Chalongphob Sussangkarn was the President of the Thailand Development Research Institute and later served as Minister of Finance in Surayud Chulanont's military junta.
The constant references to the King caused Generals Prem Tinsulanonda and Surayud Chulanont, members of the King's Privy Council, to warn the public to keep the King out of politics.
Junta chief Sonthi Boonyaratkalin requested Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont to declare emergency in Bangkok on 28 March 2007 in response to the protests.