Hundreds of curious workers at Thai Govt Complex come out to check on the protest

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Hundreds of curious workers at Govt Complex come out to check on the protest
Budsarakham Sinlapalawan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Hundreds of civil servants working at the Government Complex in Nonthaburi yesterday flocked to observe the "anti-Thaksin regime" protest on the second day of the protesters' occupation of the complex.

Suthep Thaugsuban, a key leader of the Civil Movement for Democracy, has become something of a superstar among the officials, who asked to take photos with him. All throughout the day, officials came to observe the rally.

Wasun Prapaslim, a Telephone Organisation of Thailand (TOT) employee, said he had attended the protests at Democracy Monument, the Finance Ministry and Government Complex.

He said he liked the protest rally at Government Complex because it is near his office, so he can join it three times a day: in the morning before office hours, during his lunch break and then again after work.

"Suthep is pushing state officials to go on strike, but I think strikes should only happen at those institutions where it will have no effect on people," Wasun said.

'Bosses have issued a warning'

Another man said that the TOT unit he works for did not allow officials to join the rally. His boss had warned employees that he would make video recordings of anyone who attended the rally, the man said.

He was not worried by this, however, as he was not planning to use office hours to join the rally.

Other offices have implemented a similar rule barring employees from joining the rally.

A female worker from the Information and Communications and Technology Ministry, who wore a national-flag wristband, said she supported neither the government nor the protest, but had come to observe the rally on her lunch break.

She said the rally had not affected her work, because the sound of the protest had not penetrated the glass walls of her office.

Another man who works at the National Statistical Office said he had just come along to the rally to learn more about it, but he didn't support the movement.

His office was not affected by the protesters' occupation of the site, but the Immigration Bureau, the Election Commission and other offices had been forced to close because of their proximity to the rally, the man said.


-- The Nation 2013-11-29

[Loles]

Yes, off course. this much better than work, and they are enough lazy basically too.

[15Peter20]

There's no reason for any employer to lose money by letting staff take days off to protest. Unless they have a vested interest which would offset the cost, of course.

[Mampara]

Well this Protest Expo is quite interesting and comical to watch, perhaps the tourist agencies should add this to their programme as a highlight special "Come watch this Amazing sight. Only a few days left. Book early to avoid disappointment".

[MMarlow]

Yes, off course. this much better than work, and they are enough lazy basically too.

I realise that English is not your first language but if you cannot read English or you're just too lazy to bother reading properly maybe you shouldn't post. The report does not indicate anyone that was spoken to was skiving off work for these protests. Everyone was either observing or joining in the protests in their own time, not in work time, or not joining in at all.

[tingtongteesood]

He said he liked the protest rally at Government Complex because it is near his office, so he can join it three times a day: in the morning before office hours, during his lunch break and then again after work.

Backs up what people have said that the protests are in large part normal people with normal jobs who have to go to work which is why the protestor numbers are less during the week. They are not being paid to protest unlike the Reds hence they are working their normal jobs and joining the protests in their free time. Good on 'em.

[PeterSmiles]

They probably weren't aware yet that protests were going on for more than a week already .

[Bagwan]

Good to see that the bosses support democracy and freedom of political expression - NOT. Their attempts at suppression may well come back to hit them where it hurts.