Defiant Thai opposition activists on Saturday vowed to fight “to the end” as police braced to reclaim key State buildings and Government headquarters besieged by protesters for months as part of their campaign to oust premier Yingluck Shinawatra.
Caretaker labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung directed authorities to ensure that the Premier’s office compound, known as the Government House, is reopened by Wednesday. Chalerm, director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) that is overseeing the response to the protests, said Yingluck intended to return to the building on Wednesday. But protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said he would not negotiate with Yingluck’s caretaker Government and the protests would end only when she quits and a People’s Council is set up to carry out reforms. “I would like to make it clear, there is nothing to negotiate. Our stance is clear. We will fight to the end, just win or lose,” he said.