Leaders of the red-shirt movement confirmed Sunday the group will not hold a counter-rally to Pitak Siam’s second anti-government protest at the Royal Plaza on Nov 24.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) has yet to come up with any ideas about moves against Pitak Siam’s planned rally, said Tida Tawornseth. She said she and other UDD co-leaders were scheduled to visit provinces in the North and Northeast to preside over the opening of the group’s democracy schools at that period.
Mrs Tida said the red shirts have “discipline and maturity” and mobilise in unity, therefore holding a mob-versus-mob confrontation will not take place.
Also, the UDD did not have any plan to show up at parliament to cheer on the government during the censure debate on Nov 25-27 because the Pitak Siam mass rally is to be held nearby and may be extended to coincide with the debate.
The Pitak Siam group, led by retired soldier Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, has announced the rally will last only one or two days. However, Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit on Sunday said he did not believe the group would honour its pledge because its goal is to overthrow the Yingluck Shinawatra government. He called on motorists who love democracy to oppose Pitak Siam by turning their headlights on during daylight hours when the rally is in progress as a symbol of opposition to it.