Special Report protesters

A mass rally by the anti-government United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship on 27 June will be conducted in a peaceful manner without relocating from its main rally site at Sanam Luang, according to the UDD core figures. However, the Government has stepped up security measures for the event since it is concerned that the rally may become out of control like the group’s protests in April this year.

Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, said he believed that the rally on 27 June will not turn violent and promised that the Government will not use force against the protesters. He said those who violate the laws will be prosecuted and the government will not let a riot to occur again. The Deputy Prime Minister promised that the Government will not prevent the UDD supporters from other provinces from joining the mass rally in Bangkok today. As for security measures for important government officials, Mr. Suthep believed there would be no need to impose extra measures to safeguard them.

At the same time, the Royal Thai Police reported that it has prepared for the mass rally in cooperation with the military. Metropolitan Police Chie,f Police Lieutenant General Woraphong Chiewpreecha, said 600 anti riot police and metropolitan police officers will be dispatched to the rally site. 2,400 more police officers will be stationed along the route from Sanam Luang to the Makhawan Rangsan bridge if the rally was relocated. The metropolitan police chief vowed that the police will do the utmost in preventing the protesters from breaking into Government House. All speeches on the UDD stage will be recorded for inspection of messages which may be deemed lèse majesté.

Assistance Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police Lieutenant General Adul Saengsingkaew, instructed the Provincial Police Regions 1, 2, and 7, and other relevant police units to support operations of the Metropolitan Police Bureau in line with the “Korakot 48” Plan. The assistant police chief said intelligence suggested that there might be a large number of protesters joining the rally today and they were likely to move from Sanam Luang to other places.