CRES warns anti-government protesters not to rally on Silom Road

BANGKOK, April 18 (TNA) — The government’s Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) has warned anti-government protesters not to rally on Silom Road, known as Thailand’s Wall Street, threatening that stern legal action would be taken against them if they violate the order, a CRES spokesman said.

Spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd told a press conference late Saturday that the order for protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) to stay out of Silom Road, a key business and financial district in the capital, is necessary because a protester occupation there would cause hardships to the general public.

Making his remarks after a CRES meeting chaired by army chief Gen Anupong Paochinda, now responsible for decisions deploying military force in dealing with the UDD protest, and after UDD leader Suporn Atthawong announced that the Red Shirts will rally at the Bangkok Bank headquarters on Silom Road.

Mr Suporn, known by the nickname ‘Isan Rambo,’ said Saturday that the UDD leaders agreed with his idea to rally at Bangkok Bank headquarters, but the protesters are seeking more activists at Ratchaprasong on Monday and Tuesday to keep the strenth of their demonstration there and detach a smaller group to the bank.

Saturday’s CRES meeting, attended by commanders of all three armed forces, agreed that police and army at checkpoints nationwide would try to prevent UDD supporters from travelling to Bangkok to join the rally at Ratchaprasong.

More UDD supporters from the provinces are expected to  join the demonstration after they had returned home earlier to celebrate Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, which ended last Thursday.

Col Sansern said five community radio chiefs and motorcycle taxi drivers reported to CRES on Saturday.

The five are among some 60 persons that CRES had earlier ordered to report to the agency for questioning regarding their alleged involvement with UDD protest.

Regarding the 24 UDD leaders for whom arrest warrants have been issued and who said they will surrender on May 15, Col Sansern said it did not mean that the authorities will wait until they turned report to the police on that date, but they will be apprehended immediately because they had violated the State of Emergency order.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, also director of CRES, commented that security officials would try to arrest all the 24 UDD leaders as soon as possible in order to restore law and order in the country.

Mr Suthep also denied reports about rifts between the government and the military, saying that empowering force to Gen Anupong to handle the protesters is necessary in order to restore national peace. (TNA)