Jatuporn Promphan, another red-shirt leader, yesterday claimed Army chief General Anupong Paochinda had ordered an additional 70 companies of police to be deployed and heavy weaponry to crack down on the protesters in a day or two.If the reds know the plan, and the government knows the reds know the plan, would the government think such a plan was still viable?
He claimed he had been tipped off that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva had summoned Anupong, telling him he would not bow to the red shirts' proposal to dissolve the House in one month and instructed that Anupong break up the rally immediately.
Anupong said he was waiting for the right timing to execute the crackdown on the protesters. The Army chief told the PM he had summoned lower-ranking red-shirt leaders and ordered them not to bring more protesters to the Rajprasong rally.
Jatuporn said Anupong had instructed 70 companies of police to report to him at the 11th Infantry Regiment by noon today.
He said 23 companies of soldiers would move to Lumpini Park, three companies of quick-response units, 200 motorcycles and pickup trucks - apart from 150 motorcycles from other military units that would operate in plainclothes but be fully armed with M16 and A2 guns, including 2,000 shotguns.
About 80 of them would disguise themselves and mix with red-shirt protesters and would shoot at the leaders when the crackdown order was issued, he claimed.
Four Black Hawk helicopters and a Chinook helicopter would be used. Twenty special task force officers were being readied to rappel down ropes and capture red-shirt leaders.
Jatuporn said the crackdown would be carried out by today or tomorrow. "We are ready to fight till death. No matter how many weapons they are going to use,'' he said.
Recent events on the streets Bangkok would seem to suggest that the red shirts are more than the government's equal when it comes to strategy and tactics.
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