White masks adamant on rallying at CentralWorld despite ban
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The white-masks are adamant about rallying at CentralWorld today as part of their weekly anti-government protest, although the department store yesterday imposed a ban on protesters using its premises for political rallies.
CentralWorld, in a statement, announced that it wanted to operate its business professionally and with political neutrality. Although it did not object to political rallies or political expression, it has decided not to allow any group to use its premises for political activities.
After the ban was announced on Friday night, Facebook page “V for Thailand”, which provides information about the rally plans of the white masks, posted a message yesterday on the website saying the Bangkok rally would take place there.
The group had earlier planned to converge in a show of force against the Yingluck government at 1pm yesterday and rallies of provincial white masks were planned at 38 locations across the country today.
The white masks also posted a message asking members to persuade friends and families to join the rally to “liberate the country’’.
“The more the obstacles, the more will power we have. Our mission is to suppress the corrupt,’’ the message stated.
The message was posted after Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung warned of a bomb threat at the white mask rally, which was interpreted as a veiled threat against the protesters.
Senior Democrat MP Ongart Klampaiboon yesterday urged Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to order police to keep security at the white mask rally.
He said government officials had leaked news that a third ill-intentioned group might incite violence at the white mask rally.
“Since the government already has this information, it must safeguard the protesters against any group. We have only seen the red shirts harass the white masks and resort to violence and force,’’ he said.
Government Spokesman Teerat Ratanasevi said Yingluck had instructed security officials to keep a close watch on the rally sites.
He said the government has not asked political groups to refrain from staging rallies as it believed they have the right to express their political opinion but police would monitor rallies to prevent any ill-intentioned group from creating a violent situation.
Yingluck was scheduled yesterday to attend the wedding of her niece, Chayika Wongnapachan at Plaza Athenee hotel.
