Ministers' Govt House offices 'a total mess'
- By: SURASAK GLAHAN
- Published: 5/12/2008 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Initial estimates put damage at 25m baht
Several offices in Government House, including those used by deputy prime ministers, have been damaged or completely ruined, officials said yesterday.
City cleaners clear the front lawn of Government House, the compound of which was occupied by the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) from Aug 26. Photos by THITI WANNAMONTHA
The offices were ransacked and valuable items such as computers were found to be missing after the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) ended its occupation of the buildings.
Loyluean Bunnag, secretary-general to the Cabinet Secretariat, yesterday took journalists, police and state officials on an inspection tour of Command Buildings 1 and 2 after the PAD handed over control of the compound.
On Tuesday, Mr Loyluean made an initial inspection of the other two main buildings, Thai Ku Fah and Santi Maitree, but found no damage.
But the situation is different in the command buildings, which accommodate the offices of the deputy prime ministers, the minister to the Prime Minister's Office and the government spokesman. Furniture and furnishings were smashed, junk was piled up everywhere and windows were shattered.
Computer monitors and hardware were also missing, with only the CPU cases left behind.
The offices of former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat and former deputy prime ministers Sanan Kachornprasart and Surapong Suebwonglee, and former minister to the Prime Minister's Office Chusak Sirinil were also badly damaged - armchairs and antique reception couches were slashed, wallpaper torn and documents removed or thrown into rubbish bags.
Ajanitor has no idea where to begin tidying up in this office.
Mr Chusak's 100-plus amulet showcases were also stolen, one official said.
Apart from the desktop computers, officials said other missing items included laptops, digital cameras, projectors and television sets.
The loss of the computers and some documents meant valuable information had disappeared, the officials said.
"I want to cry. There's nothing left but a mess," said one female official after seeing her work station ruined.
Mr Loyluean said reports on damage to the buildings would be prepared . By Monday, the compound should be ready for use.
Before handing over the compound, the PAD leaders negotiated with the Office of the Permanent Secretary not to have charges filed against them. But Mr Loyluean declined to say whether the government would do so.
"It seems to be a crime against the state. It is up to the police whether they will file charges," he said.
During the PAD's occupation, the two buildings were surrounded by makeshift tents of PAD guards and others were not allowed to get in.
PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila earlier agreed criminal elements had got into the buildings and the group had agreed to pay for the damage.
Police also found home-made bombs and large firecrackers.
Nathi Premrassami, permanent secretary to the prime minister and chairman of a panel inspecting damage to Government House, said the damage was estimated at 25 million baht.
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