PRIME Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said late this morning (March 24) he has not done anything undemocratic, be it about demonstrations or other matters, but people must not forget they must not break the law, a lot of waivers have been given but when wrongdoings mount up then the judicial process has to proceed if not the nation will be totally confused, Thai Rath newspaper said.
Earlier senior police officers said that they are fully ready to perform their duties today after the Thammasat Alliance and Rally announced that they will be holding rallies along BTS skytrain line from 5 p.m. this evening.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai, deputy chief and spokesman of Metropolitan Police, said the rallies violate the emergency decree and the Disease Control Act with both those persuading people to join in and those actually doing so being at fault.
He added that police had obtained a certain level of information about the rallies but would have to assess the situation again in the afternoon. Regarding any chaos that may occur it has still to be seen what the area involved is like.
However Gen. Prayut said he could not order anyone to do anything because each one has their duties even if there are a lot of conflicts he could not do anything anyway.
“At the sametime there is a movement outside. I don’t want to see (a division of) good children and bad children, all must be good, this is because they are the main force of the nation, they have to learn today what is right, righteous, and what is modern democracy, do they understand that?
“They just keep saying the Prime Minister is dictatorial. How dictatorial? Right now I haven’t done anything dictatorial and issue orders as the executive branch,” he said.
Reporters asked Gen. Prayut whether he has given any additional order for rallies taking place today, and he replied that this has already been announced and he does not have to give orders everyday as officers are duty-bound to do their work.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha talking to reporters at Government House late this morning.
Home Page; Pol. Maj. Gen. Piya Tawichai, deputy chief and spokesman of Metropolitan Police, Pol. Maj. Gen. Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ek, deputy chief of Metropolitan Police, and Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, briefing the press this morning. Photos: Thai Rath
