Tanks, armoured vehicles rumble across Bangkok
BANGKOK (Agencies): Tanks and armoured vehicles rumbled across Bangkok on Sunday as Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva cracked down on protesters leading the most serious challenge yet to his four-month rule.
One day after wrecking a summit of Asian leaders, demonstrators fired into the air and attacked his convoy as he was being driven away from the interior ministry where he had imposed a state of emergency minutes earlier. Abhisit said he was safe and unhurt after the incident, and called for calm while threatening the use of force to restore order. In a day of fast-moving developments, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban appealed to soldiers and police to enforce the state of emergency amid signs they were reluctant to intervene.
‘Police and military—you must carry out your duty to your best ability and restore normalcy as soon as possible,’ said Suthep, who is responsible for implementing the measures. ‘I... will take all responsibility for all your actions,’ he added. ‘These are not constitutional demonstrators. They have injured senior officials.’ The latest escalation in the country’s chronic political turmoil came after police arrested the leader of activists loyal to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had targeted Saturday’s summit.
‘I want to tell protesters that you have no right to break the law, or to restrict other people’s rights,’ Abhisit said. ‘Otherwise the government must implement further measures under the state of emergency.’
As tanks and soldiers fanned out, television showed red-shirted protesters armed with sticks and paving slabs smashing a car they mistakenly believed was carrying the prime minister and a separate vehicle carrying Suthep.
An army spokesman said troops had been deployed across the capital.
BANGKOK (Agencies): Tanks and armoured vehicles rumbled across Bangkok on Sunday as Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva cracked down on protesters leading the most serious challenge yet to his four-month rule.
One day after wrecking a summit of Asian leaders, demonstrators fired into the air and attacked his convoy as he was being driven away from the interior ministry where he had imposed a state of emergency minutes earlier. Abhisit said he was safe and unhurt after the incident, and called for calm while threatening the use of force to restore order. In a day of fast-moving developments, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban appealed to soldiers and police to enforce the state of emergency amid signs they were reluctant to intervene.
‘Police and military—you must carry out your duty to your best ability and restore normalcy as soon as possible,’ said Suthep, who is responsible for implementing the measures. ‘I... will take all responsibility for all your actions,’ he added. ‘These are not constitutional demonstrators. They have injured senior officials.’ The latest escalation in the country’s chronic political turmoil came after police arrested the leader of activists loyal to ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who had targeted Saturday’s summit.
‘I want to tell protesters that you have no right to break the law, or to restrict other people’s rights,’ Abhisit said. ‘Otherwise the government must implement further measures under the state of emergency.’
As tanks and soldiers fanned out, television showed red-shirted protesters armed with sticks and paving slabs smashing a car they mistakenly believed was carrying the prime minister and a separate vehicle carrying Suthep.
An army spokesman said troops had been deployed across the capital.
