People's Army moves rally from Govt House to Lumpini Park
THE GROUP that calls itself People's Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime has agreed to move its rally site back to Lumpini Park, although it said it reserved its right to protest outside Government House.
Police and rally organisers struck a deal ahead of today’s visit by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
“The protest leaders have decided to vacate the Government House area and relocate to Lumpini Park,” rally organiser Preecha Iamsuphan said yesterday.
Preecha said the organisers would decide whether to return to the seat of the government after the departure of the Chinese delegation.
The announcement to relocate the rally site came yesterday afternoon following 30 minutes of talks between organisers and deputy national police chief General Worapong Chewpreecha.
Rally organisers said the relocation should not be construed as conceding defeat.
They said they would not back down despite the enforcement of the Internal Security Act.
A number of protesters voiced disappointment with the decision, saying it was tantamount to retreating.
They disagreed with the argument that the relocation should be seen as aimed at protecting the country’s good image at a time when the Chinese premier is paying a visit.
Police withdrew riot forces to pave the way for the clean-up and beautification of Government House.
Protesters continued to congregate near the Nang Lerng area before moving on to Urupong intersection, which is not covered by the ISA.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnog refused to hold talks with People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime as requested by the group leaders.
He said he would answer a motion submitted by MPs during a House meeting. “I have assigned the representatives of the Peacekeeping Centre to talk to protesters,” he said.
He also said had he joined in the talks, he might have violated the law as the mandate had already been given to the Peacekeeping Centre.
Pol Maj-General Thawat Boonfueng, who is deputy secretary-general to the prime minister for political affairs, said the government had prepared 15 buses to transport the protesters to their destinations. Meanwhile, the Internal Security Act would remain in effect in three Bangkok districts until next Friday.
He refused to reveal other conditions negotiated between the protest leaders and the Peacekeeping Centre.
