ONE of the four groups of demonstrators staging rallies today (March 6) have arrived in Bangkok after a long march from Nakhon Ratchasima while police have mounted heavy security at the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek road which is where Redem group of protesters is heading from Lad Phrao intersection from afternoon to evening, Thai Rath newspaper said.
The other two groups of protesters are Archeewa Mai Ao Phadet Kan (Vocational Students against Dictatorship) rallying at Democracy Monument and Ploy Phuen Rao (Release our Friends) which is marching from Lotus Rangsit branch to the 11st Infantry Regiment headquarters in Bang Khen district, Bangkok Post said.
The People Go Network marchers from Nakhon Ratchasima arrived at Zeer Rangsit department store on Phahonyothin road at 9.30 a.m. and wanted to start walking to Kasetsart intersection.
However one company of crowd control policemen from Khu Khot provincial police station blocked them. Nevertheless after negotiations this group of protesters was allowed to march down Vibhavadi Rangsit road to Kasetsart University where they plan to hold activities from 5 p.m. onwards.
Police are out in full force to guard the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek road having rolled out barbed wire along the fence and brought in water cannon trucks and placed a blue construction safety net on the front of the building.
The police team had already started taking safety precautions by screening those entering and leaving the compound while also requiring reporters assembling there to register. Cars were barred from parking in front of the building to prevent any damage.
Altogether 400 men are guarding the court coming from Metropolitan Police Division 2, Phaholyothin police station, Border Police Police and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit.
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Top: The People Go Network protesters arrive in Bangkok from Nakhon Ratchasima province. Photo: Thai Rath
First below and Home Page: Barbed wire place at the Criminal Court fence and a water truck within the compound. Photos: Thai Rath
