Political unrest: Bangkok police officers assemble outside Chulalongkorn Hospital which was stormed by anti-government protesters
Anxious: A mother waits with her child at Chulalongkorn Hospital before being evacuated to a different facility
A hospital in Bangkok next to an anti-government protest camp evacuated some of its patients on Friday after protesters forced their way into the grounds to look for soldiers they thought were there preparing an attack.
More than 200 "red shirt" protesters had barged into the grounds of Chulalongkorn University Hospital late on Thursday to look for troops.
They found none and left after roaming through the grounds, the lobby and car parks, some carrying wooden staves, for an hour. Some said they wanted to return on Friday to make sure there were no troops there but "red shirt" leaders ruled it out.
"We have told them it was an inappropriate move. We truly apologise for any inconvenience caused. Some were very concerned the hospital was harbouring troops," Weng Tojirakarn told Reuters.
The hospital is near the Silom business district, scene of deadly clashes on April 22. It evacuated some patients from late Thursday but hospital director Adisorn Patradul said it would remain open and many in-patients who cannot be moved would stay.
Hospital management denies there are any troops on its site but thousands of soldiers and riot police are in the area to contain a weeks-long protest movement aimed at forcing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold early elections.
Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced Friday the government will not allow the anti-government protesters to intimidate the public again.
Abhisit addressed the nation on a live television at about 12: 00 p.m. saying the Thai government is sorry that the anti-government protesters stormed into the Chulalongkorn Hospital on Thursday night.
He said the anti-government protesters had caused hardship by intimidating the people around their rally sites.
The Center for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) and involved authorities are discussing necessary actions to prevent the protesters from intimidating the people again, he said.
At the same time, the government's checkpoints set up around the rally site to block people from joining the protests have been proved more effective, the prime minister said.
The Chulalongkorn Hospital, which is not far from the main anti-government rally site, is located in the center of capital Bangkok.
The anti-government "red-shirt" rally has been held from March 12 and they are now gathering at the Rathchaprasong Intersection -- their main rally site.
They have demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to " immediately" dissolve the lower House of parliament and hold a new general election.
They are viewing that, apart from the House dissolution, there is no other solution to the country's ongoing political conflict.
But, at the same time the rise of Thais in "various-color shirts", who have opposed the early House dissolution, is increasingly growing.
0 comments:
Post a Comment