All political protesters at rally sites across Bangkok were sent home between Thursday and yesterday, each with an extra 250 baht of cash in hand.
People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protesters get on a bus at Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue yesterday. The authorities provided transportation to take demonstrators home following the military coup on Thursday. The Transport Ministry worked with the army and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to hand out a 250-baht allowance to each protester. Seksan Rojjanametakul
The operation to transfer demonstrators from rally sites at Ratchadamnoen, Chaeng Watthana and Utthayan roads to their homes in the provinces began after the announcement of the coup on Thursday afternoon, deputy permanent secretary for transport Soithip Traisut said.
Transportation has been organised for all protesters, the majority of whom should have made it home by the end of the day yesterday, she said.
The Transport Ministry worked with the army and the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to hand out a 250-baht allowance to each protester, Ms Soithip said. Of that, 200 baht was to cover travel expenses and 50 baht was for food.
The military checked all demonstrators to make sure they were not carrying weapons, she added.
The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) arranged buses to take demonstrators from the three rally sites to Hua Lamphong train station and intercity bus terminals at Ekamai, Mor Chit and Sai Tai.
According to Ms Soithip, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) was responsible for transporting protesters on trains to southern destinations, while the Transport Company organised buses to take protesters back to the North or Northeast.
Demonstrators from Bangkok's surrounding provinces of Pathum Thani, Samut Songkhram, Samut Sakhon, Ayutthaya and Nakhon Pathom were sent home on buses organised by the BMTA.
Train fares for protesters were paid through the government's free train service initiative, she said. BMTA and Transport Company will have to calculate their expenses and request reimbursement from the state, which must then approve budgets to pay them.
SRT governor Prapat Chongsanguan said the agency organised two train services to Hat Yai station in Songkhla yesterday morning and afternoon, which carried up to 2,400 people.
Transport Company president Wuthichart Kalyanamitra said that around 26 buses had taken demonstrators to the South on Thursday evening, while four buses took passengers to northern and northeastern provinces. Up to 1,500 demonstrators were taken on those routes.
More than 20 bus trips were also organised yesterday to send protesters to the North and Northeast, he said.
BMTA acting director Nares Boonpiam said the agency arranged 400 buses to transport about 3,500 demonstrators to intercity bus terminals and Hua Lamphong train station on Thursday.
A total of 130 buses had been prepared for transportation yesterday morning, but only 62 were used, carrying around 2,800 people, he said.
The BMTA will continue to arrange buses to transport demonstrators home until further notice from the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council, he added.