Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed police to avoid the use of violence, in any form, when dealingwith the anti-government protesters and has promised to restore peace and normality to the country, according to Government Spokesman Mr. Anucha Buraparangsi.

The Prime Minister has, however, defended the forceful dispersal of protesters at the Pathumwan intersection in Bangkok yesterday, claiming that the police followed international standards of crowd control and that the water used in the cannons did not contain dangerous chemicals.

The Spokesman went on to say that the Government is willing and ready to work with all parties, to resolve the conflict within the legal framework, as the Prime Minister pleaded for cooperation from the people to help restore peace and order.

Meanwhile, the Pathumwan District Court has rejected a requestby Pathumwan police, to continue to detain eight protesters, on the grounds that they are unlikely to escape because they have known residences in Bangkok.

The eight were released by the court today. Among them was Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree, after the iLaw NGO posted 20,000 baht bail.

Two other protest leaders, Chinnawat Chankrachang and Sombat Thongyoi, were also bailed out by the NGO.

Tattep told the media, after release, that protest leaders are not only those held in custody, but there are several tens of thousands of them among the public.

He said, however, that he will not join any protest today, but will rest, as he urged the other protesters to carry on until their demands are met.