BANGKOK, Oct 31 — Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok was confident there would be no violence during the Democrat Party-led protest against the Amnesty Bill which is being debated for the second and third readings in Parliament.
Pol Gen Pracha, who supervises national security, said the rally could be held under the Constitution but it must be a peaceful and orderly demonstration without breaching the basic rights of others.
The deputy premier said he was not worried as several Democrat Party MPs have resigned as deputy party leaders and the executive board of directors to lead the protest.
All of them are mature persons and would run the rally peacefully, he said, adding that he believed no violence would occur.
Gen Pracha said the government would provide security personnel to ensure the safety of the demonstrators and to prevent any third party to instigate problem during the demonstration.
It is not necessary for the government to extend the Internal Security Act (ISA) enforcement given that there is no indication that the situation would turn ugly, he said.
The senior Democrat Party members have announced holding a mass rally at Bangkok’s Samsen railway station at 6pm today against the controversial Amnesty Bill until it is withdrawn from Parliament’s consideration.
As for the demonstration by southern rubber farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Bang Saphan district, Gen Pracha said that another round of talks would be held today and if both sides could reach a conclusion, the protest would end and Petchkasem Road would reopen.
