Thailand's anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban on February 17 led protesters to besiege the Government House to prevent caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her cabinet from returning to work.
At around 10am (local time), an estimated 10,000 demonstrators started to build concrete walls to seal off its main entrance. In the meantime, Secretary General of Thailand’s National Security Council Paradorn Pattanathabutr directed security forces inside the building to avoid a confrontation with protesters.
The same day, hundreds of Thai farmers broke into the compound of the Office of Defence Ministry to seek a meeting with Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been working there temporarily.
It was earlier reported that the caretaker government had promised to pay farmers under the rice-pledging scheme, starting from February 17.
But the farmers at the compound said they have yet to receive any payment from the government, the local Bluesky Channel reported.
Also on the day, police were deployed to reclaim five sites occupied by protesters in Bangkok, including an intersection near the Government House. They were told to use guns to protect themselves if there was any resistance from armed protest guards.
On February 14, riot police swept through barricades around the Government House. But hours later, protesters returned and rebuilt their barricades.-VNA
At around 10am (local time), an estimated 10,000 demonstrators started to build concrete walls to seal off its main entrance. In the meantime, Secretary General of Thailand’s National Security Council Paradorn Pattanathabutr directed security forces inside the building to avoid a confrontation with protesters.
The same day, hundreds of Thai farmers broke into the compound of the Office of Defence Ministry to seek a meeting with Yingluck Shinawatra, who has been working there temporarily.
It was earlier reported that the caretaker government had promised to pay farmers under the rice-pledging scheme, starting from February 17.
But the farmers at the compound said they have yet to receive any payment from the government, the local Bluesky Channel reported.
Also on the day, police were deployed to reclaim five sites occupied by protesters in Bangkok, including an intersection near the Government House. They were told to use guns to protect themselves if there was any resistance from armed protest guards.
On February 14, riot police swept through barricades around the Government House. But hours later, protesters returned and rebuilt their barricades.-VNA
