Two days after announcing they would occupy the U.S. embassy in Bangkok, a group of anti-government demonstrators have yet to make good on their threat.
Police have been on alert since Nititorn Lamlua, the leader of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, announced Saturday night he would lead his group to capture the embassy in response to its stated support of the Thai government’s plan to hold new elections Feb. 2.
“Listen carefully,” he told protesters gathered near the Government House in the capital’s Dusit district. “We will storm and seize the embassy.”
The statements from the U.S. Department of State served to legitimize the caretaker government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, he said.
No date was set for the action and Nititorn’s group have not left their base at the Chamai Maruchet bridge.
Although protesters succeeded in seizing many Thai ministry and government buildings without resistance, it seems unlikely embassy guards of the U.S. Marine Corp would open the gates to the heavily fortified compound.
However, Thailand’s emergency security group said it was coordinating with the embassy on security provisions, according to Police Maj. Gen. Anucha Ramanyanand of the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order.
The statement in question was issued last week by the U.S. government in support of Yingluck’s decision to dissolve parliament and call new elections as mandated by the Thai constitution, Bangkok Post reported.
