Thai PM says he wants to prevent political protests, from either side

In a move that is sure to be seen as a bid to stifle opposition gatherings, protests and debate, the Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is voicing concern that opposition-organised political rallies, as well as those of his supporters. will โ€œlead to fresh conflictsโ€. The PM told reporters yesterday that โ€œโ€ฆhe has instructed security authorities to find ways to prevent such activities in the futureโ€.

Gen Prayut told reporters that he doesnโ€™t want to see divisions among the public.

โ€œPeople should not be divided according to the group they belong to or along the lines of old and new generations. This will not benefit the country whatsoever. We must find ways to cooperate,โ€ the prime minister was reported as saying in the Bangkok Post.

โ€œNo matter who wants to support or oust me, I donโ€™t want anything that will lead to violence to happen again.โ€

Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwon has also said he disapproves of a planned anti-Prayut run in Chiang Mai on February 2. He says the event would โ€œonly deepen social divisionsโ€.

Meanwhile, Tanawat Wongchai, the organiser of the โ€œWing Lai Lungโ€ (Run to Oust the Uncle) held in the Chatuchak area last Sunday, maintained the Chiang Mai event would go ahead, despite the threats from the PM. An event, to show support for Prayut and the Government, called โ€œDern Cheer Lungโ€ (Walk in Support of Uncle), was also held at Lumpini Park in central Bangkok on Sunday.

Complimentary anti-government events for โ€œWing Lai Lungโ€ were also held in other provinces โ€“ Buri Ram, Phayao, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Pathom. Metropolitan Police confirmed that 14,178 people participated in the Bangkok โ€œRun Against Dictatorshipโ€ event. Various police estimates from the other provinces indicate and addition 2,500 people joined from provinces outside Bangkok.

A Future Forward Party MP, spokesman of the House committee on law, justice and human rights, and anti-government activist, Rangsiman Rome, claimed that some participants in the last Sundayโ€™s anti-Prayut event in Buri Ram were summonsed by police to โ€œacknowledge charges for violating the public assembly lawโ€.

Pol Col Pramote Uthakit, from the Nakhon Phanom police station, told reporters that rally organisers โ€œfailed to seek permission in advance to hold the activity from policeโ€.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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