Protesters padlock state offices in Thailand
2 Dec 2013 4:52 AM IST
Authorities, meanwhile, continued their hands-off approach to the protesters in an effort to avoid violence.
The opposition-led protesters have declared that Sunday will be their ‘victory day,’ and have urged followers to ratchet up a week-long campaign that included seizing the Finance Ministry, turning out power at police headquarters and camping out at a sprawling government office complex.
‘Tomorrow is the day we will declare victory,’ said Akanat Promphan, a spokesman for the opposition-led movement. ‘We might have to break the law, but we will accept the consequences and punishment. We will not run away.’ Amid growing concerns of violence, Saturday’s march started off tame. Protesters marched to the Department of Special Investigation, the country’s equivalent of the FBI. They tried and failed to pick a lock at the front door, so placed their own padlock on it and left.
Their next targets were the nearby headquarters of two state telecommunications agencies, TOT and CAT Telecom, where they also placed padlocks on the doors meant to block workers from entering on Monday morning.
As part of the government’s strategy to avoid confrontation, there was no police presence outside any of the offices, which had regular building security.
Officials at TOT greeted the protesters with peace offerings, handing out drinking water and asking them not to enter the buildings.
The opposition-led protesters have declared that Sunday will be their ‘victory day,’ and have urged followers to ratchet up a week-long campaign that included seizing the Finance Ministry, turning out power at police headquarters and camping out at a sprawling government office complex.
‘Tomorrow is the day we will declare victory,’ said Akanat Promphan, a spokesman for the opposition-led movement. ‘We might have to break the law, but we will accept the consequences and punishment. We will not run away.’ Amid growing concerns of violence, Saturday’s march started off tame. Protesters marched to the Department of Special Investigation, the country’s equivalent of the FBI. They tried and failed to pick a lock at the front door, so placed their own padlock on it and left.
Their next targets were the nearby headquarters of two state telecommunications agencies, TOT and CAT Telecom, where they also placed padlocks on the doors meant to block workers from entering on Monday morning.
As part of the government’s strategy to avoid confrontation, there was no police presence outside any of the offices, which had regular building security.
Officials at TOT greeted the protesters with peace offerings, handing out drinking water and asking them not to enter the buildings.
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