Red-shirts' mass rally starts

PHUTHAMONTHON, BANGKOK, April 5 (TNA) - Pro-government demonstrators of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) began their mass rally on Aksa or Utthayan Road on the outskirts of Bangkok on Saturday (Apr 5) morning, aimed at stressing their stance to oppose a non-MP from being appointed as a new Thai prime minister. UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan told journalists that his red-clad movement did not hire migrant workers as charged by the rival, the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), in joining the rally, expected to last a few days. Jatuporn estimated that more than 500,000 UDD supporters would join the mass rally. Some 3,000 police and army personnel have been deployed to provide security at the UDD rally site and its vicinity, while about 6,500 UDD security guards were also seen at the rally venue. Deputy National Police Chief Police General Vorapong Chiewpreecha admitted, while inspecting the red-shirts' rally area, that police are worried over possible “third hand elements” who could create violence although combined police and army forces are confident of maintaining peace in the area. The deputy national police chief said, however, that he is not worried over any confrontation between UDD and PDRC demonstrators, as both sides are holding rallies far away from each other. The deputy national police chief's remarks followed a fresh bomb attack on Rajadamnoen Avenue on early Saturday morning, at about 2:14 am, near the Royal Plaza and just opposite the headquarters of the First Army Area Command, causing damage to a police vehicle parked in the area and broken glass windows of a nearby palace, the Parusakawan Palace. Meanwhile, PDRC demonstrators, led by PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, were holding their rally at Lumpini public park in central Bangkok, with their core leaders delivering speeches on national reform and on their new offensive strategies, aimed at toppling the caretaker government of Caretaker Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. PDRC leaders from provincial areas were also attending the forum. (TNA)