Thailand vows to prevent violence

9 Mar 2010, 10:31 am   -   Source: AAP
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Thailand's government have vowed to prevent violence as backers of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepare major protests.

Thailand's finance minister said on Monday the government would take all means within the law to prevent violence as backers of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra prepare major protests.

Thaksin's supporters say they expect hundreds of thousands of people, many of them rural poor, to gather in Bangkok on Saturday in the wake of a court decision that seized $US1.4 billion ($A1.54 billion) of the deposed tycoon's fortune.

"There is a very small minority who is trying to cause instability through, frankly speaking, potentially violent acts," Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij told the American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand.

Korn, in remarks videocast in Washington, said that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva respected the right to peaceful protest and would be "as patient as all governments need be".

But he said the government also fully intended to "use all means within its powers, within the laws of the country, to make sure that the property and safety of its citizens are protected".

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban earlier said he would ask the cabinet to invoke the Internal Security Act, which permits the army to help the police and gives the authorities powers to impose curfews and ban gatherings.

The protests by the so-called "Red Shirts" promise to be the biggest since last April, when up to 100,000 took to the streets against Abhisit. Ensuing riots left two people dead and derailed a major Asian summit.

Despite his fortune, Thaksin's support base is mainly in rural areas where the former prime minister is remembered for his populist measures including low-cost health care.

His opponents, the "Yellows", comprise the Bangkok-based elites who view Thaksin as corrupt and disrespectful of Thai traditions. Thaksin has lived in exile since the military ousted him in a 2006 coup.

Korn said Abhisit's government has put a priority on assisting rural Thais, particularly farmers.

"We will continue to pursue these policies with a belief that over time, with our commitment and consistency, the majority of the population will appreciate the fact that this government fully intends to look after the well-being of all Thais," he said.

But he acknowledged that Abhisit has not bridged the political divide since taking office in December 2008, when a separate court decision removed Thaksin's allies from power.

"In fact, the situation in the next few years might indicate that in fact political differences have actually widened over the past year," Korn said.

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