WASSANA NANUAM
Army commander Gen Anupong Paojinda has put about 1,000 soldiers trained in riot control on standby to back up police if the People's Alliance for Democracy demonstration gets out of control.
According to a source, Gen Anupong on Monday ordered First Army commander Lt-Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to keep ready nine companies comprising just over 1,000 soldiers from the 1st Division of The King's Guard in Bangkok. The commander of the 1st Division is Maj-Gen Paiboon Khumchaya.
The force is ready to go into action if the government proclaims a state of emergency. Lt-Gen Prayuth has ordered the soldiers not to carry guns. They will carry only equipment normally used in riot control.
The troops were put on standby before protesters entered Government House on Tuesday.
The source said reports were circulating that commanders of some forces had been bribed to stage a coup to tear up the 2007 constitution and revive the 1997 charter.
It was possible the government would declare a state of emergency as police might not be able to contain a mob, the source said. Bloody clashes would end the legitimacy of the government.
But a state of emergency would mean soldiers being deployed on the streets, leading to the possibility of another coup.
''It depends on Prime Minister Samak whether he dares to make the announcement. It would put him at risk as it's uncertain whether he could control all of the military if security powers are transferred to the armed forces,'' the source said.
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