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| Security Agency Receives Bt1 Billion to Create Better Understanding of Democracy |
| UPDATE : 25 March 2009 |
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The Internal Security Operations Command or ISOC has received a billion-baht budget to prepare for the red-shirt rallies. Tomorrow’s protests are expected to be peaceful, but eyes will be on third-parties.
Army Region 1 Commander, Lieutenant General Kanit Saphitak revealed that the Army is ready for the red-shirt rally at Sanam Luang tomorrow, which may also move towards the Parliament.
The Army will only act as back up for the Metropolitan Police in peacekeeping during the red-shirt rally. Army Chief General Anuphong Paochinda has not given any special orders for handling the rally.
The Army’s main concern is of third parties who wish to cause unrest and encourage violence. So far, the Army’s news division has not received word of any possible violent acts.
Kanit has demanded that the red-shirt group protest under the rules of democracy and that the group not infringe on other citizens’ freedoms and human rights.
Meanwhile, ISOC Spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaen said the one billion baht budget that Parliament allocated to the agency is under the Sufficiency Economy Project.
The budget is to be used to create a better understanding of democracy as well as to promote careers in line with the sufficiency economy philosophy. As to whether or not the program can actually change the red-shirt supporters’ view on democracy, the Colonel said it depends on each person’s attitude. The program began in February of this year.
Meanwhile, Thaksin’s phone-ins as well as responses to the phone-ins will be under close watch. ISOC believes that doing so will help them better understand and prepare to handle the red-shirt rallies.
The ISOC spokesman also commented that the program does not aim to prohibit protests, as they have their right under the Constitution to express their opinions. Thanathip said the program will likely struggle in the hometowns of the red-shirt group’s leaders in the north.
Colonel Thanathip also said the budget is only 1 billion baht, not 2 billion baht as red-shirt group leaders have cited.
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