BANGKOK, 19 January 2014 (NNT) – The government has assessed that the anti-government mass rallies are likely to escalate next week. Security measures will be heightened with a focus on intelligence gathering to prevent violent incidents.

Secretary-General of the National Security Council (NSC) Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanatabut said the government would closely monitor the mass rallies, led by the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), from 20-26 January. The protests tended to be more aggressive especially in the southern provinces where the protesters threatened to surround all government buildings, the official said.

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