Anti-government protesters returned to the streets of Bangkok on Friday for yet another "final" push to get rid of what's left of the caretaker government. This time they're looking for help from the Senate and the Supreme Court.
The photo gallery above captures the events surrounding anti-government protests, led by People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, in Bangkok on Friday, May 9, 2014. (Bangkok Post photos)
The People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is demanding that the president of the Supreme Court and the Senate speaker appoint an "interim people's government and legislative assembly" to begin carrying out reforms before an election can be held.
The Senate on Friday evening elected Surachai Liangboonlertchai, considered to be sympathetic to anti-government causes, as its new speaker. PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban wasted no time telling Mr Surachai that he should consider naming a new prime minister by Monday.
The Senate and the Supreme Court, said Mr Suthep, were the only two remaining pillars of authority. If these senior national figures do not respond, the PDRC would do the job itself, he said from a protest stage erected outside Government House. He did not elaborate.
However, Mr Suthep has made it clear in the past that he would assume dictatorial powers on behalf of "the people". That would include submitting the name of a hand-picked interim premier to His Majesty the King and countersigning the appointment.
Mr Surachai, an appointed senator who had been a deputy speaker, defeated Pol Gen Jongrak Jutanont, an appointed senator believed to be favoured by Pheu Thai, by a vote of 96-51.
The PDRC believes Mr Surachai would be sympathetic to invoking Section 7 of the constitution, though very few legal experts believe the clause would apply to the current situation.
The law states: "Whenever no provision under this Constitution is applicable to any case, it shall be decided in accordance with the constitutional practice in the democratic regime of government with the King as Head of the State."
On Friday Mr Suthep led his followers back onto the streets for what he insists will be the group's "all-out final battle". There have been 10 previous "final battle" promises in the six months since the campaign began.
From their protest bases at Lumpini Park and Chaeng Watthana Road in front of government complex, demonstrators moved to eight locations: Government House, Royal Thai Police headquarters, TV Channels 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, and the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo).
Their numbers for the first time included Sondhi Limthongkul and Chamlong Srimuang, two key figures from the 2008 People's Alliance for Democracy protests. Mr Sondhi also made a speech from the PDRC stage at Channel 5 on Friday night.
The resumed street campaign follows the Constitutional Court's disqualification of Yingluck Shinawatra as caretaker prime minister on Wednesday for the vested-interest removal of National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri in 2011. Nine ministers who were in her cabinet at the time were also kicked out.
Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan is currently serving as acting prime minister, with a slimmed-down cabinet in which most ministers are looking after more than one portfolio.
Mr Niwatthamrong is a longtime associate of Ms Yingluck's brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, and served as an executive in telecom and media companies controlled by Thaksin before entering politics.
The PDRC views the appointment of Mr Niwatthamrong as a sign that the "Thaksin regime" is refusing to give up power.
The Pheu Thai government, for its part, is hoping the Election Commission can be persuaded to go ahead with a new poll planned for July 20.
However, the EC is stalling, fearing that polling could be disrupted again. The Constitutional Court earlier annulled the results of the Feb 2 vote because not all balloting could take place in a single day.
The protesters on Friday also renewed their media intimidation campaign, something they tried before with unhappy consequences for their image as "democrats".
PDRC co-leader Sathit Wongnongtoey said demonstrators rallied at mainstream TV stations to demand they provide accurate news reports, instead of communicating "lies" from the "self-proclaimed" acting caretaker premier and his deputies.
The demonstrators said they were planning to stay at the expanded rally venues indefinitely.
However, protesters at the Capo offices on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road returned to Chaeng Watthana Road to prevent pro-government demonstrators from taking over the base in front of the government complex.
Before the departure, police fired tear gas at them and five people were injured.
Later on Friday Mr Suthep and other PDRC leaders went to the parliament buildings to ask the Senate to help resolve the political deadlock.