Thailand's PAD rallies in Bangkok against Thaksin, Hun Sen _English

"Yellow Shirt", supporters of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), attend a mass rally against ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Bangkok, capital of Thailand. Ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was appointed as adviser of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and the Royal Government of Cambodia King Norodom Sihamoni on Nov. 4.(Xinhua/Thana Nuntavonranat)
Photo Gallery>>>

BANGKOK, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) group staged a mass rally against ousted former Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Thailand's capital Bangkok on Sunday.

By 8:30 p.m. local time, over 10,000 PAD protesters, or the yellow-shirted people, were rallying at Sanam Luang in the center of Bangkok after they officially started their protest from 4 p.m. local time.

The PAD rally, which was participated by the supporters from both Bangkok and many provinces across the country, was occurring after Thailand and Cambodia have downgraded their diplomatic relations due to conflict over an appointment of Thaksin as an economic advisor to the Cambodian government and Hun Sen on Nov. 4.

The PAD supporters ranged from the general public, students, employees of state enterprises, war veteran members, non-governmental organizations, to taxi drivers.

Meanwhile, the protesters' clothes were not only yellow, but also in other various colors as the PAD leaders focused on the country's unity amid the various colors.

The PAD protesters were announcing that they were united to show the world the Thai people's strength and to protect the country's dignity against Cambodia and Thaksin.

"The purpose of this rally, we want to communicate to the world, Thais, and Cambodians, and to former Premier Thaksin and the Cambodian Prime Minister that what they are doing are not right, and the Thai people can not take this," Pibhob Dhongchai, one of the PAD core leaders, said at the rally.

And, among a number of the students participating in the rally, one female student, who was present at the rally stage, urged those pro-Thaksin people to change their mind.

About 1,500 police were deployed to ensure law and order around the rally site.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said Sunday the government has not imposed the Internal Security Act during the PAD rally since there was no sign of violence to occur, Thai News Agency reported.

Also, Suthep denied reports, which said the government took its people to join the PAD rally as he said "the government wouldn't do this."

In a related development, Thailand's Acting Police Chief, Police General Pateep Tanprasert echoed Suthep's statement, saying that he was not reported about a third hand, who was feared to incite violence.

Pateep said he has ordered his policemen to closely monitor the rally situation and areas surrounding the rally site.

The PAD core leaders earlier announced that the rally will not prolong as the PAD demonstrators will disperse peacefully at about11:00 p.m., local time.

By this time, it remained uncertain how the diplomatic standoff between Thailand and Cambodia will end.

A day after the appointment of Thaksin, the Cambodian government announced recall of its ambassador to Thailand in a move to respond to the Thai government's recall of its ambassador to Cambodia.

Moreover, on Nov. 11 Cambodia refused to extradite Thaksin to Thailand after Thailand officially submitted a letter asking Cambodia to extradite Thaksin.

On Nov. 12, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry ordered Mr. Kamrob Palawatwichai, the first secretary of the Thai Embassy in Cambodia, to leave Cambodia within 48 hours, from 5 p.m., Cambodia's time.

After learning the Cambodian order, Bangkok responded by expelling a first secretary at the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok, ordering him to leave Thailand within 48 hours, from 5 p.m., local time.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva disclosed Friday that the Thai government will continue issuing measures to pressure Cambodia's appointment of Thaksin.

The weekly cabinet on this forthcoming Tuesday will discuss about the possible measures against Cambodia and will also review bilateral projects with Cambodia.

Also, the cabinet will discuss to suspend loan worth of 1.4 billion baht (42.02 million U.S. dollars) planned for Cambodia.

Thaksin was ousted by the military coup in September 2006, in accusation of corruption, and has been kept in exile since then.

He returned to Thailand in February 2008 to face corruption charges, but he later fled into exile again and was convicted in absentia.