Suthep remains head of CRES; Army chief responsible for ordering military force

BANGKOK, April 17 (TNA) — Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban remains as head of the specially convened Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) in handling the “overall situation” while Army Commander-in-Chief Gen Anupong Paochinda will assume responsibility for ordering troops to deal with anti-government protesters now occupying the Ratchaprasong intersection, Bangkok’s key business district, said an army spokesman Saturday.

Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, also spokesman of CRES, elaborated that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s statement, announced Friday night, was aimed at shortening processes, for it allowed Gen Anupong to be tasked with ordering troops to cope with the protesters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) who have been rallying against the government in the capital since March 13.

He said the order was “not aimed at throwing all responsibility to the army chief.”

Regarding military weapons seized, and later displayed at Pan Fah Bridge, by protesters who took weapons away from government troops during clashes last Saturday’s clashes on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Col Sansern urged that those who still have the weapons in their possession should return them to the army because obtaining and possessing arms is against the law, while ill-intentioned people may use them and throw the blame on the protesters or soldiers.

As UDD protesters are still occupying the Ratchaprasong intersection in front of the capital’s revered Erawan Shrine, Col Sansern said that police and military personnel are “trying to enforce law” but enforcement must be carried out simultaneously with making the protesters understand why the government must take the area back.

“Demonstrators are requested to return home in order that officials can as soon as possible apprehend terrorists now infiltrating with the protest crowd,” Col Sansern added.

The continuing occupation of Bangkok’s high-end shopping district and tourism crossroads is expected to have a debilitating long-term effect on the Thai economy, and will impact on the economic well-being of the protesters themselves. (TNA)