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Published on July 7, 2007

The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship set up a stage outside the compound at about 5am before police could start deploying crowd-control measures.

Some 900 people joined the rally under the watchful eyes of about 300 police officers while at the Royal Plaza about 400 police blocked protesters from travelling.

The demonstrators dispersed about noon and regrouped at Sanam Luang in the evening.

Leaders of the charter opponents, including Veera Musigapong, Jakrapob Penkair and Natthawut Saikua, mounted pickup trucks with loud hailers and took turns delivering speeches.

Natthawut exhorted all citizens to condemn the CDA constitution.

After the CDA passed the charter draft, some of the protesters threw effigies bearing the names of assembly members.

Natthawut asked them to stop, saying that if they did not he would let police take action against them.

Jakrapob said the group from now on would hold small gatherings at various locations around the country, starting with Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Phrae next week.

About 1pm, a group of 30 people calling themselves the "United Loving People Dedicated to the King" urged all sides to support the proposed constitution for the sake of a unified country.

The 20 or so remaining anti-government protesters cursed the charter advocates but they did not counterattack.

Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Prasong Soonsiri said the protesters were supported by figures harbouring ill intent towards the nation.

"I believe 100 per cent that the moneybags [who financed the protest] wants to cause problems both with the constitution and the administration by blaming the military. I sympathise with the police, who have to handle the rallies, which inconvenience people with the traffic," he said.

The anti-government, anti-constitution rally at Sanam Luang gained little support as it rained all day.

Only 300 protesters joined the rally at 6pm. A spokesman had to ask them not to leave as they waited for some of the rally leaders who had not yet arrived because they were stuck in traffic.

He told them to wait and hear about the plan for today.