Thousands of Thais begin 'final battle' in Bangkok

Bangkok: Thousands of anti-government protesters rallied in central Bangkok yesterday, the start of what they call the "final battle" in a five-month street campaign to oust the administration.

"I fear nothing. We will not bow our heads to the dark power destroying our country," said Cat, a 48-year-old businesswoman, among the thousands of protesters waving placards and shouting "fight, fight" inside the Government House compound they have occupied since late August.

The crowd led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) were planning to march to parliament early today, where police have erected barricades and stationed trucks with water cannons. A similar protest in October left two people dead and hundreds wounded.

This time, police have been ordered not to use tear gas or other "weapons" and only carry shields, government spokesman Nattawut Saikuar said.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, whom the PAD accuse of being the puppet of exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, his brother-in-law, assigned army chief Anupong Paochinda to monitor the protests while he attends an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru.

Major bloodshed would raise the chances of a military coup only two years after the army's removal of Thaksin.

But Anupong, who has put more than 3,000 anti-riot soldiers on standby to help the police, has said a putsch would do nothing to resolve Thailand's fundamental political rifts.

The PAD enjoys the backing of Bangkok's urban middle classes and elite while Thaksin and the government claim their support from the rural voters that returned a pro-Thaksin party in a December election.

The PAD blames the government for a grenade attack last week that killed one person and wounded 23. Another grenade blast near their protest site wounded eight PAD security guards on Saturday. Somchai has denied the government or its supporters are behind the blasts.

On the outskirts of Bangkok, thousands government supporters rallied in a Buddhist temple yesterday to show their support for Somchai.

Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), said they would not march on parliament today to confront the PAD.

Raising the pressure on Somchai, public sector unions have called a nationwide strike for tomorrow unless he stands aside.