BANGKOK, April 6— The pro-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) movement will stage its political battle after April 18 while the anti-government People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will not mobilise outside Lumpini Park until tomorrow.
Speaking to the Red Shirt crowd on the second day of the three-day mass gathering on the outskirts of Bangkok, UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan thanked police officers, soldiers and UDD security guards for providing security and assisting the rally to run smoothly.
More importantly, Mr Jatuporn announced that the UDD will stage a mass gathering again after April 18, and asked supporters to prepare for a political fight, which may be the ‘final battle,’ in order to achieve the pro-government group’s goals. He expressed confidence that their fight will not end in failure.
The UDD chair also slammed PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban for intent to install a neutral prime minister, urging the Red Shirt demonstrators to oppose the demand because it was through undemocratic means.
Meanwhile, anti-government leader Suthep announced that there will be no activities mobilising outside Lumpini Park until Monday (April 7) to avoid possible confrontations with the PDRC’s opponents— the Red Shirts— which have been holding a three-day mass gathering scheduled from April 5-7.
Mr Suthep last night announced to supporters to prepare for the next mass rally which may last for at least 15 days and will be the final battle.
The next gathering will occur after either the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruling on whether or not caretaker prime minster Yingluck Shinawatra is guilty of dereliction of duty in her supervision of the rice pledging scheme, or after the Constitutional Court rules on Ms Yingluck’s allegedly unconstitutional transfer of National Security Council (NSC) chief Thawil Pliensri to an inactive post.
The protest leader said that the PDRC resolved to unblock and end shutdowns of all state offices, except Government House and the Interior Ministry, beginning on April 8 on the condition that the state offices must allow the PDRC to erect banners indicating support for national reform.
