Red Shirt leaders urge activists to prepare for crackdown

BANGKOK, April 21 (TNA) – Key leaders of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) on Wednesday urged their Red Shirt protesters encamping at Bangkok’s high-end shopping area of Ratchaprasong to prepare for tightened security measures at the rally site, amid rumours of a possible crackdown by government security forces.

UDD leader Jatuporn Prompan addressed the red-shirted protesters staying at Ratchaprasong for the third week that reports said the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) had coordinated with department stores and hotels around the rally site to evacuate their employees
from the area.

Mr Jatuporn claimed the CRES’s movement is a signal that there might be a crackdown soon and if mobile phone signals cannot be connected, it means the army operation is about to begin.

The Red Shirt leader told the crowd to closely monitor the situation and step up security measures at the protest area.

The demonstrators earlier installed large black nets as an awning for the stage and rally site, aiming to prevent possible attacks on the protest leaders, as well as to give shade for the protesters under the scorching sun.

Following the decision of the House not to set up a special committee to probe the April 10 clash between the Red Shirts and the security forces which left 25 persons dead and more than 800 injured, Mr Jatuporn  criticised the government for not wanting an investigation of the incident.

The UDD leader also said he has learned that the Japanese cameraman of Thompson Reuters news agency, Hiroyuki Muramoto, was killed by a rubber bullet.

Mr Jatuporn claimed that the rubber bullets were used by soldiers and if fired at close range, the bullet can pierce through plywood and metal sheets.

The Red Shirt leader said the group will keep the dead bodies of its supporters for further autopsy to prosecute Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

A Thai News Agency (TNA) reporter reported that combined forces of police and army personnel have been deployed in front of and around Dusit Thani Hotel in the Silom area to ensure safety and prevent any clash between the Red Shirt protesters and those who opposed the UDD movement after some members of the public gathered Tuesday night at Saladaeng intersection confronting the UDD red-shirted activists encamped nearby at Lumpini Park.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abhisit told the House session that he supported the Senate’s general debate motion without voting this Friday.

“I reaffirm that I will use this channel to open a joint parliamentary session to hear comments from the members of parliament and senators to find the solutions out of the conflict,” said the premier, “but the decision will be made by the Cabinet.”

Mr Abhisit reaffirmed that the government has never intended to hurt the people, but said what had happened needed to be proven to establish the facts. (TNA)