2,850 Police To Be Deployed To Keep Security At Parliament

[george]

2,850 police to be deployed to keep security at Parliament

BANGKOK: -- Police Commissioner-General Pol Gen Phatcharawat Wongsuwan said Thursday that 2,850 police will be deployed to keep security at Parliament during the government policy debate on Monday and Tuesday.

He said 8 companies of policemen would be deployed inside the compound of Parliament and 6 companies around the compound. Five other companies of police would set up checkpoints on roads leading Parliament.

He said police would set aside a zone for red-shirted protesters to rally.

-- The Nation 2008-12-25

Govt closely monitor groups of protesters: Abhisit

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Thursday expressed confidence that his government would be able to deliver its policy statement to Parliament on Monday.

He said the government is closely monitoring the situation after Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Suchart Muenkaew said an untoward incident could happen during the policy debate on Monday and Tuesday.

He said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, is closely monitoring all action groups.

He said the government would monitor and evaluate the situation until Sunday when pro-Thaskin red-shirted people plan a mass rally at Sanam Luang.

-- The Nation 2008-12-25

[toybits]

You mean just like they did when the yellow shirts were camped out there?

Now the Red shirts can be sure where not to go. Perhaps they will just go to the ASTV Station instead... Find other softer targets...

[george]

'Red-Shirts' vow to protest until PM dissolves House

BANGKOK: -- The anti-government "Red-Shirts" on Thursday vowed to gather one day before the government policy statement is delivered at Parliament and to protest indefinitely until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves the House of Representatives as the group distrusts the prime minister to run the country.

Leaders of the red-clad pro-Thaksin Shinawatra group, the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the TV talk show programme hosts of 'Truth Today', a programme which was recently removed from state-run television NBT, affirmed that they would hold a peaceful mass protest against the Democrat-led coalition government.

Key UDD leader and veteran politician Veera Musikapong, a Truth Today host, said the mass protest would be held at Sanam Luang on Sunday from 3pm. The aim of the gathering is to show their disapproval of the newly-appointed premier who, Mr. Veera accused, evaded conscription into military service.

The government will present its policy to Parliament on Monday and Tuesday (December 29-30).

"Mr. Abhisit is not qualified for the premiership as he avoided military conscription. His behaviour violates the constitutional law and the UDD can't trust him to lead the country," Mr. Veera said.

Referring to a reported attempt to prevent UDD members in the provinces to join the Bangkok rally this weekend, Jatuporn Prompan, another 'Truth Today' host and Puea Thai Party MP, said that the blockades cannot stop the anti-government UDD from protesting.

A third 'Truth Today' host, Nattawut Saikuea, who was a government spokesman for the Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat administrations, said that the group would adopt new strategy to fight against the Abhisit government. House dissolution is the only target of the group, he said.

Mr. Nattawut said some UDD will rally at Parliament Monday but will not use the same methods that the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) used against the previous governments, particularly the seizure of Government House.

The UDD will focus on the draft-dodger issue, the appointment of PAD-related Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, and the funding of the Democrat Party.

"We will set up a new structure for the Red-Shirts," Mr. Nattawut said. "There will be a red-shirted legal expert team to handle lawsuits, red-shirted medics to take care of members well-being, and a team of red-shirted academics to provide useful advice."

In early 2009, the UDD will protest in every province and distribute its information to members worldwide.

In response to the UDD rally at Sanam Luang Sunday and Parliament on Monday, police plan to maintain security for members of parliament attending the two-day policy statement session.

Police officers thoroughly inspected the Parliament premises in order to prepare exits for MPs in case of any blockade.

-- TNA 2008-12-25

[waza]

Good to see some leadership for a change

[bunnaag]

In the new structure he forgot red shirt bomb experts.

[samgrowth]

Wow, that is at least 10 times more than they use to control the protesters at Swampy & Don Muang. Or is it 100 times?

It is about time that UDD start to dress in Yellow. LOL.

[MyphuketLife]

Good to see some leadership for a change

Its not a matter of leadership.... the last leader told police and army to do the same...but those commands went on deaf ears.

This sure shows a double standard.... its ok for the yellow, but not any one else...

[OlRedEyes]

Good to see some leadership for a change

Its not a matter of leadership.... the last leader told police and army to do the same...but those commands went on deaf ears.

This sure shows a double standard.... its ok for the yellow, but not any one else...

Surprise, surprise.

[Plus]

Last "leader" told the police to gas the "yellows" till their last breath. When lives were lost and legs were blown off, he told them to gas them more.

[britmaveric]

Now the fun begins, lets hope it topples things again... only way out is call elections.

[valiant]

I hope they hold on a bit arrive Swampy Sunday Night told the wife do not wear Red or Yellow

[mommysboy]

I hope they hold on a bit arrive Swampy Sunday Night told the wife do not wear Red or Yellow

How about orange - good compromise!! .

[Gertrude]

Nice to see the Thais doing what they do best....F^^K their country up, as they have done for the past 70 odd years.

[Shah Jahan]

Nice to see the Thais doing what they do best....F^^K their country up, as they have done for the past 70 odd years.

Thais actually do fine - they just work in circumvent ways. Any other country would have been a bloddy civil war. Here we shut down the airport for a week

Try following Phillipino politics for a while if you want to feel better.

[southwest19]

Nice to see the Thais doing what they do best....F^^K their country up, as they have done for the past 70 odd years.

Thais actually do fine - they just work in circumvent ways. Any other country would have been a bloddy civil war. Here we shut down the airport for a week

Try following Phillipino politics for a while if you want to feel better.

You know you are really in the sh*t when you start comparing your political situation with the Phillipines, why don't foreign investors and tourists use DR Congo or Somailia as a comparison and all of a sudden Thailand looks quite attractive and they will all come flooding back!

[tartempion]

You mean just like they did when the yellow shirts were camped out there?

Now the Red shirts can be sure where not to go. Perhaps they will just go to the ASTV Station instead... Find other softer targets...

As I mentioned this during the yellow occupation: a 1km forbidden zone around Brussels parliament.

Not a single color dress ever managed to break through police barricades.

Seems Thailand is not only a country for dual pricing but also for dual policy?

[samgrowth]

I hope they hold on a bit arrive Swampy Sunday Night told the wife do not wear Red or Yellow

How about orange - good compromise!! .

Orange is worst. You get beaten up by both sides.

[MyphuketLife]

Last "leader" told the police to gas the "yellows" till their last breath. When lives were lost and legs were blown off, he told them to gas them more.

Tear gas is used by most developed police forces.... the problem with the "gassing" is that the police in this case were not trained, and they baught from china.

Tear gas for crowd control is fine, as long as the people using the tear gas are trained....

[Thai at Heart]

Nice to see the Thais doing what they do best....F^^K their country up, as they have done for the past 70 odd years.

Thais actually do fine - they just work in circumvent ways. Any other country would have been a bloddy civil war. Here we shut down the airport for a week

Try following Phillipino politics for a while if you want to feel better.

Oh now I feel really good about the situation.

[tig28]

Last "leader" told the police to gas the "yellows" till their last breath. When lives were lost and legs were blown off, he told them to gas them more.

It is sad that you choose to inflame a shocking event with such ridiculous and unfounded claims. It is amazing that you totally ignore those who actually issued the operational instructions of HOW the attack would be carried out ---- whilst all your venom is directed at a lame duck PM who may have had nil control over the National Police Chief.

The National Police Chief who was in direct control of these savage actions has just been reinstated to his position as the "top cop" .... this reinstatement has been confirmed by the new government despite the finding by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) that he (Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan) ----along with the Former PM, 31 of his former cabinet members and 23 police officers ------should be charged with murder over the bloody clash with protesters at Government House which left two dead and hundreds injured.

This police officer was later "stood down" for failing to follow direct orders from the government to remove the PAD protesters from the airports ..... it is obvious just how much control the former PM & the government actually had over him. It is not unlikely that he was pursuing his own agenda.

Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan"s elder brother is Gen Prawit Wongsuwan who is now Defence Minister in the Abhisit government.

[tig28]

It is reassuring to see the impartiality of the police force in these matters.

Deputy Metropolitan Police chief Pol Maj-Gen Amnuay Nimmano said the UDD had the right to demonstrate but must not break the law.

If they tried to seize the parliament grounds to disrupt the government's delivery of its policy statement on Monday they would be arrested for insurrection.

He insisted he had no prejudice against either red or yellow shirts.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/8534...hief%27s-return