Pattaya Asean protest disperses

About 3,000 supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) who had gathered at the entrance of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort hotel in Pattaya dispersed on Friday evening after handing a letter to a representative of the Asean Secretariat.

They promised to return on Saturday for an even bigger rally.
 
Ten red-shirts led by former Thai Rak Thai MP Arisman Pongruangrong were allowed to enter the hotel to hand the letter, an explanation of the reasons behind the protest, to the head of the external relations unit of Asean Secretariat, Bala Kumar Palaniappan.
 
The meeting came after Chonburi governor Surapon Pongtadsirikul went to meet the protesters, who refused to hand their letter to local officials.

The letter carried the message that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva came to power with the help of the Privy Council and the army, and his election  by the parliament was  undemocratic.

"We demand that Mr Abhisit step down and abolish the 2007 constitution," Mr Arisman said.

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The protesters returned to their base at Big C in North Pattaya after the letter was handed over. They said they would resume their protest on Saturday, promising a larger number of demonstrators.  Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan welcomed their withdrawal for the night.
 
"All the leaders appreciated their withdrawal,'' Mr Surin told reporters. "We hope that it is not necessary for them to resume the rally."
 
"But if they find it necessary, then we hope that there will be no confrontation," he said.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva  downplayed the red-shirt protests at an evening press conference.
 
"Protests do happen everywhere in the world," he said, citing the recent G20 summit in London.
 
He said the rallies would not affect Thailand's hosting of the Asean summits.
 
"The protesters submitted their  letters to officials at embassies of Asean nations a few months ago, but leaders of those countries are still here to attend the meetings," he said.
 
"I also went to London as a representative of the 10 Asean nations."
 
He also said the security measures put in place on Friday were aimed at ensuring smooth organisation of the summits and to ensure the safety for the leaders attending the meetings.

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EARLIER REPORT by Heamakarn Sricharatchanya

Red-shirt rally blocks entry to Asean Summit venue

About 2,000 red-shirt protesters marched under scorching sun to the Royal Cliff Beach Resort hotel in Pattaya, venue of the 14th Asean Summit, on Friday, blocking the entrance and demanding Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's resignation.

They were able to pass several security points setting up along the two-kilometre road to the hotel without any clashes.

"We will not break into the hotel," said Chukiat Duangchana, a core leader of the red-shirts in Lop Buri. "We are here to demand the resignation of the prime minister."

The protesters rattled hand-held foot-clappers and cheered loudly as their leaders spoke through a loud speaker from the back of a truck. "Our objective is not to obstruct the summits. We want to join in the summits too," Mr Chukiat said.

Many demonstrators shouted "PM, Get Out" and ''Prem, Get Out."

About 300 navy personnel formed lines in front of the hotel to prevent the protesters from entering the grounds.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban came out to the entrance of the hotel to see the protest, but did not speak a word to them.

"The government is trying to solve the problem using soft measures," Mr Suthep told reporters. "We will try to negotiate with the protesters and ask them to keep the country's interests at heart."

National Police chief Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan was negotiating with protest leaders, asking them to move away from the hotel entrance to allow the entry of leaders of six nations who were scheduled to join the summit on Friday, he said.

"We will try to negotiate with them first," Mr Suthep said. "If they refuse to negotiate with us, then we may have to force them to open the way."

The deputy prime minister reiterated that the government would show the utmost patience, but he has previously warned there are limits.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen arrived at the hotel in the morning. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva arrived by helicopter prior to the protest.