Thailand's Red Shirts seek UN peace-keepers to keep protests alive

Bangkok, Apr 22(ANI): Thailand's opposition United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), also known as the "Red Shirts", will petition the United Nations to send a peace-keeping force to the trouble-torn country.

UDD co-leader Weng Tojirakarn said about 2000 supporters of the group will go visit the UN office on Ratchadamnoen Avenue to submit a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"The UDD will ask the UN to send a peace-keeping force to oversee the anti-government demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection rally site to prevent the government from using force to disperse the protesters," The Bangkok Post quoted Tojirakarn, as saying.

He further said that there would be no peace talks with the government at this stage, as Thai soldiers were pointing guns at the Red-Shirts'.

"Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva must dissolve House of Representatives to show responsibility for the April 10 bloodshed, then the Red-Shirts will immediately disperse," Tojirakarn said.

Earlier, Thai troops had said that they would follow seven steps to counter the Red Shirts.

They would begin with soft measures and then get gradually harsher, to deal with protesters. If all else fails, troops would use real weapons.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban warned that the troops deployed in the financial district are equipped with weapons and live ammunition and are authorised to fire in self-defence. (ANI)