Red shirts get police nod for protests

Police yesterday gave the green light for antigovernment protesters to march to Parliament House where the Abhisit administration is due to deliver its first policy statement today.

"Police won't put up any barriers if they want to move to Parliament. But we want to ensure that there are no untoward incidents like what happened on October 7. We also hope protesters won't resort to violent means," deputy Metropolitan Police chief Maj Gen Pongsan Jiemon said.

About 20,000 redshirt protesters rallied at Bangkok's Sanam Laung. Later some of them headed to Parliament House.

Police have set up six checkpoints to keep tabs on the protesters' movements.

"We also have an emergency plan to get MPs into the Parliament building if the main and side entrances are sealed off by protesters," he said.

Jatuporn Promphun, a rally organiser, said their objective is to pressure Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva into dissolving Parliament for a snap general election.

The Army will rely on its stand-by-in-barracks plan to cope with the rallies by redshirt demonstrators and will assist police in keeping the peace if asked, Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.

"Army chief General Anupong Paochinda is concerned about the situation which may have repercussions on the long holidays to welcome the New Year," he said.

Rally organisers have threatened to prevent ingress to Parliament House during the policy debate set for today and tomorrow.

By the military's assessment, police should be able to keep the situation under control and Parliament access would not be completely blocked, he said.

Rally organisers have already pledged to allow lawmakers to enter Parliament House, he said.

In case the protests turned rowdy, the military is ready to deploy soldiers from 17 companies to assist police with nonviolent crowd control measures.

First Army Region chief Lt General Kanit Sapitak said he anticipates no trouble from the protesters.

The staging of a political rally is normal and should not be a concern unless violence erupts, he said, adding he expects the red shirt crowds to remain peaceful.

Navy chief Admiral Kamthorn Phumhiran said naval, military and police forces have been kept on alert to assist police if requested although he did not anticipate any chaos.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said authorities would maintain law and order so the people could celebrate New Year's without undue concern.

Abhisit said his deputy Suthep Thuagsuban, who is in charge of security affairs, has been closely monitoring the situation.

He also vowed not to resort to a violent crackdown on the red shirts.

Charter writer Prasong Soonsiri told a rally on Saturday night that there was no reason to oppose the Abhisit government as it had assumed office under rules sanctioned by the Constitution.

Redshirt crowds started their rally at Sanam Luang in the morning and vowed to march to Parliament House by the evening.

Leaders urged the crowds to sign up for text messages to be updated on antigovernment activities. They also dispatched a fleet of pickup trucks to air taped messages and invite supporters from around the capital to join the rally.

Jatuporn began making speeches to rouse the crowds at the main rally site at 4.30pm.

He vowed to keep up the protest for three days until tomorrow to oppose the Abhisit government, which he said had manipulated the political system to grab power.

The protests will be peaceful and not resort to underhanded tactics as adopted by the People's Alliance for Democracy, he said, referring to the PADled parliamentary blockade on October 7.

He said the crowds would disperse after tomorrow in order to welcome in the New Year.

About 200 red shirts began congregating at Uthong Nai Road, the main approach to Parliament House, in the evening.

They set up a stage to designate a satellite protest site after Sanam Luang.

About 3,400 police have been mobilised.

Deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner Maj General Amnuay Nimmano said police have distributed about 40,000 flyers warning against trespassing on parliamentary grounds.