Thailand - state of emergency

Red-shirts appeal to army, defy Abhisit's state of emergency

Article published on the 2009-04-12 Latest update 2009-04-12 10:12 TU

Supporters of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra ask military personnel to alight an armoured personnel carrier after seizing it in Bangkok
(Photo: Reuters)

Thousands of anti-government protesters have defied a state of emergency in the Thai capital after about 50 entered the Thai Interior Ministry, passing troops who fired warning shots in the air. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has declared a state of emergency in Bangkok and around it and tanks and troops are reported to be on the city's streets.

As tanks and armoured personnel carriers advanced on the protesters, some were stopped by demonstrators appealing to the soldiers not to clear them from the strets.

Local television earlier reported that the Prime Minister fled the ministry, as the red-shirted protesters broke into it. Abhisit gave a live address to the nation on television, explaining his reasons for called a state of emergency in the protest-hit capital and the surrounding area.

"The government has tried all along to avoid violence but the protest has developed and they have used actions incompatible with the constitution," he said.

"Now the government is unable to avoid this state of emergency. In the past we have tried to maintain normalcy, but now we must speed up our efforts to restore the situation before it worsens."

The emergency measure, which affects the capital and about a dozen districts in provinces around it, bans public gatherings of more than five people and empowers police and military to detain suspects for between seven and 30 days without charge.

Officials can also enforce strict controls on media and all other forms of communication.

As about 6,000 supporters of sacked Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawattra rallied outside the premier's office  and hundreds outside the Interior Ministry, two protest leaders are reported to have been arrested.

Police have confirmed the arrest of one, Arisman Pongreungrong, was detined at his home after returning to Bangkok from Pattaya, where he had led a demonstration which closed down the summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean).

An Asean statement declared the cancellation of the summit "unfortunate". A state of emergency on Pattaya was lifted on Saturday after protesters left town.

State television said the Bangkok emergency was imposed "because the situation is worsening with a group of people inciting unrest."