BANGKOK, 1 March 2011 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Security Affairs Suthep Thaugsuban has pledged that the government will not use violence to disperse People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators near Government House.

Mr Suthep confirmed that the government will not resort to violent crackdowns as speculated by the PAD. He insisted that the government just wanted to regain protest areas back and open more traffic lanes for commuters.

PAD key leader Major General Chamlong Srimuang has criticized the government’s recent attempt to regain protest areas as the start of crackdowns on demonstrators.

NNT