Troops Deployed In Thai Capital For Long Weekend

[george]

Troops deployed in Thai capital for long weekend

BANGKOK: -- More military units will be deployed in the Thai capital during the coming four-day weekend, beginning Saturday, to observe Buddhist Lent and to assist policemen in performing their duties, Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said Friday.

Gen. Sonthi, the Thai army chief, said police personnel are now fully occupied providing protection for public safety and property and it was necessary to dispatch soldiers to supplemental police activity in some areas.

Meanwhile, Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of CNS, said the law would be strictly enforced in regard to members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) -- also known as the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship – who continue to demonstrate at Sanam Luang.

The spokesman said the protesters would not be allowed to march to other areas as they wished because it would cause hardship and violate other people's rights.

Not less than one company of unarmed soldiers will be deployed in each of 14 zones throughout Bangkok during the four-day long holiday weekend while the military will also help police set up checkpoints, Col. Sansern said.

Gen. Sonthi's decision to assign more troops to provide protection to the public comes after members of the DAAD last Sunday clashed with police in front of the home of Privy Council president Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda.

Scores of unarmed police and protesters were injured in the scuffle, and eight DAAD core leaders are now in police custody.

--TNA 2007-07-28

[lazeeboy]

Troops deployed in Thai capital for long weekend

BANGKOK: -- More military units will be deployed in the Thai capital during the coming four-day weekend, beginning Saturday, to observe Buddhist Lent and to assist policemen in performing their duties, Council for National Security (CNS) chairman Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin said Friday.

Gen. Sonthi, the Thai army chief, said police personnel are now fully occupied providing protection for public safety and property and it was necessary to dispatch soldiers to supplemental police activity in some areas.

Meanwhile, Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd, spokesman of CNS, said the law would be strictly enforced in regard to members of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) -- also known as the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship – who continue to demonstrate at Sanam Luang.

The spokesman said the protesters would not be allowed to march to other areas as they wished because it would cause hardship and violate other people's rights.

Not less than one company of unarmed soldiers will be deployed in each of 14 zones throughout Bangkok during the four-day long holiday weekend while the military will also help police set up checkpoints, Col. Sansern said.

Gen. Sonthi's decision to assign more troops to provide protection to the public comes after members of the DAAD last Sunday clashed with police in front of the home of Privy Council president Gen. Prem Tinsulanonda.

Scores of unarmed police and protesters were injured in the scuffle, and eight DAAD core leaders are now in police custody.

--TNA 2007-07-28

hope they are not needed this weekend ,and the holiday is a happy one for all