At least six provincial halls in the southern region have been occupied by anti-government protesters who said on Wednesday they will not retreat until they receive a signal from protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.
More than 1,000 protesters fill the grounds of Chumphon provincial hall on Wednesday, demanding an end to the 'Thaksin regime'. (Photo by Amnart Thongdee)
The demonstrators converged on the main provincial offices in Trang, Phuket, Surat Thani, Chumphon, Songkhla and Satun, but did not intrude inside the buildings or damage state property.
They occupied the compounds, awaiting further directions from Mr Suthep, who is orchestrating the campaign in Bangkok. There were no reports from other regions.
The rallies in the six southern provinces followed his call on Tuesday night from the occupied Finance Ministry for anti-Thaksin regime protesters to take control of government offices in all provinces, to maim the government and show their defiance of the administration.
The provincial hall in Surat Thani is blocked by anti-government demonstrators. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)
The southern occupation was not deterred by a written order from Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan to all governors to fend off any attempt to take over the provincial halls, and threatening protesters that they could face prison terms of up to seven years if state property is damaged.
"In the event that protesters surround the provincial hall, the governor must protect it, to continue to provide public services and ensure officials can continue to work,'' he said in the order circulated to all provincial chiefs.
The minister gave the governors a free hand to decide on the enforcement of law and and order, and on declaring a disaster area, giving the government's primary provincial adminstrators full authority to handle the situation.
Despite Mr Charupong's directive, protesters were allowed to enter the compound grounds.
In Surat Thani, some protest leaders were also allowed to enter the buildings to give flowers and whistles to governor Chartpong Chatphuti, his three deputies and the provincial police chief, and they walked to all floors.
Phuket governor Maitree Inthusut recieves flowers and a whistle from protesters after they break into the provincial hall compound. (Photo by Achadtaya Chuenniran)
They asked officials at their desks to stop working and go home, or join the rally in the compound outside.
There were well over 1,000 protesters in Surat Thani. A similar number, led by the Network of the Students and People for Thailand's Reform, demonstrated in Trang province on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
In Phuket, about 1,000 protesters met governor Maitree Inthusut to give him flowers and a whistle, as a protest symbol, in front of the building.
"We will camp out here at the Phuket provincial hall. We will not damage state property as the protest is peacefull,'' Surathin Lien-udom, a protest leader, announced.
The southern region is the political base of the Democrat Party.
Police and officials in other provinces, including Rayong, on the eastern seaboard, and Phayao, in the North, were also put on alert for possible demonstrations.
Residents in Phayao were clearly upset after governor Chuchart Keelapaeng warned in a public broadcast that people and officials should stay neutral and ignore calls by anti-government groups to join the protest.
Chumphol Leelanond, an anti-government leader in the northern province, accused him of serving political masters instead of staying neutral himself and protecting the public interest.