BANGKOK, Dec 7 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said officials had to end a rally by protesters against an industrial estate project in Songkhla’s Chana district at Government House yesterday to comply with law.
The prime minister said that intelligence showed that more people would show up at the rally site and pose risks of illegal assembly and violations of law. He said he ordered officials concerned to warn the arrested protesters not to gather there again and release them. The protesters would not be punished, the prime minister promised.
Gen Prayut also said that he was ready to listen to opinions. He asked other southern protesters not to arrive in Bangkok, saying the government would send its representatives to meet them.
“We must discuss facts and see if anything was distorted. The government plans to develop the economy of the South,” the prime minister said.
After the arrest of protesters at Government House last night, the Civil Society Council of the Southernmost Thailand released its statement demanding the government respect people’s rights, listen to the people of Chana district, release the arrested protesters and not abuse its power. (TNA)
