More than 1,000 anti-government protesters marched on Thailand's parliament today vowing to disrupt prime minister Somchai Wongsawat's maiden policy speech set for tomorrow.
Some 200 police watched as the protesters, who belong to the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) which has occupied the prime minister's compound since late August to force the government from power, set up barbed-wire barricades in a bid to stop Mr Somchai from reaching parliament in the morning.
"Let us march to parliament to stop this nominee government from delivering its policies tomorrow," a PAD leader said on stage at Government House.
Mr Somchai is accused by the PAD of being a political proxy for his brother-in-law, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was removed in a 2006 military coup.
Mr Somchai has tried to open a dialogue with the PAD since he replaced Samak Sundaravej, who was removed by the courts last month for violating the constitution by hosting TV cooking shows while in office.
However, no real talks have started and there has been little prospect of the PAD, which claims to be acting in the name of revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, leaving Government House any time soon.
Earlier today, a court remanded former general and senior PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang to 12 days in police custody, saying it was necessary for questioning.
But the Criminal Court judge urged the police to speed up their questioning of Mr Chamlong, who allowed himself to be arrested on treason charges on Sunday.
His action has been widely interpreted as an attempt to breathe fresh life into the PAD's sagging occupation of Government House, part of a wider campaign to unseat the elected administration.
"There are enough grounds to believe that police need more time to question the suspect, but they should finish that process quickly," the judge said in his ruling.
Mr Chamlong, an ascetic Buddhist, is one of nine PAD leaders formally accused of inciting unrest and trying to overthrow the government after the PAD broke into various ministries and a state television station on August 26th.
In a short letter read out on PAD television after his arrest, Mr Chamlong likened his campaign to a sacred national duty.
"We are gathering to repay the country and to make merit for Thailand," he said.
He was arrested after he left Government House, where he and thousands of anti-government protesters have been barricaded since late August, to vote in an election for the governor of Bangkok.
The pre-written letter raised speculation he meant to be arrested.
Another PAD leader, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, remains in custody after being arrested on Friday. However, the remaining seven are still defying arrest behind their barricades inside the compound and vowing not to leave.
Reuters