Second rally planned at Government House

20,000 attend anti-govt protest by Pitak Siam at Royal Turf Club

The surprisingly successful first rally against the Yingluck Shinawatra government called by the Pitak Siam movement at the Royal Turf Club yesterday was just a "warm-up" for a bigger demonstration at Government House, leaders said.

"We can't let the government go on working or else the country will suffer more damage," retired Army general Boonlert Kaewprasit told the stadium, which was at near full capacity of 20,000 seats.

Other leading opponents of the government who took to the stage to attack the premier, her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and the government were Seree Wongmontha, Tul Sitthisomwong and hard-liner activist Prasong Soonsiri.

The crowd cheered and applauded when the speakers took turns condemning the government's failures and calling on Yingluck to step down, claiming she was not suitable for the position.

Boonlert went up on the stage at 1:30pm and called the current government "a puppet of Thaksin". He said Thaksin had looked down on Thais by believing that he could send anyone to become the prime minister.

"I've invited you, the people, to rally today to stop the work of this government immediately," he told the audience.

The government had done nothing to stop several people from attacking and violating the royal family, he said, adding that the government also lacked good governance but practiced massive corruption.

He urged the participants of the initial rally to come back for the next one and bring along 100 more sympathisers each.

He said he was happy that the turnout was so huge, as he had expected 10,000.

The Pitak Siam (Protect Siam) group would hold a meeting with its allies to decide on the date for the next rally and on the strategy for bringing the government down.

Tul said his multicoloured-shirt group and the allies should have a clear idea by late next week of how to move against the government.

It would be called a two-staged plan for ousting the government.

The next gathering of the movement would be in front of Government House.