Protesters in the heart of Bangkok also demand government's resignation
Red-shirted and painted protesters rallying outside the home of royal adviser Prem Tinsulanonda in Bangkok yesterday. The supporters of ousted Thai PM Thaksin intend to stay at the site until their demands for the government's resignation are met. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
BANGKOK - EMBATTLED Thai premier Abhisit Vejjajiva on Thursday refused to resign, urging protesters massing for a second day in Bangkok not to be manipulated by ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
Close to 200,000 people gathered on Wednesday at the home of the Thai King's top adviser, General Prem Tinsulanonda, to demand that he and other advisers and the government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign.
BANGKOK - THAI Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday that a big anti-government rally would be allowed to continue so long as it remained peaceful, while the risk of a turn to violence weighed on financial markets.
'My standpoint remains the same: the rally can continue as long as they act within the framework of the law,' Abhisit said in an interview on Channel 9 television.
They banged heart-shaped clappers and cheered as protest leaders atop parked trucks shouted for Gen Prem, 88, and two other advisers to step down.
Police said about 25,000 protesters were left early on Thursday, camped outside the house of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, the top adviser to the king, as well as at Mr Abhisit's office and Bangkok's Royal Plaza.
The protesters known as 'Red Shirts' have issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the resignation of Gen Prem and two other members of the privy council, and have also called for Mr Abhisit to step down and hold fresh elections.
But the British-born prime minister said the protest leaders' demands were 'very confused and unclear'. 'Protesters should not criticise or drag privy councillors into it. That's not reasonable,' he said.
Former prime minister Thaksin, who is living in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for corruption, thanked his supporters in a speech delivered via videolink after nightfall.
Mr Abhisit said that the demonstrators were effectively being used by the fugitive ex-premier. 'Protesters should not fall victim to people who want to escape conviction.
They should not rally in disguise for just one person who will not have to take responsibility,' he said. 'His (Thaksin's) family are all out of the country,' he said.
Thaksin's 'Red Shirts' remain furious about the way Mr Abhisit took power in December following a court decision that removed Thaksin's allies from government.
That ruling came after months of protests by rival protesters claiming allegiance to the monarchy, who occupied Government House and mounted a crippling blockade of Bangkok's airports. -- AFP
