Thai authorities discuss ways to cope with demonstrators

BANGKOK, October 30 (NTA) - Thai Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra convened an urgent meeting with other security authorities concerned at Bangkok's Government House on Wednesday to assess the situation, as demonstrators are protesting against her ruling Pheu Thai Party’s movement to support an amnesty bill in its second reading in the Thai Parliament on October 31, 2013. The concerned security authorities participating in the meeting include Deputy Prime Minister Police General Pracha Promnok, Deputy Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa, Permanent Secretary for Defence General Nipat Thonglek, National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew and Special Branch Police Commissioner Police Lieutenant General Saritchai Anekwiang. After the meeting, Police General Pracha told journalists that the authorities analyzed the situation and latest movements of protesting groups, including the main opposition Democrat Party, which have planned a mass rally on October 31. According to the deputy prime minister, the government-appointed Peacekeeping Operation Center will decide whether areas in Bangkok under the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) should be expanded, but there has not been any order for the expansion so far. The deputy premier said that he is not worried over the possibility of the demonstrators laying siege to the Parliament to block Thursday's session, and that the planned mass rally can happen in accordance with constitutional rights but they must not violate laws. (TNA)