The First Army Area Commander has warned security officers

BANGKOK, 22 January 2011 (NNT) – The First Army Area Commander has warned security officers to be vigilant for possible clashes between protesters of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship and their opposing group on Sunday.

First Army Area Commander Lt.Gen.Udomdet Sitabutr said the police were fully ready to provide security for the protest of the UDD on 23 January with support from army forces in case the police needed assistance. However, the army area commander has expressed concerns over the protesters’ plan to relocate from Ratchaprasong Junction to the Democracy Monument for fear of clashes between them and the opposing group gathering around the Government House which is near the monument. Lt.Gen.Udomdet therefore advised the security officers to make sure the UDD protesters stay in their route away from the opposing group.

Spokesperson of the Internal Security Operation Command, Maj.Gen.Ditthaporn Sasasmitr said at 19.00 hrs on 22 January at the Army Headquarters, that Army Chief of Staff Gen.Daophong Rattanasuwan would preside over a meeting of representatives from the police, the National Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council and other related government units on the UDD protest on Sunday. The police would propose their security plans for the UDD protest as well as the planned protest by the People’s Alliance for Democracy on 25 January, the spokesperson said.