Participants in a rally held by the banned PTV become involved in a brief skirmish with police, who prevented them from holding a protest at the Royal Plaza yesterday.

Some 3,000 Thai Rak Thai party supporters yesterday held a rally near the Royal Plaza to demand the removal of the Council for National Security (CNS) and criticising Wednesday's historic verdict by the Constitution Tribunal that ordered the dissolution of the party and banned 111 of its executive members from politics for five years.

Organised by banned satellite broadcaster People's Television (PTV), two stages were set up at Miksakawan junction after the rally organisers agreed to a police suggestion hold the protest there. Initially, they planed to hold the gathering at the Royal Plaza but police barred the area.

Despite declaring that the gathering was not related to the Thai Rak Thai party's dissolution, the main speakers focused on the issue. The speeches made from the two stages called for the resignation of the CNS and for the government to admit its mistakes and that Wednesday's verdict was unfair to the Thai Rak Thai.

"Our goal is to remove the junta. The verdict to dissolve TRT on the charge that the party destroyed the nation's democratic administration is wrong. The CNS itself also destroyed democracy. So, who will dissolve the CNS? We, the Thai people, must not expect much from the coming election," PTV's organiser Jatuporn Phromphan said.

"From now on, the CNS should be ready to pack its suitcases to go home," said Chakraphob Penkhae, another key PTV member. He added that the PTV rally aimed to oust the CNS just as the previous People's Alliance for Democracy rallied to oust the former Thai Rak Thai government.

The rally began at around 4pm with some 100 people before increasing to 3,000 at about 9pm. The demonstrators carried paper flags saying "CNS Out", with the same slogan printed on bands around their heads. The pattern of the rally, as well as the location, was similar to the previous PAD rallies that led to the ousting of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"We are different from the PAD. Our rally is a gathering of people who share the same stand, against the junta. The PAD rally was a gathering of a vicious circle that called for a coup, while we are calling for democracy," Chakraphob told The Nation.

On stage, apart from Chakraphob and Jatuporn, were PTV leader Veera Musigapong and Nattawut Saikua. All four are former Thai Rak Thai executives who resigned to set up PTV. They claim it is an independent station not related to the party.

Among former Thai Rak Thai MPs at the rally were Suphorn Atthawong, Kasem Rungthanakiat and Arisaman Pongruangrorng, a former pop singer who sang anti-junta songs for the protesters.

PTV also gathered signatures for a petition to the King to seek his help in lifting the five-year political ban for the 111 executives.

At around 7pm, the Crown Prince passed the area as the protesters shouted anti-CNS slogans and waved flags. The speakers on stage asked the crowd to remain calm as the royal entourage passed.

Some 200 police, soldiers and officers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration were sent to guard the area. Some of the demonstrators confronted the police, but no violence was reported.

Before dispersing, PTV organisers asked supporters to return for another rally today.

Mayuree

Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation