Concern as red shirts threaten mass protest
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Today could see a turning point: Will the red shirts hold a mass demonstration some 100,000 strong in a move to oust three Constitutional Court judges, or will they opt to disperse and later seek the judges' impeachment?
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has instructed municipal police to tighten security at government compounds and landmarks in Bangkok, and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said she was concerned and had assigned her deputy Chalerm Yoobamrung to take charge. But the National Police chief and national security agencies said the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to cope with possible violence was not necessary and there was nothing to worry about.
A police spokesman said the red-shirt rally conditions did not meet the criteria for the ISA to be imposed. It showed no sign of being a threat to national security or of prolonged violence. Now, there was about 500 and there was likely to be less than 100,000 joining, and they would disperse.
The red shirts have accused the Court judges of doing their duty beyond the scope of the charter.
