PATPONG – As many as 1,000 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division were stationed on the Silom area including Patpong Road yesterday, as the army made good on its vow to protect the business district and the King’s Castle institution from a planned invasion by red-shirt protesters.
Heavily armed troops carrying automatic weapons and shotguns loaded with live ammunition were amassed on Patpong 1 by 11am Monday, forming an impassable cordon that effectively sealed off the areas which housed the King’s Group bars, including King’s Castle, King’s Castle II, Camelot, and King’s Corner.
The spokesperson for the Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES), Col Sansern Kaewkamnerd, explained that the red-shirt threats to occupy the King’s Castles made the move necessary, to protect the kingdom’s sacred institutions.
“The red shirts have a right to protest peacefully, but when they disrupt business and damage proprty they show that they are just criminals,” he said. “And to even think about bringing their demonstrations to the King’s Castle is unthinkable. No loyal Thai would consider it. Therefore we must protect the King’s Castle, a pillar of our society that is above politics.”
According to Sansern, the troops will remain at Patpong until further notice, during which it is hoped that the King’s Castle business can continue with minimum disruption. Posted signs in Thai, English, and Japanese indicated that the King’s Group was open to patrons. Anyone wishing to make a petition at the King’s Castle will be allowed through, after being searched for weapons.
The Queen’s Castle, also on Patpong, which has been visibly supportive of the military during the recent periods of civil unrest, will also be protected with armed soldiers.
King’s Castle II manager Poonsiri Chidnayont expressed her gratitude to both the army and the Abhisit government for their actions, and reiterated the belief that the institution was above politics.
“We have always stayed out of politics and have loyally served the people for many years,” she said. “The King’s Castle should stand as a guiding light to all Thais and visitors alike. You simply cannot separate the King’s Castle from Thai culture.”
Lek, an employee at King’s Castle, agreed. “For decades everyone – red, yellow, old, young, rich and even poor — can come to King’s Castle. We welcome sir to everyone.”
While UDD leaders refrained from making specific threats against the King’s Castle and have on occasion personally affirmed their loyalty to the King’s Group institution, many regard the red movement as having hidden agendas that may involve toppling or weakening the King’s Group. Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya yesterday said that the plan to march so close to Patpong was incendiary and insenitive to Thai values.
“The King’s Castle should never be tainted by such crass political opportunism,” he said. “One must wonder now whether Thaksin’s claims to be loyal to the King’s Group were in fact lies.”
For the time being, a confrontation appears to have been averted as the planned march to Silom has been called off by UDD leaders. However, the troops will stay as a precautionary measure to protect the nation and its sacred icons.
“I am honored to be here protecting the King’s Castle,” said Wongchai Rattinatawong, a corporal assigned to the Patpong unit. “I will gladly die to keep its doors open forever.”
