Sounds of whistles filled the air around Samsen railway station yesterday evening as Democrat MP for Surat Thani Suthep Thaugsuban vowed to press ahead with an all-out protest until the amnesty bill is withdrawn.
Anti-government protesters converge on the Democrat-led demonstration near Samsen train station in Bangkok’s Dusit district. About 20,000 people have joined the rally which aims to pressure the government to withdraw the controversial amnesty bill from parliament. PATIPAT JANTHONG
On the first day of the party-led protest, which drew around 20,000 participants, Mr Suthep took the stage to declare the rally would "go all the way".
He said the protest would not end until Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra withdraws the bill from parliament.
"If not, we will keep on fighting," he said. "If the prime minister's conscience is clear and she is aware that she is elected because the people trust her, then she must not hurt the people.
"She should withdraw the bill and announce that she will not do it again. That would be the end of the fight."
Mr Suthep said the Samsen rally was not merely a stage for the Democrat Party, and that the "people's struggle" was open to everyone who opposed the amnesty bill.
He encouraged supporters from outside Bangkok to take a train to Samsen station to join the rally. Protests against the bill are also being staged at various provincial halls across the country.
Protesters began arriving at the Samsen rally site yesterday afternoon. Centres for logistical support and food supplies were already up and running, indicating the protesters were gearing up for a prolonged demonstration.
When Mr Suthep took the stage about 7pm, police put the size of the crowd at 20,000.
Earlier in the day, national police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew estimated that the protest would draw 20,000-30,000 people, mostly from Bangkok. "They are free to join the protest. We just ask them not to cause trouble for others, especially traffic chaos," he said.
On-stage activities kicked off with various Democrat MPs taking turns to address the crowd. They included Sathit Pitutecha, Sathit Wongnongtoey, Issara Somchai and Apimonkol Sonakul.
Mr Suthep was seen leaving party headquarters at 4.30pm, and greeted protesters at a rally-site kitchen area shortly afterwards.
He told the crowd it was not the time to say whether he would resign as an MP to lead the protest _ that decision would be made only as the situation develops.
Mr Suthep also criticised police for warning about possible violence by a third party, accusing them of acting as government lackeys.
The Democrat MP later welcomed Pol Gen Vasit Dejkunjorn, founder of the Thai Spring movement, who arrived at the rally stage at 6pm. Pol Gen Vasit said while he was a Democrat, he was ready to fight alongside anyone who opposed the "Thaksin Shinawatra regime".
Traffic flow around the protest site was largely unaffected, despite Kamphaeng Phet 5 Road being cordoned off.
Trains, however, were unable to pass through Samsen railway station as protesters spilled onto the tracks.
Pol Gen Adul said the focus of security operations was at Government House and the parliament, where the second reading of the controversial amnesty bill began yesterday.
He said 40 companies of police, or about 6,000 officers, had been deployed to maintain order and direct traffic around the protest site.
City police chief Khamronwit Thoopkrachang yesterday ordered all units to go on high alert. Two companies of police were deployed along the rail tracks near the protest site to prevent any third parties from stirring violence. Checkpoints were set up to search people and vehicles entering the rally area for weapons and other illegal items.
Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit said he believed violence would not erupt and the protesters would not disrupt train services. He said teams of negotiators had been appointed and were ready to hold talks with protest leaders as needed.
An extension of the Internal Security Act was not needed to contain the demonstration, he added.
Deputy governor Phusadee Tamthai said all City Hall-run schools would open today as scheduled despite the rally. The situation would be evaluated on a daily basis, she added.
Meanwhile, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, about 500 police officers were deployed to the provincial hall ahead of an anti-amnesty rally.
Opponents of the amnesty bill are expected to gather near the hall today at 1pm. The Democrat Party also expects protesters to converge at provincial halls in several other southern provinces.
Army commander Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday played down any chance of military intervention, insisting a coup would not solve any problems.
He said it was up to the government to decide if a special law should be invoked to handle the protest and if the military should be deployed.
Somchai Wongsawat, chief of the Pheu Thai Party's strategic committee, yesterday denied a report that the party was considering backing away from the amnesty bill. He said the party remained committed to the revised version of the bill and insisted all party MPs were required to toe the party line.
He said those who failed to would have to "face the consequences".
A 500-strong group of medical staff and personnel from various hospitals yesterday hit the streets to show their fierce opposition to the government’s blanket amnesty bill. They made their way from Ramathibodi Hospital at 5pm to Uruphong intersection to provide support to the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand before joining the mass rally organised by the opposition Democrat Party in Samsen about 8pm. PAWAT LAOPAISANTAKSIN