BANGKOK — The Thai government turned to siege tactics Wednesday after fruitless efforts to compromise with demonstrators barricaded in central Bangkok, announcing that the army would limit supplies of water, food and electricity to the protest zone.
Although army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said security forces would "not use force at this stage," sealing the area risks confrontation with the thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters who have camped there for two months and could spark violence if they refuse to disperse. Some 29 people have died and 1,400 been injured in clashes so far.
"This is a full-scale measure to limit the freedom of protesters and to close down the area 100 percent," Sansern said Wednesday morning, although he later indicated that not everything might be place by midnight as planned — partly to give utility companies enough time to coordinate. Also, authorities wanted to cause minimum impact on people living and working in the area, he said.
With the government's tougher tone, chances of a negotiated settlement appeared to be unraveling, just days after the two sides had agreed in principle to a reconciliation plan. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's spokesman said the government's offer to hold November elections — one year before his term expires — was now off the table as the protesters had refused to budge.
Since soon after the Red Shirts descended on the capital March 12, anti-government protests have crippled its ritziest shopping district, forced the closure of several luxury hotels and devastated the economy, particularly the vital tourism sector. The protest zone spans about 1 square mile (3 square kilometers) and is bordered by upscale apartment high-rises and office buildings.
The new measures to squeeze the protesters include cutting water, electricity and mobile phone signals to the protest zone and stopping bus, commuter rail and boat services to the area, Sansern said, adding that authorities would also "seal off entrances to the area".
Protest leaders brushed off the threat.
"Firstly, we are using our own electricity generators, so we are not dependent on the public power source," said a protest leader Jatuporn Prompan. "Secondly, if the government decides to cut water ... this will also effect half of the city. So, we do not care about the government's threat".
Abhisit warned residents near the protest zone could also be affected.
The U.S. Embassy, one of several embassies located near the protest zone, said it was giving staff who live in the area the option to relocate until it was clear how much of the neighborhood would be affected. A travel alert also urged Americans to stay away from the area because it is "unclear how the (protesters) will respond".
The Red Shirts, who are largely drawn from the rural and urban poor, see Abhisit's government as illegitimate and symbolic of an elite insensitive to the plight of most Thais and are calling for new elections. They include supporters of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist leader who was accused of corruption and abuse of power and ousted in a 2006 military coup.
After agreeing in principle to Abhisit's offer last week of November elections, the protesters recently added a demand that the deputy premier face criminal charges for a deadly crackdown on their rallies.
After that, the government said late Tuesday it was rescinding the compromise offer and pledged a new effort to end the standoff.
"If petty issues keep being brought up, it's not going to end, because the government isn't going to compromise," Abhisit said.
The government on Wednesday was using text messages aimed at mobile phones in the protest zone to urge the protesters, who include women and children, to move.
One message read: "Protest leaders should consider protesters' safety. Quit the protest today. Move forward on the reconciliation plan." It was signed "CRES," the government's Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations, which oversees security.
Red Shirt leaders responded defiantly and vowed not to budge.
"We have made a decision to hold our ground here to call for justice for our people," another protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, told reporters at the protesters' barricaded encampment. "We are going to stay here no matter what happens".
Associated Press
