by Shen Min, Ling Shuo

    BANGKOK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Political tension was heightened in the Thai capital Saturday as a the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) continued its rally on the seventh day to call for the step-down of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's government, which they accused as a nominee of ousted Premier Thaksin Shinwatra.

    As the last day of May came to an end, the PAD rally, attended by more than 2,000 supporters at the Makkawan Bridge near the Untied Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) headquarters in central Bangkok, stayed peacefully.

Police block the anti-government crowd near Government House in Bangkok May 31, 2008. Political tension was heightened in the Thai capital Saturday as a the People's Alliance for Democracy(PAD) continued its rally on the seventh day. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    PAD speakers and demonstrators roared in a cheerful mood despite an earlier warning by Samak to use force to disperse the rally while at least several hundreds of anti-riot police were deployed around the site.

    No clashes were reported during Saturday's rally, and neither of the two confronting sides has retreated until midnight.

    The riot police, armed with masks, batons, steel helmets and shields, began trooping into the rally site in the afternoon, after PM Samak threatened to use force to disperse the rally if the PAD did not move out of the area within Saturday during a special TV program on Saturday morning.

Some members of government-critic group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) attend a rally in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 30, 2008. PAD organized a big rally in Bangkok on Friday to call for the step-down of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

 

    But later Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said that the government would not use force as it earlier warned to end the rally.

    Chalerm said Samak made the threat because earlier intelligence report suggested that a group of ill-intentioned people had gathered at a law office in Bangkok to plot violent attacks at the rally to instigate the situation.

    Now that the government managed to thwart the plot, there was no need to use force to end the rally, said Chalerm, adding that the protesters are allowed to continue their rally as long as it is conducted in line with laws.

    Samak had said the PAD rally had disturbed normal orders in the capital.

Supporters of government-critic group People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) attend a rally in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, May 30, 2008. PAD organized a big rally in Bangkok on Friday to call for the step-down of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej. PAD also threatened that they would hold a march to the prime minister's office on Saturday.(Xinhua/Ling Shuo) Photo Gallery>>>

 

    The PAD-led rally, which kicked off last Sunday and continued day and night to protest against the Samak government, which the PAD labeled as a nominee of the coup-ousted premier Thaksin.

    Thousands of PAD supporters have blocked traffic in front of the ESCAP compound on the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, a major artery in Bangkok where major government agencies, including the Government House and cultural landmarks, locate.

    At a temporary stage, PAD speakers and supporters chanted slogans like "Samak Get Out" and "Thaksin Get Out".

    Observers have feared Saturday's rally will get violent and give excuse for the military to stage another coup.

    The Samak government has been embattled with criticism from the opposition camps including the PAD over its move to amend the 2007Constitution and some of its cabinet members either resigned or faced pressure to quit over various accusations.

    Samak himself has been busy with fighting rumors about an imminent military coup to topple his government, which have been running wild recently in the capital, to install public confidence for the coalition government's stability.

    The PAD had launched the new round of street rallies last Sunday to protest the Samak government's move to amend the post-coup 2007 Constitution. After the charter rewrite motion went aborted before entering parliamentary session, lacking enough endorsement by lawmakers on Friday, the PAD vowed to continue their rally.

    The PAD leaders, including media mogul and consistent Thaksin critic Sonthi Limthongkul, and former Bangkok governor and veteran political activist Chamlong Srimuang, have called on supporters to continue rally with a goal to oust the Samak government, which took office after the Samak-led People Power Party (PPP) won the post-coup general election last December.

    They have claimed the resignation of Prime Minister's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair on Friday as a victory. Jakrapob had faced pressure from the opposition Democrat Party and the PAD who demanded his step-down over a lese majeste charge regarding an English speech he made last August at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Thailand in Bangkok.

    Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday warned that violence might occur if the government forcefully disperse the PAD protest. He urged the government to recruit a moderator to talk to PAD leaders to ease conflicts.

    The PAD had played a significant role in the downfall of the Thaksin administration by organizing a series of mass protests in central Bangkok against Thaksin, which climaxed in the military top brass' step-in to finally oust Thaksin with the Sept. 19 coup in 2006, citing heightened social rifts between anti and pro-Thaksin groups.

    The group, led by a group of anti-Thaksin political activists, academics and businessmen, ceased operation after the coup ousted Thaksin, but declared resurrection after PPP, seen as the new banner for Thaksin and the former ruling Thai Rak Thai Party, formed a coalition government with another five political parties early this year.

    The political tension is expected to continue as the PAD seemed unswayed in its calls to topple the Samak government. 

Thai PM threatens to crack down on anti-government protesters

    BANGKOK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's prime minister Samak Sundaravej said on his weekly Saturday TV talk show program that if the anti-government group continue protest at the main street of Bangkok, the government would use police or military force to drive them.

    In a special live-broadcast speech on state television NBT on Saturday morning, Samak said the on-going rallies have severely affected other people to the level that the government might have to forcefully end the demonstrations. Full story

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