Security beefed up ahead of rally

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By: AFP

Published: 31/01/2009 at 11:58 AM

More than 5,000 police were set to be deployed on Bangkok's streets Saturday as Thailand braced itself for a fresh anti-government rally by supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The group plans to gather in a park on Saturday evening before marching to Government House to make a series of demands, adopting the tactics of their foes, who occupied the main government offices for three months last year.

Lieutenant General Suchart Mueankaoe, commander of Bangkok Metropolitan police, told AFP that 5,250 officers would police the event, with many more on standby along with military units.

Rally leader Nattawut Saikuar said he was not worried by the level of security.

"We are not worried over government threats to crack down on demonstrators as our rally is peaceful, unarmed and legal," he told AFP.

The protesters, so-called "Red Shirts" who wear crimson in opposition to the anti-Thaksin People's Alliance for Democracy that dons yellow clothes, said up to 50,000 people could attend Saturday's demonstration.

But police said they expected 20,000 people to present their three demands to government -- for those involved in the siege of Bangkok's airports in November to be fired from government jobs and then prosecuted, and for parliament to be dissolved.

"Those people are considered conspirators in blockading the airports and we demand the authorities speed up the prosecution against them," Nattawut said.

National police chief General Patcharawat Wongsuwan has promised not to obstruct the rally but vowed to arrest any protesters who violate the law.

Thousands of anti-Thaksin protesters marched to Government House in August last year and occupied it for three months as they tried to topple the government elected in December 2007.

They said the ruling People Power Party (PPP) was running the country on behalf of Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. Thaksin remains enormously divisive, despite living in exile for most of the time since the putsch.

The PAD escalated their campaign and seized Bangkok's two airports from November 25 to December 3, and eventually got their wish when a court dissolved the PPP and forced then-premier Somchai Wongsawat from office.

The move paved the way for the Democrat Party's Abhisit Vejjajiva to be elected prime minister in a parliamentary vote last month.