Anti-government protesters are threatening to resume their demonstration at the Asean Summit in Pattaya today after being chased by opponents and local residents while retreating from the venue yesterday.
The noisy protest by 2,000 people from the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) ended yesterday evening after their leader, Arisman Phongruangrong, handed a letter of demands to Bara Kuma Palaniappan, a senior official with the Asean Secretariat.
Local residents and men in black shirts were seen throwing sticks and water bottles at them as they were leaving the venue.
The protesters said they had no intention of disrupting the meeting, but rather wanted to exercise their democratic rights in front of foreign leaders.
"We are a democratic force, not Thaksin followers. We're here to show our presence," said spokesman Sean Bounpracong.
Earlier, some protesters broke into the compound of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort, which is hosting the Asean Summit and meetings with dialogue-partner countries, and sat there until their letter was handed to the Asean official.
The letter demanded Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva resign and General Prem Tinsulanonda, former prime minister Surayud Chulanont and former Supreme Court chief Chanchai Likhitjittha step down from the Privy Council.
Abhisit told reporters the government was ready to host the meeting, which would benefit not only all Thais, but also the vast majority of the people in the region.
"We'll ensure the meeting proceeds smoothly. It involves the interests of 16 countries, so there is no reason for us to bring our domestic problems [to the table]. I simply cannot understand why they want to attack Thailand for hosting this," he said.
Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan said the grouping's leaders understood about freedom of expression but appreciated the protesters' decision to withdraw from the premises and allow the summit to go on.
"This is an important meeting, the first regional one since the Group of 20 to discuss issues of global concern that are related to unemployment and poverty in the world, including here," Surin said.
Leaders from Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Laos, Burma, Brunei, the Philippines, China and Japan arrived in Pattaya yesterday for the summit.
Security officials managed to take them to the meeting venue smoothly through other gates of the resort, although the protesters were in front of the convention hall.
Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban was in Pattaya yesterday to handle the situation. He came out of the resort to face the demonstrators briefly.
Leaders from Indonesia, India, Australia and New Zealand plus the UN secretary-general are scheduled to arrive today.
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