Thai press turns against anti-government protests

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Protesters who stormed Thailand's Government House, a TV station and key ministries went too far in their bid to oust the administration, newspapers said on Wednesday, suggesting the movement has lost public support.

After three months of predominantly sympathetic coverage of protests by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), a motley group of royalist businessmen and academics, Thai- and English-language media changed their tone sharply.

"The PAD's 'last whistle blow' is unjustified, unnecessary, provocative and illegal," the Bangkok Post said in an editorial.

"If the PAD really wants to bring down the government, it should do so through the parliament. That is the proper, democratic place to do it," it continued.

Several thousand Thai protesters began a second day occupying the prime minister's compound in Bangkok on Wednesday after 15 people were injured in early morning clashes with riot police.

In a front page commentary, the Nation described the PAD as an "ideological grouping whose motives have gone from clear-cut to incomprehensible" and said its coordinated bid to oust the elected government on Tuesday belied its claims to non-violence.

"With most, if not all, key contentious political issues now in the hands of the courts, the PAD's highly provocative action yesterday was completely uncalled for," it said.

Much of the stinging media reaction focused on the storming by several thousand flag-waving PAD supporters of the NBT state television channel, which they accuse of being supportive of the government.

"It should not have happened," the Krungkthep Thurakij business paper said. "Even though the station may be seen as partial, but they should not have expressed their dislike in such a violent manner."