Suthep declares December 1 as "People's Victory Day"
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Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the protesting Civil Movement for Democracy, declared Sunday (Dec 1) the "People's Victory Day" when protesters would completely occupy key ministries, including Government House.
Speaking at a raised platform at the Government Complex before thousands of cheering crowds, Suthep said that all state agencies at the Government Complex in Nonthaburi would be occupied from tonight. And he told government officials working there to stop working from Monday until further notice from the protest group.
Only officials from Administrative Court, Constitutional Court and the Thai Armed Forces would be allowed to enter the complex, Suthep said.
“The force of the people will take control of this Government Complex, as well as [the nearby] CAT Telecom and TOT Plc,” he said, adding that workers from both telecom firms also would help the protesters take control of their premises.
According to Suthep, the state agencies to be occupied are Government House, Royal Thai Police headquarters, Metropolitan Police Bureau, ministries of Education, Interior, Commerce and Foreign Affaris, Dusit Zoo, Public Relations Department, and Labour Ministry, where the government’s Centre for Administration of Peace and Order is located.
He said many policemen are stationed at Education Ministry and Dusit Zoo.
Suthep told employees of state enterprises to stop working from Monday, except the firms that involve public services, such as Thai Airways and Bangkok Metropolitan Mass Transit, State Railway of Thailand.
He also asked protesters in the province to occupy provincial halls throughout the country, as part of the effort to “uproot the Thaksin regime”.
The protest leader also announced formation of a new group called People’s Committee for Changes of Thailand into Complete Democracy under Constitutional Monarchy. Suthep serves as secretary-general of the new group.
The Government Complex, which has been occupied by the anti-government protesters, would be used as the command centre for the new group, he said.
Suthep introduced the 37 committee members one by one to the protesters.
