Civil court clarifies: CRES can disperse protesters if necessary

BANGKOK, April 24 (TNA) – To erase public doubt, Thailand’s Civil Court on Saturday said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) can indeed disperse anti-government protesters now occupying Bangkok’s prime business district “if necessary”, but emphasised that it must be “carried out in line with international standards.”

The clarification came after the Civil Court ruling Thursday was misinterpreted by the public, media and even protest leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that the Court issued an injunction against using force to break up the UDD protesters occupying Ratchaprasong.

In order to clear the doubt, Chief Civil Court Judge Chartchai Akarawiboon said the public conclusion over the ruling was inaccurate and that “if necessary, CRES could disperse the protest crowd”, but it must consider its appropriateness and must be “carried out in line with international standards”.

MCOT