ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTORS MARCH IN BANGKOK

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Thousands of anti-government supporters, clad
in red shirts, began their march in the capital on Tuesday to demand the ouster
of the foreign minister and dissolution of parliament as Thailand prepares to
host the much-delayed 14th Asean Summit in Hua Hin this week.

The Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD) supporters, linked to
ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, gathered at Sanam Luang near the Grand
Palace since last night before walking several kilometres to the country's
administration seat at the Government House.

Hundreds of riot police, backed by soldiers, are guarding the Government
House and key ministries, including the foreign ministry as authorities fear
that the group would seize them, similar to the seizure of the Government House
and Bangkok's two major airports last year by the rival yellow shirts under the
People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who came to power in December after
Thaksin's allies were banned by the Constitution Court, moved the weekly
cabinet meeting to Hua Hin, about two hours drive from the capital to avoid the
protestors.

A DAAD leader, Jatuporn Promphan said the protestors, armed with red
foot-clappers, would not storm the Government House but plans to stay around the
compound for several days.

Another activist with DAAD, who coordinates media relations, said the red
shirts would not be mobilised to Hua Hin to distrupt the summit, but a small
group of educated members and professionals "would certainly be there" to show
to the world that Abhisit's government was not legitimate.

Leaders from the 10-member Asean will began arriving in Hua Hin on Friday to
attend the summit.

Among the key demand of the red shirt is the sacking of Foreign Minister
Kasit Piromya, a former career diplomat and prominent member of the PAD.

Kasit had told a radio station Monday that he would resign if police charge
him in the court along with 20 other PAD leaders for leading the protests and
the three-month seizure of the Government House, as well as blockade of the
Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports that left over 350,000 people stranded.

The Asean Summit was initially scheduled in Bangkok and then Chiang Mai last
December, but the airport closure forced it to be delayed until this month.

Besides the red shirt protestors, Bangkok was under siege by thousands of
farmers for the past few days, demanding that the government set aside more
funds to solve their debts, as well as subsidies to prop up prices of
agricultural products.
-- BERNAMA