Thai protesters, army make tentative peace overtures
Saturday, 24 April 2010
BANGKOK, April 23 (AFP): Thailand's army and anti-government protesters made tentative peace overtures Friday, seeking to avoid a looming crackdown and a repeat of clashes that left 25 people dead earlier this month.
The army chief said that the use of force was no solution to Thailand's crisis, which pits the red-shirted demonstrators against a government they condemn as illegitimate and undemocratic.
"The use of force will not end the current problems and would have many repercussions," army chief General Anupong Paojinda told a meeting of top brass, according to deputy spokesman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong.
Anupong told AFP on Thursday that he aimed to end the standoff without further bloodshed, saying authorities "can uphold the law with no people dead or injured."
His comments, which contrasted with warnings earlier this week that security forces were ready to use live ammunition if needed, came amid high tensions in the capital, which is under a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, governments around the world appealed for dialogue to resolve the escalating crisis in Thailand and warned their citizens to avoid Bangkok after deadly violence paralysed the city centre Friday.
From Washington to London, Singapore to Jakarta, governments joined the UN in urging all sides to show restraint as riot police faced off against thousands of anti-government "Red Shirts" behind heavily fortified barricades.
"We appeal to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to avoid further violence and loss of life and to work to resolve the situation peacefully through dialogue," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press briefing.
"This is a moment that requires restraint on all sides."
Nesirky said UN chief Ban Ki-moon was "very concerned about the continuing standoff and tension in Thailand and the potential for this to escalate."
The army has warned of a crackdown to try to disperse the "Red Shirts," who charge that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is illegitimate and are demanding immediate elections.
The Reds began mass anti-government rallies in Bangkok in mid-March that degenerated into fierce clashes with security forces on April 10, leaving 25 dead and more than 800 injured.
Tensions in the long-running political standoff rose after five grenade blasts hit the area on Thursday night, leaving one Thai woman dead and scores wounded, including foreigners.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva condemned the attacks, which he said "aimed to kill ordinary people."
"I am determined to solve the problem," he told reporters, adding that any decision to forcefully disperse the demonstrators would not be taken lightly.
Abhisit, who has been holed up in a military barracks for weeks because of the protests, added: "I have a duty to solve the problem. If I can't I should not be here."
Thai police sought Friday to push the Red Shirts from a confrontation zone on the edge of the financial district where they have clashed with hardline pro-government mobs.
Hundreds of riot police, unarmed but carrying shields and batons, moved on the heavily fortified barricades which form the front line of the Reds' vast encampment that has paralysed the main retail district in the heart of Bangkok.
Police later withdrew after failing to win an agreement with the Reds, who stepped back but kept in place the barrier made of truck tyres, sharpened bamboo staves and plastic sheeting which has been doused with fuel.
Reds leader Veera Musikapong said they were open to elections in three months as a way out of the crippling deadlock -- a step back from their original demand for immediate polls.
"But the government has to stop threatening people and show responsibility for what has happened," he said.
Authorities are under pressure to end the street rallies which began in mid-March, but they appear wary to use force again after a failed crackdown on April 10 left 25 people dead and more than 800 injured.
The escalating crisis has triggered alarm at the United Nations and among foreign governments which issued urgent calls for restraint and warned their citizens to stay away from the protests or avoid Bangkok altogether.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the grenades in Thursday's blasts were fired from within the sprawling Red Shirt encampment, but leaders of the protest movement denied they were responsible.
"The bomb attacks last night have nothing to do with our movement. We still adhere to a policy of non-violence," said Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar, accusing the government of orchestrating the blasts.
Undaunted by the overnight bloodshed, thousands of supporters of the embattled government rallied in a different location Friday, calling for an end to weeks of protests that have damaged the kingdom's economy and reputation.
The army chief said that the use of force was no solution to Thailand's crisis, which pits the red-shirted demonstrators against a government they condemn as illegitimate and undemocratic.
"The use of force will not end the current problems and would have many repercussions," army chief General Anupong Paojinda told a meeting of top brass, according to deputy spokesman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong.
Anupong told AFP on Thursday that he aimed to end the standoff without further bloodshed, saying authorities "can uphold the law with no people dead or injured."
His comments, which contrasted with warnings earlier this week that security forces were ready to use live ammunition if needed, came amid high tensions in the capital, which is under a state of emergency.
Meanwhile, governments around the world appealed for dialogue to resolve the escalating crisis in Thailand and warned their citizens to avoid Bangkok after deadly violence paralysed the city centre Friday.
From Washington to London, Singapore to Jakarta, governments joined the UN in urging all sides to show restraint as riot police faced off against thousands of anti-government "Red Shirts" behind heavily fortified barricades.
"We appeal to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to avoid further violence and loss of life and to work to resolve the situation peacefully through dialogue," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press briefing.
"This is a moment that requires restraint on all sides."
Nesirky said UN chief Ban Ki-moon was "very concerned about the continuing standoff and tension in Thailand and the potential for this to escalate."
The army has warned of a crackdown to try to disperse the "Red Shirts," who charge that the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is illegitimate and are demanding immediate elections.
The Reds began mass anti-government rallies in Bangkok in mid-March that degenerated into fierce clashes with security forces on April 10, leaving 25 dead and more than 800 injured.
Tensions in the long-running political standoff rose after five grenade blasts hit the area on Thursday night, leaving one Thai woman dead and scores wounded, including foreigners.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva condemned the attacks, which he said "aimed to kill ordinary people."
"I am determined to solve the problem," he told reporters, adding that any decision to forcefully disperse the demonstrators would not be taken lightly.
Abhisit, who has been holed up in a military barracks for weeks because of the protests, added: "I have a duty to solve the problem. If I can't I should not be here."
Thai police sought Friday to push the Red Shirts from a confrontation zone on the edge of the financial district where they have clashed with hardline pro-government mobs.
Hundreds of riot police, unarmed but carrying shields and batons, moved on the heavily fortified barricades which form the front line of the Reds' vast encampment that has paralysed the main retail district in the heart of Bangkok.
Police later withdrew after failing to win an agreement with the Reds, who stepped back but kept in place the barrier made of truck tyres, sharpened bamboo staves and plastic sheeting which has been doused with fuel.
Reds leader Veera Musikapong said they were open to elections in three months as a way out of the crippling deadlock -- a step back from their original demand for immediate polls.
"But the government has to stop threatening people and show responsibility for what has happened," he said.
Authorities are under pressure to end the street rallies which began in mid-March, but they appear wary to use force again after a failed crackdown on April 10 left 25 people dead and more than 800 injured.
The escalating crisis has triggered alarm at the United Nations and among foreign governments which issued urgent calls for restraint and warned their citizens to stay away from the protests or avoid Bangkok altogether.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said the grenades in Thursday's blasts were fired from within the sprawling Red Shirt encampment, but leaders of the protest movement denied they were responsible.
"The bomb attacks last night have nothing to do with our movement. We still adhere to a policy of non-violence," said Red Shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar, accusing the government of orchestrating the blasts.
Undaunted by the overnight bloodshed, thousands of supporters of the embattled government rallied in a different location Friday, calling for an end to weeks of protests that have damaged the kingdom's economy and reputation.