BANGKOK — A Buddhist monk and core anti-government leader has filed attempted murder charges against the police that used tear gas on him and his group of demonstrators today.

It was the first instance of violence during today's large-scale anti-government demonstrations, referred to as the "Final Battle" by leaders of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD). The massive rally is part of the group’s ongoing effort to replace the current caretaker government, now led by Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, with an unelected PM and "People's Council."

Protesters led by the core PCAD activist and Buddhist monk Buddha Issara clashed with police this morning after attempting to enter the headquarters of the Centre for Administration of Peace and Ordre (CAPO) on Viphavadee Road.

Buddha Issara led protesters to CAPO’s headquarters with the intention of negotiating with a high-ranking government representative. When his request for a dialogue was ignored, the monk attempted to enter the building despite police orders that he stop “trespassing.”

When Buddha Issara refused to stop, police fired tear gas and high-pressured water at the monk and his entourage.

PCAD protesters hurled water bottles and screamed insults at the police in response, but eventually retreated. 

After the clash subsided, Buddha Issara went to Thoong Song Hong police station to file charges of “attempted murder” against the officers who unleashed tear gas on his group.

Meanwhile, in a statement read this afternoon, CAPO announced a decision to charge 51 PCAD leaders with serious offences including terrorism, insurrection, illegal assembly, causing public disorder, and obstruction of the 2 Feb. elections.

This morning's confrontation at CAPO also brought traffic on Viphavadee Road to a halt, with PCAD guards blocking several lanes of the road near the CAPO headquarters.

According to a statement by the Traffic Police Command, traffic on Viphavadee Road and the elevated toll way above the road were completely "paralysed" by  the clashes.

Those who wish to travel to Don Mueang Airport have been advised to avoid Viphavadee Road use Phahon yothin Road instead. 

On Friday, other groups of PCAD protesters marched through Bangkok’s financial district and demonstrated in front of a number of state-owned TV stations and government buildings, including the Government House and Parliament.

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BANGKOK — A senior adviser to the Human Rights Watch has criticised anti-government protesters for intimidating several state-owned media outlets in Bangkok today.

Supporters of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) rallied in front of the headquarters of Channel 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 on Friday to demand the stations cease broadcasting “pro-government” news,including any statements released by the government. PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the demonstrations are needed to put an end to the “pro-government propaganda” reported by these "mouthpieces" of the state.

But Human Rights Watch adviser Sunai Phasuk said the demonstrators are blatantly intimidating the TV stations and attempting to censor them.  

"It's fortunate that the demonstrators have not entered the building yet," Mr. Sunai told Khaosod. "But I am concerned that if the TV station directors or reporters refuse to do what the PCAD wants, there might be trouble."

Mr. Sunai noted that anti-government protesters are known to have assaulted journalists in the past, which a  number of human rights organisations, including the United Nations, has criticized.

"Therefore, the Human Rights Watch would like the PCAD to refrain from pressuring and threatening the media … and the PCAD should promise that they will not resort to violence against the media again," said Mr. Sunai.

He also urged all media associations, newspapers, and other news outlets in Thailand to publish editorials that explicitly call for all sides of the political conflict to respect the freedom of the press. 

In a press conference today, a deputy spokesperson of the ruling Pheu Thai Party accused Mr. Suthep of besieging the state-owned TV stations in order to provoke violence and pave the way for a military coup.

"At this moment, every faction in the society should unite and oppose Mr. Suthep's attempt at seizing power from the caretaker government," said the Pheu Thai spokesman, Anusorn Eiamsa-ard.

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BANGKOK — Thousands of anti-government protesters are laying siege to nearly all of Bangkok’s state-owned TV stations, demanding that they refrain from broadcasting any “pro-government” coverage.

The operation is a part of the "Final Battle" called by the leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), Suthep Thaugsuban. The group’s stated aim is to topple the government of Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisarn, who replaced former PM Yingluck Shinawatra after she was removed from office in a court ruling on Wednesday.

The verdict found Ms. Yingluck and nine Cabinet members guilty of unlawfully removing the head of the National Security Council in 2011, forcing them to step down from their caretaker positions.

Although the ruling was a victory for PCAD, which has been campaigning to oust Ms. Yingluck since last November, Mr. Suthep said his crusade against the government is not over yet.

The former Democrat Party MP declared that the fight will not be over until all Cabinet members are removed and an unelected Prime Minister is installed alongside an unelected "People's Council" that will be tasked with implementing unspecified "national reforms."

Mr. Suthep has expressed opposition to the upcoming general election on 20 July, insisting that he will not allow any elections to go forward before the "national reforms" are completed. 

Over the past few weeks, Mr. Suthep has been calling on supporters across the country to gather at Lumpini Park for today’s "Final Battle." Mr. Suthep chose to launch the demonstration at 9:09 a.m., which many Thais consider to be an auspicious time because of the number nine's association with His Majesty the King, the ninth monarch in the Charki dynasty.

Shortly before 9:09 a.m., Mr. Suthep revealed his plan to have demonstrators march to the state-owned TV Channels 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. According to Mr. Suthep, these media agencies are "mouth pieces" of the government and must be "convinced" to refrain from broadcasting any more "pro-government propaganda."

"They must not report the news on behalf of the tyrants any longer, because it distorts the truth," Mr. Suthep said, adding that he intends to "ask for cooperation" from these stations to broadcast his speech once “victory” is achieved.

Thai PBS, which is also owned by the state, was curiously left out of Mr. Suthep's plan, likely because anti-government protesters generally view the channel as sympathetic to their cause.

Mr. Suthep said that the protesters will camp outside these TV stations "overnight" to make sure they don’t deviate from PCAD-approved coverage.

Nevertheless, Mr. Suthep said the demonstrators will not forcefully enter any of the state-owned media headquarters, insisting that the siege should not be considered as an attempt to intimidate the media.

This is not the first time PCAD activists have attempted to sway media coverage in their favor. When the latest round of anti-government protests flared up in November last year, hundreds of anti-government demonstrators stormed  several TV stations in Bangkok, demanding the staff only broadcast content deemed favourable by the protesters.

A number of reporters, both Thai and foreign, have been also routinely assaulted or threatened by PCAD activists in the past.

Also on the move today is a group of PCAD protesters led by Buddhist monk Buddha Issara. The group is en route this morning to the headquarters of Centre of Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO). Security forces stationed at the CAPO compound have erected additional barricades and barbed wire to prevent the protesters from entering the area.

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