Gov warns of tough action

The government yesterday warned of tough action against the red-shirt protesters, saying the authorities would no longer tolerate mobs wreaking havoc by illegally setting up road checkpoints and causing unrest in many areas of the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who heads the government's Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation, said police and soldiers would take action against red-shirt supporters violating the law at will.

"The government has intensified measures against the red shirts, because they have created a situation of unrest by setting up checkpoints that infringe on other people's rights," Suthep said. "We cannot talk to these people any longer."

He warned that any protesters found setting up illegal checkpoints would be arrested immediately.

He said in addition to road blockades, the red shirts' allies were committing terrorist acts by using war weapons in sabotage attacks on different locations.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said the government would not allow red-shirt protesters to leave their protest site at the Rajprasong intersection to cause confusion in the city.

He said the authorities had measures to deal with them.

When asked how he would respond to His Majesty the King's remark that "some people forget to do their duty", the premier said his government was focusing on the need for officials to perform their duties.

"The duty is to protect the system and the country, not to fight over political issues," he said.

Abhisit and Suthep made it clear the government would not compromise with the mobs setting up illegal road checkpoints to search passing vehicles and obstructing police and military reinforcements from upcountry on their way to Bangkok, said Democrat Party deputy spokesman Warong Dejkitwikrom.

The prime minister has instructed provincial governors all over the country, as well as the police and soldiers, to take strict action against law-violating mobs, the spokesman said.

He added that security forces would need to be armed to protect themselves as many of the protesters were found to carry weapons.

During yesterday's Cabinet meeting at the 11th Infantry Regiment, Suthep urged coalition parties to instruct their MPs to explain to their constituents the government's side of the story in the ongoing political conflict, said a source. The deputy premier also suggested the coalition parties ask their supporters to join rallies in support of the government.

Pro-government groups of multicoloured shirts have staged daily gatherings in some 30 provinces all over the country each evening against the red shirts. Suthep yesterday described the move as a positive trend and asked coalition politicians to help take care of those taking to the streets for such a rally, said the source.

Suthep told reporters that from yesterday onwards, seven permanent checkpoints manned by a joint force of police and soldiers were set up around the red shirts' protest site at the Rajprasong shopping district as part of the intensified measures. He said the authorities would also maintain security measures at important places like the Royal Palaces, Government House, Siriraj Hospital and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The deputy premier dismissed as rumour earlier reports that the police refused to cooperate with the government in tackling the problem of the red-shirt mobs. He also rejected as groundless earlier reports that some high-ranking military officers were dissatisfied with the government's pressure on the Army to disperse the red shirts soon.

When asked if the unity between the government and the Army remained strong, Suthep responded: "Do you want to see us hugging?"

However, Suthep also said he would inform Metropolitan Police commanders that any of them who found their present responsibilities too difficult could request a transfer to elsewhere.

Abhisit promised to "do his best" about the present crisis in the face of pressure from all around, namely calls for decisive action against the protesters, for compromise and for negotiations, said a government source.

The premier is concerned any decisive move that leads to further loss of lives will put the government on the defensive, said the source. Abhisit said he did not want to see more loss of life, because terrorists were found to be mingling among the protesters and ready to use them as human shields in an armed clash.

Meanwhile, the red shirts from today will send out rapid-movement units consisting of 1,000 people to different areas of Bangkok to distribute leaflets and CDs telling their side of the story, said protest leader Natthawut Saikua.

Kwanchai Praipana, another protest leader, yesterday said the red shirts would from today "heighten the intensity" of their protests by fanning out from the protest site to different areas of the city.