BANGKOK, June 7 — Deputy National Police Chief Adul Saengsingkaew on Thursday urged the police to oversee the ongoing political rallies in the capital in line with international security standards.
Pol Gen Adul visited officers providing security and maintaining law and order at the protest venues in front of Parliament and at the Royal Plaza.
He instructed the police to handle the situation in line with international security standards and that their performance must be accepted by the public.
Currently, the pro-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirts, are gathering near Parliament on U-Thong Nai Road to seek the impeachment of seven Constitution Court judges who issued an injunction for the House of Representatives to suspend voting on the third reading of the charter amendment bill. Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the yellow shirts, and the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect are rallying against the debate and vote on the proposed reconciliation bills at the nearby Royal Plaza.
Three companies of police have been deployed at the protest sites, and the connecting roadway, the deputy national police chief explained, saying that about 10 companies of police are on standby as reinforcements within three hours of being requested.
Although the rallies have been running smoothly and peacefully, Gen Adul explained that the authorities must assess the overall situation frequently.
In addition, Gen Adul said that Pol Maj-Gen Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, acting city police chief, has full authority to manage and control the overall situation with stringent anti-riot measures under the so-called Korakot 52 Operation Plan.
He believed that Gen Kamronwit will be able to deal with the situation and was not worried about the confrontation between the red shirt supporters and the Santi Asoke movement.
