PAD's request to use military ground for mass rally rejected

BANGKOK, April 20 (TNA) - Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has rejected a request lodged by the yellow-clad People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a strong Thai political movement, to use the Royal Thai Army Club in Bangkok's Deves area as its renewed mass rally ground late this month. Thai Defence Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat told journalists on Friday that General Prayuth has clearly said the Royal Thai Army does not take side but adhering to the principle of impartiality, suggesting that the PAD people use other sites for their planned political movements and always observe Thai laws. Regarding the PAD’s stance against constitutional amendments and a national reconciliation bill, the defence minister acknowledged that the yellow-shirts, like other Thai people, have their constitutional rights for freedom of expression, but their movements are to be within the legal framework. (TNA)