June 6, 2008
BANGKOK - Army chief General Anupong Paojinda insisted that the police would be able to handle ongoing anti-government protests.
Thousands of protesters led by the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) have since May 25 blockaded a major intersection in Bangkok's government district, demanding the recently-elected prime minister step down.
"I am confident that police can ensure the protest is peaceful and orderly, but at the same time both sides must find a suitable solution because this problem has affected our country and economy," Anupong told reporters.
Anupong earlier this week denied rumours that the military was plotting another coup, just five months after elections brought an end to military rule, according to AFP.
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said last week he was going to crack down on the protests and assembled 1,200 police at the rally site.
Samak later backtracked and said the confrontation would be solved through dialogue.
PAD leaders, however, keep changing their demands, and said Thursday that a group of protesters would head to the Attorney General's Office to demand that graft trials against ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra are speeded up.
