Bangkok –
The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) is planning for preparations for incoming planned pro-democracy demonstrations at the Democracy Monument on October 14.
Police Lieutenant General Pakapong Pongpetra, the MPB commissioner, told the press yesterday, October 4, that the Bangkok police are monitoring announcements and responses of various pro-democracy groups on social media which are calling for people to participate in another major pro-democracy rally this month.
According to the commissioner, the authority monitoring social media will estimate the number of people who would join the rally before they would decide on the proper number of police officers to be deployed to maintain peace and order for the day.
The Bangkok police will limit the area for the demonstrators so as to not disturb locals living nearby and will set up health screening points under Covid-19 measures as well as security points for maintaining peace and security in the assembly area.
Pakapong also said he wanted protest leaders to cooperate with the authorities by complying with the Public Assembly Act and keeping the demonstration run according with the law.
The deployment of police would be primarily to provide security for the demonstrators and other people to prevent any unfortunate incidents. It would not be to arrest the protesters, Pakapong further stated.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-O’Cha said yesterday, October 5, that the demonstrators have their right to exercise their political expressions but he hoped the incoming pro-democracy rally would not create more political tensions as the country is still facing many serious problems.
