Asia-Pacific

Thailand's tension expected to ease soon: military top brass

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-23 20:56

BANGKOK - It is believed the country's political tension will ease soon, Thailand's Permanent Secretary for Defence, General Apichart Penkitti, said Friday.

The "red-shirt" rally was not peaceful as use of violence was also found, the Thai News Agency quoted General Apichart as saying.

However, involved authorities had no plan to disperse the "red-shirt" gathering since the government could not separate the terrorists from the "red-shirt" people, General Apichart said.

The Permanent Secretary for Defence has also urged the Bangkok residents to be patient and calm amid the ongoing "red-shirt" rally.

The anti-government "red-shirt" rally has started from March 12 as they have demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to "immediately" dissolve the lower House of parliament and hold a new general election.

The "red-shirts" have viewed that, apart from the House dissolution, there is no other solution to the country's ongoing political conflict.

But, at the same time the rise of Thais in various-color shirts, who have opposed the early House dissolution, is increasingly growing.