Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva went on TV yesterday morning and urged the red shirt protesters to stop blocking roads and return to their rally at Phan Fa Bridge.
Abhisit said the Peace-keeping Operations Command had ordered protesters to vacate Rajprasong Intersection but the government would use lenient measures to try to end the crisis.
The prime minister also told Bangkokians, who were dissatisfied by the protests, to be patient as the government was trying to ease the situation through negotiations.
He said the protesters were Thais too so the government would try to solve the problem without causing bloodshed.
The prime minister said the issuing of the POC order did not mean the government would use force to break up the rally - it simply wanted to tell the protesters it was illegal to cause hardship to others.
"The POC issued clear orders for the demonstrators to leave the area but it did not mean what we will use force to break up the demonstration," the prime minister said during a special TV address at 9am.
"Senior police at the level of deputy commissioner-general were assigned to negotiate and explain the orders to protest leaders."
The PM said the situation had eased after protesters stopped blocking Sukhumvit Road and motorists could make a left turn to travel on Rajdamri Road and make a left turn to the Royal Thai Police headquarters.
Abhisit said his government respected the constitutional right of the protesters and had already held talks twice with red-shirt leaders to seek a compromise.
But a lot more other people disagreed with the demand of the protesters, he said, adding that those who opposed the protesters may be more than the number of the red-shirt supporters.
He insisted his government came to office in line with rules of international parliamentary standards and he was not trying to remain in office till the end of his term ends, in a year and nine months time.
Abhisit said the government was willing to shorten his term if that so would solve the political problems but it was clear that immediate House dissolution, as demanded by the protesters, would not resolve the political divide.
He said the protest leaders and representatives of all sectors should join the government in trying to find a solution acceptable to all sides to end the crisis and preventing political violence.
With cooperation from all sides, such solution could be reached in less than a year and he would dissolve the House.
"The POC's orders for the protesters to leave the area are still being enforced. So, the protesters should return to Phan Fa. The government has the duty to enforce the laws and keep security," he said.
"We expect that a number of people want the government to take harsh actions but we will follow international practice. We will use lighter measures before using harsher ones.
"I would like to seek cooperation from the people to be patient. The government will rush to ease the situation and lead the country back to normality without loss of life."
