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120057
Mon, 05/03/2010 - 15:43
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http://m.oananews.org//node/120057
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Thai government renews threat of force against protesters; FM to explain situation to neighbours
BANGKOK, May 3 (TNA) -- The Thai government Monday renewed its threat to use force to disperse the anti-government protesters now rallying at Bangkok’s prime business area, and Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya said he is preparing to visit neighbouring countries to explain Thailand's current political situation.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, as a director of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), said the current demonstration by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is against the law as they have threatened the rights and freedoms of the public, and many are armed.
Mr Suthep said innocent people who are joining the rally should realise that they have become “human shields for terrorists” and should leave the rally site. It they refused, combined government forces will step in to restore order.
He said more arrest warrants for terrorists infiltrated among the protesters would be issued this week and legal action will be taken against them.
“The government will follow international standard practices from issuing a warning, and (moving from) the softest to the most stiff measures,” said Mr Suthep. “We will not risk our police and soldiers to lose their lives for terrorism.”
If the protest leaders carry M16 rifle, how can I guarantee their lives as" they are not normal people", the CRES director said.
Tens of thousands of UDD protesters have been demonstrating demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House and call for fresh general elections.
They have been rallying at Ratchaprasong since early April and at the nearly adjacent Sala Daeng intersection, both considered as important business areas in the capital.
Following Mr Suthep’s remarks, UDD key leader Natthawut Saikua on Monday said the threat is not dreadful as the protests have come so far that Mr Natthawut himself and the protesters don’t need to feel fear because they have done the right thing.
Mr Natthawut commented as Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai came to the Ratchaprasong rally site seeking a the further return of areas near Chulalongkorn Hospital from the Red Shirt leaders.
The Red Shirts earlier decided to open some parts of Ratchadamri Road in front of the entrance to the hospital after they stormed the hospital Thursday night to search for armed soldiers, forcing the hospital to evacuate all of its inpatients to other hospitals for safety reasons.
The Red Shirt’s reopening of one section of the road however does not meet the needs of Chulalongkorn Hospital director Dr Adisorn Patradul who demanded protesters open Ratchadamri Road from Sala Daeng intersection to Sarasin intersection, about one kilometre away.
Gen Wichai Sangprapai said after the talks that the Red Shirt leaders asked for time to reconsider the police request, while Mr Natthawut urged the hospital to accept the areas which had been earlier returned to the hospital.
“Please understand the protesters fear the government will retake the Ratchaprasong area as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep and Democrat members earlier threatened to carry out operation to retake the area within 1-2 days,”said Mr Natthawut.
When asked whether the UDD will accept the government’s proposal to dissolve the parliament before nine-month timeframe, the Red Shirt leader said the movement has to see first the government’s clear stance and will have to discuss the issue together.
As the renewed UDD demonstration has lasted almost two months in the capital, representatives of Malaysia’s Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, led by Yup Swee Seng, Monday submitted a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya, expressing concern over the chaotic political situation in Thailand and urged both the protesters and the government to refrain from using force and return to the negotiating table to find a peaceful solution.
Mr Abhisit had held two days of talks with key UDD leaders on March 28 and 29, but the negotiations failed to produce fruitful result.
The letter, signed by 43 non-governmental organizations in Asia, also urged the Thai government to exercise international practice in dispersing the protesters and to set up an independent committee to find and punish the culprits.
Mr Kasit reportedly told them that the Thai government always adheres to the code for respecting human rights under the democratic system and has been avoiding the use of force although the Cabinet on Sunday agreed to allow the government to use force in containing the protesters, but the agreement is “only an option while the government doesn’t intend to use it”.
Mr Kasit later told journalists that the government must exercise utmost restraint in order to prevent losses of life among the army and innocent people, but that it is simply not possible for any elected government to allow armed people to topple social institutions and the government.
“We want the NGOs to study carefully the truth and political development in Thailand before proposing their concerns so that they will not become partial due to the receiving of distorted information,” said the Thai foreign minister.
In order to enable foreign governments to better understand the ongoing political turmoil in the country, Mr Kasit said he would visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam soon while he had also ordered Thai envoys abroad to provide information to the host governments. (TNA)
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, as a director of the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES), said the current demonstration by United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) is against the law as they have threatened the rights and freedoms of the public, and many are armed.
Mr Suthep said innocent people who are joining the rally should realise that they have become “human shields for terrorists” and should leave the rally site. It they refused, combined government forces will step in to restore order.
He said more arrest warrants for terrorists infiltrated among the protesters would be issued this week and legal action will be taken against them.
“The government will follow international standard practices from issuing a warning, and (moving from) the softest to the most stiff measures,” said Mr Suthep. “We will not risk our police and soldiers to lose their lives for terrorism.”
If the protest leaders carry M16 rifle, how can I guarantee their lives as" they are not normal people", the CRES director said.
Tens of thousands of UDD protesters have been demonstrating demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve the House and call for fresh general elections.
They have been rallying at Ratchaprasong since early April and at the nearly adjacent Sala Daeng intersection, both considered as important business areas in the capital.
Following Mr Suthep’s remarks, UDD key leader Natthawut Saikua on Monday said the threat is not dreadful as the protests have come so far that Mr Natthawut himself and the protesters don’t need to feel fear because they have done the right thing.
Mr Natthawut commented as Metropolitan Police Division 1 commander Pol Maj-Gen Wichai Sangprapai came to the Ratchaprasong rally site seeking a the further return of areas near Chulalongkorn Hospital from the Red Shirt leaders.
The Red Shirts earlier decided to open some parts of Ratchadamri Road in front of the entrance to the hospital after they stormed the hospital Thursday night to search for armed soldiers, forcing the hospital to evacuate all of its inpatients to other hospitals for safety reasons.
The Red Shirt’s reopening of one section of the road however does not meet the needs of Chulalongkorn Hospital director Dr Adisorn Patradul who demanded protesters open Ratchadamri Road from Sala Daeng intersection to Sarasin intersection, about one kilometre away.
Gen Wichai Sangprapai said after the talks that the Red Shirt leaders asked for time to reconsider the police request, while Mr Natthawut urged the hospital to accept the areas which had been earlier returned to the hospital.
“Please understand the protesters fear the government will retake the Ratchaprasong area as Deputy Prime Minister Suthep and Democrat members earlier threatened to carry out operation to retake the area within 1-2 days,”said Mr Natthawut.
When asked whether the UDD will accept the government’s proposal to dissolve the parliament before nine-month timeframe, the Red Shirt leader said the movement has to see first the government’s clear stance and will have to discuss the issue together.
As the renewed UDD demonstration has lasted almost two months in the capital, representatives of Malaysia’s Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development, led by Yup Swee Seng, Monday submitted a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Kasit Piromya, expressing concern over the chaotic political situation in Thailand and urged both the protesters and the government to refrain from using force and return to the negotiating table to find a peaceful solution.
Mr Abhisit had held two days of talks with key UDD leaders on March 28 and 29, but the negotiations failed to produce fruitful result.
The letter, signed by 43 non-governmental organizations in Asia, also urged the Thai government to exercise international practice in dispersing the protesters and to set up an independent committee to find and punish the culprits.
Mr Kasit reportedly told them that the Thai government always adheres to the code for respecting human rights under the democratic system and has been avoiding the use of force although the Cabinet on Sunday agreed to allow the government to use force in containing the protesters, but the agreement is “only an option while the government doesn’t intend to use it”.
Mr Kasit later told journalists that the government must exercise utmost restraint in order to prevent losses of life among the army and innocent people, but that it is simply not possible for any elected government to allow armed people to topple social institutions and the government.
“We want the NGOs to study carefully the truth and political development in Thailand before proposing their concerns so that they will not become partial due to the receiving of distorted information,” said the Thai foreign minister.
In order to enable foreign governments to better understand the ongoing political turmoil in the country, Mr Kasit said he would visit Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam soon while he had also ordered Thai envoys abroad to provide information to the host governments. (TNA)
