Asia-Pacific

'Red-shirt' rally to be under control: Thai deputy PM

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-01-05 21:00

BANGKOK - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday he believed the planned anti-government "red-shirt" rally this Sunday, the first rally after the Emergency Decree has been lifted, would be under control.  

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Suthep, who oversees the security affair, said the government would not re-enfore the Emergency Decree, and will not apply any special security law to maintain law and order, the Thairath online reported.

The Thai government has earlier lifted the Emergency Decree in Bangkok and three surrounding provinces last month after considering that the situation seems to settle.

Suthep said he is optimistic about the situation as he believes the "red-shirts" do not want to cause any disturbance to the country.

The anti-government protesters leader announced last month that they would hold two rallies every month to commemorate the military crackdown on "red-shirt" protesters on April 10 and May 19. The planned rally this Sunday will be held at the Ratchaprasong intersection, centre of Bangkok's business zone, which is the site of May 19 crackdown.  

The latest chronic protest by the "red-shirts", causing 91 deaths and nearly 2,000 injuries, was held from March 14 to May 19. The anti-government protestors occupied the Ratchaprasong intersection for more than one month and called for the government to dissolve the parliament and hold a fresh election. The demonstration ended after a week-long confrontation with the troops and many "red-shirt" core members were charged with terrorism.