Ministry takeovers prompt expanded ISA

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has imposed the Internal Security Act (ISA) across the capital and in nearby areas after protesters stormed key ministries in a bid to topple the government.

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Updates  Protesters are still targetting government ministries today, according to our online reporters.

15:00

Anti-government protesters, after laying siege to the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau, the Foreign Ministry and the Public Relations Department on Monday, announced they will occupy four more ministries on Tuesday, a Post Today report said.

According to the report, the four ministries are the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry, the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Transport Ministry and the Interior Ministry.

As of 11.20am, hundreds of protesters had gathered in front of the agriculture and transport ministries. Civil servants and government employees were told to go home.

Another group Anti-government protesters led by The People's Force for Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (Pefot) and Kong Thap Tham (Dhamma Army) on Tuesday afternoon surrounded the Interior Ministry offices in Bangkok.

The protesters, led by Gen Preecha Iamsuwan and Somkiat Pongpaibul, blocked all gates of the ministry about 1pm.

They declared that they would rally at the key ministry for three days and during this period electricity and tapwater supplies to the premises would be cut and all roads surrounding the building compound would be closed to traffic.

It was reported that the ministry’s permanent secretary, Wibul Sanguanpong, had ordered all staff to stop work for the time being and leave, for safety reasons.

Earlier story

Protesters storm key ministries

PM imposes ISA in city, parts of nearby provinces

POST REPORTERS

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has imposed the Internal Security Act (ISA) across the capital and in nearby areas after protesters stormed key ministries in a bid to topple the government.

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has now called on demonstrators to seize state offices nationwide, including provincial halls and district offices, after protesters yesterday stormed the Finance Ministry, the Budget Bureau, the Foreign Ministry and the Public Relations Department (PRD).

The move, which Mr Suthep described as a "peaceful people's revolution", has dramatically raised political tensions.

In a televised address last night, Ms Yingluck declared the imposition of the ISA in all districts of Bangkok and Nonthaburi, Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan and in Lat Lum Kaeo district of Pathum Thani.

Ms Yingluck said the protests have changed from "peaceful" rallies to using people to seize state offices, break down gates, cut power and water supplies – acts which she said were threats to national security. The ISA is needed to maintain law and order, she said.

However, she stressed that the government would not use force against the protesters.

Enforcing the ISA will strictly follow international standards and no violence will be used against members of the public, the prime minister said.

The ISA allows authorities to impose curfews, set up checkpoints and restrict the movement of demonstrators.

Mr Suthep led about 10,000 protesters from the main rally site at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue at 9.30am to the Budget Bureau, located in the same compound as the Finance Ministry. There, they demanded budget officials stop allocating money to the Yingluck administration and agencies allegedly "under the control of the ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's political networks".

The protesters marched to 13 state offices and media outlets in the capital yesterday to urge officials and media to support the anti-government movement.

They arrived at the Budget Bureau about 11.30am and demanded the gates be opened. Many officials at the state agency appeared to support the protesters by waving and blowing whistles.

At 1.40pm, the officials agreed to open the main gate and Mr Suthep ordered the protesters to storm the premises, forcing officials to leave.

"Let's enter every building, every floor, but do not hurt anyone, do not damage assets, just go sit down and rest," Mr Suthep told the protesters.

"All these buildings were built with our taxes. From today, water and electricity here will be cut off to block officials from working for this government," he told the crowd.

About 3.15pm, Mr Suthep ordered former Democrat MP Panich Vikitsreth to lead about 600 protesters to seize the PRD, which is adjacent to the Budget Bureau.

Mr Suthep told reporters at the Finance Ministry the move was a people's revolution aimed at transforming the country into a "real constitutional monarchy".

He urged people in all provinces to seize all state offices to "paralyse" the government. "Just enter [the state premises] without weapons and do not hurt people," he said.

"This is the seizing of state power in a peaceful way, Mr Suthep said, adding the government and more than half of the country's lawmakers acted unlawfully because they rejected the Constitution Court's authority, meaning they did not accept the charter.

"We will establish a people's administration and change the rules so the country can become a real constitutional monarchy," he said.

Last night, he told protesters at the ministry in an address that was broadcast at the Ratchadamnoen rally that he was aware the government aimed to press treason charges against him and that he was ready to fight them.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 anti-government protesters from the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, led by Nititorn Lamlua and Uthai Yodmanee, a group allied with Mr Suthep's rally, broke through the Foreign Ministry's gate and stormed the compound to occupy the ministry about 6.30pm. Mr Uthai said his group will lay siege to the ministry until this government leaves office.

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