PM tells Anupong to monitor situation

Somchai is currently in Peru to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Somchai insisted that Anupong's panel had no duty to crack down on the protesters.

"General Anupong's committee will be in charge of monitoring the situation and give suggestions to authorities concerned on how to deal with the protesters," Somchai said.

Anupong's panel has duties to monitor the situation involving the protesters who vowed to conduct a mass rally yesterday and march to Parliament today.

As Anupong had condemned the use of force on October 7, it is unlikely he would suggest drastic measures to deal with the PAD, observers believe.

The PAD announced plans to besiege Parliament to block any attempt to amend the Constitution that could pave the way for Thaksin and his banned political associates to return to power.

Somchai reiterated that the joint session between MPs and senators today would not discuss the Constitution amendment. The session will instead discuss laws concerning international trade and the Asean Charter, which requires Parliament's ratification.

Anupong told reporters yesterday evening that there was nothing special in his appointment to monitor the situation because he was already on the committee. The committee was appointed when former prime minister Samak Sundaravej declared a state of emergency in Bangkok.

"All agencies will use their power normally and all agencies should help keep order but we will have no special power," Anupong said.

The army chief said both the police and the soldiers will not use violence against the people and he hoped that the demonstrators would not use violence either.

A source from a security agency said Anupong has instructed the Internal Security Operations Command to monitor the situation closely. Anupong is deputy Isoc director.

The source said the Army has not yet received the order from Somchai directing Anupong to be in charge of monitoring the situation.

But the source said normally the government had to first declare a state of emergency before the army chief could be put in charge of monitoring the situation.