City "shutdown" to end as army chief hints of "special method"

PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban said that city streets are being reopened and Lumpini Park will be the centre of operations. Meanwhile, the army chief has hinted at a "special method" to resolve the crisis.

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Cars, buses and motorcycles will once again take over Pathumwan and other key intersections on Monday as anti-government protesters move to Lumpini Park. THITI WANNAMONTHA

These protesters at Ratchaprasong have already begun to pack for the move to Lumpini Park. THANARAK KHOONTON

PDRC to close four rally sites on Monday

Army chief hints crisis end is on the way

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People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban has announced that four protest stages in the capital’s commercial areas will be shut and consolidated at the main Lumpini Park site.

Mr Suthep said to supporters at the Pathumwan rally site last night that the PDRC will return Silom, Ratchaprasong, Pathumwan and Asok intersections, where its stages are located, to the people from Monday. On Sunday night, the PDRC will set up a new stage at Lumpini Park which will be more comfortable for protesters.

He apologised to Bangkokians and business operators for the rally’s impact and the inconvenience caused. Still, Mr Suthep insisted his fight against the Yingluck Shinawatra goverment will continue and it will end this month.

Signs of a weakening of the caretaker government will been seen from Monday, Mr Suthep said.

A PDRC source said the change in strategy was due to rising complaints over the rally sites’ impact. The new strategy will focus on Shinawatra family businesses.

Prayuth: A special method may be needed. THITI WANNAMONTHA

Meanwhile, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha has hinted at the possibility of resorting to “a special method” to resolve the political crisis if all other methods fail.

Gen Prayuth made the comment yesterday when he was again pressed by reporters about the possibility of a coup to break the current political deadlock.

“Every situation has to be sorted out through legal means, but if they fail, a special method may be needed,” he said. “But what this special method might be remains to be seen.”

Gen Prayuth said the possibility of a coup did not need to be discussed every day.

“One can envisage that the situation might end up with a coup,” he said. “I can’t promise if there will be another coup or not. I admit it would not be legal. But every coup is meant to end a crisis.”

The army chief also said that past coups were in response to violent incidents and injustice. But he said the current situation is different; the people have changed and efforts have been made to avert a coup, which could be detrimental to the country if one were to happen now.

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