The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship on Thursday announced it would stage a mass rally to “open” the country, in a move to counter the planned demonstrations to shut down Bangkok by the anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee on that day.
UDD core leader Jatuporn Prompan, speaking at a news conference, also said red shirts in provinces outside Bangkok could begin organising rallies in their own hometowns on Jan 5 as a prelude to the Jan 13 mass gathering.
He said the UDD will give further details on the planned Jan 13 rally later on.
UDD core leader Jatuporn Prompan. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
He pledged not to allow a repeat of the violent incident that left five people dead, four of them UDD supporters, when the movement held a pro-government rally at Ratchamangkala Stadium in the Ramkhamhaeng area in late November.
“If the PDRC calls to shut down Bangkok and the country on Jan 13, we, the red shirts, will meet on Jan 13 as well to open the country. We will begin our new year by making January the month of fighting. It will be the month of the final showdown under the ahimsa (causing no injury) principle,” Mr Jatuporn said.
“We are discussing the format of the rally, whether it will come out in the form of a demonstration or the setting up a stage to deliver speeches. The activity will definitely avoid confronting the PDRC supporters.”
He believed the PRDC’s shutdown could not last more than seven days and it would cause resentment among Bangkokians who would take to the streets to show their opposition to the movement.
Mr Jatuporn’s announcement of the planned counter-rally on Jan 13 was immediately backed by the co-leader of the red shirts in Ayutthaya province. Mayuree Saetasai said she agreed with the move and believed UDD loyalists nationwide would be ready to show up when the date and place for the gathering is fixed.
“The PDRC uses muan maha prachachon [the great mass uprising] to create disturbance without caring for other people’s suffering. As well, we will use muan maha prachachon to protect the people, the capital and the nation,” Mrs Mayuree said.