The deputy who is really only a puppet

This was even though Somchai had handed all his powers to Deputy Prime Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul in his absence.

However, Chaovarat's only role was reporting to Somchai, which probably explains why he kept saying he felt no pressure. "I can talk [to Somchai] on the phone all the time. All we missed over the weekend was our weekly game of golf," he said.

The 70-year-old Chaovarat was given his post to replace his son Anutin, who lost his voting rights when the Thai Rak Thai Party was disbanded. The posts in the Public Health Ministry, both as chief and deputy, that he held during former premier Samak Sundaravej's rule, and his current position, are all really manoeuvrings of his supporting team.

During a special Cabinet meeting on Monday, his team told him about every move the PAD made. Upon hearing that the PAD were close to arriving at the temporary government seat in Don Mueang Airport, they made him call off another meeting, with less than two hours' notice.

In fact, he was so flustered that he told the reporter interviewing him on the phone, to look in on his office because he was afraid the protesters might raid the room.

"I am worried about the Buddha image I have in there," he said.

This probably explains why Somchai, realising he could not rely on his deputy, called Chaovarat on Tuesday and ordered him to call in the military top brass to help control the situation.

"On Monday, we [the government] thought the PAD would only lay siege to Government House and Don Mueang. That they would surround other places and go back once the protesters are exhausted. The besieging of Suvarnabhunmi Airport was really not expected," said a source, who asked not to be named.