BANGKOK, 8 January 2014 The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) will be staging rallies nationwide to show its opposition to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) on the same day that the latter begins its shutdown of Bangkok; however, the UDD’s rallies will not cover Greater Bangkok and the southern region.
UDD leaders met on Tuesday in Nakhon Ratchasima to plan the group’s actions to stave off attempts to stage a coup and attempts of treason, as well as to plan its nationwide rally against the PDRC’s shutdown of Bangkok. The UDD leaders emphasized that the PDRC’s actions were tantamount to treason, thus it would like to call on democracy-minded members of the public to rally in opposition to the PDRC on January 13. The UDD rallies will take place in every province, except in Greater Bangkok and in the South, at 9 am on that day.
UDD leader Natthawut Saikuar told supporters on Tuesday PDRC leader Suthep Thaugsuban was attempting to force a military coup by creating disorder. He also called on Army Commander-in-Chief Prayut Chan-ocha to hold true to his earlier words and not conduct a coup.
