About 400 red-shirt supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) assembled in front of the Finance Ministry on Thursday afternoon to protest against the government's decision to seek more foreign loans.
Supporters of Thaksin Shinawatra extend their protest to the Finance Ministry on Thursday as their mass anti-government protest enters its second week. Photo by APICHIT JINAKUL
Thousands of demonstrators have been camped outside Government House since last Thursday, demanding that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolve his three-month-old government and call a snap general election.
Police said about 1,600 red-shirt protesters split off from the main rally and arrived at the Finance Ministry four kilometres away in trucks and on motorcycles. UDD leaders Veera Musikhapong, Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua did not join them.
The Democrat party's head office is near the ministry, but the UDD followers did not assemble there despite earlier hints they might.
Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Suporn Phansua said two companies of police were dispatched to maintain order around the ministry. He believed the protest would remain orderly.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban urged the protesters to comply with a court order not to block the gates of Government House and to allow officials to enter.
"I call on all protesters to respect the law," he said. "It is intimidation and a violation of other people's rights for officials walking into Government House to be subject to a body search.''
Mr Suthep denied the protesters' claim the government had blocked a satellite television station run by the protest movement which has been broadcasting Thaksin Shinawatra's speeches to the crowds.
UDD lawyer Karom Poltaklang said they had decided not ask the Civil Court to lift its injunction ordering the protesters to stop blocking the gates of Government House and to refrain from using loudspeakers during office hours.
Mr Karom said the UDD core members did not think the protesters had the intention of blocking the gates of the government complex.
As for the loudspeakers, the lawyer said the UDD leaders were willing to negotiate with the authorities, to show that they respect the law and the court.
Source: Bangkok Post
No comments:
Post a Comment