Peaceful PTV protest draws 1,200

Agencies

The crowd held banners attacking the military-installed government headed by ex-general Surayud Chulanont, and called for the return of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

The rally took place under a constant military threat that anti-coup rallies could provoke a state of emergency in the capital.

The protesters, led by allies of ex-premier Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup last September, organised the demonstration at Sanam Luang park outside Bangkok's municipal centre.

The official organiser was Peoples' TV (PTV), considered the unofficial voice of Thaksin supporters. It is against the law for all political parties to operate, a military declaration aimed mostly at Mr Thaksin's Thai Rak Thai party, which supposedly is not behind PTV.

Pol Maj Gen Manit Wongsomboon said he had deployed about 1,000 police, both uniformed and plainclothes officers, around Sanam Luang area, where about 1,200 demonstrators gathered early Sunday evening.

Manit said the police presence was heavy because of a parallel gathering at Sanam Luang marking the start of celebrations for Buddhist New Year.

A similar rally last Friday attracted between 2,000 and 3,000. Junta leader General Sonthi Boonyaratkalin had urged the government to declare an emergency last month in the face of small but growing protests against the coup.

Surayud refused, but defence minister Boonrawd Somtas on Saturday warned that a state of emergency would be declared if the protests got out of control.

The protest movement is beginning to create an odd coalition of allies, with some pro-democracy groups, who last year protested against Thaksin, now joining forces with his allies in rallying against the junta.

Thai prosecutors will bring corruption charges against deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra within two months, his army-appointed successor said in remarks broadcast Sunday.

Prime Minister Surayud, in an interview taped during a visit to Tokyo last week, repeated that Thaksin had the right to return to the kingdom but would face charges.

"I think it should be done in one or two months from now, no later than that," Surayud tld Japanese public broadcaster NHK on being asked when the indictment would be finished.

Surayud said last week during a press conference here that Thaksin may be charged by the end of April and voiced confidence that prosecutors would "pin him down."

Thailand's army cited alleged corruption by Thaksin, a self-made billionaire, as the main reason to oust him in September.

Investigators have charged Thaksin's wife and threatened his children but have yet to charge the former prime minister himself, who has been travelling around Asia since the coup.

Bangkok Post

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