By Naya Jaikawang
Piyanart Srivalo
The Nation
Published on February 12, 2010
Rally set for Feb 20; protest 'graduates' set to converge
In order to pool together a million people to take part in their anti-government rally later this month, the red-shirt movement and the Pheu Thai Party are making moves to mobilise masses across the country, an informed source said yesterday.
At a meeting yesterday, leaders of the Democratic Alliance against Dictatorship (DAAD) appeared to have differences over several key issues, including the date for the rally - on whether it should be held before the verdict is read out on former PM Thaksin Shinawatra's assets-seizure case on February 26. The date both sides finally decided upon was February 20.
DAAD leaders Veera Musigapong, Nattawut Saikua and Jatuporn Promphan reportedly wanted the rally to be held before February 26 to pre-empt the first strike, while Weng Tojirakarn and Nit Sinthuphrai wanted it to be held the day after to avoid criticism that the red-shirt movement was established to serve Thaksin.
Local DAAD organisers reported that red-shirt protesters nationwide were ready to converge as soon as they get the green light from leaders. The protesters are further prepared because they've all "graduated" from the network of "red-shirt schools" organised by the DAAD.
There are 459 of these so-called red-shirt schools across the country, with 107 in the Northeast, 100 in the North, 80 in Central, 14 in the South and 158 in the capital.
Of the million protesters, 70 per cent will come from the provinces and the remainder from Bangkok and its outskirts. The red-shirts from the provinces are expected to arrive in the capital one week before D-Day, when they will be joined by their Bangkok-based counterparts.
Red-shirt leaders and Bangkok Pheu Thai MPs have each been given the job of bringing in 10,000 to 20,000 protesters, while each of the 459 red-shirt schools will be providing between 1,000 and 2,000 people, the sources explained.
Meanwhile, PM's secretary general Korbsak Sabhavasu said yesterday that relevant state agencies had been instructed to ensure round-the-clock surveillance in Bangkok, particularly in areas where the homes of important figures are located.
He added that more lights and security cameras would be installed in risky areas - a security revamp that would require funding of "just slightly more than Bt900,000".
Proprietors of high-rises in the risky areas would also be asked to install security cameras and maintain lists of building tenants and visitors, Korbsak added.
He said these measures had been discussed during a meeting with senior police officers at Government House on Wednesday.
In a related development, National Anti-Corruption Commission secretary-general Apinan Israngura na Ayuthaya said he was ready to explain why the agency had not yet completed the cases against the yellow shirts when the red-shirt protesters gather at the NACC office today.
He said some 150 policemen would guard the agency's office during the protest and important documents related to NACC cases would be put in a safe place.
However, Apinan said he did not think there would be any violent incidents during the protest, because the red shirts were peaceful when protesting at the Office of the Attorney-General and the Royal Thai Police headquarters earlier this week.
He said all the nine NACC members would come to work as usual today and be regularly updated about the situation.
Source: The Nation
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