Thailand ’s authorities on March 11 began deployment of 50,000 troops on the streets of Bangkok ahead of anti-government demonstrations that are feared may break out in violence.

Speaking with the press, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thausuban, who is overseeing the security operation, said the deployed forces include 30,000 soldiers, 10,000 police and 10,000 civilian volunteers.

According to local media, the so-called “Red Shirt” force which supports former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced it would begin demonstrating from March 12, which is two weeks after the kingdom's top court confiscated 1.4 billion USD of Thaksin’s assets.

“If protesters intrude into army bases or police stations, the government will use armed force to crack down immediately, as we consider them terrorists,” deputy PM Thaugsuban said.

Checkpoints are being set up in and around Bangkok to search protesters for weapons as they arrive from other provinces, focusing on their strongholds in the rural north.

Earlier on March 9, at it weekly meeting, Thailand's cabinet decided to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) from March 11-23 to ensure law and order during the mass anti-government rally. The act allows authorities to deploy troops on the streets during the rallies and to impose curfews and ban gatherings.

The “Red Shirt” force said they expect up to 600,000 people to attend the main rally but insist it will be peaceful. The Thai government, meanwhile, estimates that the demonstrations will draw up to 100,000 participants.

Internal Security Operations Command spokesman Maj General Ditthaporn Sasasamit on March 11 dismissed rumours of a military coup. The large presence of soldiers in Bangkok and seven surrounding provinces is deemed necessary to safeguard peace, he said.

Thailand ’s House Speaker Chai Chidchob on the same day said that if agreed by parties concerned, Parliament could be the venue of talks between the government and the red shirts to settle their political differences.

He confirmed his willingness to act as a go-between in order to pave the way for talks and voiced optimism that the upcoming rally would not spiral out of control./.