UDD to push military back to barracks

[Flashermac]

Bangkok Post

19 Apr 2010

 

 

7:16pm

 

 

 

A top leader of the anti-government Red Shirt movement on Monday threatened to force military personnel back to their barracks, saying the government's heavy military deployment in the capital's financial district was a major concern for the Reds' safety. :content:

 

Natthawut Saikua, a leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), told a press briefing that there are reports of heavy military reinforcements indicating that the military will likely use force to disperse the protesters given the opportunity.

 

[color:red]The top Red Shirt claimed that military officers sympathetic to the protesters leaked details of the military movements to the UDD, prompting them to mobilise a large number of protesters to confront the military personnel who then changed their tactics and set up barricades to surround the protesters.[/color]

 

"If the reinforcement [process] continues with too many soldiers being deployed... Silom Road will eventually become a battlefield," Mr Natthawut said.

 

"[Our] photos show armed troops in a ready-to-fire position, therefore [the UDD] demands that the military reconsider the move, or the Reds otherwise might find it necessary to push the soldiers back to their barracks with their bare hands."

 

Mr Natthawut said his movement is yet to decide that it would rally at Silom Road, the capital's key business district, but will discuss its latest move Tuesday morning when larger numbers of protesters are expected to be in place before making a public announcement.

 

The UDD leader said he expected the situation to end within seven days as Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is expected to make a political decision, since he has not talked to the media since April 10 when fierce clashes between army troops and protesters led to much loss of life.

 

Meanwhile, Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES) spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd assured the public that the centre will follow a seven-step action plan in line with international standards in reclaiming Ratchaprasong Intersection, the capital's top-end commercial and shopping area, from the protesters and to strictly enforce the law.

 

"It is necessary for soldiers to carry arms which will be used only for self-defence when their lives are under threat," Col Sansern said, adding that the military move is acceptable to the public as its unarmed operations to reclaim the protest venue at Phan Fa Bridge ended with a great loss of life for both the military and the protesters.

 

The April 10 street clashes between security forces and protesters left 25 people dead, according to the latest statistics from Emergency Medical Institute's Erawan Emergency Centre.

 

The Red Shirts have been rallying since March 13 to pressure the prime minister to dissolve the House in 15 days. They later demanded immediate dissolution of the House, and called on the prime minister to leave the country after the April 10 clashes, saying the premier lacks legitimacy to run the country.

 

However, the prime minister appeared to see no reason to go into an effective exile.

 

Meanwhile, former prime ministers Chavalit Yongchaiyudh and Somchai Wongsawat said they would seek an audience with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej through the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary in an attempt to end the escalating political crisis.

 

Gen Chavalit, the opposition Puea Thai Party chairman, and Mr Somchai, the brother-in-law of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, issued a joint statement urging the government to refrain from using violence, revoke the state of emergency, stop distorting information and return the power to the people by dissolving the House.

 

 

 

Rink

 

[cavanami]

...pretty ballsy!

[pasathai1]

issue some cattle prods and see how far the protesters get

[Julian2]

Certainly would want the protesters to take them off them.

[WorldFun]

yeah right fight the military with their bare hands just like 10apr.

fucking useless comments day in & day out for weeks now who is still entertained?

[WorldFun]

meaning the thai news not you of course julian

[buffalo_bill]

The current government can not be taken serious any more because it is unable to stop a few thousand people to cause public unrest . They Reds seem to laugh at anything that the so called government does to stop them . No good , no good .

 

Probably a date for a election should be considered . Although the damage has been done , the authority of the State has been damaged .

[LizardKing]

Yes, too mutt Thai style so far. Yes, non-violence is very commendable, but they should have used tear gas, and hoses, and arrest many folks, as in any protest in the West. Repeat as needed to diffuse. At the end, then waive any penalties for the proles and prosecute the leaders.

 

Now, it is down to this. Tomorrow (err, today) will be ugly...

[KimDidMeGood]

So that guy, Natthawut Saikua, is basically complaining that the government's security measures is getting in the way of their plans to blockade the heart of Bangkok's economy? :hubba:

[Sporty]

"If the reinforcement [process] continues with too many soldiers being deployed... Silom Road will eventually become a battlefield," Mr Natthawut said.

 

Well being to soft handed with the Reds, has brought it to this. Governments in west, would have never allowed it to last this long, no more than a couple days, should it have been tolerated.

 

I hope, the military ends it one way or the other today. Either break it up, or have a coup d'é·tat.