MPs scale ladders to flee the parliament as protesters breach the gates and enter the parliament grounds on Wednesday afternoon, as the government moves against the red-shirts' People Channel TV station.
(Bangkok Post) - Red-shirt supporters of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) entered the parliament compound on Wednesday afternoon to press Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve the House of Representatives and call a general election.
More than 1,000 protesters led by core member Arisman Pongruangrong broke into the parliament compound after another red-shirt group led by co-leaders Payap Panket and Suporn Attawong began withdrawing from the area to guard the pro-UDD satellite-based People Channel on Lat Phrao road.
A group of protesters converged on Imperial World shopping mall on Lat Phrao road to prevent the People Channel from being shut down by the government.
Parliament President Chai Chidchob adjourned the parliament after the protesters surrounded the parliament compound on Wednesday morning.
The red-shirts moved to the parliament compound from their rally site near Phan Fa bridge after receiving reports that Prime Minister Abhisit and his deputy overseeing security Suthep Thaugsuban would hold the weekly cabinet meeting there.
Mr Chai earlier said he was not worried about the demonstrators rallying in front of the parliament and he would welcome them to the meeting if they entered the building.
Ladders were prepared for MPs to escape from the other side of the parliament, while security officials asked the protesters to make way for the lawmakers to leave.
Comedian and UDD key supporter Jeng Dogjik urged the protesters not to let Democrat Party MPs leave the parliament.
"The government must dissolve the House immediately. If the government doesn't comply we'll rally here [the parliament] for four days straight," Mr Jeng said.
There were about 200 government and opposition MPS inside the parliament building, including Deputy Prime Minister Suthep and Prime Minister's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey.
Earlier, red-shirt members Payap and Suporn demanded that House Speaker and Parliament President Chai come out and meet them.
"If Mr Chai's not out here, we'll enter the parliament immediately," they announced.
The cabinet on Wednesday assigned Information and Communication Techninology Minister Ranongruk Suwunchwee to hold talks with Thaicom Plc and ask it to take action against a satellite television station which has presented "distorted information" to the people, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said after the cabinet meeting.
The spokesman said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep, in his capacity as director of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), informed the cabinet about the television station.
He said the distorted information caused more people to join the UDD rally.
Although Mr Supachai did not mention the station by name it was understood to be the People Channel, which has broadcast live and nationwide the activities of the red-shirts in Bangkok.
Mr Supachai said Mr Suthep wanted Mrs Ranongruk to talk to Thaicom Plc about this matter.
"The cabinet wants Thaicom to say by noon today what action it would take against this station, which has broken the law, otherwise CAPO will action according to the law," Mr Supachai said.
This morning, UDD leader Weng Tojirakan asked the red-shirts to go to Imperial World to guard against any move to shut the station down.
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