Deputy PM won’t let Red Shirt protesters close airport

By k on January 20, 2010

BANGKOK, Jan 20 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban on Wednesday said he would not allow the Red Shirt protesters to close Suvarnabhumi Airport, while ruling out enforcement of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Mr Suthep said that the Red Shirts should not protest at the country’s main airport as they will cause trouble to the public and damage to the nation.

The Red Shirt anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) claims that the government has applied a double standard to the UDD Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirt protesters.

The pro-Thaksin UDD announced on Tuesday it would rally to press for legal action against its major rival the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), the Yellow Shirts, which seized the airport in late 2008, to the detriment of Thailand’s tourist industry and image around the world.

“Officials are working on the airport seizure case. If the Red Shirts believe that the Yellow Shirts protest at the airport was wrong, they should not threaten to do the same thing,” Mr Suthep said.

“If they decide to gather at the airport, I will prevent any move to close the airport,” the deputy prime minister said in his capacity as national security chief. However, Mr Suthep said he believed that the police would be able to control the situation and the government needs not to enforce the Internal Security Act (ISA).

There is progress in the case and prosecutors will file suit soon, but he cannot intervene to hasten the process, the deputy prime minister said.

The protesters can stage a peaceful protest, if it is not prolonged and protesters have not blocked roads to cause trouble to the public. Mr Suthep said he must evaluate the situation again to decide whether to block them from entering the airport or not. (TNA)

Red Shirt protesters seek US embassy clarity over alleged sabotage claim BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) - Red Shirt protesters on Wednesday...
Red Shirt protesters to end rally after Deputy PM Suthep turns himself in to police BANGKOK, May 10 (TNA) – The anti-government ‘Red Shirt’ United...
Thailand may invoke internal security law: Deputy PM BANGKOK, Nov 20 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban...
Deputy PM orders vehicle search to bar weapons from Bangkok rally BANGKOK, March 5 (TNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban...
Police close Democracy Monument to traffic; pro-Thaksin protesters garner names to remove PM, await call-in BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) – One thousand police officers were...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Readers Comments

Business News »

Loan clients urged to be well-prepared for higher finance costs

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, July 16 – Loan customers, particularly small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), must have well-prepared business plans to cope with higher financial costs in the face of an upward interest trend, according to the Kasikorn Research Center (KRC), a leading Thai financial think tank. Kasikorn said that major domestic commercial banks had begun raising the [...]

Bank And Finance »

Commercial banks announce hikes in interest rates on fixed deposits

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 (NNT) —Interest rates on fixed deposits and lending rates have been hiked by financial institutions following the hike in the policy rate by the Central Bank. Krungthai Bank has announced its fixed deposit interest rate hike of 0.25-0.35%, while key lending rates would be increased by 0.125-0.15%, effective today. Siam Commercial [...]

General News »

Summary of the 9th APEC Energy Meeting

July 12, 2010

Thai delegates led by Minister of National Resources and Environment, Suwit Khunkitti, along with international counterparts from 20 countries attended the 9th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Ministerial Meeting in Fukui, Japan on 19 June 2010. During the summit, a speech on the “Low Carbon Paths to Energy Security: Cooperative Energy Solutions for a Sustainable [...]

Economy »

4 Govt agencies cooperate to promote Thai investment abroad

July 12, 2010

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 (NNT) – The Office of Thailand Trade Representative (TTR) joins force with three financial institutions to promote Thai investments abroad, with operators in various business groups showing keen interest in the project. TTR along with SME Bank, EXIM Bank and the Government Pension Fund (GPF) announced their cooperation in credit support [...]

Energy »

Moody´s chops down PTT´s credit

June 29, 2010

BANGKOK, 29 June 2010 (NNT) – An international credit rating firm, Moody’s Investors Service, has lowered the creditworthiness of Thai petroleum giant PTT Plc from A2 to A3 with a negative outlook. Moody’s Investors Service has changed the local currency issuer rating for PTT Plc from A2 stable to A3 negative while the foreign currency [...]

Politics »

One month needed for Interpol consideration over Thaksin´s case

July 16, 2010

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 (NNT) – A nod from the Paris-based international police intelligence-sharing association, Interpol, over case of self-exiled ex Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra should be known within one month. Police Maj-General Terdsak Rujirawong, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Foreign Affairs Division, said on Friday that an arrest warrant on terrorism charge issued [...]