Kwanchai Praipana, head of the Khon Rak Udon (People Who Love Udon) faction of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), announced on Monday that he will no longer wear a red shirt at any political activities.
“The reason I stop wearing it is because I want to pave the way for people from other colour-coded groups, such as the blue-shirts or the yellow-shirts to be able to attend [political] rallies or activities organised by Khon Rak Isan (People Who Love the Northeast) group from 20 northeastern provinces.”
Kwanchai Praipana. Bangkok Post file photo.
“Members from other groups have shown an interest in participating [in our activities], but they are reluctant to wear red shirts," he said.
"My heart is, however, always red,” Mr Kwanchai added.
He said he would not worry if his decision angers some red-clad people, because some of them he described as "unorthodox" had gone even further by doing disgraceful things that shamed the parent UDD.
He insisted that he would not get involved with the central UDD group and its leaders in Bangkok because he already had mass support from people in the Northeast.
He said his group would also not take part in the UDD’s planned events to mark the third anniversary of the Bangkok clashes on April 10 and May 19, 2010.