In his weekly television address, Thailand’s prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, has said that the red shirt protesters must end their illegal rally in Bangkok. Abhisit also confirmed his commitment to the security operation that has been taking place in the Thai capital since Thursday evening. Speaking about the attempt to disperse protesters in central Bangkok the Thai leader said, ‘We cannot retreat because we are doing things that will benefit the whole country’.
Troops have surrounded the red shirt encampment, but have yet to make any attempt to enter the main protest site which is fortified with makeshift barriers. The Thai government and military estimate that 6,000 protesters still remain. The red shirt leaders have put the figure as between 10,000 to 20,000. A crackdown on the main site hasn’t yet been ruled out, but that would be unthinkable whilst large numbers of women and children remain present. Thai authorities have requested that women, children and the elderly leave the protest zone. Local reports suggest that red shirt leaders have allowed those that want to leave the protest site to do so and at least 800 have so far gathered in a designated safe-zone at a local temple.
The Thai government says that armed groups and terrorists are within the red shirt ranks and that soldiers have the right to return fire in self-defence. Molotov cocktails and grenades have been launched at troops whilst the army has used live fire against some of the protesters. A curfew has been talked about for some areas of Bangkok, but the Thai government says that step isn’t yet needed. Monday and Tuesday have been designated as public holidays in Bangkok as the government and military attempt to restore order in the Thai capital.
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