Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday pledged to overcome the ongoing political volatility, control the situation through security measures and not allow a coup under any circumstances.
"I am not trying to cling to power, as I am willing to resign or dissolve the House if this can be a solution. But I will not allow a coup to happen," he said.
Abhisit was speaking during the House session in reply to an urgent motion on the political situation.
The government will uphold the constitutional right to peaceful and unarmed assembly, the prime minister said, explaining security measures have been designed to keep the peace and deter protesters from crossing legal limits.
Acts of intimidation, seizures of government offices, obstructing officials from doing their job and disturbances are not sanctioned by the Constitution and the Administrative Court ruling on October 9, 2008 outlined the legal limits, he said.
He added that the enforcement of the Internal Security Act was designed to pre-empt the eruption of violence. He dismissed concern about the authorities cracking down on protesters.
In regard to speculation about a seizure of power, Abhisit said the government and all parties concerned were obligated to check a downward spiral of the situation in order to deny the pretext to stage a coup.
Army chief General Anupong Paochinda reiterated yesterday that the military would stage no coup, regardless of the political situation.
"I guarantee that whatever happens, there will be no coup. I have repeated this many times. The Navy and the Air Force have the same idea. The public can rest assured," he said when asked by reporters about rumours of a coup.
In a related development, the House of Representatives yesterday voted 234-78 to reject a motion by an opposition MP to discuss measures to prevent a coup.
The motion was proposed by Pheu Thai MP Chonnan Srikaew three weeks ago, but it was postponed during the last two House meetings due to lack of a quorum.
However, there were sufficient MPs yesterday to form a quorum. The first count showed that 333 MPs were in the meeting chamber, and a second count at the request of an opposition MP showed that 261 MPs, most of them from the coalition, remained in attendance.
The large presence of soldiers in the capital and seven surrounding provinces is deemed necessary to safeguard peace, the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) spokesman said yesterday, also seeking to dispel coup rumours.
"There is no cause for concern about a seizure of power because the soldiers are merely enforcing internal security measures in the face of a mass rally," Maj-General Ditthaporn Sasasamit said.
Ditthaporn said security checks would be stepped up in inner Bangkok areas, starting last night.
He reminded the red shirts to abide by the law and that they were not allowed to bring E-taen farm tractors into the capital.
Acting Government Spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said rumour-mongers had tried to cause unnecessary anxiety about the coup.
Panitan reminded foreign visitors to avoid the rally sites of the red shirts. Foreigners wanting to check the situation, or having questions about their safety, can call either of the following hotlines: 089 205-4311 (set up by the Isoc) and 088 227-8648 (set up the Foreign Affairs Ministry).
