ID :
115565
Wed, 04/07/2010 - 20:24
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Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/115565
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PM declares state of emergency in Thai capital
BANGKOK, April 7 (TNA) - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Wednesday evening declared a state of emergency in the capital and
adjacent provinces to restore normalcy after nearly a month of
anti-government protests spiralled out of control threatening national security.
"The state of emergency is aimed to restore order to the society and people but not aimed to crack down on innocent people, Mr Abhisit assured the public in a nationally televised address flanked by key cabinet members.
The prime minister stated that the state of emergency is necessary as the demonstration has escalated into violations of law that severely affected society and the economy, and undermined international confidence in Thailand.
Despite the enforcement of the Internal Security Act, the protesters
continued to act in defiance of the law and stormed into the Parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Abhisit said the state of emergency will allow the authorities to
arrest the protest leaders and to ensure that measures will be taken
effectively to prevent any untoward incident including sabotage.
The state of emergency takes effect immediately in and around Bangkok and some districts of other provinces comprising Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of a centre to handle the emergency situation under direct command of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. He also asked the general public to cooperate with authorities by not taking part in the UDD-led mass rally.
The state of emergency has been announced hours after the anti-government protesters led by the 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) briefly stormed Parliament on Wednesday forcing some cabinet members and lawmakers to scale walls to flee and a Black Hawk helicopter evacuated Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and other key political figures out of the compound.
Tens of thousands of protesters, many of whom are loyal to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have been rallying for nearly a month since March 12 to pressure the prime minister to dissolve the House within 15 days. However, the premier rejected their demand. Two rounds of negotiations ended in failure.
The protesters have besieged the capital’s commercial and prime shopping district at Ratchaprasong for five consecutive days forcing high-end department stores in the areas to close and paralysing most traffic in one of the capital's normally busiest districts.
Meanwhile, the Red Shirt leaders rejected the state of emergency and
announced a plan to mobilise their supporters to hold what they claim will be their biggest rally on Friday with the intention of toppling the government.
Security have been stepped up around the protest sites with more red
guards deployed at key points.
Nuttawut Saikua, one of the key leaders said the protesters will stay put both at its main rally sites at Phan Fa bridge and at Ratchaprasong intersection.
"The Red Shirts will fight in all forms and it will be the biggest one
this Friday," said Mr Nuttawut, calling for the people nationwide to join demonstrations at their provincial halls. (TNA)
adjacent provinces to restore normalcy after nearly a month of
anti-government protests spiralled out of control threatening national security.
"The state of emergency is aimed to restore order to the society and people but not aimed to crack down on innocent people, Mr Abhisit assured the public in a nationally televised address flanked by key cabinet members.
The prime minister stated that the state of emergency is necessary as the demonstration has escalated into violations of law that severely affected society and the economy, and undermined international confidence in Thailand.
Despite the enforcement of the Internal Security Act, the protesters
continued to act in defiance of the law and stormed into the Parliament on Wednesday.
Mr Abhisit said the state of emergency will allow the authorities to
arrest the protest leaders and to ensure that measures will be taken
effectively to prevent any untoward incident including sabotage.
The state of emergency takes effect immediately in and around Bangkok and some districts of other provinces comprising Samut Prakan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of a centre to handle the emergency situation under direct command of Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban. He also asked the general public to cooperate with authorities by not taking part in the UDD-led mass rally.
The state of emergency has been announced hours after the anti-government protesters led by the 'Red Shirt' United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) briefly stormed Parliament on Wednesday forcing some cabinet members and lawmakers to scale walls to flee and a Black Hawk helicopter evacuated Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban and other key political figures out of the compound.
Tens of thousands of protesters, many of whom are loyal to ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, have been rallying for nearly a month since March 12 to pressure the prime minister to dissolve the House within 15 days. However, the premier rejected their demand. Two rounds of negotiations ended in failure.
The protesters have besieged the capital’s commercial and prime shopping district at Ratchaprasong for five consecutive days forcing high-end department stores in the areas to close and paralysing most traffic in one of the capital's normally busiest districts.
Meanwhile, the Red Shirt leaders rejected the state of emergency and
announced a plan to mobilise their supporters to hold what they claim will be their biggest rally on Friday with the intention of toppling the government.
Security have been stepped up around the protest sites with more red
guards deployed at key points.
Nuttawut Saikua, one of the key leaders said the protesters will stay put both at its main rally sites at Phan Fa bridge and at Ratchaprasong intersection.
"The Red Shirts will fight in all forms and it will be the biggest one
this Friday," said Mr Nuttawut, calling for the people nationwide to join demonstrations at their provincial halls. (TNA)
