Thai police to bring protest under control

BANGKOK, October 31 (TNA) - Thailand's National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew says that he believes police forces can handle political demonstrators who are rallying in Bangkok to protest against an amnesty bill. Police General Adul told reporters on Thursday that he, thus, views it remains unnecessary to expand areas under the imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the capital although he expects 20,000-30,000 protesters to turn out against the amnesty bill. In response to the expected mass rally at the Samsen train station and Kamphaeng Phet 5 Road in the city on Thursday evening, led by the main opposition Democrat Party, Police General Adul revealed that 40 companies of police have been mobilized to cope with them. The national police chief suggested the demonstrators to adhere to peaceful and lawful movements, as police forces have stepped up security measures in areas under the enforcement of the ISA, including Government House and the Parliament, while facilitating traffic flows to minimize impacts as well. According to the national police chief, the Metropolitan Police Bureau is responsible for ensuring security at protest sites outside areas under the ISA imposition. The national police chief announced the plans after discussing the movements of protesters’ groups with concerned police officers at the Peacekeeping Operation Center in Bangkok earlier in the day. Meanwhile, Mathee Supapongse, Senior Director for the Macroeconomic and Monetary Policy Department of the Bank of Thailand (BOT), acknowledged that the central bank will discuss political issues and their possible impacts on consumers’ confidence and national economic conditions at the next meeting of the BOT's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on November 27, 2013. (TNA)