Police insist official document not meant as an order to detain protesters
The Democracy Restoration Group posted a picture of a Border Patrol Police Region 1 document signed on July 24 detailing protests by the Free Youth group and the Students Union of Thailand.
The document mentions searching a location to “detain 100 protesters and five leaders” and a resolution to “deal with” anti-government rallies in the future.
However, police said the document was a part of usual procedures when there was a political rally and only informed officers to be prepared. Police claimed that mention of any location did not mean protesters were to be detained, so they did not want anyone to misunderstand the document as it was only a guideline.
Meanwhile, red shirt activist Jatupon Prompan said a Free Youth pro-democracy protest has been organised at King Taksin the Great Monument while the pro-government group gathers at Democracy Monument.
He asked protesters to coordinate with the authorities as this kind of event had previously led to violence.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday (July 29) that he was concerned about political rallies and asked representatives from the group that supported his government not to hold any protest as the situation could lead to violence.