Thai security officials have officially announced that an operation will commence at 18.00 local time this evening in an attempt to isolate anti-government protesters. Road-blocks will be set up and nobody will be allowed to enter the red shirt encampment in the Siam area of Bangkok. Thai government officials have said they will be encouraging the protesters to leave peacefully, but armed troops will be in place.
Earlier in the week, divisions between the red shirt leaders became more apparent with some wanting to end the protest and accept November elections whilst others vowed to fight on. There had been high hopes that the protest would finally end once Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Suthep Thaugsuban, agreed to report to the Department for Special Investigation (DSI) to answer questions about his role in the crackdown of April 10 which resulted in the deaths of 25 people. However, some red shirt leaders said they didn’t trust the DSI and that Suthep had to report to the police and be charged before they would end the protest. The political brinkmanship still continues, but a peaceful outcome is looking less likely with some red shirt leaders vowing to fight to the death.
Thailand’s prime minister has announced that he will continue with his reconciliation road-map, but he has withdrawn the offer of an early election in November. Abhisit Vejjajiva has postponed the November election because the anti-government red shirt protesters have failed to end their rally in central Bangkok which was a key condition attached to the offer.
Abhisit has talked tough with the protesters before, but hasn’t always been able to push through with measures because of a lack of agreement with the security forces. However, this time things do appear to be different because the reconciliation plan offered by the government was widely agreed with the police and the army. The Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) has said that as well as enforcing road blocks, supplies to the red shirt encampment could be cut off. This may mean telephone signals being cut in the Siam area along with the interruption of power and water.
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