Wichien told to prevent city clashes

Writer: POST REPORTERS

Published: 16/08/2009 at 12:00 AM

Newspaper section: News

Caretaker national police chief Wichien Pojphosri has been ordered to ensure no clashes between supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and those of Newin Chidchob tomorrow.

Don't let them clash

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva gave the order to head off any confrontation between the groups, which are likely to gather close to each other in the city.

At the Grand Palace, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship will submit to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary their petition seeking a royal pardon for Thaksin.

At nearby Sanam Luang, supporters of Mr Newin will gather at the Criminal Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions to hear its verdict on the rubber sapling project. Mr Newin has been implicated in irregularities in the scheme.

Pol Gen Wichien has told the prime minister that police alone will be able to control the situation.

Special Branch Police chief Pol Lt Gen Theeradet Rodphothong estimated that about 20,000 red shirt supporters from northern and northeastern provinces would be in Bangkok to take part in the royal pardon petition submission.

A source close to Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said the army had been asked to support the police anti-riot operation if rallies by the two groups slide into unrest.

The 1st Army has been asked to put its troops from 21 Bangkok-based companies and three other companies from nearby provinces on standby.

Chaisit Shinawatra, former supreme commander and a cousin of Thaksin, said the red shirts would stop their campaign for a royal pardon once they had submitted the petition.

They would leave the decision to His Majesty the King, said Gen Chaisit.

But Mr Abhisit said that after the royal pardon petition is submitted, the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary is likely to seek suggestions on the petition from the government.

The Justice Ministry then will be asked to look into the petition's content, said the prime minister.

If the content of the petition and the petition submission procedures did not comply with required legal criteria, the government would tell the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary that the petition does not meet the criteria, said Mr Abhisit.

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