Abhisit warns of 'losses' as Thai Cabinet holds emergency meeting

Bangkok: Anti-government protesters in Thailand vowed to stay put as their prime minister warned yesterday there was a risk of "losses" if they did not get out of the Bangkok shopping district they have closed for a month.

"From now on, what the government will do may risk clashes and losses, but the government knows what it's doing. What needs to be done must be done," Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said.

It was not clear what he meant by "losses".

The "red shirt" protesters, supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra who are demanding early elections, said they were not moving, although they agreed to pull back a barrier around 200m to give cars access to a big hospital.

Asked by reporters if Abhisit had accepted that, protest leader Nattawut Saikua said: "That's Abhisit's problem. If he wants to do anything, we're prepared for that."

Abhisit was holding an emergency cabinet meeting amid speculation martial law could be imposed to clear the protesters, who have forced the closure of ritzy shopping malls and luxury hotels.

However, Abhisit appeared to rule that out, saying "this instrument is not needed".

Martial law would give troops more freedom to act to end the rally — for example, by allowing detention without a court order for seven days.

However, under a state of emergency declared in the capital on April 7, the security forces already have wide-ranging powers, such as being able to ban public gatherings of more than five people.

Some army commanders, including army chief Anupong Paochinda, are reluctant to use force because of the inevitable bloodshed. On some evenings, tens of thousands of protesters, including women and children, gather in the shopping district.

Anupong has called for a political solution, but hopes of a deal faded when British-born Abhisit rejected a red shirt proposal for an election in three months, saying he would not negotiate in the face of threats.

Public safety

On Saturday, army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the government had ordered police to retake the area around Chulalongkorn Hospital, near the Silom business district, to ensure public safety.

"Tomorrow the police chief has to continue clearing the area by all means, from talks to the use of force if necessary," he said.

"We believe the police can handle this. If we have to use force, it does not mean that we want to disperse protesters at Rachaprasong junction, but we just want the hospital area back," he added.

Rachaprasong is the centre of the shopping area.

The red shirt demonstrators caused outrage when about 200 of them barged into the hospital grounds on Thursday, looking for soldiers they thought were there preparing an attack. Their leaders removed a barricade to allow better access to the hospital.

There were less than 1,000 demonstrators behind barricades on Sunday.