BANGKOK, Dec 3 – Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban today announced partial victory for anti-government demonstrators but warned that their movement will not be called off unless the Thaksin regime is completely eliminated.
Suthep, self-proclaimed leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee, went on stage at the Government Complex on Chaeng Wattana Road this afternoon to inform protesters that the premises of Metropolitan Police Command and Government House were briefly occupied.
Metropolitan police commander Kamronwit Thoopkrachang willingly opened the door of the city police headquarters to protesters without resistance but insisted that police would not allow seizure of Government House, he said.
Mr Suthep charged Pol Gen Kamronwit of colluding protesters to storm into Government House only to find army personnel in the premises.
“He cheated us so that we would clash with soldiers inside Government House. Fortunately, we realised it was a ploy and withdrew without any confrontation with army personnel,” said Mr Suthep.
He admitted that the protesters’ victory was incomplete since the Thaksin regime still exists and “we have to be determined with our goal to root out the tyrant regime.”
He said a large number of pro-government politicians who have been legally banned from politicians were “set free” and allowed to re-enter politics, starting yesterday.
“If the government resigns and dissolves the House, this group of politicians will run in general elections. It will pave the way for Thaksin’s younger sister (Yaowapa Wongsawat) or brother-in-law (former prime minister Somchai Wongsawat) to become the next prime minister. In that case, we’ll continue to have a tyrant government,” said Mr Suthep.
He said police helicopters were hovering over the Government Complex, intending to arrest him and “I announce to all of you here that I will not flee.”
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra refused to comment on the protesters’ brief occupation of the Government House compound, saying the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) would provide information to the media.
