Standoff still
Standoff still at business and commercial area
Govt looks to court to end rally
Abhisit says he's open to a level playing field
Published: 5/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/35593/govt-looks-to-court-to-end-rally
The government is seeking a court injunction to force the red shirt protesters to vacate Bangkok's central commercial and business district.
A protester shows an order issued by the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order distributed among red shirt demonstrators at the Ratchaprasong intersection. The order warns the protesters their assembly in the area is illegal and they must leave the intersection immediately. APICHIT JINAKUL
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship insisted last night it would not move from Ratchaprasong, the capital's main shopping district, and vowed to launch another mobile rally in Bangkok today.
It declined to disclose the rally's targeted stops.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who supervises national security, Sunday said the prime minister had authorised army chief Anupong Paojinda, in his capacity as deputy director-general of the Internal Security Operations Command, to seek a Civil Court injunction today to force the protesters to leave Ratchaprasong.
The red shirts have taken over the intersection and adjacent areas, blocking traffic and disrupting the shopping district since Saturday to increase pressure on the government to dissolve the House. The red shirt leaders said they would remain at the intersection until the government bowed to their demand to dissolve the House immediately.
The Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) yesterday declared an additional 11 prime areas as controlled areas under the Internal Secrity Act - which means red shirts are banned from entering these areas - in an attempt to restrict the rally's scope.
Business takes hard look at rally impact. On Saturday, the CAPO declared Ratchaprasong and adjacent areas a controlled area and ordered the red shirts to leave immediately or face a one year jail term and/or 20,000 baht fine each.
UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan said the CAPO order contravened the constitution, which allowed people to protest peacefully. As a result, the red shirts were set to launch another mobile rally from 10am today.
Mr Jatuporn said Ratchaprasong would remain the rally's main base. Several tents and and a large projector have been installed at the intersection, as they were at Phan Fa Bridge.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has said the government is ready to work with parties involved in the political conflict and all sectors of society to "reset" the political rules and regulations to ensure a level political playing field.
Mr Abhisit yesterday said the government was ready to listen to grievances from all groups who feel they had been treated unfairly.
Speaking during a live broadcast by the TV Pool, the prime minister insisted he would not dissolve the House within 15 days as demanded by the protesters.
But he said the government would work with all sectors of society to find ways to ensure the rules and regulations involving politics were acceptable to all sides and that all parties were free to pursue their political activities without any hindrance or threat of violence.
Mr Abhisit said an election alone would not end the deep-seated conflict in society. "The government is ready to narrow its own agenda if this can help create peace and solve the problems besetting the country," the prime minister said.
