UBON RATCHATHANI, Nov 29 — Ubon Ratchathani deployed security personnel at the provincial hall to prevent a possible clash between pro and anti-government protesters while Pathum Thani increased the number of police one day after two rival groups were in confrontation.
Ubon Ratchathani governor Wanchai Suthiworachai said the three companies of a police crowd control unit from the provincial police division, 22nd Border Patrol Police and defence volunteers were deployed at the entrance and around the provincial hall to ensure law and order during the political protests nationwide.
He said the security forces laid barbedwire to block the entrances, leaving only one gate for the government workers at the provincial hall to enter and exit.
Additional security measures have been applied to prevent possible confrontation after there was a report that two groups having differing political ideas planned to gather at the provincial hall.
Meanwhile, Pol Maj Gen Smith Mukdasanit, commander of Pathum Thani provincial police ordered three companies of crowd control police at the Thaicom satellite earth station in Pathum Thani’s Lat Lum Kaeo district.
Checkpoints were set up at four locations on minor roads to protect key places.
On Thursday, anti-government protesters and rival United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirts, were in confrontation.
The anti-government group gathered at Pathum Thani provincial hall to give flowers to Gov Pongsathorn Sajjacholapan and civil servants while the Pheu Thai advocate group, led by Wuthipong “Ko Tee” Kotchathamakhun gathered on the opposite side of the road.
Pro-government demonstrators hurled bottles and other objects at the anti-government protesters, while the governor and riot police separated the two groups.
However, members of the anti-government group were attacked by a group of people as they departed the provincial hall, according to witnesses who reported the incident to police.
