A group of irrigation officials ignored a warning from the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) as they rushed to greet anti-government protesters who visited their office in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district yesterday.
Upon seeing People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban's convoy approaching, many officials at the 11th Irrigation Office waved national flags, while others reached for their phones to snap photos.
Mr Suthep later held a closed-door meeting with agriculture permanent secretary Chavalit Chukachorn and Somsak Ketchamnong, chief of the 11th Irrigation Office.
Mr Suthep was accompanied by PDRC core members including Chumpol Julasai, Putthipong Punnakant and Akanat Prompan.
Speaking at a joint press conference with the ministry executives, Mr Suthep said he had made the visit to inform senior officials of the PDRC's push for national reform and to solicit cooperation from civil servants to see the reforms through.
He insisted the PDRC's protest was in the best interests of the country, and asked senior officials to join the campaign.
The PDRC believes the National Anti-Corruption Commission will indict caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for ignoring allegations of graft in the rice-pledging scheme, which would lead to her suspension from duty.
The protest leaders expect the indictment to come before the end of the month.
Mr Suthep earlier urged PDRC protesters to take to the streets as soon as the Constitutional Court rules on Ms Yingluck's alleged malpractice in the transfer of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri in 2011.
The PDRC secretary-general yesterday also denounced Capo for threatening to take disciplinary action against state officials who welcome anti-government protesters at their respective ministries.
The Capo warning came after Mr Suthep made a series of visits to ministries over the past two weeks in a bid to drum up support from government officials for his "national reform before elections" campaign.
Mr Chavalit said Mr Suthep had apologised for any inconvenience caused by the prolonged protest.
He said Mr Suthep also asked the Agriculture Ministry to tackle the falling prices of agricultural products and assist rice farmers who are still owed money under the rice-pledging scheme.