Taxi drivers lay a wreath at Democrats HQ

Representatives of proThaksin taxi drivers carry a wreath to the Democrat Party headquarters yesterday to protest at Abhisit Vejjajiva being named prime minister on Monday.//VORAWIT PUMPUANG

Unable to get through a police security block, the group of 100 taxi drivers, who claim Abhisit "stole" the top post, sent five representatives to lay the wreath and read a statement vowing to act against the Democratled coalition. They said they would lay a wreath there every month in protest.

Meanwhile, police met yesterday to discuss plans to ensure peace and order at a gathering of proThaksin redshirts at Sanam Luang on Friday.

Deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner MajGen Ekkarat Meepreecha said after that 1,150 officers would be deployed at the site with a backup team of 1,650 officers in case of any emergency.

He said police believed they could control things so there was no need to ask for extra manpower from other agencies.

Ekkarat said police were assessing an operational plan for Friday when PMelect Abhisit will announce his party's policies.

Police had been assessing the situation at Sanam Luang on a daily basis, gauging the amount of protesters to determine how many officers they would need to deploy each day, he said. On Monday night there was less than 1,000 redshirts there.

Police had a video record of incidents on Monday when a mob of proThaksin red shirts threw barricades against the gates of Parliament and bricks hurled at MPs' cars.

They would investigate cases of protesters throwing rocks at vehicles leaving Parliament, which injured some MPs.

Police InspectorGeneral Gen Pratheep Tanprasert, who is acting national police chief, issued an order on Monday for police to beef up security at homes of key people, and boost intelligence operations and be prepared for possible danger.

Pratheep instructed assistant chief Lt Gen Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya to met city police to gather evidence and hunt protesters who damaging property and injuring people on Monday.

After the meeting, Deputy Police CommissionerGeneral Jongrak Juthanon said the blockade on Monday outside Parliament broke article 310 of the Criminal Code on illegal detention. People found guilty could be subject to up to five years jail and/or a fine of Bt10,000.

Those guilty of breaking article 358 - property damage - could be sent to jail for up to three years and forced to pay a fine of Bt6,000, he said. People found guilty of physical assault (article 295) could be sent to jail for two years and made to pay a fine of Bt4,000.

Jongrak said Pheu Thai Party MP Lt Ranongrak Suwanchawee and Democrat Party MP Ongart Klampaiboon had filed police complaints. Police would ask for media group's video footage and photos of the incident to help find the wrongdoers.