Thai police on alert against anti-coup protest

BANGKOK, May 31 (TNA) - Thirty-eight companies of police officers will be deployed in eight areas in Bangkok and neighbouring Samut Prakan Province on Sunday, following intelligence reports indicating that anti-coup protesters would stage rallies opposing the May 22 bloodless coup in Thailand, which toppled the elected caretaker government. Deputy National Police Chief Police General Somyos Pumpanmuang told reporters on Saturday that some of Bangkok’s key business intersections, where the rallies would be staged, would be completely closed for traffic on June 1 for security reasons,including Ploenchit and Ratchadamri. Besides, Police General Somyos said, skytrains will not stop at Chitlom, Ploenchit and Ratchadamri stations. The Amarin Plaza shopping mall near the Ratchaprasong Intersection has already announced that it will close on Sunday. According to the deputy national police chief, the eight areas where anti-coup rallies would be staged include Ratchaprasong, King Taksin the Great Statue, Victory Monument, Democracy Monument, Lak Si Monument, Seacon Square shopping mall, Central Bang Na and Te Pa Rak Intersection. The deputy national police chief warned that people joining the anti-coup rallies would be apprehended because the movements violate the martial law, while offices allowing the protesters to stage a rally would be guilty under an order of the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which staged the coup. In another development, Sombat Boonngamanong, who opposes the military coup, said on his personal Facebook page that he planned to, on Sunday, announce organising fancy parties at several major shopping malls and public parks in Bangkok to “celebrate the coup”. (TNA)