Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej warned yesterday he would use force to disperse demonstrators who continue to protest demanding his resignation.
“I am urging the people to stay away from the rally site as soon as possible as the police and soldiers are preparing to use force to disperse the mobs,” Samak said in an unscheduled nationwide television address. “I cannot accept this. The police and soldiers will not accept it either.”
His comments came as rumors flew that Thailand could have its second military coup in two years. Samak’s government took power in February after elections meant to restore democracy to Thailand after the military seized power in 2006.
Despite the warning, about 1,000 people gathered yesterday near the UN building in Bangkok, deputy metropolitan police chief Surapon Pongpaiboon said, adding that the police were to have an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss security measures.
“We haven’t received a written order,” Surapon said. “Only what we heard from the prime minister this morning.”
The protesters, led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, waved flags. Dozens of them formed a line around the sitting protesters, carrying baseball bats in an apparent attempt to provide security.
Somkiat Pongpaiboon, a protest leader, vowed the group would continue to protest peacefully at the same location.
“But if they hurt us or violate our rights, we will defend ourselves,” he said to the crowd of cheering protesters but did not elaborate.
Following Samak’s statement, Supreme Military Commander Boonsang Niempradit confirmed the military had been put on standby.
“The armed forces have been ordered to use force to remove the mobs, but at the first stage, police force will do the job and soldiers will help only if police are unable to control the situation,” Boonsang told reporters.
The demonstrators, led by the People’s Alliance for Democracy, have been holding daily protests. They accuse Samak’s government of being a puppet of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The People’s Alliance spearheaded mass protests in 2006 that led to a military coup ousting Thaksin, who this year returned to Thailand to face corruption charges.
Tensions that had been growing in recent days were somewhat defused on Friday after a Thai minister accused of insulting the country’s revered king announced his resignation.
Jakrapob Penkair, a minister attached to the prime minister’s office, stepped down amid rumors of a coup that have circulated in the Thai capital in recent days as the army and opposition parties escalated their verbal attacks on Jakrapob.
Thailand’s military is fiercely loyal to the palace and has in the past used alleged attacks on the monarchy to justify seizing power in coups.
Thailand has experienced several coups since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932. The last occurred in 2006 following months of mass protests against Thaksin, who went into exile but has since returned to fight the charges against him and his family.
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