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A thwarted bomb attempt leads off a day when protestors of various colours and beliefs take to the streets.

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Police thwart protest bomb bid

Suspects say they were hired to instigate unrest

Wassayos Ngamkham and Nattaya Chetchotiros

Police have seized two homemade bombs and other ammunition from a group who reportedly confessed to having been hired to sabotage the People's Alliance for Democracy rally planned for today.

The discovery came as the PAD prepared to join two other pressure groups in a protest aimed at forcing the government to take a tougher stance in its dealings with Cambodia on border issues.

Police spotted a man behaving suspiciously at Misakawan intersection on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue about 5pm yesterday.

They said a search found he had two homemade explosives in his possession. One was designed to be detonated by a mobile phone signal, while the other was connected to a clock and set to go off at 7.45pm.

The man, later identified as Tawatchai Iamnak, 37, reportedly confessed to being hired to plant the bombs at Chamai Maruchet Bridge, near Government House, where the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect is staging a rally.

Police used a watergun to destroy the bombs' circuits.

Questioning of Mr Tawatchai led to the arrest of four other suspects at a house on Soi Rama II 28, where police found a number of rocket-propelled grenades and more ammunition, including about 30 bullets. One of the suspects reportedly confessed to being hired to stir up unrest at the PAD rally and to bomb Government House.

The arms seizure took place as demonstrators from the provinces started to arrive in Bangkok to join today's rally at Makkhawan Bridge on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the authorities had been informed of the attack attempt but he did not know who was behind the suspects.

The planned rally will see the PAD join forces with the Santi Asoke sect - also known as the Dhamma Army - and the Thai Patriots Network.

The situation has been further complicated by a planned demonstration today by the June 24 Group, which is allied to the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship. Its members plan to gather at the nearby Democracy Monument to protest against the PAD's interference in foreign relations.

The PAD has chosen Makkhawan Bridge to set up a stage, while the Santi Asoke sect and the Thai Patriots Network are encamped at Chamai Maruchet Bridge on nearby Phitsanulok Road.

The three groups share the primary demand of the revocation of a year 2000 memorandum of understanding signed by Thailand and Cambodia governing their border disagreements.

The PAD also wants the government to drive Cambodians from disputed areas on the border and to cancel Thailand's membership of the Unesco World Heritage Committee.

Mr Abhisit said yesterday he would not bow to the demands. Such actions would only have adverse effects and might lead to war.

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thwart – to prevent someone from doing something that they want to do สกัดกั้น  ป้องกัน
bid – an attempt ความพยายาม
suspect – a person who is thought to have committed a crime ผู้ต้องสงสัย
hire – to pay someone to work for you, especially for a short time จ้าง
instigate – to cause something bad to happen; to make something start or happen, usually something official ก่อให้เกิด, กระตุ้น
unrest – angry or violent behaviour by people who are protesting or fighting against something สถานการณ์ที่ไม่สงบ
seize – to take something using official power ยึด
ammunition – bullets, bombs, etc that can be fired from a weapon อาวุธยุทธภัณฑ์, ลูกกระสุน
reportedly – as reported (often used for showing that you are not certain that something you are reporting is true) ตามที่รายงาน
confess – to admit that you have committed a crime  สารภาพผิด
sabotage – deliberate damage that is done to an enemy or opponent การโจมตี บ่อนทำลาย
People’s Alliance for Democracy – the union of several groups protesting against the past government and which staged large protests against the Thaksin government as well พันธมิตรประชาชนเพื่อประชาธิปไตย  
pressure group – a group of people who try to influence the government and ordinary people's opinions in order to achieve the action they want, for example a change in a law กลุ่มกดดัน, กลุ่มที่มีความสนใจเฉพาะ
aim – to have as your purpose or goal   มีเป้าหมาย  มีจุดมุ่งหมาย      
tough – demanding that particular rules be obeyed and showing a lack of sympathy for any problems or suffering that this may cause ดื้อรั้น,แข็งแรง,ใจแข็ง
stance – an attitude or view about an issue that you state clearly; position จุดยืน
border – the official line separating two areas, regions or countries  เขตแดน อาณาเขต
issue – matter; a subject that people discuss or argue about  ประเด็น
spot – to see or notice สังเกตเห็น
behave – to do things in a particular way  ประพฤติตัว
suspiciously – in a way that makes you believe that something is wrong, dangerous or illegal อย่างน่าสงสัย
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
search – looking somewhere or through something carefully in order to find something การค้นหา
possession – having or owning something การครอบครอง
detonate – to cause to explode ทำให้ระเบิด
identify – to specify who someone is  ระบุชื่อ
plant – (of an explosive) to hide in a place where it can be exploded ฝัง
sect – a small group of people who belong to a particular religion but who have some beliefs or practices which separate them from the rest of the group นิกาย (ทางศาสนา),กลุ่ม, พรรค
stage – to organise an event or activity จัด
circuit – the complete path of wires and equipment along which an electric current flows วงจรไฟฟ้า
rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) – any hand-held, shoulder-launched weapon capable of firing an unguided rocket equipped with an explosive warhead
bullet – a small, metal object that is shot from a gun  กระสุนปืน
stir up – to make someone feel upset or angry ก่อให้เกิดความขุ่นใจ
demonstrators – people who march with other people in public to show that they support or oppose something ผู้ชุมนุมประท้วง
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
inform – to tell somebody about something, especially in an official way แจ้งให้ทราบ
sect – a small group of people who belong to a particular religion but who have some beliefs or practices which separate them from the rest of the group นิกาย (ทางศาสนา),กลุ่ม, พรรค
Thai Patriots Network – The group formed to pressure the Thai government into not approving any agreements which would result in the loss of territory to Cambodia เครือข่ายกลุ่มคนไทยหัวใจรักชาติ
complicate – to make something more difficult to deal with, do or understand  ทำให้ยาก, ทำให้ซับซ้อน
allied – connected with something ซึ่งมีความสัมพันธ์กัน
United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) – the group originally formed to demonstrate against the 2006 coup and which supported the Somchai Wongsawat government against the PAD and which is now leading the fight against the current government. They are known for wearing red shirts แนวร่วมประชาธิปไตยต่อต้านเผด็จการแห่งชาต
gather – to come together in a group รวมกลุ่ม, รวมตัวกัน, จับกลุ่มกัน, ชุมนุม
interference – the process of deliberately becoming involved in a situation and trying to influence the way that it develops การเข้าแทรกแซง
encamped – have set up a camp ตั้งค่าย, พักอยู่ในค่าย
primary – most important ที่สำคัญที่สุด
demand – a very firm request for something ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้อง
revocation – officially saying that something is no longer legal การยกเลิก การเพิกถอน
memorandum of understanding (MOU) – a document used to describe a form of a written agreement between two or more groups, countries, etc. The document is not as strong as a contract but outlines a commitment between the two to work together toward the same purpose or goals
govern – to control the way that things happen ควบคุม, บังคับ, ครอบงำ
drive from – to cause someone to leave ขับไล่ไปให้พ้น
disputed area – an area claimed by two or more countries, groups or people  พื้นที่ที่เป็นกรณีพิพาท
World Heritage Committee – the UN committee which determines whether a place, building, structure, etc is of great historical or culture value and should be given a special protected status คณะกรรมการมรดกโลก
bow to – to agree to do what someone wants you to do even though you do not want to ยอมทำตาม
adverse – having a negative or harmful effect on something ในทางลบ, เป็นผลร้าย