The leaders of the three main anti-government protest groups on Saturday joined forces, vowing to fight shoulder-to-shoulder to uproot former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's political networks and initiate national reform.
PRAYER FOR PEACE: About 2,500 monks attend a religious rite held on Saturday at the Royal Plaza. The event was organised by a group calling itself the Organisation of Buddhist Networks of Thailand Praying for National Peace and Unity Amid Wider Political Conflicts. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
It was the first time the protest leaders have appeared on the same stage together, despite their three rally sites being situated in close proximity.
Former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, who is spearheading the rally at the Democracy Monument, welcomed the leaders and representatives of various anti-government groups to the stage on Saturday. They included protest leaders Nitithorn Lamluea of the Network of Students and People for Thailand's Reform (NSPTR) and Samdin Lertbut of the Dhamma Army.
Suriyasai Katasila of the Green Politics Group, Gen Preecha Iamsuphan of the People's Democratic Force to Overthrow Thaksinism, Somkiat Pongpaiboon of Anti-Thaksin Coalition, and Somkiat Homla-or of the Business Club for Democracy were also present.
The leaders reiterated their intention to wipe out the so-called "Thaksin regime" and campaign for political and national reform.
"Our fight today is not about politics. It is between democracy and tyranny. We don't fight to gain political power, but to restore virtue," Mr Nitithorn said.
"The Thaksin regime is the root cause of corruption. It is termites infesting the house and needs to be removed."
Mr Suriyasai also slammed the ruling Pheu Thai Party for rejecting the Constitution Court's ruling on Wednesday which found the government's proposed charter reform to change the make-up of the Senate was unlawful.
"Our mission is to join the public in fighting kabot [rebels]. Who is the Pheu Thai Party to be above the court's authority?" Mr Suriyasai said.
The consolidation of the anti-government protest groups came ahead of Mr Suthep's planned "major battle day" on Sunday.
Three main anti-government protest groups join forces, vowing to fight together to uproot Thaksin's political networks and initiate national reform. ( Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)
The ex-Democrat MP hopes Sunday's rally will attract one million people, though security authorities believe the figure will be less than 10% that size.
The protesters have threatened to split into 12 groups on Monday and march along 12 roads.
They have also threatened to cut off electricity and water supplies at state offices in the capital and at Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's residence.
The anti-government protest has already spilled into Nang Loeng area, near Government House, after NSPTR protesters moved their camp closer to police barricades set up on Chamai Maruchet Bridge.
The group's previous rally base at Makkhawan Bridge has been taken over by the Dhamma Army and demonstrators from the Democracy Monument rally.
Meanwhile, rapid deployment police units have been placed on high alert today to handle anti-government protest groups.
Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) spokesman Piya Uthayo said the forces will be dispatched to locations which are likely to be targeted by the protesters.
Each rapid deployment unit comprises 40 men, he said.
"The units must be on stand-by and ready to move in to the target locations," Pol Maj Gen Piya said.
However, he said the Capo believes the Ratchadamnoen rally will draw no more than 70,000 people, well shy of the million-strong target, and the crowd will be mostly Bangkok residents.
Intelligence reports from the Special Branch Police and the Metropolitan Police Bureau give similar estimates.
Pol Maj Gen Piya said authorities are concerned about possible violence at police barricades near restricted zones.
He said national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew has asked all officers to be patient and handle the situation calmly.
The government is considering changing the cabinet meeting venue tomorrow from Government House to the Foreign Ministry or another location.