Show of red force

Following is the chronology of the incidents when the protesters began marching from Sanam Luang until dispersing from Government House:

Saturday

10:15 pm: Protesters left Sanam Luang, marching on Rajdamnone Road with about 100 motorcycles leading the procession. They comfortably passed through the first line of defence at the Democracy Monument.

They managed to pass through the police lines at the Pan Fah Bridge and Jor Por Ror Intersection without resistance.

10:45 pm: They reached the defence line at the Makkhawan Bridge and confronted police there. Police used barbed wires and power generator trucks to block the road.

Natthawut Saikua, a protest leader, announced to police that he would give police 10 minutes to make way for protesters to pass through. Protesters started throwing things and water bottles at some 200 policemen.

Protesters managed to remove the barbed wires and moved forward. They walked past the power generator trucks and reached another defence line at the Misakawan Intersection before reaching the road that is next to the fence of the front of the Government House.

At the intersection, protesters encountered lines of police and soldiers, which were backed up with two detention trucks.

11:35 pm: While protesters were confronting soldiers, four explosions were heard.  Officials opened the gate to allow reporters and some soldiers to go inside the Government House compound. The explosions were apparently noises of firecrackers lit by a protester.

11:50 pm: Natthawut announced that the protesters would disperse immediately after their representatives could go inside to post their statement on the front door of the Thai Khu Fah Building. He threatened to storm inside the Government House compound if the security officials did not allow protesters' representatives to go inside.

Sunday

0:05 am: Central Investigation Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Teeradej Rodphothong would not give in to the protesters' demand. The angry protester pushed back the line of police and soldiers and reached the road next to the fence of the front of Government House. Protesters also threw bottles at security officials behind the fence. Soldiers and police formed lines to surround the fence and many were stationed inside the compound.

0:30 am: Veera Musigapong, another protest leader, read a statement of four demands for the government to comply within 15 days. They are: 1) taking legal actions against the leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy immediately, 2) removing Kasit Piromya as foreign minister, 3) reinstating 1997 Constitution, and 4) dissolving the House. Veera then post the statement on the front gate.

0:45 am: Natthawut announced from the mobile sound truck, telling the protesters to move back to Sanam Luang.