The Thai Army has warned Red Shirt protestors that any attempt to stage a rally at Silom road will be met with tough counter-measures.

However, despite the Army’s warnings, Red Shirt leaders claim that the protests will take place and continue to urge fellow Red Shirts, especially those in rural areas, to travel to Bangkok in order to participate in the upcoming rally.

The Red Shirts are anti-government protestors who are demanding that Abhisit, Thailand’s current Prime Minister, dissolve government and call for new elections. Recently, the protestors have also demanded that the Prime Minister leave the country.

These protestors are supporters of the former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shiniwatra, who was ousted in a bloodless coup in 2006.

In the recent weeks, a total of 23 people have been killed and 850 people wounded in clashes between the Red Shirts and the police, according to the Bangkok Emergency Medical Service.

The Thai Army was also recently handed control over security operations after the police were deemed unable to handle the situation. The decision was made after three Red Shirt leaders escaped from a hotel surrounded by police officers.

The three anti-government protestors escaped by lowering themselves from a third-floor window and fleeing in a waiting truck amid cheers from the protestors.

The Army has stated in an interview that they will disperse the protests only when the timing is right.

Thailand is still in a state of emergency, which was declared a few weeks ago by the Prime Minister. The decree bans the gathering of five or more people who are regarded as trying to initiate an emergency situation.

It also bans any publishing, broadcasting, or spreading of information that is considered to be a threat to national security.

Authorities will be able to take actions without court orders andaccess or end any communications. They can also stop Thai citizens from leaving the country.

Due to the state of emergency decree, violence, and protests, the economy has been negatively affected. Businesses in areas where the protestors have dug in have been forced to shut down. Not only are tourists afraid of vacationing in Thailand, but investors are also deterred from investing in Thailand during such political instability.

According to Prakit Chinamourphong, head of the Thai Hotels Association, since the protests started over three weeks ago, the country’s tourism industry has lost around US$309 million. The tourism industry accounts for seven percent of Thailand’s GDP.

However, amid all the protests, daily life continues outside the areas currently occupied by protestors, which are relatively small compared to the enormous size of the capital. For now we can just hope for a quick and peaceful end to the unrest.

~ By: Pornpol Tangchitnob