Security beefed up for Saturday rallies by two rival groups
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, April 3 – Thai authorities will prevent any confrontation between two rival political groups which plan to hold major rallies on Saturday, according to a senior security official.

Paradorn Pattanatabut, secretary general of the National Security Council, said military and police personnel will be reinforced and jointly set up checkpoints in the capital.

The anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee has scheduled a meeting with leaders nationwide at their Lumpini Park rally site to discuss their next move.

The pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship called on red shirt activists to rally on Aksa Road in Buddhanonthon in Bangkok’s western suburbs.

Lt Gen Paradorn said present laws should be sufficient in dealing with the demonstrations without the necessity of invoking martial law.

He was referring to a statement by Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha who said the military would study legal aspects of applying martial law. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-04-03

Are they going to use cows as security? Or are they going to serve beef for lunch?

3 soldiers or a bunch of police playing cards versus a truckload of black shirt wearing dudes angry and armed to the teeth with homemade weapons.

And exactly how do these checkpoints work?

Paradorn - Thaksin's longtime associate - and the one who happens to be in the centre of the Tawil constitutional case - a case that will likely tip the legal scales against the Yingluck administration - is ironically the man who is now supposed to be a calming and credible presence, over a backdrop to a protest that actually aims to be rid of Thaksin's influence ! The disconnect in optics are alarmingly comical. To the end, Pheu Thai really know how to do the disconnection optics. And they are as off-putting as they ever were.

Red and yellow....toe to toe....let's dance!