Police expect 80,000 for Pitak Siam weekend rally

Tue, November 20, 2012 15:29:57 PMTop Stories

Police expect 80,000 for Pitak Siam weekend rally

Police expect 80,000-100,000 people will show up for the anti-government protest held by the Pitak Siam group this Saturday.Published: 20/11/2012 at 12:00 AMThat figure is double the number predicted by the National Security Council, which has estimated there will be about 40,000-50,000 demonstrators.Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak, deputy chief of Bangkok police, said yesterday protesters from distant provinces would reach the Royal Plaza on Friday night and protesters in Bangkok and adjacent provinces would enter the rally venue on Saturday morning.Pol Maj Gen Adul denied that police have tried to prevent demonstrators from entering the capital. He said police will operate checkpoints to search for weapons and ensure safety during the rally, not to prevent protesters from reaching the demonstration.Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered police to prevent proponents and opponents of the government from confronting each other.Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said there were no signs the protest would turn violent.He rejected ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's claim that soldiers were joining the anti-government movement."I've never told any soldiers to join the rally."One should verify his information before making any remark," Gen Prayuth said.Defence Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said yesterday military commanders have instructed their subordinates not to join the demonstration.The minister said a war room had been set up to monitor the Pitak Siam rally.National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr said he expects 40,000-50,000 protesters to join the rally. It would be a peaceful protest, he added.He said 50,000 security officers would be deployed.Pro-government red-shirt demonstrators would not be allowed to approach the rally venue at the Royal Plaza, he added.Lt Gen Paradorn said he has heard reports that 4,000-5,000 red T-shirts have been made for imposters who plan to disguise themselves as red-shirt supporters to instigate unrest. He warned that if the situation gets out of control, the Internal Security Act would be imposed.Pitak Siam leader Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit said the actions of his group would depend on the number of demonstrators. He pledged to end the rally at once if the crowd does not exceed 200,000 people. Gen Boonlert has set a target of 1 million people to join the rally. He said this will be Pitak Siam's last demonstration.**Download FREE & Hot mobile Game*คุณมี 3 ข้อความยังไม่ได้อ่าน! หมดอายุวันนี้!

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Discussion 1 :20/11/2012 at 11:37 AMDiscussion 10, If soldiers vote at elections, then why they cannot join rally??.Discussion 2 :20/11/2012 at 10:53 AM"National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr said he expects 40,000-50,000 protesters to join the rally. He said 50,000 security officers would be deployed." That's funny, one security official for one protester! If NSA is deploying 50,000 police, we should expect more than 200000 protesters at least.Discussion 3 :20/11/2012 at 10:42 AMOne only needs to see the way people in this forum vote to see the obvious discontent people feelfor this governemnt .Yes I know Issan doesnt read the post .Discussion 4 :20/11/2012 at 10:26 AMThe entire equation of the purpose of this rally has changed in the past 24 hours. Yesterda Chalerm a top person in the democratically elected government, openly admitted that he is a servant of Thaksin. If you are out of touch, Thaksin is a convicted criminal by Thai law. Chalerm further said that he has always worked for Thaksin. A majority in the electiond does not give the government a right, to use tax payers money to serve their overseas master. So where do you go from here? Head for the 24 Nov rally, we do need change.Discussion 5 :20/11/2012 at 10:26 AM"Lt Gen Paradorn said he has heard reports that 4,000-5,000 red T-shirts have been made for imposters who plan to disguise themselves as red-shirt supporters to instigate unrest." The new Men In Black? Or could this simply be a bit of insurance policy PR? If any Red-shirted individuals are seen to cause trouble it won't really be a true Red Shirt, but a disguised agitator. Please, gimmeabreak.Discussion 6 :20/11/2012 at 10:17 AM100.000 or 400.000 it doesn't matter, the amount of Pitak Siam demonstrators will be higher than what Red/UDD never did...Discussion 7 :20/11/2012 at 09:51 AMI don’t think the protesters at least the majority wants to have a coup or going violent; I believe they just look for a way to express their feelings regarding Thai politics and performance of the Government. There is nothing wrong with this it’s democracy.Discussion 8 :20/11/2012 at 09:26 AMCould this be the chance for Demo party?Discussion 9 :20/11/2012 at 09:17 AMTS claims that soldiers are joining the rally and Gen Prayuth is quoted as saying "I never told any soldiers to join the rally". He is not a denying that soldiers are joining the rally, just saying its nothing to do with him.Discussion 10 :20/11/2012 at 08:31 AMFor the last rally, the police estimated 2000 and there were 20000, this time the police estimates 80000, if their basis for estimation is the same as last time then it will be a huge crowd.Discussion 11 :20/11/2012 at 08:28 AMDiscussion 6, I believe 200000 is a huge number..the red shurts have never got one quater of that number.Discussion 12 :20/11/2012 at 07:52 AMGov sponsored spin is at full speed on this. How do you draw an estimate? Have the police etc being doing surveys? Dis#2 your trolling again.Discussion 13 :20/11/2012 at 07:36 AMFirst the rally was to be called off if the crowd didn't hit 1 million - http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/319553/pitak-siam-will-end-rally-if-1m-target-not-met Now, it is 200,000. What will it be next?Discussion 14 :20/11/2012 at 07:36 AMThe large gathering of protestors are legitimate but can the organizer control the emotion and third parties trouble makers. I have not heard the Pitak Siam talk about the logistic in controlling the crowd. At least the PAD has better crowd control resources. There are playing with a possible uncontrollable situation. I can't feeling that they have started something but did not anticipate the large crowd and can't stop now. It's correct for the law enforcers to ensure sufficient manpower to made sure this will be peaceful.Discussion 15 :20/11/2012 at 06:35 AMAdding 50,000 policemen to this rally is not the answer for crowd control. It adds to the crowd. A couple of well placed fire trucks with high pressure water cannons would do the trick. And lets face it,if the red shirts show up , Bangkok police don't have a good track record of controlling them.Discussion 16 :20/11/2012 at 06:35 AM"The minister said a war room had been set up to monitor the Pitak Siam rally". A War Room!! Really!?! And there was me thinking we are all working towards reconcilliation. Oh well, just another fluffy image of Thailand being the hub of democracy and rule of law.Discussion 17 :20/11/2012 at 03:30 AM"Democracy's a little messier than alternative systems of government, but that's because democracy allows everybody to have a voice,That system of government lasts, and it's legitimate" ----President Obama on visit to Thailand I am think that it is good that people can protest whatever they want. If Pitak Siam protest get what it wants, a coup, then I am think protest like this will not be allowed in future. and to say that any foreign country that does not agree can go, is not good idea ka.Discussion 18 :20/11/2012 at 02:04 AM"One should verify his information before making any remark," Gen Prayuth said. Lt Gen Paradorn should heed this sound advise from his superior. It would suit him well.

From Bangkokpost.com