Peaceful PTV protest draws 1,200

The crowd held banners attacking the military-installed government headed by ex-general Surayud Chulanont, and called for the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The rally took place under a constant military threat that anti-coup rallies could provoke a state of emergency in the capital.

The protesters, led by allies of ex-premier Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup last September, organised the demonstration at Sanam Luang park outside Bangkok's municipal centre.

The official organiser was Peoples' TV (PTV), considered the unofficial voice of Thaksin supporters. It is against the law for all political parties to operate, a military declaration aimed mostly at Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, which supposedly is not behind PTV.

Pol Maj Gen Manit Wongsomboon said he had deployed about 1,000 police, both uniformed and plainclothes officers, around Sanam Luang area, where about 1,200 demonstrators gathered early Sunday evening.

Manit said the police presence was heavy because of a parallel gathering at Sanam Luang marking the start of celebrations for Buddhist New Year.

A similar rally last Friday attracted between 2,000 and 3,000. Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin had urged the government to declare an emergency last month in the face of small but growing protests against the coup.

Surayud refused, but defence minister Boonrawd Somtas on Saturday warned that a state of emergency would be declared if the protests got out of control.

The protest movement is beginning to create an odd coalition of allies, with some pro-democracy groups, who last year protested against Thaksin, now joining forces with his allies in rallying against the junta.

Thai prosecutors will bring corruption charges against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra within two months, his army-appointed successor said in remarks broadcast Sunday.

Prime Minister Surayud, in an interview taped during a visit to Tokyo last week, repeated that Thaksin had the right to return to the kingdom but would face charges.

"I think it should be done in one or two months from now, no later than that," Surayud tld Japanese public broadcaster NHK on being asked when the indictment would be finished.

Surayud said last week during a press conference here that Thaksin may be charged by the end of April and voiced confidence that prosecutors would "pin him down."

Thailand's army cited alleged corruption by Thaksin, a self-made billionaire, as the main reason to oust him in September.

Investigators have charged Thaksin's wife and threatened his children but have yet to charge the former prime minister himself, who has been travelling around Asia since the coup.

Bangkok Post

ANTI-GOVT RALLY

PM kicks off Songkran as quit demands grow

PTV holds protest at one end of Sanam luang, while Surayud talks at the other

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont opened the city's week-long Songkran festival yesterday evening amid tight security at Sanam Luang as about 2,000 anti-government protesters rallied at the opposite end of the field.

The prime minister officially launched the Colourful Celebra-tions of Songkran Festival at the end of Sanam Luang closest to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The festival features cultural performances and sound-and-light shows, and runs until Sunday.

At the other end of the field, the banned PTV held its rally against the Surayud administration and the Council for National Security (CNS).

PTV director Nattawut Saikua delivered a fiery speech to open the rally at 6pm. Nattawut's attack focused on General Saprang Kalayanamitr. Saprang was accused of resorting to violence for saying he might "need to shoot some dogs".

Other protest organisers took turns attacking the CNS but kept the heat on Saprang. The generals were accused of condoning nepotism and abusing their authority.

Other anti-government groups collected signatures to seek the removal of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda who they accused of masterminding the September 19 coup.

The White Dove 2006 group distributed leaflets informing people that they were collecting signatures to support their call for Prem's removal.

However, the group said it opposed petitioning His Majesty the King to remove Prem.

Postcards carrying a message demanding the "ouster of dictators, the Council for National Security and traitors" were distributed. The cards contained a space for supporters to sign names and indicate the people they wanted removed.

White Dove set up a tent at the centre of Sanam Luang while another group - Saturday People Against Dictatorship - set up a stage at the north corner of the grounds, near Pinklao Bridge.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampai-boon called on the government to crack down on those funding anti-government rallies, saying the rallies could spark violence that could be used as a reason to topple the government.

"If the government knows who is behind the rallies it has to prevent the problem from worsening. The failure to stop such political movements may be cited as a reason to bring down the government," he said.

Ong-art dismissed speculation a coup was brewing, saying he saw no signs of one.

The Thai Rak Thai Party on Friday suggested a coup was possible soon, pointing to moves to oust the government and Surayud Chulanont as well as the activities of the People's Alliance for Democracy in the provinces.

The Nation