State of emergency in Bangkok

State of emergency in Bangkok

By: BangkokPost.com

Published: 12/04/2009 at 02:51 PM

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced a state of emergency in different areas of Bangkok and nearby provinces on Sunday afternoon, in an attempt to deal with the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters.

The prime minister, appeared on the national television, said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban will be in charge of implementing the decree in Bangkok and in some districts of Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Prathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya provinces.

He assured members of the public that the situation would be restored as quickly as possible, and asked them to cooperate with the authorities.

Earlier Sunday, the police arrested UDD core members Arisman Pongruangrong, causing the red-shirt protesters to rally in front of various venues, such as the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek road.