The anti-government People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and its allies will resume their campaign to topple the caretaker government today by seeking cooperation from state enterprises.
People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban stands next to a solider for a photo shoot after providing consumer goods to the troops providing security in front of the PDRC Lumpini Park rally site yesterday. The handout was made to show gratitude to the army officers who handled security there during the Songkran festival. Patipat Janthong
Earlier, PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday met labour unions of several state enterprises to discuss the plans.
PDRC spokesman Akanat Promphan described the state enterprises as powerful forces free from the influence of the so-called Thaksin regime.
The PDRC will visit various state enterprises, covering finance, transport and utilities, to share the aims of national reforms, and strengthen their ties with the people, he said.
Last week the PDRC rallied at ministries and met their permanent secretaries.
Mr Suthep told his supporters he believed the PDRC would "receive victory" by the end of this month.
Earlier this month the PDRC leader called a major gathering for the day on which the Constitutional Court is expected to rule on caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's role in transferring National Security Council secretery-general Thawil Pliensri.
Meanwhile, a Pheu Thai source said the party's northeastern members had discussed the political situation after Songkran, and likened the current fighting to the final round in a boxing bout.
It could be at least two or three months until a fresh poll is held, the source said.
The party's opponents would use the courts and independent bodies to topple Ms Yingluck, her cabinet members, as well as 308 former MPs and senators, the source said.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) earlier resolved to press charges against 308 out of a total 381 lawmakers accused of misconduct in connection with the draft bill on charter amendment.
Ms Yingluck and another 72 lawmakers involved with the charter amendment process were spared charges.
If they are found guilty, the NACC would forward the cases to the Senate to impeach them and then ban them for politics for five years.
However, the source was not convinced that all the 308 lawmakers would be indicted.
About 70 former Pheu Thai MPs could be spared, the source said.
After the premier, cabinet members and MPs are indicted, political attacks will be mounted against Pheu Thai for various issues, particularly graft, to weaken the party in the interim period before a new poll takes place, the source said.
A new alternative party, consisting of prominent figures and former MPs, could be set up to grab votes from Pheu Thai.
This approach could also be aimed at preventing the Pheu Thai Party from forming a new government once the new election is held.
The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and the PDRC would still be active in their demonstrations, but the government would be able to keep a handle on the situation, the source predicted.
Speaking about the UDD's mass rally called for tomorrow, as the court deliberates its ruling on the premier's status, the source believed the turnout would be greater than the UDD rally at Aksa Road earlier this month.
However, he predicted it still would be less than 100,000.
NSC secretary-general Paradorn Pattanatabut said yesterday security officers believed contentious incidents were unlikely to arise this week because the charter court is likely to seek more information from parties concerned to deliberate the case. The prime minister gives evidence in the case on Friday.
Mr Paradorn stressed, however, the new rallies scheduled by the PDRC and UDD will both attract high turnouts.
Despite the distance between the opposing rallies, security officers will remain vigilant and enforce safety measures to prevent the groups confronting each other, Lt Gen Paradorn said.
Security checkpoints mounted by the police and army will check for people carrying weapons to rally sites, he added.