By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP)
KHAO YAI, Thailand — Thousands of protesters resumed their efforts to topple the Thai government Monday, rallying outside the mountaintop home of the former prime minister installed following the 2006 coup.
The protesters hiked up to former Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's vacation home on Khao Yai Thiang mountain, some 109 miles (175 kilometres) northeast of the capital, Bangkok. They are demanding Surayud give up the house, which they say was illegally built in a state-run forest preserve. They also want him charged with trespassing onto public land.
Police Col. Direk Plangdee said that Surayud, who is also an adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, was not home at the time of the protest. About 6,000 people demonstrated peacefully, and there were no arrests, he said.
"We want to tell the international community that a double standard exists in the country," Protest leader Jatuporn Phromphan told the rally. He said that Surayud can avoid charges "while ordinary people have been sued by the state for trespassing and encroaching on the forest reserve."
Since the coup, supporters and opponents of fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra have repeatedly taken to the streets to spar over who has the right to rule the country, sometimes sparking violence. Thaksin was ousted in the coup and military leaders installed Surayud to replace him.
Supporters of Thaksin put their anti-government activities on hold last month out of respect for the ailing Bhumibol and the week of festivities that typically surround his birthday in early December.
They had said they would resume their protests in January in a bid to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who was appointed to his post by Parliament in December 2008 after a Thaksin-allied government was dissolved by a court. Thaksin's supporters say Abhisit came to power illegitimately and he should make way for an elected government.
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