The Pitak Siam group, given up for dead after a failed rally last November, has threatened to return with new allies to challenge the government again.
The Pitak Siam group and its allies outline their demands on the government at a news conference at the Royal Turf Club on Saturday. (Photo by Thanarak Khoonton)
The group led by Adm Chai Suwannaphab and key figures of the Isan Kuu Chart group announced the formation of a "people's army against the Thaksin regime" and issued new demands to the government.
They called for action against critics of the monarchy, especially those in the camp of fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. As well, they demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Gen Yuthasak Sasiprapa from the defence and deputy defence portfolios respectively.
The protesters also called for stern measures to curb the rising cost of living, the end of the 350-billion-baht water management scheme and the 2-trillion-baht infrastructure investments, and the withdrawal of all reconciliation and amnesty bills aimed at bringing Thaksin home.
The protesters gave the government seven days to act on the demands or face a peaceful rally on Aug 4.
Adm Chai refused to disclose the location of the rally.
Pitak Siam staged a major rally against the government on Nov 24 last year at the Royal Turf Club but it ended in a failure. Its leader at the time, Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit, threw in the towel after a huge complement of police sealed off most of the access routes to the rally site.
Expressing disappointment that none of his old colleagues from the military had backed him, Gen Boonlert vowed to end his political activities.
Isan Kuu Chart leaders who joined a news conference at the Royal Turf Club on Saturday included Gen Preecha Iamsuphan, a former member of the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, Gen Chukiat Tansuwat and AM Watchara Ritthakanee.