ID :
122394
Sun, 05/16/2010 - 15:38
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http://m.oananews.org//node/122394
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CRES urges Red Shirts to leave Ratchaprasong by 3pm Monday
BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) - Thailand's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) on Sunday urged anti-government Red Shirt protesters to leave their main rally site at Bangkok's prime commercial area by Monday 3pm following clashes between troops and armed protesters which left 24 persons dead and ,over 200 wounded.
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, in a nationally televised address, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity of CRES director, has instructed police to coordinate with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Red Cross and non-governmental representatives, and the media to ask innocent protesters, particularly the elderly, children and women to leave the Ratchaprasong protest by 3pm tomorrow.
The spokesman said transportation will be provided for those who want to go home from now on until tomorrow.
"Male Red Shirts allies who wish to leave the compund can inform government security officials, on the condition that they are unarmed," said Col Sansern.
Col Sansern said the security committee is meeting with police Sunday afternoon on enforcing a curfew.
The CRES spokesman added that a curfew will prohibit the public from entering the banned zones for their safety and that troops willl be able to carry out their security operation efficiently.
CRES instructed operations offiers to facilitate rescue workers and the media to carry out their mission safely, said Col Sansern, reasserting that troops will not use military weapons against the people, but only against armed groups.
The remarks came as scores of protesters and innocent members of the public have been wounded and killed during the confrontation between red-shirted protesters and troops in key business roads surrounding Ratchaprasong, including Rama IV Road's Bon Kai intersection, Din Daeng intersection and Ratchaprarob Road.
The army began its operation to seal off Ratchaprasong on Thursday in an attempt to pressure the Red Shirts to end their protest after they refused to leave the compound in which they have encamped for more than six weeks, affecting the daily life of Bangkokians and forcing the closure of high-end department stores in the areas.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch on Sunday issued a statement urging the Thai government to revoke the designation of "live fire zones" as the designated areas are city neighborhoods where ordinary people live, not only protesters.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, also called on both the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the government to immediately resume negotiations for a peaceful political resolution to the crisis.
Mr Adams said "No one benefits when Bangkok's diplomatic quarter and up-scale tourism areas become shooting zones. This is the moment when both sides need to step back, de-escalate the violence, and negotiate in good faith for a political solution." (TNA)
CRES spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, in a nationally televised address, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in his capacity of CRES director, has instructed police to coordinate with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Red Cross and non-governmental representatives, and the media to ask innocent protesters, particularly the elderly, children and women to leave the Ratchaprasong protest by 3pm tomorrow.
The spokesman said transportation will be provided for those who want to go home from now on until tomorrow.
"Male Red Shirts allies who wish to leave the compund can inform government security officials, on the condition that they are unarmed," said Col Sansern.
Col Sansern said the security committee is meeting with police Sunday afternoon on enforcing a curfew.
The CRES spokesman added that a curfew will prohibit the public from entering the banned zones for their safety and that troops willl be able to carry out their security operation efficiently.
CRES instructed operations offiers to facilitate rescue workers and the media to carry out their mission safely, said Col Sansern, reasserting that troops will not use military weapons against the people, but only against armed groups.
The remarks came as scores of protesters and innocent members of the public have been wounded and killed during the confrontation between red-shirted protesters and troops in key business roads surrounding Ratchaprasong, including Rama IV Road's Bon Kai intersection, Din Daeng intersection and Ratchaprarob Road.
The army began its operation to seal off Ratchaprasong on Thursday in an attempt to pressure the Red Shirts to end their protest after they refused to leave the compound in which they have encamped for more than six weeks, affecting the daily life of Bangkokians and forcing the closure of high-end department stores in the areas.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Watch on Sunday issued a statement urging the Thai government to revoke the designation of "live fire zones" as the designated areas are city neighborhoods where ordinary people live, not only protesters.
Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, also called on both the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) and the government to immediately resume negotiations for a peaceful political resolution to the crisis.
Mr Adams said "No one benefits when Bangkok's diplomatic quarter and up-scale tourism areas become shooting zones. This is the moment when both sides need to step back, de-escalate the violence, and negotiate in good faith for a political solution." (TNA)
