A few hundreds activists led by the Democratic Restoration Group gathered yesterday at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus less than 5 kilometres from the country’s administrative hub.

Their plan to stay overnight at the campus was prohibited by police. “The assembly is a political protest, which violates an order of the National Council for Peace and Order. We will take legal action if there is any violation,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul.

Protest leader Sirawith Seritiwat said the group had planned to camp on the campus football field overnight before the march.

However, the university yesterday erected placards around the field, saying it was off-limits for “pest control”.

While the university’s management did not eject protesters but shut the front gates at 4pm citing traffic concerns. The move obstructed some demonstrators from getting inside, but they remained in high spirits and decided to camp outside the gates.

The authorities deployed hundreds of security officials in a |50-metre radius around the government office.

In a press briefing, protest leader Nuttha Mahat-tana said that a number of protesters had been visited and harassed by police officers in an attempt to stop them from joining the pro-election demonstration.

Suthep Thaugsuban, who mobilised huge rallies to call for the 2014 coup, yesterday dismissed a rumour that his group would hold an anti-election protest on Sunday to counter the pro-democracy groups.

Meanwhile, security agencies yesterday set up checkpoints in some provinces, especially in the Northeast, reportedly in order to block villagers and local leaders from joining today’s march in Bangkok.

Reports said academics, political activists and local rights activists upcountry had been called by security agencies to ask whether they would join the demonstration.

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University, told The Nation that NCPO and the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) called him yesterday to ask if he was planning to attend the event at Thammasat University and whether he was aware if any other university staff and students were planning to go.

They had all denied the charges after being interrogated by deputy national police chief Pol General Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul at the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

The eight Pheu Thai politicians showing up before noon were caretaker party leader Wirode Pao-in, caretaker secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai, Watana Muangsook, Chaturon Chaisang, Noppadon Pattama, Chaikasem Nitisiri, Kittiratt Na-Ranong and Chusak Sirinil. Srivara, who is in charge of the case, said police would deal with it straightforwardly and according to the letter of the law.

“If that is not the case, the police deserve to get counter-sued,” he said, referring to a Pheu Thai threat of legal action if they were unfairly charged.

He added that all would be freed unconditionally after questioning, and the eight were indeed later released after four hours in custody.

Chaturon said upon reading the police documents, he suspected the case had been hastily put together without sufficient supporting evidence. Last Thursday, officials from the NCPO filed a complaint with the CSD against the Pheu Thai politicians.

They are accused of violating the junta ban on political gatherings of five or more people, inciting civil commotion or sedition, and entering false information into a computer system.

Last Thursday Pheu Thai called a press conference to deliver a five-page statement, accusing the junta of failing to achieve key pledges made when staging the coup four years ago, including reconciliation, fighting corruption, protecting rights and democracy, and improving the economy.

“The past four years under the NCPO are taking the country into a dark and dangerous future. … It is the duty of all Thai people to return to a constitutional monarchy and not allow the absolute regime to destroy democracy any further,” the statement said.

The speculation followed Facebook posts by PDRC supporters calling for a counter-move against pro-democracy activists planning a march to Government House on Tuesday on the fourth anniversary of military rule.

Mass protests by the Suthep-led PDRC culminated in their successful obstruction of the 2014 election leading to the ouster of premier Yingluck Shinawatra and then her government.

“We support an election going ahead according to the Constitution,” Suthep said in a press conference on Monday, adding that recent reports the vote could occur next February were “fact-based” and acceptable.

“I think I will be able to stop any anti-election movement. I believe the PDRC people still trust me as a key man. They don’t want mob clashes that will bring conflict to the country,” he said.

The election will eventually happen, and political rallies were unnecessary threats to public peace that would only disrupt the vote, he added. Suthep denied however that he had ever declared his support for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha continuing as premier after the election.

“It’s too soon to say whether Prayut should return to continue national reforms,” he said.

Suthep also dismissed speculation that the PDRC would join the fray as a political party

They believe that hundreds of people from the provinces will be among those joining the rally.

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, announced plans to assemble at the university at 5pm on Monday and remain there overnight, before marching to Government House on Tuesday morning.

They plan to give Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha an ultimatum to hold an election this year, instead of next February as promised by the premier.

Twenty companies of police, including plain-clothes officers, have been deployed to keep order during the demonstration on Monday to Tuesday.

The source said Army commander-in-chief General Chalermchai Sitthisart had expressed concern over a “third party” stirring up a situation, after authorities found movements of hardcore protesters.

Chalermchai had ordered a close watch from 7pm to 5am on Monday through Wednesday as he feared ill-intentioned people would “create a situation”, the source added.

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, had announced plans to assemble at Thammasat University at 5pm on Monday and remain there overnight, before marching to Government House on Tuesday morning.

They plan to deliver an ultimatum to the prime minister, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, to hold a general election this year, instead of next February as promised by the premier.

Reports said academics, political activists and local-rights activists in some provinces had been called by security agencies to ask whether they would join the demonstration.

Titipol Phakdeewanich, dean of political science at Ubon Ratchathani University, told The Nation that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the Internal Security Operations Command had called him on Monday to ask if he was planning to attend the event at Thammasat University, and to ascertain if he was aware whether any other university staff and students were planning to go.

The NCPO has already tried to stop the red shirts and political activists from going to the assembly, the dean posted on his Facebook page.

Indeed, it has visited political activists in order to pressure them not to go to Bangkok, he added.

Deputy Police Commissioner Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul revealed the order on Monday, but did not say how long the surveillance would last.

The close-watch area is designated for 50 metres around Government House, he said.

Srivara also said he had ordered the superintendent of Chana Songkhram police station to revoke permission for the pro-election activists to stay overnight on Monday inside Thammasat University as planned.

The pro-election activists, led by the Democracy Restoration Group, have announced plans to assembly at the university at 5pm on Monday and remain there overnight before on Tuesday morning marching to Government House. They plan to give PM Prayut an ultimatum to hold an election within this year instead of next February as promised by the premier.

“The assembly is a political protest, which violates an order of the National Council for Peace and Order. We will take legal action if there is any violation,” Srivara said.

He said he would personally inspect the situation on Tuesday when the group marches to Government House. The Royal Compound is close to 150 metres from Government House, and a gathering within that distance is barred under the 2015 Public Assembly Act, he said.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Sunday the premier wanted to visit key EU members including France, Italy and Britain to forge cooperation in a range of sectors.

The EU announced in December it was resuming political contact with Thailand at all levels, setting aside concerns about its military rule since the 2014 coup.

European ministers have been visiting Thailand since February to strengthen political and economic ties, Don said, and he also has visited EU headquarters in Brussels.

The foreign ministry expected to finalise the details of Prayut’s trip soon, he said.