Red Shirts Agree To Try To Lessen Impact On Businesses At Tomorrow's Rally

[webfact]

Police and red shirts agree to help traffic

By The Nation

Police and organisers have agreed to minimise road snarls and keep business activity and traffic open at the Ratchaprasong intersection in the face of tomorrow's red-shirt rally.

As the rally coincides with the start of the new school term, many fear especially bad traffic jams around the capital. But organisers say the rally is intended as a memorial gesture to mark those killed during last year's protests and there would be no political speeches to mobilise the crowds.

Red-shirt leader Thida Thawornseth yesterday attended a meeting at Metropolitan Police Region 1 headquarters to finalise rally preparations.

"The May 19 rally is meant as a memorial to the 92 people killed and organisers will try to ensure [the least possible] impact at Ratchaprasong," Thida said, apologising in advance for any inconvenience to the public.

The red shirts are expected to start congregating at around 1pm, although the religious ceremony in memory of the dead will begin at 4.30pm. Red-shirt leaders are scheduled to deliver the eulogy followed by a slide show of the crackdown. The rally is scheduled to disperse in the evening before 11pm.

About 300 traffic police will be deployed to ensure traffic flow around the central business district.

Thida confirmed that the rally was not a political event and that participants would refrain from making political remarks. This would allow aspiring candidates for the July 3 vote to attend the rally without violating the campaign rules, she said.

Before kicking off the rally, a number of red shirts will pay a visit in the morning to their leader Jatuporn Promphan, who is being held in a remand cell for violating his bail conditions.

Ratchaprasong business proprietor Chai Srivikorn said he did not oppose the rally, although he urged a balance between the right to peaceful assembly and the right of the public and businesses to access the area.

If more than 30,000 red shirts turned out for the rally, business would be disrupted because the area would be virtually shut down, he said.

Red-shirt leader Natthawut Saikua said he expected tomorrow's activities to proceed peacefully. He and other leaders seeking to contest the election would take part but had no involvement in organising the rally. Police cancelled yesterday's mock exercise on crowd control in a goodwill gesture to solicit the pledge of cooperation from the red shirts.

-- The Nation 2011-05-18

[webfact]

UDD head visits Jatuporn, Nisit at prison

BANGKOK, 18 May 2011 (NNT) – Acting Chairperson of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) Thida Thavornsret has travelled to Bangkok Remand Prison to visit the two UDD key leaders, Jatuporn Prompan and Nisit Sinthuprai, whose bail has been revoked.

Speaking after a one-hour visit with the two political prisoners, the acting UDD chairperson stated that both are in good health and their morale remains high. She noted that the UDD will seek a temporary release for them from the court very soon.

The Criminal Court earlier revoked the bail of both Mr Jatuporn and Mr Nisit after they were found to have breached the bail conditions set by the court by making rousing speeches during the UDD’s mass gathering on 10 April, while seven other UDD key leaders were let off the hook due to insufficient evidence.

Regarding the upcoming UDD mass gathering at the shopping district of Ratchapasong in Bangkok, on 19 May 2011, the first anniversary of the deadly military crackdown, Ms Thida asked entrepreneurs there to understand the UDD and focus on the long-term benefits of the kingdom.

Some of the Ratchapasong entrepreneurs have expressed their opposition against the UDD rally for fear of further violence and economic hiccup.

-- NNT 2011-05-18