Anti-government demonstrators have decided to end their occupation of the Interior Ministry amid concern about a possible confrontation with local officials.
A PDRC guard repairs barbed wire at the Interior Ministry. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)
People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban said that all those occupying the ministry would relocate to the main base at Lumpini Park on Saturday night so that authorities could retake the complex.
The decision came as representatives of 80,000 kamnan and village chiefs from across the country announced plans for a rally at the ministry in Bangkok on Sunday to demand an end to the seizure.
Mr Suthep himself began his political career as a kamnan and has attempted to rally local administrators to his side throughout his six-month protest.
He said on Saturday that the withdrawal was a tactical change and dismissed claims that it was prompted by the planned rally.
Authorities led by Pol Lt Gen Adul Narongsak, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau and senior ministry officials held talks with Thaworn Sienneam of the PDRC at the Defence Ministry to persuade the demonstrators to return the Interior Ministry to the caretaker government.
The PDRC set a condition that it would hand over the ministry only to national police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew and Gen Apirat Kongsompong, commander of the 1st Division, Kings Guard, before allowing soldiers to go inside to assess the damage done by their weeks-long occupation.
The PDRC decided to vacate the site to prevent a possible conflict, police deputy spokesman Pol Maj Gen Anucha Romayanond said after the meeting.
The hardline Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand first occupied the compound on Nov 25. It subsequently turned the complex over to the Labour Solidarity Committee and State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation, led by Somsak Kosaisuk, a PDRC key member.
Kamoldit Rojthanawipat, chief of kamnan and village heads in Chiang Mai, said that about 80,000 people, including about 1,100 people from his group, were travelling to Bangkok.
Mr Kamoldit said the local officials would carry out their activity within one day and would go home after their mission was completed.
The blockade had disrupted ministerial officials from working and the public has been adversely affected, he said.
The seizure is unlawful and local chiefs needed to retake the area, Mr Kamoldit said, adding that they would wear their uniforms during the rally.
The plan was devised after a meeting of about 80 kamnan and village heads at the Institute of Administration Development in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani on Thursday.
Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and his deputies Pracha Prasopdee and Wisarn Techathirawat also participated in the meeting.
The local officials will meet at Saran Rom Palace near the Defence Ministry on Sunday before moving to the Interior Ministry about noon with village defence volunteers playing a key role in retaking the ministry.
The group will then gather in front of the Grand Palace to express their well wishes to His Majesty the King to mark Coronation Day on Monday before returning home.