Thai Court Orders Protesters off Government Grounds

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A Thai demonstrator waves a flag as she and others occupy the Government House Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej says he will not negotiate with the People Alliance for Democracy and refuses to resign. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (David Longstreath - AP)

A lone anti-government demonstrator offers prayers to Buddhist monks outside Government House during demonstrations Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have occupied the Thai prime minister's office compound and tens of thousands rallied outside in the latest protest aimed at deposing a leader they accuse of being too closely tied to his disgraced predecessor. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (David Longstreath - AP)

Protestors wave the national flag as they cheer in the rain inside the compound of Thailand's Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008. Tens of thousands of demonstrators continue to occupy the Thai prime minister's office compound despite police efforts to remove them. The protesters vowed to stay in the compound until the government resigns. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (Wally Santana - AP)

Protestors gather inside the compound of Thailand's Government House in Bangkok, Thailand Wednesday night, Aug. 27, 2008. A Thai court issued arrest warrants at police request Wednesday for nine leaders of the anti-government movement whose members are occupying the prime minister's compound in a standoff with riot police. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) (Sakchai Lalit - AP)

Thai demonstrators wave flags as they occupy the Government House Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej says he will not negotiate with the People Alliance for Democracy and refuses to resign. (AP Photo/David Longstreath) (David Longstreath - AP)

Protestors chant slogans in the rain denouncing the government inside the compound of Thailand's Government House in Bangkok, Thailand. Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008. Tens of thousands of demonstrators continue to occupy the Thai prime minister's office compound despite police efforts to remove them. The protesters vowed to stay in the compound until the government resigns. (AP Photo/Wally Santana) (Wally Santana - AP)

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By Sutin Wannabovorn

Associated Press
Thursday, August 28, 2008; Page A12

BANGKOK, Aug. 27 -- Thai authorities stepped up pressure Wednesday on demonstrators occupying the grounds of the prime minister's office, getting court orders demanding that the crowd disperse and issuing arrest warrants for nine protest leaders on insurrection charges.

The actions raised tensions at the protest site, where at least 2,000 police officers faced a crowd of rightist demonstrators that appeared as large as the 30,000-strong throng that had protested the previous day, when the compound was seized.

About 5,000 members of the People's Alliance for Democracy camped on the grounds of Government House to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, and thousands filled adjoining streets.

A protest leader read the court orders to the crowd late Wednesday but said the demonstrators would ignore them pending appeals.

Dozens of demonstrators built makeshift barricades to hinder any police raid, despite their leaders saying they would not resist arrest. But while police were out in large numbers, they did not appear to be preparing to enforce the court orders quickly.

Samak said Tuesday that authorities would avoid using force against the demonstrators and would take a "soft and gentle" approach. He accused the protesters of trying to incite violence to provoke a coup but said he would not resign.

Gen. Anupong Paochinda, the army chief, reassured the public Tuesday that the military was not planning a coup and would stay out of politics.

The protest alliance wants Samak's government to quit, saying it is a proxy for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and recently fled to London in the face of corruption cases.

After Samak led Thaksin's political allies to a victory in national elections in December with the support of Thailand's rural majority, the alliance launched a protest campaign in May. The campaign escalated this week with the capture of Government House.

The capital's deputy police chief, Lt. Gen. Jongrak Chutanont, said the Bangkok Civil Court issued a ruling late Wednesday ordering all protesters to leave the government compound immediately and to stop blocking public streets.