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'There'll be no force'
Anupong wants peace as UDD stands defiant
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<!-- end heading-panel --> Army chief Anupong Paojinda is steadfastly refusing to use force to disperse red shirt demonstrators who have besieged Ratchaprasong intersection since Saturday.
Police and soldiers carrying shields line up in rows on Ratchadamri Road to stop red shirt demonstrators from a planned march. APICHIT JINAKUL
An army source from the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) said the army chief believed that so far there was no justification to move in and break up the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had asked Gen Anupong to consider all possible steps to maintain law and order.
"What will we do next if we cannot disperse the crowds? We need to uphold the sacredness of the law," Mr Abhisit was quoted as saying.
"We can't [use force] since it will cause losses," the source quoted Gen Anupong as replying. "They all are Thais."
The army chief insisted on a peaceful approach as he was concerned hardcore protesters will fight, the source said, adding Gen Anupong was under stress and worried about his men who have been on alert for more than three weeks.
The CAPO yesterday deployed thousands of anti-riot officers around the Ratchaprasong area and tried to pressure the red shirts to move away from the city's main shopping district.
"The red shirts have blocked Ratchaprasong but have not so far done any damage or resorted to violence like last April. So there is no justification to use force to disperse them," the source said.
Another army source said there was little the army could do given the situation and Mr Abhisit might need political measures to defuse the situation.
"It is up to the prime minister to decide. But it should be resolved through political means. Dialogue is needed to break the impasse involving a House dissolution," the source said.
It is possible the cabinet will extend the Internal Security Act to help authorities handle the red shirt situation when it meets today, the source said.
Another CAPO source said Mr Abhisit was concerned about growing dissatisfaction with the government's leniency following the Civil Court's refusal to rule on the use of force to clear Ratchaprasong.
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'There'll be no force'
Anupong wants peace as UDD stands defiant
- Published: 7/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
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<!-- end heading-panel --> Army chief Anupong Paojinda is steadfastly refusing to use force to disperse red shirt demonstrators who have besieged Ratchaprasong intersection since Saturday.
An army source from the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) said the army chief believed that so far there was no justification to move in and break up the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship rally.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had asked Gen Anupong to consider all possible steps to maintain law and order.
"What will we do next if we cannot disperse the crowds? We need to uphold the sacredness of the law," Mr Abhisit was quoted as saying.
"We can't [use force] since it will cause losses," the source quoted Gen Anupong as replying. "They all are Thais."
The army chief insisted on a peaceful approach as he was concerned hardcore protesters will fight, the source said, adding Gen Anupong was under stress and worried about his men who have been on alert for more than three weeks.
The CAPO yesterday deployed thousands of anti-riot officers around the Ratchaprasong area and tried to pressure the red shirts to move away from the city's main shopping district.
"The red shirts have blocked Ratchaprasong but have not so far done any damage or resorted to violence like last April. So there is no justification to use force to disperse them," the source said.
Another army source said there was little the army could do given the situation and Mr Abhisit might need political measures to defuse the situation.
"It is up to the prime minister to decide. But it should be resolved through political means. Dialogue is needed to break the impasse involving a House dissolution," the source said.
It is possible the cabinet will extend the Internal Security Act to help authorities handle the red shirt situation when it meets today, the source said.
Another CAPO source said Mr Abhisit was concerned about growing dissatisfaction with the government's leniency following the Civil Court's refusal to rule on the use of force to clear Ratchaprasong.
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