Political tension was heightened in the Thai capital Saturday as a the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued its rally on the seventh day to call for the step-down of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government, which they accused as a nominee of ousted Premier Thaksin Shinwatra.
Police block the anti-government crowd near Government House in Bangkok May 31, 2008. Political tension was heightened in the Thai capital Saturday as a the People's Alliance for Democracy(PAD) continued its rally on the seventh day. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
As the last day of May came to an end, the PAD rally, attended by more than 2,000 supporters at the Makkawan Bridge near the Untied Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) headquarters in central Bangkok, stayed peacefully.
PAD speakers and demonstrators roared in a cheerful mood despite an earlier warning by Samak to use force to disperse the rally while at least several hundreds of anti-riot police were deployed around the site.
No clashes were reported during Saturday's rally, and neither of the two confronting sides has retreated until midnight.
The riot police, armed with masks, batons, steel helmets and shields, began trooping into the rally site in the afternoon, after PM Samak threatened to use force to disperse the rally if the PAD did not move out of the area within Saturday during a special TV program on Saturday morning.
Some members of government-critic group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) attend a rally in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 30, 2008. PAD organized a big rally in Bangkok on Friday to call for the step-down of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.(Xinhua Photo)
But later Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said that the government would not use force as it earlier warned to end the rally.
Chalerm said Samak made the threat because earlier intelligence report suggested that a group of ill-intentioned people had gathered at a law office in Bangkok to plot violent attacks at the rally to instigate the situation.
Now that the government managed to thwart the plot, there was no need to use force to end the rally, said Chalerm, adding that the protesters are allowed to continue their rally as long as it is conducted in line with laws.
Samak had said the PAD rally had disturbed normal orders in the capital.
The PAD-led rally, which kicked off last Sunday and continued day and night to protest against the Samak government, which the PAD labeled as a nominee of the coup-ousted premier Thaksin.
Supporters of government-critic group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) attend a rally in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 30, 2008. PAD organized a big rally in Bangkok on Friday to call for the step-down of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. PAD also threatened that they would hold a march to the prime minister's office on Saturday.(Xinhua/Ling Shuo)
Thousands of PAD supporters have blocked traffic in front of the ESCAP compound on the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a major artery in Bangkok where major government agencies, including the Government House and cultural landmarks, locate.
At a temporary stage, PAD speakers and supporters chanted slogans like "Samak Get Out" and "Thaksin Get Out".
Observers have feared Saturday's rally will get violent and give excuse for the military to stage another coup.
The Samak government has been embattled with criticism from the opposition camps including the PAD over its move to amend the 2007 Constitution and some of its cabinet members either resigned or faced pressure to quit over various accusations.
