No special law invoked to control Red Shirt protests

BANGKOK, Feb 25 (TNA) – Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Thursday reaffirmed that no special security law will be enforced during the planned Red Shirt mass protest to topple the government next month, while urging the public  to accept Friday’s Supreme Court decision on Bt76.6 billion frozen assets of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Suthep commented one day ahead of the Supreme Court verdict and after the anti-government movement allied to Mr Thaksin announced the group’s mass rally March 14 aiming to mobilise as many as one million of its supporters joining the protest in the capital.

Mr Suthep said the February 26 court verdict is an historical case for the country and the public should thoroughly study the decision of the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions as to whether the Bt76.6 billion (US$2.3 billion) in frozen assets belonging to Mr Thaksin and his family should be seized by the state or not.

The deputy premier said the country will be peaceful if everyone respects the role of the judiciary. He did not rule out, however, possible disturbances after the court issues its verdict, but said such the situation will not last long as the public will be fully informed of the facts of the case.

Following the ex-premier’s remark that he will continue fighting if he deems the court verdict is unfair to him, Mr Suthep commented that Mr Thaksin must comply by the law and that one day the Thai people will realise that the frozen assets case is the personal affair of Mr Thaksin and his family, and that it has nothing to do with the daily life of the Thai people.

Regarding the planned mass protest of the anti-government Red Shirts from the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on March 14 to topple the government, Mr Suthep said the government will not invoke any special security law to control the crowd.

The deputy prime minister said that everyone has right to protest if they do not violate other people’s rights or trespass upon state office buildings.

Mr Suthep also said that concerned agencies have prepared measures to handle crowds if they will use taxis or other vehicles to block the Supreme Court on Friday, as earlier said by a Democrat member of parliament.

Regarding the threat of Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan that UDD protesters will block roads if they are prevented from joining the group’s protest, the deputy premier said he will order Mr Jatuporn’s arrest for inciting the public to violate the law if that happens.

Meanwhile, deputy leader of opposition Puea Thai party Kanawat Wasinsangvorn said on Thursday that Mr Thaksin will speak to his supporters via video link at party headquarters on the day the verdict is given.

Mr Kanawat said party chairman Gen Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat, the party’s executives and MPs will turn up at the party headquarters to hear the live broadcast of the court verdict.

Meanwhile, acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayakorn said Thursday that intelligence indicates the situation ahead of the court verdict remains normal, but security measures will be divided in three periods; the days before court verdict, the period of court verdict being delivered, and a five hour period after the court decision.

“Security-concerned agencies evaluated that five hours after the court reads its verdict should be more closely monitored because the public mood will be highly emotional during this period,” Dr Panitan said.

Regarding the security measures when the Red Shirt mass protest takes place in Bangkok from March 12, the spokesman said that the prime minister’s working schedule might not be disclosed to the public for his safety.

Interior Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul also said on Thursday that he has instructed governors nationwide to closely monitor the anti-government moves in their provinces and create understanding with local residents after news reports said the Red Shirt protesters will use Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan and Sara Buri provinces as the group’s staging points.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey on public confidence in the Thai justice system released on Thursday found that 52.9 per cent of the respondents remain confident in the justice system, and are not worried about a report that bribes have been offered to some judges presiding over the ruling on Mr Thaksin’s frozen assets.

One in four, however, some 23 per cent of respondents, felt the news eroded their confidence in the country’s judiciary.

The poll was conducted by Assumption University on February 23 and 24 of  1,106 persons aged 18 or over in Bangkok and the metropolitan region.

A member of the newly-established New Politics Party earlier claimed he has heard that five of the nine judges considering the frozen assets case of convicted ex-premier Thaksin have been offered five billion baht (US$150 million) in bribes to influence the verdict.

The poll reported some two out of three, 60.5 per cent, are strongly confident and trust the Thai judicial process compared to the process in some other South East Asian nations, they believe that the integrity of Thailand’s judicial system remains intact.

Almost two-thirds, 61.4 per cent, said that the people should respect court’s decision, but 20.2 per cent believe otherwise. (TNA)