Thousands of protesters camped outside the office of Thailand's prime minister today after police removed barricades blocking them in their four-week campaign to oust the government.
The crowd, nearly all them wearing yellow shirts in honour of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, waved flags and sang songs outside the fence surrounding Government House as riot police stood by casually watching them.
This is a victory for the PAD and people who love justice PAD spokesman, Suriyasai Katasila
Despite fears of violence, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) march of 25,000 mainly middle-class Bangkok residents was largely peaceful. "This is a victory for the PAD and people who love justice," PAD spokesman Suriyasai Katasila told reporters.
The PAD, a collection of businessmen, academics, royalists and unionised workers, launched the campaign four weeks ago, united by their hatred of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra who was ousted in a bloodless 2006 coup.
The long-running protests against the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, which the PAD views as an illegitimate Thaksin proxy, raised political tensions at a time of stuttering economic growth and soaring inflation.
Fears of clashes last month between police and demonstrators stoked rumours of another military coup less than two years after the army's bloodless removal of Thaksin, who insists he has retired from politics although few believe him.
Samak called a meeting with the chiefs of the army and police as the protest unfolded, but declined to speak to reporters after the talks at a military compound.
A few days ago police said they were prepared to use fire hoses and tear gas to stop the marchers, and barricades of crash barriers and prison trucks were erected to block access to the government compound.
But after the protesters sat in front of the barricades for several hours, the police suddenly turned around and walked away. Some officers waved to the cheering crowd as they departed.
"Police had to let the protesters through our blockades because we never wanted to use violence against them in the first place," police major general Surapol Thuanthong said.
He said some 8,000 police would remain in the area to ensure there was no unrest. "We let them in because they promised not to use any weapons or go inside the Government House compound. They have kept their word so far," Surapol said.
Although the PAD said it wanted a peaceful rally, dozens of its bodyguards had armed themselves with baseball bats, plastic helmets and wooden shields.
PAD co-leader Chamlong Srimuang, a retired major-general who led a 1992 "people power" protest against a military-led government, said they would defend themselves if government supporters attacked the marchers.
Reuters