Things are heating up again. Today is D day....so they say. Pete
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/3 ... ends-today
Irked PM says 'rally ends today'
Army may cut power, water at Ratchaprasong
* Published: 12/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: News
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has warned the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship to end their protest today and leave their rally site.
Mr Abhisit yesterday said the UDD's decision to continue demonstrating at Ratchaprasong intersection was tantamount to rejecting his reconciliation road map, which he proposed on May 3 to end the political rift and the confrontation between the government and the red shirts.
If the UDD did not end its rally today, then the government has the legitimacy to take the necessary action to restore national security and normalcy in the country, he said in parliament.
"If the situation in the country does not return to normal, it will affect the election. Protesters should return home on May 12."
A source at the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation said the new school term was another reason to clear the area. Most schools are due to resume on Monday.
The source said if UDD leaders do not end their protest today, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would consult army chief Anupong Paojinda about measures to end the protest.
However, the source said the CRES yesterday did not discuss mobilising security forces against the red shirts.
The new army plans include cutting off water and electricity supplies to the Ratchaprasong area to put more pressure on the red shirts to go home.
Security forces would surround the rally site and prevent more red shirt supporters from taking part.
Red shirt leaders yesterday indicated they would prolong the rally after Mr Suthep, who is in charge of national security and is the CRES director, yesterday morning reported to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to hear a complaint filed against him by relatives of those killed and injured in the April 10 bloody clashes between security forces and protesters, which left 25 people dead and more than 800 injured.
The DSI said Nonglak Chaimaen and 13 other people who said they were relatives of those killed and injured on April 10 lodged a complaint with the DSI against Mr Suthep.
The UDD said on Monday it would end the rally after the deputy prime minister turned himself in to the police. However, yesterday their leaders tried to negotiate the conditions of their bail should they face justice as part of yet-to-be-closed deals with the government.
The deals include a stiffening of their demand that authorities must proceed with criminal charges against Mr Suthep for ordering security forces to take action on April 10.
UDD leaders Natthawut Saikua and Jatuporn Prompan told cheering crowds the rally would not disperse as long as Mr Suthep had not turned himself in to either the DSI or to Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police to be "accused" of criminal charges.
They said Mr Suthep appeared at the DSI yesterday just to acknowledge the complaint, not to report to authorities as the accused.
"On the day Mr Suthep reports to authorities as the accused, the red shirt protesters will call off our demonstration on the same day," Mr Natthawut said.
The same condition must be applied to the prime minister once the current House session ends on May 21 and his parliamentary immunity expires, he said.
Mr Jatuporn insisted the protesters wanted to be treated with exactly the same legal standards, especially on the issue of bail.
"If the two [Mr Abhisit and Mr Suthep] are allowed to be released on bail upon turning themselves in, then the same bail conditions must be given to the [nine] UDD leaders too," Mr Jatuporn said.
"But if Mr Suthep is not allowed to be released on bail, then we won't request it either."
Weng Tojirakarn, another UDD leader, said the UDD did not accept Mr Suthep appearing at the DSI because the DSI is a part of the CRES, which is supervised by Mr Suthep.
"More importantly, to make us feel confident in the transparency of the judicial system, Mr Suthep should resign from his post first," Mr Weng said.
However, deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj Gen Amnuay Nimmano insisted Mr Suthep's surrender to the DSI was a lawful move because the DSI has already taken over the investigation into the April 10 clashes from the police.
Pete 
