Special Report: Crisis in Thailand

    BANGKOK, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Thailand's Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratakalin insisted on Tuesday that the kingdom's military will not become involved in response to the growing anti-Thaksin mass demonstration, according to the Thai News Agency.

    Speaking in response to the news of a possible declaration of a state of emergency, he said he had no instruction to that effect, but it depended upon developments.

    However, the prime minister himself, from upcountry, was reported to be ready to sign an emergency decree which has already been drafted.

    Gen. Sonthi said the Army's security forces are prepared and are standing by on full alert in case the police request help.

    Tens of thousands of protesters led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) gathered at Government House through Tuesday morning to press caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to step down.

    Gen. Sonthi said the military would not intervene in the mass gatherings at Government House or do anything that could be a stepbackward in politics. He said he had ordered the military to remain neutral.

    Gen. Sonthi said he believed there wouldn't be any violence because both sides -- the government and the democracy alliance, PAD -- did not want to adopt a violent method to solve the problem. Enditem