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Just as the People's Alliance for Democracy's supporters were besieging Parliament and the Finance Ministry early yesterday morning, those who kept TV Channel 7 on without tuning in to other channels would never have known what was happening.

Entertaining them was the "2008 American Music Awards", which featured artists and songs on a spectacular stage that was totally different from the scenes captured from the protest sites.

As a matter of fact, the television reporting of yesterday's events was completely different from that during the October 7 protest. Then, newsrooms were spooked by the PAD leaders' announcement that were going to fight their last battle and expected that this would lead to clashes and casualties. Some protesters did die that day. Now, however, as the government remains under attack over those casualties, the situation is less frightening - even though the PAD leaders reiterated that this would really be the final battle.

Nonetheless, there were some exciting scenes yesterday. Do you like cowboy movies? If so, you'll have loved the episode when a police officer rode his motorbike - okay, it wasn't a horse! - as he chased a 53 bus along Visutkasat Road. The police launched the action after a tip that some protesters had taken control of the vehicle. Failing to stop the driver, the officer shot out the tyres and six protesters got off the bus with bags full of weapons.

What surprises me is that these six guys come from such different parts of the country - Songkhla, Phetchabun, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phang Nga, Phuket and Trang. It must be advanced technology that allowed these men from such diverse provinces to have jointly planned such an action.

Guards at Vimarnmek Palace must also have been spooked when someone climbed the wall into the palace. The potential threat may have turned out to be nothing, but members of Parliament were unable to leave the besieged Parliament building.

By now, it must be known to the world that the protesters' power is strong, after ministers had to flee from their temporary office at Don Mueang Airport, where they were supposed to attend an urgent Cabinet meeting. Right after being informed of the PAD having mobilised supporters to move on the location, they stopped the meeting and left the venue - with Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung the first out of the door. Chalerm insisted however that he had not fled the protesters, but that he had some business to attend to at the ministry.

It was reported that Science and Technology Minister Wutthipong Chaisang was a bit edgy while he waited for his chaffeured car as the PAD supporters were approaching the venue.

Apparently not recognising Plodprasop Suraswadi, an adviser to the prime minister, protesters let him walk past them and escape their siege. Plodprasop took off his suit and walked out of the temporary Government House building to the car park. He walked past the protesters at the canteen and returned their smiles.

Thank God that, at press time, no violence had occurred. Besides the human tragedy, more official funds would have had to be used to find out who was responsible.