Poll: Majority of Thais disagree with rallies

BANGKOK, August 4 (TNA) – A survey conducted recently by Dusit Poll has found that the majority of respondents do not want to see political rallies. According to the poll conducted between July 29 - August 2 on 1,176 people, 54.07 per cent of them did not wish to see political rallies while 25 per cent said demonstrations could be held but they have to be organised within the legal framework. For those who disagreed with political rallies, they said rallies create social divisiveness in the country. According to the survey, 52.57 per cent of the total respondents said political differences should be settled through rational. Meanwhile, supporters of an anti-government group, the People’s Army Against the Thaksin Regime, started arriving at Lumpini Park in central Bangkok. Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasobdee said he has ordered provincial governors to try to explain to their people on the current political situation but not to prevent them from joining anti-government rallies. Pracha said he was informed that workers were each paid 2,500 baht to join the People’s Army Against the Thaksin Regime rally for between three to five days. He said a group of construction firms on Bangkok outskirts have also allegedly funded more than one billion baht to support the mass rally. Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the major opposition Democrat Party, said his party has not yet discussed on reports that some of the party members plan to participate in this afternoon rally. The former prime minister insisted that his party would fight against the controversial Amnesty Bill, to be debated by MPs this Wednesday, both inside and outside the parliament. If the government is sincere on finding solution to political conflict, it should withdraw the Bill first before reform talks, proposed by Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, could start, Abhisit added. (TNA)