Diplomats and foreign businesses have been warned about possible outbreaks of violence due to the upcoming court verdict in the Shinawatra assets seizure case.
Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya and Maj Gen Thitiwat Kamlang-ek, military coordinating officer to the Foreign Ministry, briefed foreign diplomats recently on the government's preparations for the demonstrations ahead of the court verdict in the assets seizure case scheduled for Feb 26.
The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions will rule on whether 76.6 billion baht of assets said to belong to fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra should be seized. Thaksin is accused of accumulating the assets by abusing his power while prime minister.
The minister also briefed the foreign chambers of commerce on Wednesday.
The foreign chambers stressed the need for political stability in Thailand and the upholding of the rule of law.
In his talks with diplomats, Mr Kasit said the red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship "plans to intensify its agitation and step up protests in Bangkok and around the country in order to disrupt the work of the government and the judiciary to create the impression that the government is no longer in control", he was quoted as saying by a diplomatic source.
The red shirts end game, according to Mr Kasit, was to show the government was illegitimate and force it to call a general election, the source said.
Mr Kasit said forces deployed at the rallies would be equipped with riot gear only and would not carry firearms. If necessary, the Internal Security Act would be invoked. A state of emergency would only be declared in extreme cases.
"Interestingly, he stated that the red shirts had been expanding their support base and had set up training centres around the country which had churned out about 100,000 agitators capable of disrupting society," said an Asean diplomat.
Maj Gen Thitiwat told diplomats that 780 hard-core red shirts were being monitored, 58 companies of security forces, about 5,000 officers, were on standby and blockades would be set up to prevent demonstrators from reaching the capital, said the source.
Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has been assigned to cooperate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to investigate reports of unusual money transfers to Thailand. Some think the transfers from overseas are to finance mass rallies by pro-Thaksin demonstrators, Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga said yesterday.
DSI chief Tharit Pengdit has established a fact-finding panel to look into the issue.
Acting government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn earlier said huge amounts of money had been transferred to some red shirt leaders from the Middle East.
Meanwhile, about 5,000 police and military officers will conduct a joint rally control drill next week to prepare for the UDD protests, said Pol Maj Gen Piya Utayo spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Bureau.
He said police are planning to set up 200 checkpoints across Bangkok and neighbouring provinces to strengthen efforts to keep order. Military officers and city inspectors, or Thesakij, will help police check rally-goers for weapons.
Social critic Prawase Wasi called on the government to set up a committee to map out a national peace-building strategy to deal with public gatherings.
Speaking at a seminar in Bangkok yesterday, Dr Prawase said the main thrust of the panel should be to ensure public gatherings proceed peacefully.
Source: Bangkok Post
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