The Metropolitan Police Bureau has instructed anti-amnesty bill protesters to move from Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue as it is a restricted area under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
About 2,000 protesters from the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand (NSPRT) and the Anti-Thaksin Coalition, which comprises civic groups from all 77 provinces, moved their rally venue from Uruphong intersection to Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue on Thursday.
They occupied the area from Makkhawan Rangsan bridge to Jor Por Ror intersection, which has been declared a restricted zone under the ISA.
The group set up a stage in front of the Royal Thai Army headquarters near Makkhawan Rangsan bridge. Reporters estimated the number of protesters at about 1,500 although protest leaders said there were about 5,000 people at the demonstration's peak.
The NSPRT is led by Nititorn Lamlua, a lawyer of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and Uthai Yodmanee, a Ramkhamhaeng University student leader. The Anti-Thaksin Coalition is led by ex-PAD co-leaders Somkiat Pongpaiboon and Suriyasai Katasila.
Deputy Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Pol Maj Gen Adul Narongsak yesterday handed over the police order to Mr Nititorn about 6pm. The order states that the section of Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue from the Royal Plaza to Jor Por Ror intersection is a restricted zone where non-authorised people are prohibited.
"Those who have gathered in this area must move out by Thursday [Nov 7], or they will face charges of violating the ISA," the order said.
Pol Maj Gen Adul said that although the deadline for protesters to abandon the area had already passed by the time the order was delivered, police would give them a few more days to comply with the instruction.
When asked if the police would disperse demonstrators if they refused to move out, Pol Maj Gen Adul declined to answer, saying only that police had solid grounds to issue the order.
There were reports of unrest at the rally site, including an assault on a plain-clothes officer and damage to a police vehicle parked at the site on Thursday, Pol Maj Gen Adul said.
Mr Nititorn insisted his group has the right to gather in the area since the demonstration was peaceful.
Hours before the police delivered the eviction order to the demonstrators, riot police stationed on the other side of Makkhawan Rangsan bridge played patriotic songs through loudspeakers in an apparent attempt to disturb the protesters. The volume was so loud that protesters could not hear their leaders address them from the stage.
Meanwhile, about 1,000 Thai Airways International staff defied the company's request for "cooperation" and staged a rally against the amnesty bill outside the airline's head office yesterday.