Thai anti-government protesters began to head home Tuesday afternoon after their leaders surrendered to police and called an end to the rally. But the security in the capital Bangkok is still tight.
At about 12:15 p.m., protesters were gradually identifying themselves to troops at the Royal Plaza to take buses to return home. They were required to show their ID cards and allow officials to check their bags before being allowed to board the buses.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva thanked the public for their courage. But PM's Office Minister Satit Wongnongtaey said security in Bangkok will remain tight because the government has the information that some protesters might get together into group of 20-30 and scatter in Bangkok to continue violating the capital.
"Some people don't want to stop and they might go to Sanam Luang in central Bangkok to continue the rally," NBT, the state TV, quoted Satiti in a live interview.
He said although the protesters have retreated, the government is not sure how the situation would end yet, that's why the government would continue tight security in the capital.
After the surrender of the leaders of protesters, witnesses said that they still saw more than 100 red-shirted protesters confronted with police.
Around 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, Veera Musigapong, leader of the red-shirted protesters, told supports at the Government House to disperse. He said that the voluntarily dispersing was not a defeat but was aimed at protecting the life of the protesters.
Natthawut Saikua later joined Veera and Suporn Atthawong, leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) , who headed to Bangkok Metropolitan Police head office, the website of The Nation newspaper said.
Natthawut saw the protesters boarding buses to provincial bus terminals and joined Veera who was helping the officials direct protesters to board the buses, according to The Nation.
Earlier, there were about 2,000 protesters around the Government House, the only encampment of the protesters now.
(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2009)
