Asia-Pacific

Red-shirts return home as army completes clearing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-21 13:25

 

Workers remove tyres from a road where "red shirt" protesters had set up a barricade in central Bangkok May 21, 2010. Thai authorities restored order over most of Bangkok on Thursday but the peace looked fragile, a day after rioting and fires that veered toward anarchy as troops took control of a camp occupied by anti-government protesters.[Agencies]

"Red shirt" protesters take part in a welcoming ceremony at the Chiang Mai train station after arriving from Bangkok, 700 km (435 miles) north of Bangkok May 21, 2010. Troops manned razor-wire roadblocks and searched vehicles for weapons in Bangkok on Friday, two days after they ended anti-government protests that descended into the worst violence in modern Thai history. [Agencies]

BANGKOK - The Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES) on Friday morning announced that security forces have already completed clearing streets around the Rajprasong Intersection, CRES spokesman Col. Sansern Kaewkamnerd addressed the nation in a television program.

Now, the security personnel are checking some 10 buildings surrounding the Rajprasong area, including 2 hotels and 2 hospitals, Thai News Agency reported.

It is expected that the security operations will complete by 3 p.m., local time, said Col. Sansern.

After that, at 6 p.m. local time, the CRES is going to hand the work, including cleaning the streets, over to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA).

All red-shirts protestors have been safely returned to their home provinces from Bangkok, said a director of the Transport Company on Friday.

Related readings:  Peace returns to Bangkok, but trouble looms  6 bodies found inside temple in central Bangkok  Bangkok in flames after protest leaders surrender  Bangkok: 37 die in clashes during May 14-18

According to Bangkok Post online, Wutthichart Kalayanamitr said he had received reports that convoys of buses transporting the red-shirts back home had arrived at their destinations without any accidents or violence.

The government arranged buses to send the protesters home, starting Thursday morning.

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security had given 200 baht cash to each protester to buy food during the journey, Wutthichart said.

The red-shirts returned home after their leaders announced an end of their prolonged rally in downtown Bangkok.