Bangkok: Thailand`s army chief said on Thursday he
aimed to end a standoff with anti-government protesters
without further bloodshed, in an apparent softening of the
military`s recent bellicose warnings.
"Whatever I do will depend on the situation, and the
outcome would be good for the country and we can uphold the
law with no people dead or injured," General Anupong Paojinda
told agency.
Whatever action the security forces take "must be legally
responsible," he said.
"Suppose the government asked me to do something illegal,
I will tell them whether or not I can do it," added Anupong,
who was last week put in charge of security in the capital by
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Pro-democracy activists "are not criminal offenders,"
Anupong said.
"They are all Thais but may think in a different way from
us, which is their right. If there are only hardcore
(protesters) it`s not difficult to take action," he said.
Tens of thousands of red-shirted protesters are occupying
an area in central Bangkok, demanding immediate elections.
Army spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd warned earlier
Thursday that "time is running out" for the protesters to
leave their rally site before a crackdown.
"In order to disperse the mob, the authorities will be
very decisive and there will be chaos," said Sunsern. "This is
not a threat, this is real."
PTI
