Special Report: Crisis in Thailand

    BANGKOK, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's security officers are keeping a close watch on both anti-Thaksin and pro-Thaksin demonstrators rallying in many areas in the capital, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Pol. Gen. Chidchai Vanasatidya said here on Tuesday.

    Chidchai told journalists 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-April 6, as their main demonstration venue, now at the Makhawan Bridge, is in the vicinity of the fair, he noted.

    "To avoid any confrontation, the security officers won't bar them from rallying in the area, but will tell them that they must follow the laws and must not violate other people's rights by using loud speakers or blocking the traffic during the one-week fair," he said.

    "The authorities know the objectives of the PAD-led demonstrators. The government forces will, therefore, prevent any turbulence during the annual charity 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 anddo not make any trouble to other people, it should be all right," the caretaker premier told journalists after chairing the cabinet's weekly meeting via video conference Tuesday's morning.

    He said he had instructed ministers concerned to instruct agencies under their supervision to encourage their staff to turn out for the forthcoming early poll set on April 2. Enditem