Organisers of Pathumwan intersection protest told not to break law
The junta has warned a pro-democracy group’s gathering to protest a possible delay to the next election that it could risk breaking the law.
Maj-General Piyapong Klinphan, spokesman for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said on Saturday that security agencies would monitor the movement in order to keep peace and order.
He said he believes there will be no violence or chaos.
“We will communicate with them in a lenient way, issue warnings and ask for cooperation. But if there is anything that violates the law, we will tell them not to [do that] because it is unlawful and violates others’ rights. Finally, it would be a bad example for others,” he said.
An assembly set to be held by the Democracy Restoration Group at 5.30pm on Saturday at the skywalk over the Pathumwan intersection as a mark of defiance against the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and protest against the possible delay of the next general election.
The gathering is aimed at protesting the National Legislative Assembly’s passage of the MPs election law that could effectively postpone the next election by another three months.
“We know they intend to portray an image of disorder with the protest because the place [where they will hold the protest] is a public space. But what we need now is peace in the country. I beg you not to do anything violating the laws,” said Piyapong, who is also commander of the 11th Military Circle.
Piyapong added that the movement should submit letters to the NCPO directly if they wanted to register their disappointment, rather than stage a demonstration, because this is not the right time to do so.
After staging the coup in 2014, the NCPO issued an order banning political gatherings of five people or more.