Metropolitan Police ready 2,000 officers to keep order at September 19 rally
The Metropolitan Police Bureau will draft at least 2,000 police officers to maintain law and order as well as facilitate traffic flow at Saturday’s (September 19) rally led by the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus in Bangkok, deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Somprasong Yenthuam said.
“Our intelligence units are estimating the number of protesters so that we can deploy officers accordingly,” he said. “Police will not hinder the protest as long as it remains peaceful, unarmed and within legal limits. However, police will take immediate action if there is any law breaking,” he warned.
When asked about the protesters’ plan to rally at the adjacent Sanam Luang if they are refused entry into the university, Somprasong said the area was registered as a historical site since 2012 and such a move could be illegal.
“It will also be illegal for the protesters to storm Government House or government property,” he added.
A news source revealed that the Royal Thai Police had ordered the Metropolitan Police Bureau to prepare three companies of crowd-control officers on the university campus, six companies around Sanam Luang and three companies around Government House on September 19 and 20.