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Bangkok: A group calling for the resignation of Thailand's government on Thursday threatened to take its protest to the Prime Minister's front door as fears of major political confrontation showed few signs of easing.
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), which triggered fears of a military coup at the weekend when its supporters faced off with riot police, said it was gearing up for a "D-day" even though public support for the rallies was falling in the capital.
Spokesman Suriyasai Katasila said the group was contemplating moving its protest stage from the major thoroughfare where it has been blocking traffic since May 25, but added that it would not be packing up and going home.
"We are thinking of moving today or tomorrow," he said. "The most feasible scenario is to move to the front of Government House. We're seeking a consensus on when and where we'll move to."
Yesterday, small groups of protesters marched to the Interior Ministry and the office of Thailand's top prosecutor to demand they move ahead on stalled corruption cases against former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The PAD was behind the protests that led to the 2006 coup against Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon who caused deep rifts within society with his pro-business, no-nonsense style of leadership.
New structures
In particular, he alienated the traditional power structures that revolve around palace and army.
With himself and most of his top political colleagues barred from politics after the coup, his party was forced to contest a December election via proxies but still managed to come first despite a vigorous counter-campaign by the army.
The resurgence of PAD protests against Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's bid to amend the army-drafted constitution has renewed fears of another coup, knocking more than six per cent off the stock market and weakening the baht against the dollar.
Even if a coup is averted, investors are concerned about the government being distracted from policy-making at a time of stuttering exports, and soaring inflation and energy prices.
"The trends are not promising and public grievances will grow," political analyst Thitinan Pongsudhirak said.
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