The rally took place a day after Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont decided not to declare a state of emergency, which would have allowed authorities to ban public gatherings, impose curfews and censor local news reports.

Key speakers at the rally, including its chairman Veera Musigapong, continued their attacks on the Council for National Security (CNS), as the junta calls itself, for its failure to solve the country's problems.

These include stopping the turbulence in the deep South, finding the mastermind of the New Year's Eve bombings and showing sincerity in returning the country to democracy.

More than 100 Metropolitan Police officers had guarded the area since early afternoon, although the rally leaders took to the stage at 4.30pm. Three checkpoints were set up to prevent any threats or interference.

The protest, which had been planned for Sanam Luang for the second week running, was shifted to City Hall after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration declared Sanam Luang off limits for public rallies until next Thursday, when a Thai sports festival ends. Barricades were later set up around Sanam Luang.

The prohibition followed concern that the PTV rally along with other anti-coup groups had the potential to spark violence.

CNS chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin suggested a few days ago that a state of emergency might be necessary to prevent a crisis that could derail the drafting of a new constitution and the election.

PTV executives cried foul over the ban, saying it violated freedom of expression. They vowed to use City Hall instead.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin finally allowed the rally to be held at City Hall. He said he did not want to see any trouble. However, he stipulated that the organisers stop the rally at 10.30pm as they had promised.

A compromise was reached following a report that PM Surayud had telephoned PTV chairman Veera shortly after he decided not to declare a state of emergency on Thursday. Surayud told Veera that he would allow the rally to be held as long as speakers did not attack "third persons or respectable figures", the source said.

Last week anti-coup activists attacked Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda as the mastermind of the September 19 coup, which infuriated the junta's leaders, who warned the activists to stay away from Prem as he was above all political conflicts.

However, the Saturday Anti-Coup Group used the PTV rally yesterday to collect signatures in a campaign to oust Prem as Privy Council president.

The PTV organisers denied any involvement with the signature campaign.

Meanwhile acting national police chief Seripisut Temiyavej, said he would next week call leaders of all anti-coup groups for talks with the police to explain why they wanted to hold the rallies and what their goals were.

The police will open special files on them, making it easy to trace them if they break the law, he added.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

The Nation