Police seal radius of Parliament complex ahead of protests
Police on Tuesday afternoon put up barbed wire, barriers and public buses to cordon off a 50-metre radius around Parliament in Bangkok’s Kiak Kai area in Dusit district. Only the main entrance of the complex was kept open.
The authorities cordoned off the area to prepare for pro-democracy protesters, who are scheduled to gather outside Parliament to monitor the deliberation on charter amendments, especially the “people’s draft” put forward by civil group iLaw.
“Traffic police has been deployed to ensure smooth traffic flow from Bang Kra Beu intersection to the Parliament,” Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Pakkapong Pongpetra, said.
“Only Parliament staff and press will be allowed to enter the complex.”
Pakkapong added that police boats have been stationed in canals nearby to monitor the situation.
“We are assessing the situation to see if closing more routes is necessary,” he said. “Police intelligence reports say the ultraroyalist Thai Pakdee group will hold a rally on Pracharat Sai 1 Road until 2pm, while the Ratsadon group is going to hold a rally at Bang Kra Beu intersection from 3pm, but it is not yet confirmed whether they will stay the night.”
