NSC says anti-government protesters pose no threat

[webfact]

NSC says anti-government protesters pose no threat
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Security Council (NSC) believes that there is no need to impose any security restrictions in light of the anti-government campaign against the House deliberation of an amnesty bill, secretary general Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr said yesterday.

"The rally is merely aimed at provoking anti-government sentiment by attacking this amnesty bill and attracting more protesters to join the campaign,'' he said.

The agency has projected that less than 5,000 people would join the rally from the different anti-government movements. Paradorn said recent internal conflicts between protestors of the different anti-government groups had weakened the movement and therefore did not believe the rally, likely to take place later this week, would have much impact.

Pheu Thai Party MP Worachai Hema proposed the bill, which is only on its first reading. It does not contain any provisions to help former-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra or to pardon those who ordered the 2010 government crackdown on red-shirt protesters.

The NSC also said that no businesses or political groups were reported to be financially backing the anti-government protesters.

Paradorn also ruled out the chances of a military coup as a result of the rally.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party list MP Ongard Klampaiboon downplayed Democrat Surat Thani MP Suthep Thaugsuban's attempts to incite the public to join the anti-government rally against the bill, saying it was merely Suthep's personal stance and not that of the party.

Ongard said the Democrat Party would hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the repercussions of the rally and would make any decisions then, concerning the anti-government campaign.

Speaking before leaving for her official visit to Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra expressed confidence that anti-government protesters would not resort to violence, adding that she had instructed National Police chief Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew to ensure public safety.

Yingluck declined to comment about a YouTube clip featuring a death threat made against the former prime minister and her brother Thaksin.

Pheu Thai MP Korkaew Pikulthong, who is also a red-shirt leader, said the bill proposed by Worachai was aimed at helping red shirts that faced legal action, not Thaksin. "Thaksin doesn't expect to get anything from this bill," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-07-29

[Tatsujin]

The NSC also said that no businesses or political groups were reported to be financially backing the anti-government protesters.

Aside from a certain Privy Councillor if I remember reading correctly.

[OzMick]

Well it's not like they're red shirts, is it? Nobody's hiring professional agitators to incite unreasonable hatred based on misinformation, or calling for seas of fire in the capital.

[NongKhaiKid]

Not a threat, so why were provincial governors told to prevent protesters from reaching Bangkok ?

Anyway YL will get some tips on dealing with dissent when she meets Robert Mugabe providing she can remember what he says.