A show of strength by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship in support of the government fizzled yesterday as less than 10% of the predicted 500,000 people answered the call to counter the anti-Yingluck forces.
feeling bedevilled: A red shirt supporter dresses as the devil taking democracy away from the Thai people during a gathering on Utthaya road in Thawi Whattana district yesterday. Photo: Pattarapong Chatpa ttarasil
Military officers in charge of security at the red shirt rally put the number of UDD supporters at about 35,000.
Former UDD chairwoman Tida Tawornseth, however, claimed that about 300,000 people turned out for the start of the three-day rally.
The UDD began the rally on Utthayan Road, formerly known as Aksa Road, in Thawi Watthana district in western Bangkok.
The rally was billed as a pro-government show of strength in response to moves by independent agencies to strip Yingluck Shinawatra of her post as caretaker prime minister.
The rally is also intended to oppose the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), which is pushing for a neutral prime minister to be installed.
In announcing the rally, UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan said it would draw half a million supporters.
Utthayan Road covers about 120,000m?. It was estimated the road could hold a maximum of 240,000 people standing up.
Observers said the number of demonstrators yesterday covered only a fraction of the road.
Most of the protesters were from northeastern provinces.
Mr Jatuporn told reporters in the morning that the highlight of the rally yesterday would be to reiterate the UDD's position opposing interference by the ammart (elite) and independent organisations and their demand for an interim prime minister through undemocratic means.
He said the red shirts are acting to support the democratic system.
Mr Jatuporn said the UDD rally would not turn violent.
He said the rally was being staged on Utthayan Road in order to maintain a distance between the UDD and the PDRC, which is based at Lumpini Park in inner Bangkok.
The UDD is coordinating with the police and the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (Capo) to ensure safety for the red shirts.
He said ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra would not phone in to address the red shirts.
Only Robert Amsterdam, the UDD's legal adviser, would phone in to explain to the red shirts about the way authority was exercised by independent bodies, Mr Jatuporn said.
In the afternoon, Mr Jatuporn and other UDD key figures, including Ms Tida, Veerakarn Musikapong and caretaker Deputy Commerce Minister Nattawut Saikuar, appeared on the rally stage to address supporters.
Mr Jatuporn said the ultimate aim of the PDRC was to have the Constitutional Court disqualify Ms Yingluck as prime minister, after which a coup "will be inevitable".
The charter court is considering a constitutional violation case against Ms Yingluck for a transfer order she issued involving National Security Council chief Thawil Pliensri.
Mr Jatuporn said the UDD would not pay attention to decisions by independent bodies as it was aware that the government is bound to be defeated.
"I believe the ultimate aim will be a coup. But the red shirts will not stand for it any more.
"We don’t care about decisions by independent organisations. If we lose this game, we will beat the ammart at the game of 'people'," Mr Jatuporn said.
He also said the three-day rally was only "a rehearsal".
"The real fight will begin after Songkran," he said.
He did not give details about the planned rally after the Songkran holidays, which end on April 16.
Mr Jatuporn said the red-shirt demonstrators would not leave the rally site or go anywhere near the house of PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban's family in the Phutthamonthon area.
About 3,000 police officers as well as 6,500 volunteers were deployed to ensure security around the rally site yesterday.
In the evening, more people turned up at the rally.
After they sang the national anthem at 6pm, Mr Jatuporn asked the demonstrators to produce their ID cards to prove they were Thais and to counter rumours that Myanmar migrant workers were being enlisted to join the red-shirt rally.
He said if power was seized from the caretaker government and a neutral prime minister installed, the red shirts would respond immediately.
Commenting on the PDRC's latest call for a 15-day rally after the NACC or the charter court rule on the cases against Ms Yingluck, Mr Jatuporn said the PDRC had been rallying for five months. He questioned whether the new call for a mass gathering would make any difference.
Maj Gen Apirat Khongsompong, commander of the army's 1st Division, King's Guard, began his first security mission yesterday after his appointment as the division's commander on Thursday. Maj Gen Apirat is responsible for overseeing the overall military operation as well as coordinating with Capo.
Capo has asked military personnel to assist police officers in controlling the demonstrators on Utthayan Road.