The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) vowed to surround the nation’s highest office today as planned, while state-enterprise labour unions said thousands of members would join the protest. (Nation)

While I don’t think this has yet reached the level of a coup, is it only a matter of time? What will today’s protests bring?

The Government House gates were locked yesterday evening, and most personnel were asked to take a leave of absence today, because they may be unable to leave the compound due to the protest, said Loiluan Bunnag, deputy secretary-general to the prime minister. (Nation)

“If they try to break through using flag poles, baseball bats or other objects they will be regarded as using weapons… Police will take action according to international crowd control principles.” - Pol Maj-Gen Surapol Thuanthong, deputy police spokesman. (Bangkok Post)

The protests have got out of hand before and I see no reason why today’s should be any different. There are going to be more people and more flaring tempers than last time.

Pol Maj-Gen Surapol said police would definitely not allow PAD protesters to move to Government House, and said officers would be prepared to use force to stop them. He did not give details but referred to “international crowd control principles,” presumably including riot police and tear gas. (Bangkok Post)

There you have it. A clash is all but set up.

Maj-Gen Chamlong, who has been the leading figure in the current protest, stopped short of saying what the PAD will do, but insisted he would not be pushed backwards. (Bangkok Post)

Samak has moved all his meetings from Government House, so it looks as if he won’t even be there when the building is surrounded. Samak’s comments ring of a man in a desperate situation: “I don’t understand why the PAD has announced that they will take over Government House. There is no reason. Was the election illegal? There were voters who cast their votes, the government was installed and took the royal oath. Is the government illegal? We are not street gangsters.”

He has a point, but try telling that to PAD, who are frantically trying to oust the premier. Even if they do, Bangkok Pundit raises the point about who would replace him.

First, if Samak resigns, the most likely replacement is Somchai, Thaksin’s brother-in-law. If accusations are made that Samak is a puppet, won’t this accusation reasonate more if it is Thaksin’s brother-in-law who is PM?

So, what will happen today?