By Xinhua,
Bangkok : The police will step up security to prevent a possible clash between anti- and pro- government supporters while both of the two groups will hold demonstrations on Friday, Bangkok’s deputy metropolitan police chief Suporn Phansua said here on Thursday.
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting of commanders in charge of keeping security to make preparations for coping with the rally of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), a pro-government civil group.
On Sept. 2, the DAAD clashed with the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which seized the Government House since Aug. 26, leaving one dead and more than 30 injured.
Suporn was quoted by The Nation news network as saying that the police would also have intelligence officials monitor the situation for fear that a third-party group might take the opportunity to create disturbance.
Earlier, the Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Anupong Paochinda also urged the police to closely watch the demonstrations on Friday.
Anupong, who chairs a special committee in charge of monitoring emergency situations, was answering reporters’ questions on how the authorities would prevent clashes between rival groups of protesters.
Anupong said the police would try to ask demonstrators to refrain from moving from place to place but if they insist to move, the police would ask them to choose a route that would avoid their rival group.
Anupong said the police would be in charge of controlling the situation first but if the police need backup, they could seek reinforcements form the Army, Air Force or Navy.