Pro-election activists to hold gathering

BANGKOK, May 5 (TNA) -- Security officials are confident that people gathering on Saturday evening demanding for a general election to be held later this year could be peaceful and it is unnecessary for the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to invoke Article 44 under the interim constitution to control the planned rally. A spokesman of NCPO said security and police officials will be deployed to ensure that the rally to be held at Bangkok’s Thammasat University is held under a peaceful atmosphere. Between 150-300 people are expected to gather at the university and the organisers have already asked for a permission to organise the rally from the NCPO, the spokesman said. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Tuesday the poll will go ahead early next year if no untoward incident takes place in Thailand. Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, meanwhile, has ordered officials to maintain peace and order and to also watch out for any “third-hands” to cause disturbances at the rally site. So far, intelligent officials have not received any sign of disturbances during the planned rally. Several anti-government have staged demonstrations in the past, demanding for a general election to be held as soon as possible. (TNA)