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BANGKOK: Over the past two months, attention in Bangkok has been on the anti-government protests at the Government House.
But the protests have also affected civil servants who have been unable to enter their offices at the Government House.
Card tables, folding chairs and makeshift file cabinets are a far cry from the stately surroundings of Bangkok's Government House.
Since the protests began in late August, Thai civil servants have not been able to get into their offices at the Government House.
Some departments, including the Prime Minister's Office and the Cabinet, have shifted to Don Meuang, Bangkok's domestic airport, and some departments have had to set up a temporary home at the Public Relations Department.
Government workers said that morale is good after the uncertainty and confusion of the first few days of the transition, but they still find it difficult to get the job done.
Due to the space crunch, some only come to the office three days per week and they lack crucial computers, documents and data.
Warapong Uthanontri, a civil servant, said: "It's very difficult to do the job, because everything is in the old office. Because we are government officials, our work is for the public, for the people."
A few have gone back to try and recover items left behind and said they encountered no hostility from the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) protesters.
Another civil servant, Sangrawee Sawasdibut, said: "I think everyone has the right to protest, but I think the PAD has overstepped their rights. It's difficult for all those working for the government."
In the corridors of the temporary office, chairs are labelled by departments to keep them from disappearing. Despite minor inconveniences like these, workers are good humoured about their situation.
However, like many other Thais, they look forward to things getting back to normal. - CNA/vm
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