Thai soldiers patrol the financial heart of Bangkok

Yesterday, the army announced a crackdown against the "red shirts" - close to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in exile and supported by the opposition party United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – should they try to infiltrate the commercial heart of the capital Bangkok. A soldier, on condition of anonymity, says that "if they arrive on Silom Road, we will block the red shirts." He added that "we will not attack them," because the intention is only to "block them".  

The deployment of soldiers comes in the wake of a meeting between senior officials of the country in an attempt to provide a unified response to the political crisis experienced by Thailand and put an end to rumours of divisions. In recent days there have been rumours of a possible coup, by a fringe inside the army.  

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva appointed General Anupong Paochinda, chief of the armed forces, as the new chief of national security. He takes over from the deputy prime minister, unable to put an end to the protests of anti-government demonstrators that have paralyzed the capital for five weeks. Mnay are voicing their discontent for the management of national security, particularly after the violence of last April 10 in the streets of the capital between "red shirts" and soldiers, which caused 25 deaths and over 800 wounded.  

Meanwhile the protests are having a heavy toll on the Thai economy. Last week the stock index plummeted by 6.8% and trading - in part because of three days of celebration for the Thai New Year - has registered a significant deficit. The forecast for today predicts further drops for the financial market.