Prime Minister Yingluck’s government is unfazed by upcoming protests of anti-government groups in connection with the new political amnesty bill.
Hot off the success of tackling anti-government group Pitak Siam last year police forces believe that, protests set to start later this week, do not propose a high threat.
Yingluck’s amnesty bill has united a call for demonstrations from various anti-government groups. However, the current government has determined that the combined manpower of the groups still presents little risk.
The government has estimated that, “the number of anti-government protesters would be just a little more than 10,000 people – while the Pitak Siam group mobilized 20,000 in November last year. Police are also confident of their capability and experience in handling the protesters.”
Cause for little concern from the current regime stems from protesters’ scheduling conflicts. As the various anti-government groups rev-up for protests they have set on independent demonstration days and methods, thus making a mega-rally impossible. Select groups will hold peaceful rallies only.
Yiingluck’s bill has sparked considerable controversy because the bill is aimed to pardon those imprisoned over political riots. Her intensions have been questioned and whether the bill was created to help ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in his quest to return home. The reconciliation bill will pardon every case before and after the September 2006 coup.
The Pheu Thai Party’s Kokaew Pikulthong, a leader of the red shirts, insisted that Thaksin had nothing to gain from the bill.
The Royal Thai Police have been rehearsing protest enforcement techniques the past few days. Political tension is expected to rise in the next four months, as reported by The Nation.
