AFTER moving up their demonstration at Democracy Monument from 2 p.m. to 8 a.m. this morning (Oct. 14), the protest leaders expanded the assembly area to cover one traffic lane of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and then forced a police vehicle that had driven in to warn them that they are breaking the law to leave, Thai Rath newspaper reported.
The demonstrators spread out from the sidewalk onto one traffic lane at 9.20 a.m. by moving their tents there. One of their leaders, lawyer Anon Nampa, apologized to the public for this inconvenience on stage and asked the police to help commuters.
Meanwhile other members of the People’s Party started removing metal barriers and potted plants surrounding the Democracy Monument as the crowd continued to increase. After that Justin Samutprakarn, one of the leaders of the demonstration, gave a speech.
Later at 10.45 a.m. after police had shut inbound side of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road from Khok Wua intersection onwards, a police vehicle equipped amplifiers moved in and warned the protesters that their gathering today is in violation of the law.
This angered the demonstrators and led to their leaders telling them to push this police vehicle out of their zone. As they started doing this, with some bashing the police vehicle, the policemen moved their vehicle out.
After that another vehicle fitted with amplifiers which the protesters are using as a temporary stage moved to the middle of the road, with the crowd raising the three-finger salute from the Hunger Games movie.
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The atmosphere of the demonstration at the Democracy Monument this morning. Photos: Thai Rath
