THAILAND: Business as usual at many Bangkok government offices despite violent anti-government protests

Record ID: 230240

  • Title: THAILAND: Business as usual at many Bangkok government offices despite violent anti-government protests
  • Date: 2nd December 2013
  • Summary: BANGKOK, THAILAND (DECEMBER 2, 2013) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FINANCE MINISTRY BUREAU OF THE BUDGET BUILDING GATES WITH POSTERS ON THEM PROTESTERS STANDING AT GATE EXTERIOR MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECURITY OFFICIALS AT GATE (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 46-YEAR OLD GOVERNMENT WORKER ANUTPORN SAYING: "It's a normal day because the government didn't order us (to stay home). If it were the government's orders, then we would, but it was from the protesters and they haven't taken over." CAR ENTERING FOREIGN MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 44-YEAR OLD GOVERNMENT WORKER RUNGRATCHANEE SUKHIRATTAWHI SAYING: "We have split sides, we're (government) workers so we have to work, the protesters are protesting so they can still protest. We have responsibilities so we have to do what we have to do." EXTERIOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ENTERING BUILDING (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) GOVERNMENT WORKER WICHAI SAYING: "We're working as normal, we're watching the atmosphere, we don't think there will be violence." EXTERIOR ROYAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS SIGN READING (English): "ROYAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS" VARIOUS OF POLICE OFFICERS STANDING WITH SHIELDS PEOPLE WALKING
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5RK6NZJ23RKJ4WL6J71NXKOR0
  • Story Text: Many Thai government offices were operating as usual on Monday (December 2) after violent anti-government protests rocked the capital at the weekend.
    The protest leader had urged civil servants on Sunday(December 1) to stay at home and not support the government as thousands battled riot police to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's administration.
    The protesters had set Sunday as "Victory Day" to oust the government but failed to achieve their goal of seizing the prime minister's office at Government House or occupying state buildings, despite intense clashes with riot police.
    Protests resumed on Monday at several places including Government house and the Metropolitan Police Department.
    Government office workers arrived at their workplace as usual on Monday, mainly at offices where clashes did not take place.

    "It's a normal day because the government didn't order us (to stay home). If it were the government's orders, then we would, but it was from the protesters and they haven't taken over," said Anutporn (one name) a 46-year-old office worker.

    "We have split sides, we're (government) workers so we have to work, the protesters are protesting so they can still protest. We have responsibilities so we have to do what we have to do," added another office worker Rungratchanee Sukhirattawhi, 44.
    Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has extended his deadline to oust the government with a "people's coup" to December 3.

    "We're working as normal, we're watching the atmosphere, we don't think there will be violence," said government worker Wichi.
    Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister, has called for talks with the protesters to end the protests, which have been joined by the opposition Democrats, Thailand's oldest political party. The Democrats have not won an election in more than two decades and have lost every national vote for the past 13 years to Thaksin or his allies.
    Suthep has rejected negotiations.
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