PM spared role in dealing with rally
Play
Chalerm led minicabinet tasked with tackling protest
The government is preparing to cope with a mass rally this Saturday at the Royal Plaza, not far from Government House and Parliament.
Its main goal appears to be the keeping of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra away from possible legal problems should the crowd-control effort turn violent.
A “mini-Cabinet” has been set up, consisting of nine Cabinet members and is headed by first Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. Its mission is to evaluate the situation and come up with response measures.
Experience has taught the ruling Pheu Thai Party that in a situation like this, the government head could become a major political casualty. Two previous prime ministers, Somchai Wongsawat, from Pheu Thai’s previous life People Power Party, and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, have both faced legal headaches resulting from their governments’ crowd-control efforts.
Somchai was found by the National Anti-Corruption Commission to be responsible for the violent police crackdown on protesters in October 2008. Abhisit is being investigated by the Department of Special Investigation in connection with the deaths of protesters during the political unrest and riots in 2010.
This time around, Pheu Thai will certainly not take risks; so Yingluck will be prevented from the job of dealing with protesters as much as possible.
The Pitak Siam group led by retired General Boonlert Kaewprasit, will hold its anti-government rally this Saturday, on the eve of the start of a censure debate in Parliament against the prime minister and three other Cabinet members.
Starting today, crowd-control police units will be dispatched to Government House as part of tightened security measures, in addition to the already solid system in place at the premises, according to informed sources.
At the Parliament, about 450 crowd-control policemen will be on standby. They will assemble at the compound on Saturday afternoon and are expected to remain there until the anti-government rally ends, the sources said.
The Parliament police will be mainly responsible for guarding the property as well as parliamentarians who may need assistance should there be an evacuation. Steel staircases have been built to allow an exit from Parliament into an adjacent palace behind.
House Speaker Somsak Kiartsuranond will get special protection. At least 10 policemen have been assigned to guard him in case of evacuation.
Evacuation of MPs was required a few years ago when a large group of angry red-shirt protesters stormed into the Parliament compound, forcing the lawmakers inside to flee. Some senior Democrat politicians, then in government, had to escape by helicopter in fear of assault by the angry mob.
Police guards will do their utmost not to allow such a situation to happen again this time, the sources said. Crowd-control units will prevent protesters from entering the compound. If they cannot keep control, all the gates will be shut, with more than 20 security cameras at the gates ready to record any trespassers.
Intruders caught on camera will face severe legal action. In addition to being charged with trespassing on state premises, they will be accused of obstructing the work of democratically-elected MPs, according to the government sources.
