POLITICAL PROTEST
Red shirts take aim at Gov't House
The Nation January 30, 2009
Claim they will block all access tomorrow after rally
Red-shirted protesters will stage a mass rally at Sanam Luang tomorrow under the slogan "Red in the Land" before laying siege to Government House, organisers said yesterday.
"We expect up to 40,000 to 50,000 people. We plan to go to Government House at about 9pm to submit our demands," Nattawut Saikua said.
The rally is intended to force the government to speed up the prosecution of the People's Alliance for Democracy leaders responsible for the airport closures, sack Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, seen as close to the PAD, and dissolve the House of Representatives.
Other key organisers of the rally are Veera Musigapong, Jakrapob Penkair and Jatuporn Prompan.
Jatuporn said protesters would block every access to the seat of government until the demands were met.
"The rally will be proof of whether support for us red shirts has waned as claimed," Jakrapob said. Some 400 to 500 soldiers from the 11th Infantry Regiment were dispatched to infiltrate the crowd, he said.
"Should the red-shirt soldiers try to blend in at Saturday's rally, they will be caught and exposed since it is not difficult to detect impostors," he said.
Nattawut said that during the rally, he would bare the government's attempt to distract attention from the PAD's involvement in the December airports seizure by drafting a law on airport safety.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said his government would never allow Government House to be occupied by demonstrators like the People's Alliance for Democracy did during the past two administrations.
He said Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban would be in charge while he was away |attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this weekend.
Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart reminded the red shirts that they had to abide by the law. "I think the political situation is becoming normalised and the rally won't have a major impact on stability," he said.
Police should remain vigilant so that protesters do not become unruly, he said.
Suthep said he has already instructed police to work with the utmost effort to keep the peace, particularly if protesters decide to march and blockade Government House.
About 500 red-shirt protesters from Chiang Mai plan to join the anti-government gathering at Sanam Luang tomorrow and vow to carry on until victory in bringing the House down, organiser Kanyapak "DJ Orm" Maneechak said.
Kanyapak said the red shirts would hold a rally at their northern hometown against the visit of Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suwit Khunkitti today before boarding a bus to head to the capital.
She said organisers raised public contributions to finance the protests.
Suwit said he was unsure whether he could preside over the opening of an event to be |held by his ministry in Chiang Mai today.
"I will have to clear my work to make sure I'm free to go," he said.
He denied being afraid of a possible protest by the red shirts
