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The Thai stock market yesterday was the first of many institutions to suffer from the latest round of political unrest, sparked by the activities of anti-government protesters.

The incidents were shocking to all, no matter who they are in

society. The degree of disturbance was high, given that television stations are usually only seized for live broadcasts at times of coups d'etat. It seems the People's Alliance for Democracy is assuming a military role in taking over government assets after futile efforts to bring soldiers to the streets to topple the Samak government.

A veteran reporter at Government House while on a telephone interview with an NBT TV anchor dubbed it a "rebel" movement. "Never before has a TV station been taken like this."

It was chaotic when protesters charged into the NBT studios. I don't know if anyone would condemn me for seeming somewhat cynical: while a Thai PBS reporter said protesters entered the premises in peace, scenes from NBT showed a number of protesters rocking the fence until it fell over. An NBT reporter also told audiences to witness it with their own eyes and to judge if the entry was peaceful. Some may have found it dramatic to see an NBT anchor saying that he could not contact any chief of reporter associations for protection. "Please turn on your mobile phones," he pleaded.

Some may find it barbaric to see a PAD member charging and punching Channel 3 host Kitti Singhapat in the face as if the country had turned into a fighting arena where anyone could become a boxer if they wished. Still, amid the barbarism, there was concern. Kitti was escorted into a taxi by some PAD members and fled to safety.

Some may find it strange that protesters stormed into the Finance Ministry's building. They went inside without any obvious purpose. One protester even said that he just wanted to check the place out. What if some document is missing or damaged, would he or PAD leaders be held responsible?

Some may find it awful. At the time when I was writing this, many PAD members were gathered in front of Government House, yelling "Open the gate!'' Indeed, they have the right to protest, but in peace, and is obstructing Cabinet members from doing their jobs constitutional? In a way, those ministers were given a free day yesterday, while their salary - financed by taxpayers - is intact.

Some may find it conciliatory to see the Agriculture Ministry simply opening the gate to welcome the protesters just to avoid violence.

No matter how these incidents end, some may find it the right time to rename the PAD. A more proper name could be "the pro-violence alliance".