Bangkok PM ready to impose emergency decree
PM ready to impose emergency decree
(BangkokPost.com) - Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Friday the government is ready to impose an emergency decree in the capital if anti-coup rally tonight gets out of control.
"Security agencies have all the plans," Gen Surayud told reporters. "But if things turn violent, I am prepared to use an emergency decree."
Supreme Commander Boonsang Niampradit said soldiers will use peaceful approach to control the mob and will not carry guns to prevent any violent acts.
"Soldiers won't be armed," Gen Boonsang said. "We are not barbaric. We will control the mob using peaceful means."
On ousted premier's scheduled live broadcast to his supporters at Sanam Luang tonight, Gen Surayud said the government will not block the signal.
Mr Thaksin can speak to his supporters but his speech must not provoke anger or create problems, he added.
Bangkok Post Breaking News
Poll: 70% back emergency decree in capital
Poll: 70% back emergency decree in capital
(BangkokPost.com) - More than 70% of people living in Bangkok can accept it if the government impose an emergency decree in the capital, according to a university poll.
The survey said 73.5% can accept the emergency decree while 26.5% cannot.
The majority of the respondants -- or 75% -- agree with police setting up check points to prevent mobilisation of mobs. About 24% disagree with the check points.
More than half of the people -- about 56.5% -- support the Assets Scrutiny Committee's order of freezing assets of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and family. About 43.5% disagree, saying that there is not enough evidence to convict him or that they are afraid that it may cause disunity.
The largest group of respondants -- 44.8% -- said Mr Thaksin should return immediately to defend his assets. Some 31.5% think Mr Thaksin should wait for a while before coming back. Some 23.7% said Mr Thaksin should never come back because his return may cause unrest or that they are fear for his safety.
The survey was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday among 1,661 people.
Bangkok Post
Govt is ready to issue state of emergency if situation gets out of control
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Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said his government will issue state of emergency in case the situation at Sanam Luang rally is out of control.
"I am ready to declare state of emergency if we could not control the situation," he said.
He was speaking after chairing an urgent meeting of security authorities to prepare for the pro-Thaksin rally at Sanam Luang on Friday.
Attending the meeting included Council of National Security's chief Gen Sonthi Bunyaratglin, National police chief Pol Gen Seripisut Temiyavej.
Many worried about the escalation of situation now that exiled prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is scheduled to give a televised address from London to the demonstrators.
Surayud told reporters that there would definitely no blocking of air signals of Thaksin because Thaksin has rights to do so as long as his speech was not considered instigating violence.
"We will do anything according to the laws as well as freedom of expression. We wish that other people would abide by the same principles," he said.
He insisted that the security authorities overseeing the situation will not be armed.
The Nation
Bangkok Groups call for peaceful means
Will they all be singing that Elton John record as they burn Like a candle in the wind :)
Groups call for peaceful means
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Pro-people networks Friday called for all parties to using peaceful means to solve the country's problem or it might lead to bloodshed.
The People's Network for Elections (PNET), The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), and the Campaign Committee for Human Right (CCR), said in a joint statement that the political atmosphere in the country at the moment would be likely to lead to confrontation and using violence to solve the crisis would lead to riots and bloodshed.
They urged the Council for National Security to patiently solve the problem instead of using arms or violence.
They also called for the Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA) to reject the new draft before going to a national referendum stage because it was likely that people might reject it.
"To avoid wasting Bt2 billion for the referendum, the CDA should reject it," the statement read.
The Nation
BMA watch protests on 24-hour basis
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The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has established an around-the-clock protest-watch centre, its Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said Friday.
Apirak warned that he might consider removing motorcycle-taxi stands of those riders who create violence at the anti-coup protest.
In preparation for the mass rallies to be held outside the Army headquarters yesterday through tomorrow, Apirak urged BMA executives and district directors to work with police in risky areas.
He also asked officials to inform local residents and taxi riders about the situation, suggesting that residents and riders not join the protest as violence might occur.
If taxi riders join the protest and create violence, the BMA - whose authority includes issuing permits for motorcycle-taxi stands - might revoke the permits and proceed with legal action against wrongdoers, he said.
The Nation
