By Nirmal Ghosh
Thailand Correspondent
nirmal@sph.com.sg

 

IN BANGKOK

4.10pm Bangkok time

- I have returned to base, and will likely revisit the rally later tonight. But I promised to upload what Jakrapob Penkair said earlier today and here it is:

On asked about the numbers at the rally and their intention he said: "Now our challenge is to sustain the quantity (of people).

"We would say (we will stay) indefinitely at this point. We cannot afford to leave his (Gen Prem's) residence or the area empty handed.

Last time we came to his house we were stormed and arrested and... democracy was not restored. The deception of democracy (became) even deeper. So we came back.. to Government House.. we gave a chance to both the government and general Prem to review their behaviour and actions, and they didn’t do it."

On whether there has been any dialogue or negotiation with the government: "Not apparently. Actually I don’t see any point to negotiate. You can see from the Preah Vihear incident that (PM) Abhisit (Vejjajiva) was hopeless at handling the situation, while the lower ranking generals seemed to be calling the shots. When we have a prime minister who can’t control the armed forces and didn’t know what was going on, there is no point in negotiating (with him)."

That's it for this blog today. Look out for reports in The Straits Times tomorrow.

2.30pm Bangkok time

 - Am standing atop one of the trucks looking over the wall at Gen Prem's house. Nobody visible in the grounds.

Some 300 police out here in lines, of course totally outnumbered by thousands of reds. But there is no tension or hostility.

Reds have said they will not enter the grounds. Looking around me, it is an ocean of red.

Red-shirt protesters surrounded Gen Prem's house, which can be seen in the background. SOURCE: Nick Nostitz

2.20pm Bangkok time

- Many more people now. Seems certain that numbers will hit 100,000 or more by late this evening. Gen Prem is reportedly not in his house now.

Illustrating the inherent volatility of this situation, there were brief moments of paranoia a few minutes ago when word spread that some PAD people (the yellow shirts) had been sighted at the Wat near the jetty. Several dozen reds streamed there & searched the grounds but found nobody.

Am walking through the crowd outside Gen Prem's house now. Slight cool gusts bringing some relief from scorching heat. The road is crammed with reds. Many sitting down in orderly manner.

One of the main trucks has huge banner on side saying Non Violence.

12.45pm Bangkok time

- Jakrapob Penkair, a leader of the pro-Thaksin red shirts, just walked past escorted by red shirt guards. We scrambled to join him, he approached the Channel 3 crew sitting apprehensively in their car. Seems they reported crowd was
nearly 20,000 only which is why the reds got angry & chased them away.

- Jakrapob cleared the air and ended up giving the cameraman a hug. He told us the trick now is to sustain this rally. Will upload more from

- Jakrapob in a while. But for now there is no apparent channel of negotiation open with government side. Jakrapob said "we can't leave empty
handed".

Anti-government demonstrators shouts slogans at they attend a protest rally outside Government House Wednesday, April 8, 2009, in Bangkok, Thailand.
PHOTO: AP

12.40pm Bangkok time

- Police source estimates current red shirt numbers at 80,000.

12.20pm Bangkok time

- Sitting with some photographers taking a pad thai dish & coffee break at top end of Sri Ayutthaya road about 100m from Gen Prem's house. Some commotion as red shirts surround journalists from government Channel 3 & drive them away.

- Am sitting in small leafy guest house, several foreigners here stranded without public transport within reach. The owner has asked us to sit inside, but of course we need to be outside to keep an eye on things. Will pick up this thread after my pad thai.

11.45am Bangkok time

- Reds have taken over streets in front & around Gen Prem's house. Clearly the pro-government PAD guards who deployed here yesterday in a blue-scarved incarnation, have gone. There is a phalanx of police in front of Gen Prem's house but atmosphere so far is not ominous.

-But crowd is eddying around the area, with red shirt leaders making speeches from trucks & more & more converging. The streets are narrow, the surrounding shops & houses shuttered. Not a good place to be trapped in if there is any stampede.

-The streets around the intersection of Sri Ayutthaya & Samsen are crammed with red shirts.
Waving hand clappers & shouting in response to speakers denouncing Gen Prem & Abhisit. It is extremely hot & humid.

11.15am Bangkok time (12.15am Singapore time)

- Red shirt demonstrators are gathering in their thousands in Bangkok.
- Enormous crowd of reds, double lines of cars & buses on sri ayutthaya road, both lanes. The street to Gen Prem's house is crammed with people of all walks of life. Many women.
- Etmosphere festive, am walking among them at a slow pace, they are shouting "auk pei" (get out).

Read more:
'Bring Thaksin back'