Phuket PDRC leader welcomes martial law

PHUKET: Amnuay Kumban, one of the Phuket leaders of the anti-government PDRC led by Suthep Thaugsuban, has welcomes the imposition of martial law.

“It will stop people on both sides attacking each other,” he told The Phuket News.

He said that one of the main reasons for Martial Law being imposed was fears of an all-out shooting war in Bangkok between the PDRC and their opponents, the pro-government Red Shirts.

“If you look at the analysis of the situation by Suriyasai Katasila [a leader of the now defunct elitist and nationalist People’s Alliance for Democracy], you will see that Red Shirt people in Isarn have been collecting a huge arsenal of war weapons and have been bringing them to Bangkok.

“The Army wants to bring the situation under control. They have called all the senior ministry officials to a meeting.

“I would like to know if they plan to remove [caretaker Prime Minister] Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan.”

He added that it was his understanding that Martial Law will be applied only lightly. “In Bangkok many soldiers have been deployed to protect the PDRC, but I have just been to Provincial Hall in Phuket and there is no military presence there.

“The PDRC protesters in Bangkok are currently staying put until the situation becomes more clear.”

Asked how the imposition of Martial Law would affect public gatherings such as the PDRC in Bangkok he said, “[At the moment] you can hold meetings as long as they do not cause damage or become too strident.”

In Phuket the only permanent military presence is the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet on Cape Panwa. Senior officers there could not be reached because they are currently meeting, it is understood, to discuss the imposition of martial law and how it will affect Phuket.

- Source: The Phuket News: See more at: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-pdrc-leader-welcomes-martial-law-46343.php#sthash.dgPalJ69.dpuf