At 13:00 hrs., the Center for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) informed the press on the outcome of the meeting of the CAPO earlier in the day, gist as follows:

1. Following the announcements of both the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to hold major demonstration on 5 April, the CAPO has assigned Deputy Police Chief Pol Gen Worapong Chewpreecha to prepare joint security measures for this demonstration. The CAPO will deploy same amount of security personals to oversee security at the PDRC’s protest site. For the UDD protest, the CAPO will deploy 19 joint military-police troops or approximate size of 3,000 personals to secure the protest site. Check points will be also established at three areas, namely Phutthamonthon Sai 3, Phutthamonthon Sai 4 and Taweewatana. To prepare for any unforeseen situation, the CAPO will arrange information and medical service units as well as a Surveillance and Rapid Response Team (SRRT). The CAPO wished to urge all parties to avoid any possible confrontation or any instigation that may cause insecurity to the people.

2. Today, representatives from the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) on economic have explained to the CAPO about economic impacts due to the PDRC's protest. The NESDB expected that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will be at 3.0-4.0%--lower than an expected figure of 4.0-5.0%. Other economic research institutions, including the Fiscal Policy Office, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Kasikornthai Research Center have also estimated the Thai economy's figures in the same trajectory. University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Economic and Business Forecast Center indicated that the consumer confident index in March was at 68.8 points, the lowest in 149 month. Meanwhile, Japan Credit Rating Agency or JCR has reduced Thailand’s business confident index of Thailand due to prolonged political situation. These economic forecasting and rating firmly indicated slowdown of overall Thailand’s economy due to political uncertainty. The CMPO urged all parties to find way to solve the political situation together expediently for the benefit of the country and its people.