BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) — The anti-government red-shirt protesters will not extend their mass rally to Silom area, a business heartland in Thai capital Bangkok, a protest leader said Monday shortly after reports coming out that troops have been deployed in the area.
\”We are well aware that the government plans to use force against us if we move to Silom. We will stay at Rajprasong intersection until the House is dissolved,\” said red-shirt leader Weng Tohjirakarn.
Local media reported earlier hundreds of troops have been deployed in Silom, which is one of the most important financial districts in Bangkok with many bank headquarters, financial institutions and office buildings.
Five companies are stationed in front of the Bangkok Bank head office, where red-shirts had threatened Saturday to stage a mass rally.
Some of the troops are stationed near Lumpini Park and some on the Saladaeng station of the BTS train, The Nation newspaper said.
There\’s a moment of confrontation between troops and protesters staying at the Lumpini Park at around 4 am. The red-shirt protesters are said to have carried cooking gas cylinders with them.
The red-shirt protesters have been holding mass rallies since March 14 to press for the dissolution of the lower house of parliament and early elections. They deserted their main rally site at the Phan Fah Bridge recently in a bid to reinforce the Rajprasong base in Bangkok\’s commercial hub.
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