http://www.mcot.net/
via CAAI News Media
BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - Thousands of anti-government Red Shirt demonstrators led by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Friday converged at various locations in the capital ahead of Sunday's mass rally aiming to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliamant and call a fresh election.
Pol Maj-Gen Piya Utayo, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police, said some 6,500 Red Shirts gathered at five areas since noon before dispersing in the evening. There was no report of any incident or major traffic disruption in the capital.
The UDD leaders said more Red Shirts were travelling from provinces nationwide over the weekend and the number could reach a million at their Sunday rally.
The anti-government rallies came just two weeks after Thailand's Supreme Court court ruled that US$1.4 billion of Mr Thaksin's ill-gotten frozen assets must be seized. The pro-Thaksin Red Shirts cried foul over the court's decision, saying the former prime minister was treated unfairly under what they branded as the government's "double standards."
Mr Thaksin, living in self-exile abroad after escaping his jail term in Bangkok, addressed his supporters on many occasions, urging them to come out to join the mass rally in the capital.
Following reports that the ousted prime minister has been evicted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, Chavanont Intarakomalsut, secretary to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, confirmed that Mr Thaksin left Dubai by his private jet and arrived Cambodia's Siem Riep Friday morning.
Mr Chavanont said the Thai foreign ministry has already coordinated with the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh to monitor the ex-premier's moves.
Mr Kasit on Wednesday asked the UAE ambassador to Thailand to report to the UAE government the fact that Mr Thaksin has been using the UAE as his base for political activities aiming to overthrow the Thai government.
Meanwhile, Noppadon Pattama, legal adviser to Mr Thaksin, denied reports of the fugitive ex-premier's eviction, saying that the UAE has neither had any problem, nor mentioned Thai domestic politics with the fugitive.
Mr Noppadon however said the ex-premier will travel to Europe in the next few days to meet with his two daughters who are attending an exhibition in Germany.
However Mr Noppadon refused to state clearly in which country Mr Thaksin will stay, citing security concerns, while asserting that the ousted premier will not enter Cambodia during the Red Shirt protest.
"I reaffirm that Mr Thaksin's trip has nothing to do with the meeting between foreign minister Kasit and the UAE ambassador," said Mr Noppadon."Mr Thaksin asked me to tell the public that wherever he will be, in Africa or any corner in this world, he can contact his Red Shirt
supporters via phone-in anytime."
Meanwhile, UDD core leader Nattawut Saikua warned that if the prime minister did not decide to dissolve House of Parliament by March 14-15, a million Red Shirts would block roads around Bangkok to paralyse the capital, but the prime minister shrugged off the threat, saying his government would not bow to any intimidation but would maintain law and order.
Key red shirt figure Weng Tojirakarn, who joined the protest at the 11th Infantry Regiment, said he was contacted by the Prime Minister’s Secretary-General Korbsak Sabhavasu as the government's leading negotiator.
Mr Weng said Mr Korbsak had no clear stance, so he did not think Mr Korbsak could negotiate on behalf of the government and that the government was not sincere to talk with the protesters.
Mr Korbsak said he was assigned to cooperate not to negotiate with the Red Shirts, said Mr Weng.
In a related development, the Bank of Thailand (BoT) reported six commercial banks announced the temporary closure of nine branches in the capital on Friday and some on weekend. In addition, two branches of Bangkok Bank in Bangna and Phan Fah and two branches of the Government Housing Bank on Rajdanmoen Avenue closed Friday afternoon. (TNA)
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