The transition from siege back to seat of power is underway at Govt House

After having been in the hands of anti-government protesters for months, the once-imposing Government House is going to need a "Big Cleaning Day" to restore its stately grandeur.

"We've designated December 26 as 'Big Cleaning Day'," Loyleuan Bunnag announced yesterday in his capacity as the deputy secretary general to the Prime Minister.

Regulars return

He believed the day would also be a good opportunity for Government House regulars to get back together after their long time away. "I mean officials and press members," Loyleuan said.

He added that all agencies with permanent offices inside the Government House compound would be invited to take part in the clean-up, which would include repainting.

Hundreds of cleaners, policemen and officials have already started tidying up at Government House after the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) ended its siege here last week.

The lawn in front of the Thai Ku Fah building inside the compound will get a facelift too.

So far, only the officials from the Secretariat of the Prime Minister have returned to their permanent office at Government House.

Other agencies, such as the Secretariat of the Cabinet, the Office of the Prime Minister's Permanent Secretary, and the National Security Office, are still working from temporary offices elsewhere.

A second home

Ju, a food vendor who had run a stall at Government House for more than 30 years, yesterday said, "I am so glad that I can return -- this is like my second home".

"I know every government official here," she added.

Loyleuan said a merit-making ceremony would be held to mark a return to peace after months of bomb attacks that caused serious casualties in and around Government House grounds.