Troops have been moved into Bangkok’s financial district to prevent a planned march from anti-government protesters. The red shirts had announced they would be moving to the Silom area of Bangkok which is home to a number of financial and commercial institutions. Following the deployment of the army, the red shirt protest leaders said they would no longer be holding the march to avoid clashing with the military. On April 10, fighting between Thai security forces and anti-government protesters left 25 people dead and over 800 injured. Today’s movement of troops follows the events on Friday when the chief of the Thai army, General Anupong Paochinda, was placed in charge of the security operation in Bangkok.
Shops and businesses in Silom remain open as do all the roads in the area and the atmosphere is reported to be calm. However, the Thai military now has a highly visible presence at locations including Lumphini Park and the nearby Skytrain stations at Sala Daeng and Silom which are close to the junction of Silom Road. The Silom area is just a short distance south of Ratchaprasong and the central Siam area where the red shirts are currently located. Leaders of the protesters have issued another statement to say that they will remain at Ratchaprasong until parliament is dissolved.
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