The Pitak Siam group is confident of getting support from the people of Bangkok and has challenged an Abac Poll survey which showed 94% of city people disagreed with the planned rally on Nov 24-25, AVM Vachara Ritthakhani said.
AVM Vachara, the group's spokesman, said he wanted the pollsters from Abac Poll to wait and see for themselves what the turnout at the Royal Plaza of Pitak Siam supporters will be.
From yesterday's campaign for support, the group received a good response from city people, he said.
AVM Vachara said that from Thaksin Shinawatra's phone-in to a rally of red shirts in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district on Sunday, it was obvious that the deposed prime minister was the real boss of the government, the Pheu Thai Party and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD).
Thaksin's order for the red shirts to be prepared to fight was not different from what he did in May 2010. If violence occurred, Thaksin must be held responsible, AVM Vachara said.
The Pitak Siam spokesman also explained that the group's line was not to close or freeze the country for five years as alleged. In fact, the group wanted to freeze politicians who were corrupt, bought votes, and used the people's tax money for personal gain.
Pitak Siam protesters will rally at the Royal Plaza only and would not move anywhere. The protesters will be well under control, AVM Vachara said.
He said he did not know whether Adm Phachun Tamprateep, a former aide to Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, was interested in joining the Pitak Siam rally, adding that he could do so as a Thai citizen.