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Thai 'red-shirts' postpone mass rally to Sept 5
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-29 20:41

BANGKOK: A Thai anti-government group on Saturday postponed Sunday's mass rally to September 5 while the security law imposed in Bangkok's Dusit district was still in place.

Thailand's cabinet on Tuesday approved to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Bangkok's Dusit district from August 29 to September 1 to deal with Sunday's mass anti-government rally led by the United front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).

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Key leaders of the UDD told a press conference Saturday morning that the group has re-evaluated the situation following the ISA enforcement by the government and decided to postpone their rally to next Saturday.

The ISA has been unnecessarily enforced as the UDD gatherings have usually been carried out peacefully, the Thai News Agency quoted UDD leader Veera Musikapong as saying.  

Meanwhile, Nattawut Saikua, spokesman for the UDD said the rally might be delayed to September 19, the three-year anniversary of coup d'etat, if the ISA enforcement is prolonged.

Early this week, the UDD has announced that the "red-shirted" people would rally from 1 p.m. to midnight on Sunday. They would first gather at the Royal Plaza in Dusit district and march to the Government House late afternoon.

On the government side, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajjiva insisted on Saturday afternoon that the security law should be further enacted to maintain peace and order even though the "red-shirts" canceled their planned mass anti-government rally on Sunday.

Abhisit admitted that he had no idea why the UDD leaders scrapped their plan. A meeting of the internal security units will be called next week to discuss measures to control "red-shirts" rally as UDD leaders said they would stage anti-government protest on September 5, he said.

On Saturday afternoon, the Thai military vowed to continue duties in maintaining peace and order in Bangkok.

The military force will perform duties in protecting important government buildings, including the Government House and the parliament, in line with the security law until the government changes its order, the Bangkok Post website quoted army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd as saying.

Until now, Army Chief Anupong Paojinda and Deputy Prime Minister for security affairs Suthep Thaugsuban have not given any further order, he said.