Arisman allowed into Parliament to check for any hidden troops
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday said the government would not withdraw troops from the capital but would cut back on the numbers in some units following an outcry from the opposition over heavy security around Parliament.
Suthep, who heads the Peacekeeping Operations Command, said he had instructed the agency to reduce the military build-up in eight spots to avoid confrontation with red-shirt protesters. However, the security officials will not go back to their barracks and will remain vigilant even though the protests have not been violent so far.
He insisted the government had not overdeployed military forces, but said it had been necessary to send them to certain streets across Bangkok due to concern over the firing of grenades. A number of grenades fired from M79 launchers have consistently rocked the capital over the past two weeks.
Red-shirt rallies on several key roads in Bangkok yesterday went off without any confrontation with security officials, who were instructed to treat the protesters with flexibility and harmony.
"The situation has subsided and many areas have no military officials, but only police who were instructed to keep alert in key areas such as at Parliament in order to prevent break-ins by ill-intentioned groups. When the rally was passing Parliament, police were told to exercise tolerance to the best of their ability in the face of any provocation,'' Suthep said.
The deputy prime minister added that the government would form a judgement on a daily basis whether to extend the imposition of the Internal Security Act.
The protesters were allowed to rally on any roads of their choosing, but their procession came to a standstill when they reached U-thong Nai Road, where the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall and Parliament are situated. The area was heavily protected by a number of security officials to prevent protesters invading the compound.
The red-shirt leaders negotiated with officials and were granted permission to pass through after promising not to break into Parliament.
Red-shirt leader Arisman Pongruangrong and 20 protesters were allowed to enter Parliament to see if military forces were hiding inside the compound.
Security officials gave in to the red shirts' demand to check on the number of soldiers and allowed them to enter the compound after many of them had pushed the main gate.
After looking around inside the building and finding no officials, Arisman went to the King Rama VII Monument and brought out a fake copy of the 2007 Constitution, which was burned.
