Asia-Pacific

Thai PM urges people not panic about anti-govt movement

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-04 14:18

BANGKOK: Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday urged the Thai people to remain clam after the anti-government red-shirted group announced that it will set up a people's army.

Thai PM urges people not panic about anti-govt movement

Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva attends a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, January 30, 2010. [Agencies]

Leading opposition Pheu Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh reportedly will be appointed as the supreme commander of the people's army, the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT) under the state-owned Public Relations Department said.

The Thai prime minister called for the Thai people not panic over the announcement to set up the people's army as the government will be careful to assess the movement.

The country has laws and everybody needs to abide by the laws, hence there is no reason for anyone in the society to use violence, Abhisit said.

In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban has vowed not to tolerate the people's army, which will be set up by the red-shirted people.

Suthep, who is in charge of security affairs, said he will not allow any illegal army to incite violence or threaten the government since it will damage the country's national interest.