Some damage to property detected
ANUCHA CHAROENPO
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) will hand Government House back to the government today, ending the occupation which began more than three months ago.
Suriyasai Katasila, a PAD coordinator, said the handover would be made about noon in the presence of witnesses.
Loyluean Bunnag, deputy secretary-general to the Secretariat of the Cabinet, and Pol Maj-Gen Anant Srihiran, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Division 1, would represent the government while one of the five PAD leaders would perform the handover.
The alliance, whose members stormed and occupied Government House on Aug 26, yesterday led representatives of civic organisations, government officials, human rights commissioners, academics and senators to inspect the two main buildings in the Government House compound, Thai Khu Fa and Santi Maitree, for damage.
The inspection was carried out just a day after the PAD decided to abandon the grounds for safety reasons. Its supporters had come under grenade attacks almost every night over the past month.
Their pullout was also meant to allow royal ceremonies to go-ahead smoothly, including yesterday's Trooping of the Colour by 13 royal guards battalions to commemorate His Majesty the King's 81st birthday, which is on Friday.
Pongsak Siriwongs, of the PM's Office, said initial inspections had found no damage inside either the two buildings or the prime minister's office.
"However, we will thoroughly check the buildings for any property damage again later this week with the help of other Government House staff," said Mr Pongsak.
Following yesterday's inspection, Mr Pongsak said he would distribute inspection forms to all Government House division heads and ask them to list any items missing from their sections.
The cost of damage would be calculated only after all the agencies have completed their inspections, which would take a few weeks, he said.
Areas outside the two main buildings have suffered some damage, Mr Pongsak said.
After the handover, special branch police led by Pol Maj-Gen Thitirat Nonghanpitak, commander of special branch police division 3, will take over the Government House compound while police from Metropolitan Division 1 will be deployed to help clear up the mess from the surrounding roads.
"The roads will be reopened as quickly as possible," said Pol Maj-Gen Anant, who helped inspect the place yesterday.
Mr Suriyasai said the PAD supporters and guards would complete the demolition of makeshift tents and remove all of their belongings before the handover.
A PAD supporter, identified as Tik, 55, said she would miss the Government House grounds, where she and fellow demonstrators had camped for so many months.
"Despite all the discomfort, everyone here began fostering a sense of caring and emotional attachment as if they were one family, because we all shared the same ideals," she said.
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