Chalerm: We will prevail

Chalerm: We will prevail

Police operations to continue until all rally sites retaken

Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order director Chalerm Yubamrung said the police operation to retake major spots in Bangkok occupied by People's Democratic Reform Committee protesters will continue until all are free of demonstrators.

He said caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra called him yesterday to make sure that the CMPO would not resort to violence in its actions.

On police operations Tuesday morning, Mr Chalerm said the rally site at the Energy Ministry and head office of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand had been retaken and about 80 protesters arrested for violating the emergency decree.

At the PDRC's Chaeng Wattana rally site, Luang Pu Buddha Issara had agreed to open a road to traffic, he said.

However, he had told police that all roads must be reopened without conditions. The Sa Kaew police superintendent had been assigned to persuade the monk to return to his temple or face legal action, Mr Chalerm said.

On Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the Region 2 Provincial Police commissioner had managed to remove some obstructions put up by the protesters, he said.

At the Interior Ministry, the Region 7 Provincial Police chief was negotiating with protest leaders.

Police were also negotiating with protest leaders at Government House.

Police would continue to put pressure the protesters, but would not use violence.  Special police teams were on high alert waiting for the right time to arrest PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban and other core members, Mr Chalerm said.

Mr Chalerm said he was confident the CMPO would be able to handle the situation on Feb 19, when the PDRC had declared it would bring more supporters to the capital city.


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