Government sets up barriers to protect City Hall

Barbed wire and concrete block barriers have been set in place around City Hall in case of protests turning violent.

Jedsadapong Wongkiew

Chiang Mai Provincial Authorities have set up a protective barrier of barbed wire and concrete block around Chiang Mai City Hall in the event of violence during protests. Chiang Mai governor Amornphan Nimanant made it clear that the Provincial Government put up the barriers so as to avoid any potential harm to either the civil servants who work there or to the public building itself in the event of a clash between protestors and government officials.

“We fear that some people will take this chance to escalate violence and damage City Hall and all parties involved, ” he noted., adding that the authorities have assigned government division heads to give the clear and good understanding among the general public.

“This is to show that the Chiang Mai Provincial government does not promote violence or take sides he concluded by adding that the government was unsure as to how the March 14 protests would turn out so felt protective measures were best.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd2

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/03/16

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the road past is still blocked so if you want to go to 700yr stadium you have to go the long way round