国际英语新闻：Thailand's anti-gov't protesters announce demands at Government House, wrap up rally

BANGKOK, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- By midnight into Sunday, Thailand's anti-government protesters led by the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) have broken through all police and military barricades to besiege the Government House in central Bangkok.

    Thai TV showed that DAAD leaders announced their political demands in front of the Government House, including dissolving the House of Representatives, using the 1997 Constitution, removing Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya in 15 days.

Supporters of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra gather during a protest march to the Government House in Bangkok Jan. 31, 2009

If the government would not follow their demands, they would stage street rallies again, said the DAAD leaders.

    The protesters then began retreating from the Government House to return to Sanam Luang (Royal Field square), where they have begun rallying since Saturday afternoon. They are expected to disperse and return home soon as many of them came from provinces outside Bangkok.

    Top officers from the city and national police bureaus held a meeting on Saturday night to evaluate the situation. They concluded that the situation was not serious as the DAAD rally was peaceful and no violence occurred.

    The DAAD-led protesters, who wore red shirts to indicate their stance as supporting ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have began demonstrating in central Bangkok from Saturday afternoon. They left Bangkok's Sanam Luang (Royal Field square) at around 10:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) to begin marching to the Government House.

A demonstrator holds a portrait of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during an anti-government protest in Bangkok Jan. 31, 2009

Prior to the DAAD's arrival at the Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, who was in charge of security affairs, said he reported political situation to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who was attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, informing him that there was nothing to worry about the rally and no need to set up a war room to monitor the situation. Suthep then left the Government House for his home.

    Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the World Economic Forum Saturday at Davos that he believed the mood of the people was turning against opposition protesters and that he was not worried about the rally, according to an AFP report.

    DAAD core leader Jakrapob Penkair said on the stage the rally was the gathering of people who had shared the same attitude concerning democracy, the website by Thai language-newspaper Matichon newspaper reported.

    The DAAD planned to set up an institution of red-shirted people aiming to spread democracy across the country, the website quoted Jakrapob as saying. The aim of this institution was to change this country to be the country of the people, said Jakrapob.

A demonstrator holds a portrait of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during an anti-government protest in Bangkok Jan. 31, 2009

Earlier, Deputy Premier Suthep said from the Government House that the government would not dissolve the House of representatives as demanded by the anti-government protesters.

    Suthep said there would be no problem if the DAAD would stage the mass rally again.

    Suthep said while the protesters would not be allowed to intrude the Government House, security officers would not use any tough action such as tear gas against them.

    Police would only arrest protesters who did break laws, said Suthep.

    Totally, around 10,000 DAAD protesters had been demonstrating since Saturday afternoon, according to police officials' estimation.

    Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Suchart Muenkaew said police would not allow the protesters to enter the Government House, according to state-run television station NBT.

Soldiers guard the gates of the Government House from protesters in Bangkok in the early hours of Feb. 1, 2009.

Two companies of combined navy and army soldiers had been deployed both inside and outside the Government House, Thai television Channel 3 said. A military company has about 80 officers.

    Thai television Channel 9 reported some 5,250 police had been deployed to ensure law and order during the rally and would take a shift every 12 hours. Police would not use either weapon or tear gas to deal with the protesters.

    Some 22 military companies had been in stand-by to support police if requested, according to police officials.

    No violent confrontation has been reported during the DAAD rally and march.