Protesters planning to attend the “great mass uprising” on Jan 13 should take care and be watchful for any third-party that may try to cause violence during the demonstration, the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) said Sunday.
Caretaker Information and Communication Technology Minister Anudith Nakornthap said in a live address on national television that information gathered by the government indicated there had been purchases of large amounts of bullets for the same type of gun stolen from police vehicles on Dec 26 during the clash between protesters and the police at the Thai-Japanese sports stadium.
He said the government was worried that there would be a “third-party” who had the intention to cause violence and blame it on the police or the protesters as the police had already arrested some people with guns and bombs who confessed to being hired to launch attacks.
“Those people who plan to cause violence should stop what they are doing, while protesters should help to keep a watch out along with officers for persons who want to create violence,” said Gp Capt Anudith.
He said security information showed that some protesters had taken drugs to give them the courage to cause violence and injuries.
Gp Capt Anudith also reminded people who plan to join the demonstration to realise that they can carry on with legal action as advised by Suthep Thaugsuban, secretary-general of People’s Democratic Reform Committee, and other core leaders, but if their actions became illegal, they might be considered guilty as accomplices.