ABOUT 200 anti-government demonstrators marched on Phuket City police station today to protest at police use of violence in Bangkok.

The marchers swapped the usual yellow of the People's Alliance for Democracy for black skirts, shirts and headbands, but they made plenty of noise with their regular plastic hand-clappers.

The protest was more solemn than usual, with black flags outnumbering Thai flags. Police at key intersections controlled traffic while the crowd passed.

At Phuket City headquarters, police presence was low-key, although a number of officers watched with interest from behind doors and windows.

Demonstrators were allowed to leave two white wreaths at the entrance of police headquarters in memory of the two people killed in Bangkok.

The march began at a sports stadium near Phuket Provincial Hall and caused only minor disruption to traffic, moving well away from tourist routes.

A PAD official said that most regular Phuket protestors were in Bangkok and today's parade was organised by 'Young PAD Phuket.''

Two of the leaders wore masks, perhaps because of a rumor that a PAD leader in Phang Nga has disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

An anti-government march on police headquarters in Bangkok was cancelled to allow for the cremation today and tomorrow of the two protestors who were killed on October 7.

Hundreds of others were injured. Photographs taken of the dead and injured were prominently displayed during today's march on Phuket.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has publicly apologized for the police use of violence. So has Police Chief Police General Patcharawat Wongsuwan.

The cancellation of the police HQ protest in Bangkok brought an end to speculation of a possible confrontation leading to more bloodshed.

On top of the pain inflicted by the global credit crunch, the potential for a dangerous riot and the continuing face-off between protestors and the Government poses an additional problem for Thailand tourism.

In an editorial at the weekend, the influential Bangkok Post said: ''It seems certain that the 600 billion baht the government has projected as revenue from an estimated 15.5 million tourist arrivals this year will fall short, the only question being by how much.

''The industry's biggest headache, also shared by the rest of the country, is uncertainty. No one knows how much longer the political turmoil will continue or how it will eventually be resolved.

''That is what is prompting first-time tourists to cancel their holidays here and look elsewhere.''

Then the editorial turned to the environment and took a stance that will not be welcomed by Phuket property developers . . .

''Mass tourism has put increasing pressure on our world-famous beauty spots, with arrivals approaching unsustainable levels in the Andaman region.

''State agencies which should be protecting our national heritage from the ravages of greedy land developers have an abysmal track record, often seeming to be in cahoots with them.

''Some powerful vested interest groups even behave as though the coastal and other scenic areas are theirs alone to exploit.

''Our tourism model is badly flawed and needs a rethink if we are to save the most beautiful parts of our country from the blight of excessive property development, a fate that has already befallen mass tourism destinations elsewhere.''