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113764
Sat, 03/27/2010 - 17:09
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Suthep: Red Shirt pressure for troop withdrawal now eases
BANGKOK, March 27 (TNA) - Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Saturday that the Red Shirt movement forcing the withdrawal of Army contingents stationed near the anti-government rally site has now eased, as army personnel in eight high-risk locations left their assigned posts to return to barracks to avoid confrontation.
The deputy premier commented after the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters marched to temples, higher education institutions, and the zoo, where contingents of troops were stationed to provide security and demanded that they return to their barracks.
Mr Suthep, is his capacity as director of the Centre for the Administration for Peace and Order (CAPO), said that the military deployment is aimed at maintaining peace and order, but that the centre will adjust the number of military personnel to prevent any agitation from erupting into violence.
The CAPO director, who cut short the Democrat Party's general assembly in the seaside resort town of Hua Hin and returned to Bangkok to supervise the situation, said that up to the moment the situation was eased, asserting that the government can deal with the situation.
Metropolitan Police spokesman Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo said that no violence occurred during the Red Shirt's operation to force the military personnel out of the areas near the UDD rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Gen Piya said that the army contingents stationing at The Royal Turf Club at Nang Loeng on Phitsanulok Road, Wat Tridhosthep on Prachatippatai Road, and Wat Bowon Niwet Wihan Ratchaworawihan on Phra Sumen Road had already withdrawn from the areas.
The spokesman said that 30 companies of police will replace the army units. Fourteen companies will be assigned to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, eight at Parliament, three at Dusit Zoo and the remaining five companies will be stationed elsewhere near the protest site.
CAPO and army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd earlier explained that the army contingents were deployed in the eight locations on standby to immediately handle any incident which might occur and most are unarmed, carrying only shields and batons, while the officers had only pistols.
Col Sansern urged the Red Shirt protesters not to view the military as their opponent, but that it is duty bound to provide overall security.
"To express our sincerity, if you (Red Shirts) are suspicious about their arms, send your representatives to verify it. This is CAPO's utmost sincerity," he said.
The CAPO spokesman also urged the press report the facts of the situation to the public to avoid any distortion of the information and to prove the centre's good intentions.
It is reported that after the army decided to withdraw its troops in the eight locations, the Red Shirt protesters expressed their satisfaction by applauding and shaking hands with the army personnel. (TNA)
The deputy premier commented after the red-shirted United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters marched to temples, higher education institutions, and the zoo, where contingents of troops were stationed to provide security and demanded that they return to their barracks.
Mr Suthep, is his capacity as director of the Centre for the Administration for Peace and Order (CAPO), said that the military deployment is aimed at maintaining peace and order, but that the centre will adjust the number of military personnel to prevent any agitation from erupting into violence.
The CAPO director, who cut short the Democrat Party's general assembly in the seaside resort town of Hua Hin and returned to Bangkok to supervise the situation, said that up to the moment the situation was eased, asserting that the government can deal with the situation.
Metropolitan Police spokesman Maj-Gen Piya Uthayo said that no violence occurred during the Red Shirt's operation to force the military personnel out of the areas near the UDD rally site on Ratchadamnoen Avenue.
Gen Piya said that the army contingents stationing at The Royal Turf Club at Nang Loeng on Phitsanulok Road, Wat Tridhosthep on Prachatippatai Road, and Wat Bowon Niwet Wihan Ratchaworawihan on Phra Sumen Road had already withdrawn from the areas.
The spokesman said that 30 companies of police will replace the army units. Fourteen companies will be assigned to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, eight at Parliament, three at Dusit Zoo and the remaining five companies will be stationed elsewhere near the protest site.
CAPO and army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd earlier explained that the army contingents were deployed in the eight locations on standby to immediately handle any incident which might occur and most are unarmed, carrying only shields and batons, while the officers had only pistols.
Col Sansern urged the Red Shirt protesters not to view the military as their opponent, but that it is duty bound to provide overall security.
"To express our sincerity, if you (Red Shirts) are suspicious about their arms, send your representatives to verify it. This is CAPO's utmost sincerity," he said.
The CAPO spokesman also urged the press report the facts of the situation to the public to avoid any distortion of the information and to prove the centre's good intentions.
It is reported that after the army decided to withdraw its troops in the eight locations, the Red Shirt protesters expressed their satisfaction by applauding and shaking hands with the army personnel. (TNA)
