Published on January 14, 2006

Thousands of people were encamping in front of Government House Friday night to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a major protest reminiscent of the beginning of the downfall of the Suchinda regime in 1992.

Some 3,000 protesters had marched from the Lumpini Park under leadership of media tycoon Sondhi Limthongkul and former senator Pratin Santiprapop. Also joining the march were Klanarong Chantik, former head of the National Counter Corruption Commission, and Democrat MP Kalaya Sophonpanich.

When they reached Government House, several hundreds intruded into the compound at around half past midnight, easing past helpless and overwhelmed security forces. Only minor clashes occurred and there were no immediate reports of injuries. They occupied the compound for about 20 minutes before agreeing to retreat and regroup peacefully with the others outside.

The most serious incident in the political standoff between Thaksin and the antigovernment movement was virtually ignored by all free TV stations and all but a couple of radio stations. Some government TV stations reported the incident briefly in their breaking news but did not elaborate on the magnitude of the situation.

As of 2 am, the situation was tense but there was no violence, with protest leaders taking turn in launching verbal attacks on the government from the back of a truck.

The key leaders - Sondhi, Pratin, senator Chirmsak Pinthong, Klanarong and Kalaya - left the rally site when the situation calmed down.

The march began after Sondhi's Thailand Weekly talk show at the Lumpini Park.

The protesters waived the national flags and the yellow flags representing His Majesty during their walk on Rama IV Road. People along side the road waived to the protesters to show their support.

The Manager website reported that some of those encamped at Government House were those who came out of their homes to join the Lumpini protesters.

A hunger protest was also being reportedly planned.

The protest leaders vowed to submit a letter to Thaksin, who was scheduled to come to Government House in the morning for a Children’s Day ceremony, to demand that he “return powers” to HM the King. Basically, this is tantamount to demanding Thaksin’s resignation.

The movement was backed by government critic Prasong Soonsiri, Klanarong Chanthik, former secretarygeneral of the National Counter Corruption Commission, and Bangkok senator Chirmsak Pinthong.

Speaking to the demonstrators in front of Government House, Pratin said Thaksin should resign because he made statement deemed disrespectful to His Majesty when he addressed a group of taxi drivers early this month.

Sondhi said he led the demonstrators to rally in front of Government House because Thaksin said critics were barking at Lumpini Park so he moved to “bark” in front of Government House.

Despite the virtual news blackout by government TV and radios, netizens were aware of the incident and monitored developments through major websites including pantip.com, nationmultimedia.com and manager.co.th. Major political discussion web boards remained active till early in the morning.

The rally brought back the memory of the beginning of the antigovernment protest in 1992 that culminated in the collapse of the military government headed by strongman Suchinda Kraprayoon.

If the protesters refused to leave Government House this weekend, it could provide a catalyst for a bigger and politically explosive rally against Thaksin, whose government is fast losing the faith of the middle class.

Meanwhile, about 300 people from Chiang Mai gathered at the mouth of Soi 69 on Charan Sanitwong Road - the entrance to Thaksin’s residence - to show their support for the PM.

The Nation

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