BANGKOK, June 20 (TNA) - Thailand’s top Army commanders met with beleaguered Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej late Friday after protestors scored a psychological victory — or at least points — in their quest to peacefully nudge the premier from office.
The prime minister called a meeting with army chief General Anupong Paochinda and First Army Region Commander Prayuth Chan-ocha — after peaceful protestors broke through barriers and besieged the prime ministers offices. Gen. Prayuth disclosed later that he and the army chief had reported the latest developments of the anti-government rallies to the premier and also reviewed the situation.
After a four-week rally demanding that the coalition government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej leave office, members and supporters of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Friday marched to Government House and camped there.
Amid applauds by members and supporters, PAD coordinator Suriyasai Katasila declared a victory atop a platform used as the rally focal point during the nearly month-long demonstration after learning that small PAD groups had blocked an exit gate at Government House.
The protestors at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) headquarters about a kilometre away from Government House, clapped hands in appreciation of the police who allowed their colleagues to march to Government House without using violence.
It was feared earlier that the police might use tear gas to dispersing the protestors and prevent them from going to Government House.
The atmosphere in front of the UN offices before the protestors were able to lay siege to Government House was quite tense as the police tried their best to prevent the demonstrators from crossing a small bridge in front of ESCAP.
But their attempts succeeded eventually after protestors separated into small groups and were joined by members of several state-enterprise labour unions — including Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Thai Airways International.
Four police officers — including two women — were injured after demonstrators pushed iron barricades, which fell on some of the officers.
Mr. Samak, who also serves as defence minister, earlier pledged to refrain from using force against the protesters.
He and other cabinet members were not at Government House on Friday.
Government spokesman Wichianchote Sukchotrat said some schools and government offices near Government House were ordered to close Friday for safety reasons.
The Thai stock market rose 3.56 percent Friday as the anti-government rallies remained peaceful, analysts said.
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) composite index soared 26.44 points to close at 768.90 points, while the bluechip SET 50 index rebounded 21.88 points to close at 550.46. (TNA)