Security officers are keeping a close watch on both anti-Thaksin and pro-Thaksin demonstrators rallying in many areas in Bangkok, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya said Tuesday.

 

Chidchai was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that the security officers would closely follow up developments of both sides, which are now employing the same strategy of spreading their demonstrations and campaigns to many areas.

 

The officers would specially pay attention to the anti-Thaksin demonstrators led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) during the forthcoming Red Cross Fair scheduled to be held from March 29 to April 6, as their main demonstration venue is in the vicinity of the fair, he said.

 

Chidchai affirmed, however, that the security officers could deal with the mass demonstrations.

 

Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is visiting the country's northern province of Chiang Rai for his official mission and election campaign, said that he believed the government security forces could handle the spreading rallies of the PAD-led demonstrators.

 

"As long as the rallies are within the democratic framework and do not make any trouble to other people, it should be all right," Thaksin said after chairing the cabinet's weekly meeting via video conference Tuesday's morning.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2006)