Anti-Thaksin group will explain itself to PM Li
THE PEOPLE'S Army against the Thaksin Regime will tell the Chinese authorities that it is only rallying against the government's plan to seek royal approval for the charter-amendment bill.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is scheduled to arrive in Bangkok tomorrow, and in preparation, the government enforced the Internal Security Act (ISA) yesterday in Dusit, Pom Prab Sattru Phai and Phra Nakhon districts. The ISA will be in effect until October 18.
The arrival of the group at Government House on Monday appears to have taken the government by surprise as nobody thought the anti-Thaksin group would march from Lumpini Park to join the other two ongoing labour-related protests already taking place at the seat of the government.
The anti-Thaksin protesters descended on roads around Government House and immediately set up tents.
Meanwhile, police blocked off roads and surrounded the area to keep protesters at bay. Due to these measures, rally organisers were unable to designate their rally site. Instead they announced that they were camping out, which attracted large crowds.
This prompted police to set up checkpoints at Misakawan Junction and Chamaimaruchet Bridge, and search protesters seeking entry. Police also beefed up its riot force to 15 companies.
Rally organiser Taikorn Polsuwan said the group had marched to Government House because they wanted to submit a letter opposing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s moves to seek royal approval for the charter-amendment bill.
As for the tight security, Taikorn said organisers would have to review the situation before deciding their next move.
Another organiser, Watchara Ritthakhanee, said he believed police would not crack down on the crowds ahead of the Chinese PM’s visit.
The organisers are scheduled to hand in three letters – one each to the Chinese Embassy, the ambassador and the Chinese PM – explaining the situation, Watchara said.
He also said the group might change its rally site to a place where the roads are open.
“Enforcing the ISA is non-productive as the people are only exercising their constitutional right for peaceful public assembly as per Article 63,” he said.
He added that enforcing the ISA has put the protesters in a corner, because if they retreat it would mean they are conceding defeat.
