Reds prepare for coup danger

Reds prepare for coup danger

Red shirts will gather in Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Pathum Thani on Nov 24 in response to the Pitak Siam group's anti-government rally at the Royal Plaza on the same day.

Red-shirt leader Worachai Hema said supporters will stay put in their respective provinces but will move to Democracy Monument if any untoward incidents take place.

"We will be ready. If the people's power is seized, we will head to Democracy Monument," said Mr Worachai, a Pheu Thai MP for Samut Prakan.

He said a group of red shirts may gather at Taksin Monument in Bangkok's Wong Wian Yai area.

He said red shirts in Samut Prakan will hold a mass rally tomorrow to voice opposition to Pitak Siam's protest.

Pitak Siam, led by Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, is calling for a change in the government - a move perceived by red shirts as a call for a military coup.

At a previous Pitak Siam rally Gen Boonlert called for a coup followed by a five-year "freeze" of democratic rule.

The group hopes to mobilise up to 1 million people. The rally will be held one day before a no-confidence debate begins in the House.

Mr Worachai said Gen Boonlert's cry for "freezing" the nation during his campaign is nothing but a call for a coup. Irregular activities have been detected at military barracks in Prachin Buri, he said.

"If a coup is staged, red-shirt leaders won't run. We will stand up against the tanks. Millions of people will fill the streets," he said.

Noppadol Pattama, a close aide of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, said Pitak Siam has made a wrong move by calling for freezing the nation.

He said doing this would be tantamount to toppling democratic rule and would undermine the economy.

Red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana said supporters in the Northeast will gather on Nov 24 in Udon Thani.

Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee yesterday called on the Democrat Party's MPs and senators not to support Pitak Siam's rally.

Red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said Pitak Siam will take the rally to the next level by laying siege to parliament if the censure debate fails to bring down the government.

Meanwhile, Pitak Siam said there was no need to invoke the Internal Security Act. "There will be no torching or laying siege to any hospital," Pitak Siam representative Chai Suwannaphap said.

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