Red shirts march for reply on House Dissolution

The Nation 

1.08pm:

 Red shirts protesters on Monday march to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkhen where the premier is inside to push for reply on House Dissolution.

1.08pm : red shirts leaders declare that they want to enter the 11th Infantry Regiment where peacekeeping operations commands is located. If their demand is not met, they would invade the compound.

noon : A red shirts leader; Arisamun Pongruengrong, says the rally in front of the regiment would end at 2pm and the protesters would move back to Pan Fah Bridge.

11am : Public Health Ministry upgrades emergency service to a highest level following the red-shirts march to the peacekeeping operations command in Bangkhen.

The ministry prepares extra beds, bloods and rescue cars in case of emergency.

The upgrading is announced after it evaluates that the number of the protesters exceeds 50,000.

10.40am : Rear of the red shirts' procession is still at Sanam Luang while its head already occupied Paholyothin Road in front of the 11th Infantry Regiment.

10.20am : Red shrits arrive of the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen. Their rally almost paralyse Paholyothin Road near Prasimahatat Temple.

10.10am : Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says in a special television programme that red-shirt leaders used false information to incite protesters to clash with the authorities.

He said the red-shirt leaders had been using doctored audio clips during the rally Sunday night to try to deceive the protesters that he ordered the use of force against them.

The premier insists the government had no plan to use force against the protesters and the enforcement of the Internal Security Act was aimed at keeping law and order, not for suppressing the protesters.

10am : Abhisit announces the government could not give in to the protesters' demand for House dissolution. He insisted the demand could not be met before the deadline expires at noon Monday.

He said his government would also have to heed opinions of other groups of people in the society.

The prime minister was speakigng to a press conference after a meeting with leaders of coalition partners. He said all coalition partners reached the common stand that the protesters' demand for House dissolution could not be met.

9.44am : The first part of the red-shirt procession from Phan Fa Bridge reach the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen. They arrived mostly on motorcycles and some pick-up trucks.

The regiment announced through loudspeakers to try to calm down the protesters while playing songs composed by His Majesty the King.

9am : The front part of the red-shirt procession from Phan Fa Bridge reached the Lard Prao Intersection on their way to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen, TNN Channel reported.

The front part is comprised of protesters on motorcycles. They stopped at the Intersection to wait for other protesters, who were travelling on pick-up trucks and other vehicles from Pan Fa rally site.

The protesters plan to reach the 11th Infantry Regiment at noon when the 24-hour deadline for the government to dissolve the House expires.

7.45am : The Metropolitan Police Bureau advises motorists to avoid the Phechaburi Road, Victory Monument and the Phaholyothin Road as protests were heading to the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bang Khen to defy the Army.

Pol Maj Gen Phanu Kerdlarppol, deputy metropolitan police chief, said the red-shirt protesters were moving the Pan Fah Bridge to Bang Khen, using Phetchaburi Road, passing through the Victory Monument and Phaholyothin Road, and could cause traffic snarls on the road.

He says traffic congestions could spill to Ramkhamhaeng and Lard Prao roads.