As the city returned to normal, stories of the bloody events began to unfold The only arm of the military to emerge from the tragedy with some of its honour intact was the navy. Although the marines were amongst the front line troops facing the demonstrators, when push came to shove, they withdrew. At Pinklao bridge, which Chao Phaya river close to Sanam Luang they shielded thousands of panic-stricken protesters from possible attacks from heavily armed troops. The areas on the outskirts of the violence that they oc- cupied became safe havens for fleeing protesters. "We will not use force against the people", one officer explained