Army chief appointed as CRES director

BANGKOK, 16 April 2010 (NNT) – Army Commander-in-Chief General Anupong Paochinda has been designated as the head of the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) for a more efficient operation to tackle terrorist acts.

Speaking in a televised press briefing on Friday night, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced the appointment of General Anupong as the director of the CRES in place of Deputy Prime Minister for Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban. He reasoned that the center must be restructured for greater efficiency, unity, and integration in operation.

Prime Minister Abhisit stated that the unrest situation had turned to be a terrorism attempt with innocent people being used as a tool. He insisted that the government would try its best to solve problems of people as demanded via political means while actions against terrorists must be taken.

The Prime Minister however stressed that the operation to tackle terrorism must be sternly conducted, no matter how the solutions to political problems would be developed. He said the government and all related sectors were not neglecting the issue.

As for the attempt of the authorities to arrest core leaders of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), Prime Minister Abhisit said the authorities would try every effort to enforce laws in a more effective manner in the future and would arrest other individuals supporting terrorists as well.

In addition, the Prime Minister extended best wishes for the Songkran Festival to all Thais and thanked the public for all support given to the authorities.