Key developments on the Protest Situation in Bangkok

         1. On 2 December 2013, an arrest warrant has been issued against Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the Secretary-General of the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), on offences against internal security of the Kingdom in violation of article 113 of the Criminal Code. An arrest warrant has also been against other PDRC key leaders on various charges including involvement in an assembly of more than ten people and damage of property.

          2. On 3 December 2013, Prime Minister Yingluck, having led the Cabinet and the Commanders-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in the Pledging Ceremony, chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Army Club.

          3. Protest situation

              3.1 Overview of the protest situation on 2 December 2013   

                    (1) The PDRC, led by Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, staged a prolonged protest at key main sites namely: Democracy Monument, Ministry of Finance and the Cheang Wattana Government Complex with the highest number of protestors in attendance at each site 15,000/ 1,200/ 5,700 respectively. The protestors also marched to other government offices including the Royal Thai Police Headquarter and Metropolitan Police Bureau. The protest leaders ordered the protestors to cease their activity at 22.00 hrs. after which they began to disperse and regrouped at the Democracy Monument. 

                      (2) For the PDRC Network, (The People’s Army against Thaksin’s Regime - PATR) the highest number of protestors at 21.30 hrs was at approximately 700 people, the highest number of protestors for the Student and People Network for Thailand's Reform (STR) gathering at the Nang Lerng intersection at 21.30 hrs was at approximately 2,300 people. Since the evening, the protestors have repeatedly attempted to incur into the security areas around Orathai Bridge, causing the police to fire tear gas and water canon continuously. 

                       (3) At 20.30 hrs, Mr. Suthep appeared on stage at the Wattana Government Complex stating that:                    1) the Government has lost all legitimacy in administering the country; 2) the Armed Forces remain on the side of the people and will not resort to the use of force; and 3) the Government must undertake organizational restructuring of the Royal Thai Police so that it truly serves the people. On 3 December 2013, the protestors would march and seize control of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

                        (4) As for the anti-government and pro-government protests/rallies in other provinces, they mostly alternated between public discourses on stage by key protest leaders at the rally site in the local areas and the live broadcasting of the PDRC’s protests in Bangkok. No violence was reported.

       3.2 key events on 3 December 2013

             Key PDRC leaders announced that the protestors would descend on and seize total control of Metropolitan Police Bureau by 15.00 hrs. Provisions were also made for protective gears and equipments such as bottled water, Gunny sacks, towels, anti-tear gas masks, helmets and first aid kits. However, the police removed their barricades in the morning and allowed protestors to enter the sites of the Government House and the Metropolitan Police Bureau, thereby, sharply reducing tension. After occupying government offices for a brief period as a symbolic act of victory, the key protest leaders announced partial victory and called upon all protestors to regroup at the three main rally sites. They, then, announced 4 December 2013 a cleaning day of the protest sites in preparation for the birthday celebrations of His Majesty the King on 5 December 2013.

            The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, as Head of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) delivered a televised statement reiterating that CAPO will apply lenient measures in dealing with the protestors. CAPO will also undertake investigations into the loss of lives and injuries sustained by the protestors. The Government is also prepared to grant victims who lost their loved ones or sustained injuries during the protest access to various forms of remedy.

            In the afternoon, the Prime Minister made a televised speech reiterating the Government’s readiness to open a dialogue with all groups and consider every option that is possible within the bounds of the Constitution. The Prime Minister also invited people from all walks of life and professions to partake in the open forum so as to move the country forward while making concrete proposal under the Constitution. The Prime Minister called upon all Thais to unite in paying respect to His Majesty the King on the occasion of His Majesty’s birthday celebrations on 5 December 2013. 

            In the evening, Mr. Suthep addressed the protestors elaborating the PDRC’s demand that Section 7[1] of the Constitution be invoked so as to allow for the establishment of the People’s Council after which the sovereign powers will be returned to the people in accordance with Section 3[2] of the Constitution. Mr. Suthep also insisted that neither House dissolution nor Prime Minister Yingluck’s resignation would suffice in satisfying the protestors’ demands in calling for the total eradication of the so-called “Thaksin regime” from Thailand and Thai politics.

            3.3 Key events on 4 December 2013 (as of 16.00 hrs.)

                  At around 11.00 hrs., key PDRC protest leaders including Mr. Thaworn Seniam and Mr. Issara Somchai led a group of PDRC protestors from the Democracy Monument rally site to converge with some SRT protestors in front of the Royal Thai Police Headquarter. They then demanded that the police stop practicing alleged double standards in law enforcements especially preferential treatments extended to key UDD protest leaders.

                   The PDRC and SRT protestors also demanded that the Royal Thai Police Commissioner-General be held accountable for failing to contain the clashes that took place in front of Ramkamheang University resulting in fatalities and casualties. Swift police action to contain any clashes that might happen in future was also demanded so as to avoid further loss of life.

                  After threatening to storm the barricade in front of the Royal Thai Police Headquarter, key PDRC and SRT protest leaders met with representatives of the Royal Thai Police and Secretary-General of CAPO.  After the conclusion of negotiations, the Royal Thai Police and CAPO representatives promised to relay the message from the protestors to the Police Commissioner-General. The protestors then dispersed without entering into the compound of the Royal Thai Police.  

                  The number of the protestors at various main sites at 16.00 hrs was as follows: Democracy Monument – 3,000; Government Complex – 500; Ministry of Finance – 300; Makwan Bridge – 400; and Nang Lerng intersection – 300.

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News Division

Department of Information