About 100 protesters led by the September 19 Anti-Coup Network rally in front of Parliament while the National Legislative Assembly opens its first session yesterday. They called on the assemblymen to resign.

Members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) were yesterday called junta lapdogs and "servants of dictators", and told to resign by a group of demonstrators yesterday.

The 100-strong protesters were led by a grouping loosely labelled as a network against the September 19 coup.

Banners carried by the demonstrators attacked legislators as "consumers of stolen goods" and "servants of dictators".

Protesters wore black and carried black wreaths and banners demanding the NLA "get out".

The demonstration included speeches attacking the NLA. It lasted for three hours and ended when the House rose at 1pm.

Protesters also carried with them empty tin cans they said legislators should wear over their heads to "hide their faces in shame".

The NLA was accused of trespassing an "honourable parliament for the representatives of the people".

NLA members singled out by demonstrators included former elected senators Sopon Supapong and Tuenjai Deetes, Thammasat University rector Surapol Nitikraipoj, former pro-democracy academics Sangsit Piriyarangsan and Sombat Thamrongthanyawong and former Campaign for Democracy president Surichai Wankaew and its founder Gothom Arya.

"We did not expect these respected people would accept and serve the dictators who robbed democracy and tore down the constitution," said Sombat Boonngam-anong, who is the spokesman for the anti-coup network.

The group claimed the NLA could only be a puppet body and a rubber stamp for the generals.

"We encourage NLA members still conscious of right and wrong to resign," Sombat said.

Pongsatorn Sornpetcnarin, a former secretary-general of the Student Federation of Thailand, doubted assembly members could speak of "democracy and human rights anymore".

Junya Yimprasert urged the international community to boycott the junta in the same way it had shunned Burma's military leaders.

World acceptance of the government could precipitate takeovers in other Southeast Asian countries, he said.

A statement by the group demanded abolition of martial law, elections and the restoration of the 1997 Constitution.

The network planned a regular Saturday rally against the coup leaders and the interim government at Thammasat University Tha Phrachan campus.

The first rally is slated for this Saturday at 4pm.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation