CRISIS
Police do not expect the two groups to clash
Thousands of people have rallied in Bangkok and some provinces in the North, the Central Plains and the Northeast to show their displeasure with the People's Alliance for Democracy's takeover of Government House.
The rallies have taken place with the support of some government MPs, to counter the anti-government demonstration by the PAD in Bangkok and other provinces.
About 1,000 people from the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) gathered at parliament on U-thong Nai road yesterday to support Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his government.
They urged police to take legal action against PAD supporters who have occupied Government House for a week.
The UDD members, who mostly wore white and red shirts, threatened to seize parliament if Mr Samak resigned as prime minister and bowed to the PAD's demands.
They moved to the nearby Metropolitan Police Bureau on Si Ayutthaya road to give moral support to police assigned to keep an eye on the PAD demonstration.
There they handed flowers to deputy police spokesman Surapol Thuanthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Kowit Wattana and border patrol policemen. The group then returned to parliament.
Pol Maj-Gen Surapol said police would mobilise forces to prevent clashes between pro-government and anti-government supporters. He did not expect a clash.
About 30 pro-government people rallied in downtown Chiang Rai yesterday to denounce the PAD and demand a revival of the 1997 constitution.
They distributed red headbands, red flags and free meals and sold red shirts to passers-by.
More than 100 people left Chiang Rai by bus on Saturday, heading for Bangkok to join the UDD rally.
In Chiang Mai province, about 500 people rallied at the provincial hall against the PAD.
About 4,000 people would rally at the Phayao provincial hall today in support of the government.
People Power party MPs for Phayao and local politicians are supporting the rally.
About 1,000 pro-government people wearing white shirts rallied near the provincial hall of Ayutthaya yesterday.
Leading the rally, Chatree Yuprasert, vice-president of the provincial administration organisation, handed a bouquet of flowers to Ayutthaya governor Preecha Kamonbut, saying his group was sending moral support to the prime minister through the governor.
They also burned effigies of PAD leaders Sondhi Limthongkul, Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Suriyasai Katasila.
The Ayutthaya governor thanked the group for keeping their demonstration legal, and not travelling to Bangkok.
About 5,000 people rallied to show support for the government in downtown Roi Et province yesterday, and vowed to counter the PAD movement. The same activity was repeated by about 1,000 people at the provincial hall in Ubon Ratchathani.
More than 10,000 people also gathered in downtown Buri Ram province yesterday.
Leading the crowd, PPP MP for Buri Ram Sanong Thep-aksornnarong said the rally was intended to show the PAD that most Thais disagreed with their stance, and believed their protests were hurting the country.
People from Buri Ram would go to Bangkok if the PAD created further damage, he said.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Next
