Commander-in-Chief of the Thai Army Prayuth Chan-ocha on February 17 requested troops to strengthen security around rally sites of anti-government protesters in Bangkok in order to prevent violence.
He instructed army units to keep a close watch on the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) ’s operations to retake occupied sites.
The same day, Chief of the CMPO Chalerm Yoobamrung said the government may take strong actions as anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban did not keep the commitment of staging demonstrations at designated sites.
Suthep on February 17 led protesters to besiege the Government House to prevent the caretaker government from returning to work. Another group of demonstrators struggled their way into the Education Ministry’s headquarters, forcing staff to stop working and leave the office.
As from Feb. 17, police were deployed to reclaim five sites occupied by protesters in Bangkok , including an intersection near the Government House. They were told to use guns to protect themselves if there was any resistance from armed protest guards.
The political turmoil has prompted Thailand’s Office of National Economic and Social Development Board to revise down its forecast on the country’s GDP growth rate in 2014 to 3-4 percent from 4-5 percent in the previous forecast
According to the office, the Thai economy grew just 0.6 percent in the last quarter of 2013, down from 2.7 percent in the previous quarter.
The country’s growth rate was recorded at 2.9 percent in 2013, much lower than the rate of 6.5 percent in 2012.
The office said the prolonged political crisis has affected the foreign investment flow as well as the number of foreign visitors to Thailand .-VNA
He instructed army units to keep a close watch on the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) ’s operations to retake occupied sites.
The same day, Chief of the CMPO Chalerm Yoobamrung said the government may take strong actions as anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban did not keep the commitment of staging demonstrations at designated sites.
Suthep on February 17 led protesters to besiege the Government House to prevent the caretaker government from returning to work. Another group of demonstrators struggled their way into the Education Ministry’s headquarters, forcing staff to stop working and leave the office.
As from Feb. 17, police were deployed to reclaim five sites occupied by protesters in Bangkok , including an intersection near the Government House. They were told to use guns to protect themselves if there was any resistance from armed protest guards.
The political turmoil has prompted Thailand’s Office of National Economic and Social Development Board to revise down its forecast on the country’s GDP growth rate in 2014 to 3-4 percent from 4-5 percent in the previous forecast
According to the office, the Thai economy grew just 0.6 percent in the last quarter of 2013, down from 2.7 percent in the previous quarter.
The country’s growth rate was recorded at 2.9 percent in 2013, much lower than the rate of 6.5 percent in 2012.
The office said the prolonged political crisis has affected the foreign investment flow as well as the number of foreign visitors to Thailand .-VNA
