The five were charged with obstructing officials in their duties and refusing to obey officials' orders after the two groups brawled.

More than 50 police and 80 officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) raided the northern area of Sanam Luang at about 9am to remove the stage, which the protesters had used to attack the junta and the government since March 5.

The five activists guarding the stage were accused of obstruction and throwing glass bottles. Two police were slightly injured in the one-hour operation to arrest the protesters.

Rengsak Horarueng, director of Phra Nakhon district, said the protesters had not sought permission from his office to use that part of Sanam Luang.

The BMA, he said, had told the protest leaders in a letter on March 7 to remove the stage as Sanam Luang would be used for a sports festival from March 10-April 7. But they carried on their activities.

Governor Apirak Kosayodhin insisted the protesters would not be allowed to use Sanam Luang, because it was scheduled for the sports activities.

Confederation for Democracy chairman Weng Tojitrakarn and other anti-coup groups planned to lead a rally at Sanam Luang tomorrow to call on the Council for National Security (CNS) to return power to the people. They say the CNS and the Surayud government have failed to run the country efficiently.

Meanwhile, former Thai Rak Thai spokesman Jatuporn Promphan, a co-founder of the controversial People's Television (PTV), condemned the government for suppressing freedom of expression.

With the leaders vowing to hold their rally anyway, Jatuporn said he and his PTV supporters might join the rally to show their dissatisfaction over the "injustice".

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation