20 September 2024

Thailand’s national security agencies have expressed concern that the current political conflict will continue for a long time and will seriously impact the nation’s already depressed economy, especially the blocking of roads in commercial areas by protesters, which are causing hardship to the general public, said Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, secretary to the Office of the Prime Minister, today.

While assuring that the military will not stage a coup to end the conflict, he reminded the anti-establishment protesters to be aware of the hardships being caused to others and urged them to comply with the law.

There are several important events in Thailand in December, such as December 2nd, when the Constitutional Court is due to decide Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s fate over his allegedly illegal stay at the army chief’s official residence, and Constitution Day on December 10th, and Thanakorn said that security officials are concerned that the protesters may escalate their protests on those days.

A protest is to be staged by the Ratsadon group late this afternoon, at the Bang Na intersection.  Protesters were asked to assemble at the Imperial shopping mall, in Samrong district of Samut Prakan, and then march to the intersection.