When street fighting broke out in the historical centre of the Thai capital on Aug. 29, the demonstrators showed no fear – and the police hesitated.

Demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, the demonstrators fought the police for control of Government House, the Thai government’s complex in Bangkok.

Eventually, the security forces retreated - a victory for the anti-government side.

Government House fell, and has been occupied since then by thousands of anti-Samak demonstrators. They accuse him of corruption and of being a proxy of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, now in exile to escape justice.

Sirima, a housewife among the demonstrators, explains: “Some of us come for the king, others come for justice. We have union members too, who are here to defend the poor and fight corruption. But me myself - for justice. Someone in this country stolen 100,000 million baht. What should people do?”

At 6 pm, it is time for the national anthem. The crowd rises to their feet: nationalists, unionists, and even communists, are all entrenched behind the image of their revered king – a symbol of national unity for them. But beyond the shared fervor, it is not that easy to understand their political message.

As night falls, Bangkok’s old evils return: violence spreads in the streets. Hundreds of pro-government supporters go on the offensive and try to take back Government House. One person is killed and dozens injured - a government plot according to some demonstrators. Four days later, on Sept. 2, Samak declares a state of emergency in Bangkok.

But nothing stops the demonstrators. On the contrary, hundreds more come. And still the army doesn’t intervene.

“I would like to believe the army is supporting our king and our people? ” whispers Sitt, a young engineer.

The demonstrators prepare for a long confrontation with the government. And when an army officer walks through the crowd, he is applauded – apparently because everybody the crowd believes the army holds the key to ending the crisis. Their refusal to disperse the crowds is seen as a silent coup against the prime minister.

This siege of one of the symbols of the Thai state is evidence of the demonstrators’ determination and their capacity to organize. The standoff – 13 days and counting - is already the worst crisis experienced by the country in the past 15 years.

Watch Cyril Payen and Solomon Kane’s report by clicking the video above.