Government Meets in Chiang Mai as Coup Rumours Continue
Thailand’s government has met in Chiang Mai to discuss how to deal with the protests which continue to paralyse Bangkok’s airports. Prime Minister Somchai has been advised it is unsafe for him to go to Bangkok with continuing speculation about a military coup. The Bangkok Post is quoting a government spokesman who said, ‘As there are still uncertainties in the tension between the government and the army, for his safety the prime minister will stay in Chiang Mai.’
There are clear divisions between the present army chief, General Anupong and the Thai prime minister. In an emergency decree issued by the government concerning how to alleviate the protests at the airports, no mention was made of any role to be played by the army. The airport protesters are now firmly entrenched and have erected barricades. The government say they will use negotiation in the first instance and if that fails they ‘will use other steps’ with forced crowd dispersal only being used as a last resort.
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