Red Shirts defy government ban, set to rally at other spots Monday

BANGKOK, April 4 (TNA) – The leaders of Thailand’s anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Sunday vowed to stay put in the capital’s prime commercial area, Rajprasong, and are set to rally at other locations in a show of defiance against a ban of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

Key UDD leader Nattawut Saikua announced the latest tactics after the CAPO issued the sixth statement barring persons who are likely to instigate disturbances from entering an additional seven key routes in Bangkok.

The new statement is aimed at preventing protesters from moving to other key business and public areas. Violators could face maximum one-year jail terms.

The banned routes include Rama IV, Sathorn, Silom, Surawongse, Charoenkrung, Rajdamri, Phayathai, Ratchadapisek and Dindaeng.

Mr Nattawut said that the Red Shirt leaders agreed to continue staging their protest at Rajprasong intersection with no stated ending date, until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the Parliament.

Mr Nattawut said the UDD has appointed a team to coordinate with retail operators in an attempt to allow them to do their businesses as usual.

Mr Nattawut added that the UDD will lead its supporters to other locations banned by CAPO at 10am Monday to put more pressure on the prime minister, but refused to disclose the targeted destinations.

The UDD leader said the group does not recognise the CAPO ban regarding the seven routes, saying the protesters have rights and freedom to march on streets.

Following the remarks of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban that the government will file a petition to a court Monday seeking approval to force the Red Shirts out of the Rajprasong area, Mr Nattawut said the Red Shirts’ legal team will also file a counter-petition the government’s move.

Another UDD leader, Jatuporn Prompan, reiterated that the deputy premier cannot restrict the rights and freedom of peaceful demonstrations.

Mr Suthep told a news conference Sunday evening after discussing with the premier who is now attending the Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit in Hua Hin that the prime minister has authorised him to file a complaint with the police against the Red Shirt leaders who led the Rajprasong rally.

Over the possibility of applying an Emergency Decree enforcement, Mr Suthep said that until now it has been unnecessary to invoke the law.

Mr Suthep added that Mr Abhisit will attend a CAPO meeting at the 11th Infantry Regiment after the MRC summit ends Monday.

Meanwhile, Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) president Patareeya Benjapolchai said the exchange held talks with the Association of Securities Companies about the protest situation at Rajprasong where seven broker companies are located.

She assured investors that stock trading will operate normally on Monday.

If employees cannot enter their offices in Rajprasong, a back-up system will be applied to service customers.

If the protesters move to the Silom business area, the back-up system will also be applied to facilitate trading and transactions, said Mrs Patareeya. (TNA)