Talks, not force

"Our main task is to avoid any clash between two groups with different opinion," new Bangkok security chief Gen Anupong Paojinda vowed at a meeting with the media hours after the government declared a state of emergency Tuesday morning.

Gen Anupong, the Army commander, pledged at a on Tuesday to use talks, not force, to end the week-long protest at Government House.

He told a press conference broadcast nationwide on state TV that his chief responsibility is to prevent violence between the pro- and anti-government protesters, and that he would use peaceful means to mediate differences between the two rival groups.

"Our methods will be to improve understanding among Thais and make everyone aware that there can still be a peaceful solution through negotiations."

He also said soldiers would not use force to evict PAD protesters at Government House, reasoning that such an action could worsen the situation.

"If we thought we could use police and soldiers to get them out with a peaceful conclusion, we would do it." he said.

"But we think that this would only create more problems." He added that soldiers deployed will only carry shields and batons, and will only use water cannons and teargas at most.

Earlier Tuesday, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej called on the protesters to leave the main government complex, which they have occupied for the last week.

"They must be moved from the Government House," he said during a nationally televised press conference. "I had no other choice but to declare a state of emergency in Bangkok in order to solve the problem for once and for all.''

Gen Anupong further said the army was duty-bound to comply with the government's policy, but was not in a position to get involved in the current conflict between the government and the PAD. He also stressed that a coup was not a solution to the current political problem.

"That door is closed for good. We need to find new doors, such as using the judiciary or parliament to solve problems."

As to the persistent conflict between the PAD and the Samak Sundaravej government, he said this was beyond the scope of authority of the state of emergency committee and he preferred that parliament try to solve the conflict.

He also hinted that the committee was considering about censoring the two television stations, which were partially responsible for public incitement that has worsened the situation.

Gen Anupong did not name them, although they are government-run NBT (formerly Channel 11) and ASTV, owned by PAD founder and core leader Sondhi Limthongkul. He said the committee "might consider how to deal with" the two stations. He pleaded with the media to be impartial and to provide balanced coverage of the current political crisis.