All Thais urged to heed HM King's advice

BANGKOK, January 20 (TNA) - Army Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha has urged all Thai people to follow His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's advice on fully performing their own duties. In response to violence in Bangkok over the past few days resulting from persistent political protests, General Prayuth suggested on Monday that all Thais parties, including security officers and anti-government protesters, put full efforts in keeping peace and order. General Prayuth admitted that he is worried over recent violent incidents, calling on investigators to find out who the culprits are. The army chief noted that he has coordinated with National Police Chief Police General Adul Saengsingkaew to accelerate finding those who are behind the violence and to punish them. According to the army commander-in-chief, the current domestic political situation is unlike that in 2010, when weapons were used to resolve the problem. The army chief pointed out that more social divisiveness could become deepen if force was employed this time. The army chief acknowledged the military is being pressured to come out and use force following recent violent incidents amid domestic political turbulence. The Thai army chief stressed that the military has its principle duties, namely protecting national sovereignty along the border and maintaining peace in the insurgency-plagued Thai far South, but the military has, however, sent more than 40 companies of troops to support the government-run Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO). Meanwhile, Deputy National Police Chief Police General Aek Angsananont told journalists that police investigators are confident they will soon be able to apprehend those who involve in recent violent incidents, including a bomber who threw bombs at anti-government protesters on January 17 and 19, killing a victim and wounding nearly 70 others totally, including a female press reporter, after they have obtained a close-circuit TV (CCTV) camera footage clearly showing the suspect.(TNA)