More Thai government premises under siege by anti-gov't protesters

Anti-government Thai protesters laid siege at the headquarters of government agencies in the Thai capital on Wednesday as arrest warrants have been issued for former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban and several others who have organized the protests.

Thousands of the anti-government demonstrators gathered outside head offices of several ministries, blowing whistles and pressing government personnel to stop working and join them. Most government officials and employees had left the premises shortly before the protesters arrived.

The government premises targeted by the street protesters included those located in Bangkok's suburbs, such as the head offices of the Department of Special Investigation, the commerce ministry and the public health ministry.

Policemen stood guard around the gates at each of those government premises and were instructed to not use force against the demonstrators. No violence was reported to have occurred to either side as yet.

In the Thai southern region, anti-government protesters also laid siege at several provincial halls, pressing the government personnel to stop working and join them.

Suthep, who repeatedly vowed to keep the street protests going on until the so-called Thaksin rule allegedly carried out by the current government under Lady Premier Yingluck Shinawatra is put to an end, had the protesters occupy the premises of the finance ministry and the Budget Bureau and adjacent buildings on Monday.

The arrest warrants have been issued for Suthep and the other leading protesters, including former Democrat Party legislators, following the occupation of the government premises. The protesters managed to cut off power and tapwater inside those buildings.

Meanwhile, the police are yet to find ways and means to arrest them in non-violent fashion, according to national police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Piya Uthayo.

The lady premier said the Thaksin rule never existed with her government and urged the former deputy premier to stop the protests for fear that more members of the public will be in trouble and untoward incidents might possibly occur.

Yingluck said all government agencies will continue to work as normal and temporary offices will be provided for government personnel who were forced to leave those premises under siege.

She attended a second day of censure debate at parliament, scheduled to be followed by a vote of confidence on Thursday.

But Suthep told the demonstrators that he will not talk and that the anti-government protests will not stop until "the Thaksin rule" has been completely terminated, referring to former Thai leader Thaksin Shinawatra, brother of the lady premier, who was deposed in 2006's coup.

The protests would not be called off even if Yingluck stepped down or dissolved the House of Representatives to call a snap election, according to the protest leader.

Deputy Premier Pracha Promnok said he expected Suthep and the other protest leaders to surrender to the police shortly.