BANGKOK, Feb. 17 (PNA/Xinhua) –Thailand’s army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday ordered troops to step up security around rally sites in the capital Bangkok to prevent violence.
Prayuth instructed army agencies concerned to closely monitor the operations of the government-run Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) to retake rally sites, the “Nation” newspaper reported.
Chief of the CMPO Chalerm Yoobamrung on Sunday said police forces would be deployed from Monday to reclaim five protest sites in Bangkok from protesters.
Chalerm also said earlier that caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would be able to work in the Government House again by Wednesday.
In response, anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on Monday morning led protesters to besiege the Government House to prevent Yingluck from returning to work there.
Another group of protesters also entered the premises of the Education Ministry on Monday and forced officials there to stop work and go home. (PNA/Xinhua)