Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha on Thursday issued a strongly worded condemnation of the fresh violence and warned that the army will take action if it continues.
A bomb disposal officer records evidence at the Democracy Monument after the M79 grenade attacks on anti-governent protesters early Thursday. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
Gen Prayuth issued the warning in a statement in the wake of a deadly attack by gunmen at the Khok Wua protest site. Grenades were fired at the nearby Democracy Monument at about 2.45am, killing three people and injuring 22 others.
He condemned the violence against innocent people and warned that attacks must cease immediately.
The army could be forced to end the violence ''in full force'' to maintain law and order, he said.
"I would like to warn all groups, especially those using weapons against innocent people, to immediately stop it, now. If the violence continues, soldiers could be forced to come out to end it in full force,'' he said in the statement.
Blood stains are found at the Democracy Monument hours after it was attacked by M79 grenades. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
He said he could not rule out using soldiers if the situation spins out of control and there is chaos.
''In the event the situation escalates and becomes chaotic, the army has to mobilise its forces to end it,'' he said.
The statement was his strongest message since the People's Democratic Reform Committee began its protest campaign to "eliminate" the influence of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Thai politics on Oct 31 last year.
The army chief supported attempts to end the political turmoil through talks and legal channels, but admitted that difficulties meant there had been no progress so far and the violence was escalating.
He called on all sides not to impose any conditions or other obstacles to prevent "a quick end to the conflict in the country''.
The army was not sitting on the sideline, but was working cautiously to help solve the problems, he said, and asked for an end to the damaging criticism of the army. ''It is not acceptable, for all soldiers,'' he said.
Police and military investigators on Thursday continued to collect evidence at Khok Wua intersection and the Democracy Monument.
Pol Gen Ek Angsananond, deputy national police chief, said the gunmen fired at the protesters with M16 rifles and pistols as investigators found .223 and .45 cartridges at Khok Wua.
M79 grenades were launched at three spots near the monument, he said. One landed at the monument and injured protesters, another one exploded at Baan Dinso Boutique hostel and injured two guests and the last one landed near the Thonburi Group office.
Pol Col Kamtorn Ouicharoen, chief of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, said the attackers could have fired the grenades from the west side of the monument or in front of Government Saving Bank's Khok Wua branch.
Pol Maj Gen Chayut Thanathaweerat, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said police will boost security forces from 2am to 6am as that was the time when attacks generally occur.