Democrats warn red shirts over planned rallies

Democrat Party spokesman Buranat Samutrak said the party felt deep concern over the denials of the red shirts in the work of the parliamentary committee probing the Songkran riots, the investigation |of police and public prosecutors |on political unrest cases, and the media coverage of the matter.

The party feared the situation may head towards an impasse with the red shirts' move to stage four major rallies.

"The party hopes that the four major rallies will not set the country on fire like last time because we do not want to see conflicts,'' he said.

The Democrats urged the red shirts and Pheu Thai Party to give a chance to the country to survive politically and economically.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban expressed concern over the attempts to cause rifts in every sector of society not just among politicians.

"I am in charge of the country's security so I want to bring stability to the country. I do not want to go into detail as I do not want to cause panic,'' he said.

Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit questioned the government over the progress of cases against the yellow shirts. He said the incidents had happened last year and the government had changed several chief investigators of those cases.

Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, a leader of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship, said his group will stage the first rally from June 21-24 at Sanam Luang. They will organise a merit-making ceremony for those who died in the fight for democracy. The rally on June 27 will be held to oust the government. He said they will not resort to violence and police should arrest anyone who broke the law during the protest.