Final confrontation?

Anti-government rally leaders promise a final push today. We continue our real-time coverage of the protests in Thailand, beginning with a review of last nights events. Will everything end today?

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For today's (December 2) coverage, click here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382687/crunch-time-day-one

Once again, we'll be following the events all day as they happen. You can read our previous continuing coverage here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382260/protests-no-end-in-sight

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/382098/where-are-we-and-what-next

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/381919/protests-not-over-yet

22:40

This was just posted by our online reporters:

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban met Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra about 1 hour ago.

Mr Suthep told the press conference at the Government Complex that he met the prime minister before the armed forces leaders including Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The meeting was to make clear before the top military leaders the position of the Democratic Reform Committee that her resignation and a House dissolution were not enough.

In other news, the Phue Thai party has said that Ms Yingluck would also make a statement, but that has not yet happened. Mr Suthep has given her two days to consider his demands. It will be interesting to see how she responds, if she does. More tomorrow.

20:20

Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok has read a statement in which he accused PDRC leader Suthep Thuagsuban of treason. Sitting with four other grim-faced cabinet ministers, he said the government had the situation under control and would continue to provide services as best it could. He said government workers would not take up Mr Suthep's offer of a day off. He urged members of the public to stay home tonight as unscrupulous people (the third hand) might take advantage of the situation.

What people noticed, however, was the absence of Prime Minister Yingluick. All day long, rumours have been flying that she has left the country. They have been denied by top government officials, but no one seems to know where she is, or they are not telling.

Meanwhile, as night fell, leaders of the Network of Students and People for Reform have told its member who have tried unsuccessful to break into Government House and the Metropolitan Police Bureau to stand back over night. The said the situation was too unsafe to operate in the dark. The offensive would resume tomorrow.

17:00

Suthep Thuagsuban, leader of People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) has just gone on television at the Government Complex to say the actions of the past month are in defence of the constitution which the Yingluck government has consciously violated. He say, people, have the right under the constitution to take action. He said all movements have been peaceful, without weapons, and read a long list of government ministries, agencies and free television channels that have been taken over by protest groups. He ordered the media to cease broadcasting news from the government and called for government workers to stay away from work, starting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, disturbances have continued in the Ramkhamhaeng area although soldiers were able to get the trapped students out. The university has been ordered closed for two days.

15:40

Social media is alive with talk about government television (channel 11) just cutting away from a statement by the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to cover today's lottery drawing.

15:25

The standoff continues between the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand trying to force their way into the Government House area and riot police determined to keep them out.

13:30

Reports are coming in that soldiers have arrived at Ramkhamhaeng to help the trapped students leave. Meanwhile, protest groups are systematically entering the major TV stations. It is not yet clear how much coverage of the protest situation they will be able to provice.

13:00 

The Ministry of the Interior has been occupied. @jariya_TRnews has photos. One reason this ministry was of special interest is that the minister was on the red-shirt stage at Rajamangala stadium next to Ramkhamhaeng university last night while the trouble was going on outside. Protesters were angered that police were large absent.

12:45

A large, so far peaceful, crowd is outside the national police headquarters (in the Siam Square, Central World, Siam Paragon area). There are rumours that the prime minister is there, but a channel 7 reporter says he can't confirm that.

The army chief says he's ลำบากใจ (worried, depressed, distressed) and urges a halt to tear gas, a halt to protesters's movements in favour of talks

12:30

There are quite a number of people tweeting on the situation from the various sites. Here is a start and I'll add to list periodically.

@georgehenton
@pakhead (Jonathan Head) BBC
@photo_journ  He's got a drone at Govt House!
@gavingough  Another 1st-class photographer
@aleursic  Very good freelance journalist
@Journotopia Andrew R.C. Marshall (special correspondent for Reuters) Good photos as well.
@wayne_hay  Freelance
@photogjack
@jeab_TRnews
@newley  freelance
@W7VOA Steve Herman  Voice of America
@BKKApologist
@RichardBarrow As usual, he is everywhere today, often helping people determine safe places to visit, shop, etc.
@WassanaNanuam (mainly in Thai) Bangkok Post reporter on military affairs
@prachpan reporter for Voice TV (in Thai)
@noppatjak (mainly in Thai)
@jariya_TRnews (in Thai)
@news1005fm  (in Thai)

12:00

Police have started using tear gas. Lots of it. Some of it is being thrown back.

Meanwhile, our reporters say, protesters are removing barriers near Wat Benjamaborpit intersection as they are trying to seize Government House.

That won't be easy.

11:35

It sounds like takeovers or blackouts of major TV channels are possible. Tense negotiations are now going on at Thai PBS with protesters demanding to takeover or they will shut the station down. Channel 3, which is on the target list, is still broadcasting live coverage. Protesters at all sites are being warned to prepare for tear gas.

11:15

Our online reporters have just reported that Ratchadamnoen rally leader Sathit Wongdamnoen has announced the marchers are on the way to eight locations:

The first group of protesters, led by Chumpol Julasai, would head for the Metropolitan Police headquarters.

The second, led by Komsan Thongsiri, secretary-general of the State Enterprises Workers Relations Confederation, would be heading for the Interior Ministry.

The third group would move to the Labour Ministry.  They were led by former Democrat list MP Issara Somchai.

The protesters in the fourth group, led by Taya Teepsuwan, would be heading for Channel 3 television station.

The fifth, led by Jittapat Pirompakdi, would go to Channel 5.

The sixth, led by Nathapol Teepsuwan, would leave for Channel 7.

The seventh, led by Thanom Onketpol, would go to Channel 9.

The eighth, led by Thaworn Senneam, would march to Channel 11.

Mr Sathit announced on the stage that protesters from the Finance Ministry had taken control of the Public Relations Department in a lightning move this morning, and members of the Dhamma Army had already laid siege to Government House.

Meanwhile, Thai PBS reports that the 2000 Ramkhamhaeng students taking shelter on campus are still unable to leave. Help is arriving, however, and a noon exit is likely.

10:47

Convoys of protesters are now leaving Ratchadamnoen for the targeted sites. Blue Sky TV is still broadcasting live, so if you want to follow their (not very impartial) coverage, you can do so here: http://www.tvjaa.com/stream/blueskychannel.html

Catching up

Let's first review the night's events. Confused fighting continued thorughout the night at Ramkhamhaeng. The Erawan Medical Centre reports one dead and 45 injured, but it is already clear the death toll is higher. The first death was a 21-year male and the second, a 23-year-old soldier, said by his girlfriend to be a red-shirt supporter. Red-shirt sources say more of their supporters were killed. They said four were killed in total.

The situation at the university is not secure enough for about 2000 students taking shelter inside to leave the campus, according to a student just interviewed on Thai PBS. He said no police were present and they needed help to evacuate 500 women students. He said every time they tried to go out, shots were fired at them.

On a more positive note, red-shirt leaders in Rajamangala stadium have abruptly ended their rally and told and estimated 70,000 people to go home. They want to lessen the chance of further confrontations, they said, and to not burden police who already have a huge job to do. The worry is that there may be incidents as the crowds makes its way out of Bangkok.

Meanwhile, leaders at the two main anti-government rally sites are organising the groups to being their marches to the targeted government ministries and agencies. 10:45 is supposed to be the starting time, but that time has already been delayed once.

Standing in their way will be large contingents of riot police who have now been joined by some military units.

Nearly 3,000 troops will be deployed to reinforce security in Bangkok, Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) spokesman Piya Utayo said.

''From tonight there will be soldiers out to take care of security,'' he said in a televised address, adding that 2,730 military personnel from the army, navy and airforce would take part.

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