.
Pol Gen Wichean said police believed that the Act which expires next Wednesday should be extended as it is a vital tool to assist police to restore peace. He said if the situation deteriorates then police might discuss reintroducing an emergency decree which is more severe than the Act.
The Cabinet earlier re-enforced the ISA from Feb 9-23 in seven districts around Government House including Dusit, Phra Nakorn, Wattana, Ratchathewi, Wang Thonglang, Pathumwan and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts.
Eighty-nine persons, both security personnel and protesters, were killed and more than 1,900 were injured in several clashes be! tween th e troops and UDD members during April and May last year.
Most top protest leaders remain jailed under terrorism charges and their bail has been rejected as the court cited their possible flight to avoid prosecution. (MCOT online news)
UDD protesters, led by the movement core leader Jatuporn Prompan, also a list MP of the opposition Puea Thai Party, first assembled at Ratchaprasong intersection before marching to the Supreme Court to read out letters written by imprisoned UDD core leaders complaining of their hardships while in jail on terrorism charges.
As the number of the protesters grew, police decided to seal off two traffic lanes on Ratchaprasong Road.
Police said about 4,200 police personnel had been assigned to provide security near the protesters on fears that a third hand party might mingle with the crowd and create unrest.
Security in front of and around Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajivas residence in an alley off Sukhumvit Road, one of the areas which Internal Security Act is enforced, was also tight as police searched suspicious looking persons while closed-circuit surveillance cameras operated round-the-clock, said national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree.
Pol Gen Wichean said police believed that the Act which expires next Wednesday should be extended as it is a vital tool to assist police to restore peace. He said if the situation deteriorates then police might discuss reintroducing an emergency decree which is more severe than the Act.
The Cabinet earlier re-enforced the ISA from Feb 9-23 in seven districts around Government House including Dusit, Phra Nakorn, Wattana, Ratchathewi, Wang Thonglang, Pathumwan and Pom Prap Sattru Phai districts.
Eighty-nine persons, both security personnel and protesters, were killed and more than 1,900 were injured in several clashes be! tween th e troops and UDD members during April and May last year.
Most top protest leaders remain jailed under terrorism charges and their bail has been rejected as the court cited their possible flight to avoid prosecution. (MCOT online news)
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