City braces for protests (Updated regularly)

Anti-government groups know that huge crowds today are necessary to keep up pressure to postpone the election until after reforms are instituted. Organisers have been working feverishly to ensure that happens.

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17:45

Suthep Thuagsuban has now visited the Lumpini park rally site where he ate lunch and then spoke briefly to the large crowd assembled. Despite the long march he seemed full of energy. He then went on to Ratchprasong where an even bigger crowd was awaiting him.

Meanwhile, the rally at the Prime Minister's House has ended. Police say only about 40 people remain outside the house and the rest have started the long journey back to Ratchaprasong.

14:15

Suthep Thuagsuban and his large group of marchers from the Thonburi side is reported to be on Silom road nearing the Lumpini park rally site. They still haven't eaten lunch, so that will be a priority there. Mr Suthep will then have four more rally sites to visit.

Meanwhile, the soi immediately in front of PM Yingluck's residence is packed with protesters with Anchalee Paireerak talking to the crowd. She just asked them if any of them could afford such a place to live.

13:10

(13:30) Anchalee's group has just turned on to Soi Yothin Pattana 3 and has almost reached the (caretaker) PM's compound.

Anchalee Paireerak's group, mainly women, has picked up a large number of vehicles, large and small plus an army of motorcycles, and is nearing the Prime Minister's residence. People are joining in along the way and protesters are getting a regular supply of water. Ms Anchalee is still calling for more vehicles to help transport the group back to Ratchadamnoen after the rally at the PM's compound. Otherwise, she says, they may have to spend the night there.

12:45

The first group shown earlier confronting police has now reached the front of the Prime Minister's compound.

Meanwhile, the main group going to the Prime Minister's residence is still a long way from its destination. Led by Anchalee Paireerak and Seri Wongmontha, a well-known academic, the group left Democracy Monument about 9am this morning. It was originally going to be an all-vehicle procession but the crowd was too large, so it effectively became a march. The distance and today's heat has taken its toll, however, and an urgent call went out for more vehicles. That seems to have helped, but many are still marching. At last report, the main group was on Rama 9 road.

11:30  update

Crowds are gathering at the various protest sites around the city. The biggest appears to be at the main People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) site at Ratchadamnoen. There, rally leaders are planning on sending many of the protesters to reinforce other protest sites.

All the rallies are expected to be peaceful with one possible exception. A large group of protesters, headed by women, is approaching the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's residence. There is a large police presence there, many of them women, as well and they it appears they will not allow the protesters to reach the prime minister's compound. The protesters are reported to be intent on getting there, so there could be a confrontation. City police chief Khamrongwit Thoopkrajang is reported to be waiting there. The outspoken Anchalee Paireerak is leading the women's march, so any meeting between the two could be quite interesting.

At the moment, rally leader Suthep Thuagsuban is on another one of his long marches through the city. Earlier this morning he was at Wong Wian Yai on the Thonburi side and he is expected to march all the way to the Victory Monument rally site later this afternoon. That will be an important site because and attempt to close of the registration for party-list candidates tomorrow will likely be organised there.

City braces for protests

Anti-government groups and the Democrat party, which has decided not to contest the February 2 general election, know that huge crowds today are necessary to keep up pressure to postpone the election until after reforms are instituted. 

Organisers have been working feverishly to ensure that happens.

Five additional main rally stages have been set up at the Victory Monument, Siam Square, Asok intersection, Lumpini Park and Ratchaprasong intersection, People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) spokesman Ekanat Prompan said.

Some small rally stages are also being set up in parallel on ten main roads in the capital, he said.

Mr Ekanat said protesters from the West, the East and the Northeast of Thailand will come to join the PDRC’s main rally sites in Bangkok on Sunday and the protests might be prolonged until Monday morning.

Sathit Wongnongtoey, a core member of the PDRC, said the rally at Ratchadamnoen road will be overseen by the Kong Thap Tham (Dhamma Army) and the Network of Students and People for Thailand's Reform (NSPTR).

He said the rally at the Victory Monument will be controlled by Issara Somchai, a core-leader of the PDRC, the rally at the Art and Cultural Centre of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will be the responsibiity of lecturers and students of Chulalongkorn University, he said.

The Ratchaprasong businessmen group will oversee the rally at the Ratchaprasong intersection, Silom Businessmen group will hold the rally at Lumpini Park, and the rally at Asok intersection will be controlled by business operators in the area.

Adapted from bangkokpost.com

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