Whether caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will resign or not seems to be the hot question that every journalist wants to ask him, but none can manage to get past his retinue to actually do so.

Peter Lloyd of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday tried to get past Thaksin's guards to ask the premier about resigning and whether the April 2 election would be held as scheduled. Before he could get an answer he was pushed away by a member of Thaksin's retinue. His head knocked into another reporter's microphone, causing scratches.

Lloyd attempted to approach the man who had pushed him but was taken away by the premier's guards. The premier's follower, meanwhile, quickly got into a car and drove off.

Associated Press reporter Suthin Wannaboworn recently had his microphone switched off by Padung Limcharoen, an aide of the prime minister.

Downpour fails to dampen spirits

Rain kept falling on their heads, but the anti-government crowds rallying outside Government House remained defiant yesterday.

A heavy afternoon deluge drove many protesters staying at the Suan Misakawan Intersection to dive into tents. Others braved the harsh weather to sit and listen to Supinya Klangnarong, secretary-general of the Campaign for Media Reform, explain her victory over the Bt400-million defamation lawsuit filed against her by Shin Corp.

The thunderstorm brought lightning, which struck a short distance away from a tent, leaving many protesters scared but undeterred. Some took the opportunity to shampoo and rinse their hair in the rainwater.

After the downpour, demonstrators dried up the area for the evening gathering, while others cleaned the tents and prepared a resting space for the long night.

Chidchai helps peckish policemen

Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya is concerned not only with the protests outside Government House, he is also looking out for the well-being of police guarding the compound.

Chidchai yesterday spent Bt27,000 of his own money to buy food for the hard-working officers. He distributed 300 kilograms of oranges and more than 800 packets of sticky rice to the officers.