Governor shrugs off protest site flak
Gatherings ‘still OK’ despite govt decree
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt yesterday shrugged off public concerns that City Hall’s designation of seven sites where people can hold demonstrations would be overruled by the emergency law.
City Hall exercised its authority under Section 9 of the Public Assembly Act and Section 49 of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration Regulation Act to designate spaces for public gatherings with rules and conditions for use of those sites.
In the announcement signed by Mr Chadchart, people can hold demonstrations in seven designated venues under the Public Assembly Act, though rally organisers have to seek prior permission and follow the law.
While the announcement received positive responses from demonstrators, especially those from political groups, concerns were raised about whether the announcement could be overruled by the emergency decree which remains in force.
Addressing such concerns, Mr Chadchart said City Hall’s move would allow demonstrations to proceed under the emergency decree and it would provide an outlet for those wanting to express themselves.
Following City Hall’s announcement on venues for public gatherings, members of the We Volunteer political group gathered at Lan Khon Muang ground in front of City Hall on Friday.
Mr Chadchart admitted his qualms about the rally and that he had monitored events via surveillance cameras. However, the rally proceeded without incident, he said.
Some have disagreed with City Hall’s move to designate official gathering spaces out of concern for violence and damage to state property, the governor said, but added he believed he made the right move and an assessment would be made after one month.
Mr Chadchart said he would ask City Hall’s legal team for clarification after activist Srisuwan Janya threatened to take legal action against him if public gatherings took place outside the seven venues.
He said these venues were provided as alternatives and the designation of venues was not tantamount to limiting people’s rights to hold gatherings. Those who wanted to hold demonstrations in other areas could do so but they were also required to follow the laws, he said.
The announcement came after fresh anti-government rallies by the Thalu Gas movement which spread to various parts of the capital, with some protesters demonstrating at Din Daeng intersection.
According to the announcement, rally organisers must notify the appropriate district office within a set time and the district office will then ask officials responsible for overseeing rallies to facilitate the gathering and provide safety for demonstrators.
Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, government spokesman, yesterday welcomed City Hall’s designation of protest venues and urged demonstrators to comply with all public-gathering regulations.