Abhisit says in late-night address police and soldiers are firmly behind him
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has assured the nation that there is no disharmony within the government as well as key agencies responsible for enforcing law and order.
In a television address Sunday night, Abhisit was flanked by all key government, military and police leaders, a setting apparently intended to stamp out persistent speculation that he was losing support of top police and military officers.
He said the rumours were intended to weaken the government which has been trying to restore law and order through peaceful means.
"There have been a lot of rumours and I would like the Thai media to report on the truth to the Thai public," he said. "The government still has strong unity and we are ready to deliver our promise to bring back law and order."
Among false reports, he said, were claims that security forces had already resorted to violence to suppress the red-shirted protesters.
The prime minister insisted that a united government remained confident that the situation would improve in the next few days.
Abhisit had vowed not to bow to the red-shirted protesters' demand for him to either step down or dissolve the House, and expressed confidence that the military and the police, whom he had reportedly criticised in private, were still firmly on his side. It had been reported that Abhisit singled out police chief Patcharawat Wongsuwan for sharp criticism following Saturday's collapse of the Asean summit with dialogue partners.
Coup rumours were intense late Sunday afternoon but seemed to subside late into the night. Speculation now was focused on when security forces would move against protesters occupying some key areas in the city.
Thailand plunged into chaos for a second day and Abhisit had to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok to quell anti-government protests.
The embattled premier, whose Secretary-General Niphon Phromphan was also injured in an attack by an unruly mob at the Interior Ministry Sunday afternoon, said the government would quickly enforce the state of emergency to restore law and order in the capital.
Tens of thousands of red-shirt protesters regrouped at Government House after small groups marched to the Interior Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, a court and other public buildings to pressure the government to quit.
Protesters on Saturday forced the Abhisit government to abruptly end the summit of Asean leaders with their Asian dialogue partners by storming into the summit's venue in the resort city of Pattaya.
Several foreign countries yesterday expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the summit, while some such as Australia, Hong Kong and Russia issued advisories warning their citizens about travelling to Bangkok.
Abhisit said on national TV that the protesters had no right to break the law or violate other people's rights, while Deputy Premier Suthep Thaugsuban told police and soldiers to take action against protesters who break the law.
Under emergency rules, authorities are empowered to detain any person without charge for up to 30 days.
Suthep said some protesters on Sunday attempted to harm the premier physically while two other senior government officials, including Secretary-General Niphon, were hurt.
Doctors said Niphon's ribs were broken in the attack at the Interior Ministry.
Over the past few days, some major roads and intersections in Bangkok have been blocked by protesters also.
Ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra said during his daily phone-in to protesters at Government House he would return to Thailand to lead the red shirts if the military staged a coup.
Thaksin is currently a fugitive, facing a two-year jail term for abuse of power and corruption.
The military, meanwhile, dispatched its forces, tanks and armoured vehicles to take positions at around 50 key locations in Bangkok following the emergency rule. Soon after, some news photos were taken showing protesters apparently taking control of some military vehicles.
Army spokesman Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied earlier reports that two armoured vehicles at Siam Paragon shopping centre and the Foreign Ministry were taken over by protesters.
"The red shirts did not take over the tanks, but some of them just climbed over the armoured vehicles. There could be violence if we prevented every one from getting close to our vehicles," he said.
Eyewitnesses said the protesters, however, had taken over dozens of public buses which were then lined up along main roads leading to the compound of Government House in a bid to prevent authorities from attempting to disperse the protesting crowd.
Defence Ministry spokesman Col Jitsak Charernsombat said the latest emergency rule imposed by the government in Bangkok was similar to the one for Pattaya and Chon Buri.
"I'm not sure if this measure would be effective in quelling the unrest because it's unclear how much authority officials have in doing their task.
"When the government has said it would be lenient, it's unlikely we could do anything much to reverse the situation as far as officials at the operational level are concerned.
"In fact, the government should have a set of clear-cut, step-by-step measures to deal with the situation from moderate to strong measures. In other words, there are no details in this emergency rule yet."
Somsak Kosaisuk, a core leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy or the yellow-shirt movement, said police and soldiers would have to ensure that the emergency is enforced effectively.
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