September 18, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) - Thousands of troops and police began taking up positions in Bangkok Friday as the government threatened to impose emergency measures if protests marking the anniversary of a 2006 coup turn violent.
Supporters of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, known as 'Red Shirts', are set to rally in the Thai capital on Saturday, exactly three years after the billionaire tycoon was toppled by the military.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has invoked a harsh internal security law in central Bangkok ahead of the protest, fearing a repeat of violent Red Shirt protests in April which left two people dead and scores injured.
The violence earlier this year prompted the government to impose a state of emergency.
"If the normal law cannot cope and the situation is out of control, I will declare a state of emergency," said Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minister in charge of national security.
Suthep said he would be acting prime minister at the weekend because Abhisit is leaving Thailand to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the G20 Summit in New York.
Dozens of soldiers armed with riot gear were early on Friday guarding Government House, where Abhisit's offices are located, but their presence remained low-profile, an AFP photographer said.
A total of more than 9,000 army, navy and air force personnel along with police would be mobilised for the coup anniversary protests, the military said.
"Both police and troops have begun their deployments but it will be at the maximum leval by around 4 pm (1000 GMT) today," army spokesman Colonel Sunsern Kaewkumnerd told AFP.
Crowd control measures would start with negotiations, and then proceed to pushing back protesters, arresting leaders, using a water cannon and tear gas and finally, shooting rubber bullets if necessary, he said.
The Red Shirts want Abhisit to step down and call elections, claiming that he came to power in December unfairly after a blockade by rival 'Yellow Shirts' at Bangkok's airports helped topple the previous pro-Thaksin government.
Twice-elected Thaksin is living in exile to avoid a jail term for corruption. He remains popular in Thailand's rural areas, but is still loathed by the Bangkok-based power centres in the palace, military and bureaucracy.
