6,000 protest against junta
More than 6,000 people attended a PTV rally at Sanam Luang yesterday demanding the removal of the junta. Former Thai Rak Thai members of Parliament were present.
PTV leader and former MP Veera Musigapong said the rallies were now a "public movement" in which other pro-democracy groups were welcome to join. He said its goals were clear - to oust the Council for National Security (CNS). Supporters waved paper flags and banners calling for the CNS to "get out", while others raised photographs of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and called for his return to the country. The former MPs attending included Ekkaporn Rakkwamsuk, Pimpa Chanprasong and Waipot Arpornrat. The Metropolitan Police yesterday warned PTV leaders that demonstrators were prohibited from the streets and sent 450 officers to the protest site. PTV leaders reportedly planned to lead the rally on a march to Army headquarters about three kilometres away. Yesterday's assembly followed another on Thursday near the Royal Plaza, to which 3,000 people came. It demanded the removal of the CNS and criticised Wednesday's Constitution Tribunal decision to dissolve the Thai Rak Thai and ban its 111 executives from the electoral process for five years.
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