UDD denies it will rally against Pitak Siam protest

The red-shirt movement has no plans for a mass rally on the same days as the anti-government protest by the Pitak Siam group on Nov 24 at the Royal Plaza, United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said on Tuesday.

Mr Jatuporn was responding to an announcement by a UDD key member Pol Maj Sangiam Samranrat on Monday that the red-shirt people would also hold a mass gathering in front of parliament on Nov 24, ahead of the no-confidence debate scheduled for Nov 25 to 27.
Pol Maj Sangiam had said earlier the gathering would be aimed at preventing the anti-government protesters from seizing the parliament building compound.
Mr Jatuporn said on Tuesday that any decision for action by the UDD can be announced only by chairwoman Tida Tawornseth and the two other co-leaders, Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar and himself.
The disqualified Pheu Thai list MP said he felt holding a mass gathering of red-shirts near the Royal Plaza on the same day risked a violent confrontation with the anti-government protesters led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, known as Seh Ai.

Jatuporn Prompan (Photo by Somchai Poomlard)

He stressed that the UDD had no plans to for any political activity on Nov 24, saying that a mass gathering of red-shirts on that day could lead to severe political tension.
Petcharawat Wattanapongsirikul, a core leader of the red-shirt Rak Chiang Mai 51 group, said his group was not opposed to Seh Ai's planned rally. All groups had the democratic right of expression.
The rally was good because the people would have a chance to get information about mismanagement by the government. If the Yingluck Shinawatra government had done anything wrong, people have the right to know, he added.
However, he warned Seh Ai that even if the rally is supported by hundreds of thousands of people, it must be peacefull and remain within the law.
If there was any violence, at least 5,000 members of his group were ready to travel to Bangkok to rally against a lawless protest in Bangkok, he said.
Tul Sitthisomwong, leader of the multi-colour group, said his supporters will take part in the planned anti-government rally of the Pitak Siam group on Nov 24.
Dr Tul said his group would join the rally in a larger numbers than the last rally on Oct 28 because they want to point out mistakes in the government's administration.
He insisted the multi-colour group had not conducted activities with a political agenda in parallel with the Democrat Party as alleged.  In the past, the group opposed many projects carried out by the Democrat-led government, he said.
Dr Tul called for the government to ensure security for the protesters.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung said a total of 50,000 police will be deployed in and around the Royal Plaza and nearby areas to ensure peace and order during the Pitak Siam rally.
Mr Chalerm said intelligence reports warned that a "third hand" might take the opportunity to incite violence with bombs targeting the gathering people.

Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit (left) meets Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung meets at the Royal Turf Club on Oct 25, 2012. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

He insisted the government would oversee the rally, using crowd control measures in line with international standards.
Representatives from various independent organisations will be invited to observe the government's handling of the protesters, he added.
Mr Chalerm called on people who do not like the government to submit petitions to various judicial agencies instead of joining the protest.
The deputy premier in charge of security affairs said he had talks with the UDD's  Pol Maj Sangiam, who had agreed to call off his planned rally.
He said national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew will be responsible for overseeing the protesters and ensuring law and order during the anti-government rally.
There would not be a war room set up to deal with the protesters, as speculated, he added.
Asked about a possibility that the protesters might move to surround the nearby parliament building compound, Mr Chalerm said officials at parliament have prepared urgent exits for cabinet members and MPs attending the censure debate.

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