Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban received overwhelming cash donations as he led protesters along the streets of Bangkok demanding the resignation of caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The donations were in response to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) freezing the accounts of protest leaders.
PDRC secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban receives cash donations from supporters in Silom area during yesterday’s march, which was aimed at encouraging city residents to join a planned mass rally on Sunday. Cash donations have poured in after the Department of Special Investigation froze the bank accounts of key protest leaders, as well as the account of Ratchadamnoen’s Kitchen, the catering centre for the protesters. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH
The Matichon daily on Saturday estimated that the donations were about 8 million baht and Naew Na said they could reach 10 million baht. ''10-hour march, 10-million-baht donations,'' the Naew Na's headline said.
The DSI on Friday issued warrants to summon 20 People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leaders, except Mr Suthep, who already has an outstanding warrant, to acknowledge charges of insurrection.
The department also informed commercial banks to freeze the accounts of all PDRC leaders, including Mr Suthep, as well as any accounts opened to receive donations.
Demonstrators led by Mr Suthep and other leaders marched from Ratchadamnoen Avenue on Friday morning to persuade people in Bangkok to join their rally on Sunday to demand caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra resign to pave the way for national reform.
Demonstrators passed Nakhon Sawan, Krung Kasem and Rama IV roads on their way to Silom Road.
They received a warm welcome along the rally route. Supporters waved flags, shouted words of encouragement and blew whistles.
A large number of people handed Mr Suthep money, mainly 500 and 1,000-baht banknotes. The overwhelming support and donations to Mr Suthep delayed the march and banknotes quickly filled sack after sack.
Former deputy finance ministry Boonchoo Treethong, a former executive of the dissolved Thai Rak Thai Party donated 300,000 baht in cash to Mr Suthep.
After the marching, Mr Suthep had received so many donations that the sacks of money weighed 8kg.
Somchai Warunyanugrai, a 39-year-old employee from the Asok area, said the DSI should not have frozen the accounts of PDRC leaders because it has not be proven that they had done anything wrong.
Retired Maleekanya Sagarik from the Kasetsart area said it was inappropriate for the DSI to freeze the demonstration leaders' accounts and that she was happy to donate.
"I donate every day because I am a Bangkokian. I donate because people from other provinces may lack food as they have been here for days," said Mrs Maleekanya while waiting for the procession of demonstrators on Silom Road.
Sirirat Phothong, 56, said the DSI's actions were unfair and wrong and would not have any impact on demonstrations because most funds came from ordinary people.
Siriporn Thongratana, 71, said she has made several donations ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 baht each time.
"I want to help and I fear that participants will lack food," Mrs Siriporn said after handing a 1,000-baht note to Mr Suthep on Silom Road
Meanwhile, the Criminal Court has explained why it rejected Mr Suthep's petition for the withdrawal of the warrant for his arrest on charges of rebellion, which was based on a judgement made by the Constitution Court. In a statement, the Criminal Court said it was not bound by the Constitution Court's ruling.
The petition by Mr Suthep for the withdrawal of the arrest warrant was based on a ruling by the Constitution Court that the protests have been carried out peacefully without any weapons being used so are not in breach of the charters Section 68.
However, the Criminal Court found differently. Evidence presented to the court was that Mr Suthep and his associates had threatened to use force to deplete the administrative power of the government, seizing government offices, the Finance Ministry and the government office complex on Chaeng Watthana road, and threatened to cut off electricity and water and discouraging civil servants from going to work.
Mr Suthep's actions had encouraged the people to violate the law on gatherings of more than 10 people and caused chaos in the country.
The Constitution Court ruling did not match the facts presented to the Criminal Court, so it was not bound by the judgement.