Defense Minister predicts no chaos from UDD rally during ASEAN Summit

BANGKOK, 23 October 2009 (NNT) – The Defense Minister believes there will be no impediment resulting from the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) rally during the ASEAN Summit in Cha-am and Hua-Hin.

The Defense Minister, General Prawit Wongsuwan, insisted that there would be no turmoil upon the UDD gathering in Cha-am and Hua-Hin during the ASEAN Summit because the government has coordinated with UDD leaders about the submission of their letter to the meeting. He has assigned the head of ASEAN Department as the representative to accept the letter from UDD leaders and the officials to closely monitor the UDD’s movement. The Minister stated that there is no need to expand the imposition of the Internal Security Act to more areas.

The UDD aims to present their complaint letter to ASEAN leaders during the Summit in Cha-am and Hua-Hin to declare their stance against the government. However, the group confirmed, earlier this week, they had no intention of interfering with the Summit despite their uproar during the last ASEAN Summit in Chon Buri province earlier this year.