Thai army to limit water, electricity to protests

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Source: AP

Thai army to limit water, electricity to protests
By THANYARAT DOKSONE (AP) – 58 minutes ago

BANGKOK — The Thai government turned to siege tactics Wednesday after fruitless efforts to compromise with demonstrators barricaded in central Bangkok, announcing that the army would limit supplies of water, food and electricity to the protest zone.

Although army spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said security forces would "not use force at this stage," sealing the area risks confrontation with the thousands of so-called Red Shirt protesters who have camped there for two months and could spark violence if they refuse to disperse. Some 29 people have died and 1,400 been injured in clashes so far.

"This is a full-scale measure to limit the freedom of protesters and to close down the area 100 percent," Sansern said Wednesday morning, although he later indicated that not everything might be place by midnight as planned — partly to give utility companies enough time to coordinate. Also, authorities wanted to cause minimum impact on people living and working in the area, he said.

With the government's tougher tone, chances of a negotiated settlement appeared to be unraveling, just days after the two sides had agreed in principle to a reconciliation plan. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's spokesman said the government's offer to hold November elections — one year before his term expires — was now off the table as the protesters had refused to budge.



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