The government underestimated the potential for violence in the wake of the surrender of the red shirt leaders, the prime minister's secretary-general says.
A major centre of Bangkok’s world of glamour is no more as part of the gutted CentralWorld mall comes crashing down after a fire blazed out of control for almost 20 hours. Natthiti Ampriwan
The government and the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation expected retaliation by radical members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship after deciding to end the demonstration on Wednesday.
But Korbsak Sabhavasu admitted at a news conference at the CRES yesterday that the widespread looting and arson, especially in the capital, far exceeded the government’s projections.
Thirty-six buildings were burnt in Bangkok alone, some of them — such as the CentralWorld shopping centre — sustaining massive damage. Provincial halls in Udon Thai, Ubon Ratchathani, Mukdahan and Khon Kaen were also torched by angry red shirt members on Wednesday.
A total of 52 people have been killed, 15 of them on Wednesday and yesterday, and 399 have been injured since last Friday, according to the Ewaran Emergency Centre.
Mr Korbsak yesterday denied the government had ignored attempts by senators to broker an end to the political stand-off. “The prime minister never said he would sit down to talk. He said the [time for] negotiation had passed,” the premier’s secretary-general said.
The government will assess the business and individual damage and will come up with measures to help them, Mr Korbsak said.
Yutasak Romchattong, director of the Prevention and Mitigation Office at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, said one reason for the severe damage to several buildings on Wednesday was the ban by the CRES on firefighters going into those areas because of safety concerns.
Fire trucks and firefighters could not battle the fires until dawn yesterday, he said.
Uncertainty about the situation has prompted the CRES to extend the curfew until tomorrow in Bangkok and 23 other provinces. The curfew will be in effect from 9pm to 5am in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Ayutthaya, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Si Sa Ket, Ubon Ratchathani, Nongbualumpoo, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Sakon Nakhon, Kalasin and Mukdahan.
A police source said maximum security measures had been put into place for Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and key cabinet ministers for fear they might be targetted by snipers. Police are also concerned about the safety of Bhumjaithai Party de facto leader Newin Chidchob.
CRES spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said an all-out effort would be adopted to see there was a return to normalcy as soon as possible.
Col Sansern said searches of Lumpini Park and Wat Pathumwanaram after they were cleared by security authorities revealed large stocks of arms. Eighteen M79 grenades and launchers, 250 rounds of M16 ammunition and two rounds for HK47 rifles were found in the park. Police also found 27 M79 grenades and a launcher, one M16 rifle and an M67 grenade among other weapons at the temple.
In an attempt to put an end to future campaigns against the government, the CRES yesterday ordered a ban on financial transactions by one more company and 22 individuals. The 22 include Praiwong Techanarong, owner of Bonanza ranch in Nakhon Ratchasima, Puea Thai Party deputy leader Plodprasob Suraswadi, former transport minister Suriya Chuengrungruangkit and businessman Prayut Mahakitsiri.
