By BangkokPost.com
At Bangkok City Hall, a rally in red vowed to prevent a "silent coup" by the judiciary. At the airports, yellow-clad protesters were "willing to die" to bring down the government. In the streets, two-thirds of citizens say they are embarrassed and ashamed for the country.
"Thailand is tipping out of control," warned Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and regular contributor to the Bangkok Post Oped page. "The UDD could go on its own rampage, and then who will stop them? Only Thaksin" Shinawatra, the charismatic ex-premier, now a fugitive from the Thai court.
An estimated 4,000 men and women in red rallied at the traditional parade and political grounds on the Chao Phraya River banks in support of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and a government that has been chased out of Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Wearing red headbands emblazoned with the words "No Coup", United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) raised fears of violence with their first rally since deadly rivals of the People's Alliance for Democracy seized and shut the two Bangkok international airports.
"We gather here today to protect the democratic system, to say we don't want a coup," said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the pro-government group known as the "Red Shirts", adding that they would stay there until Thursday.
The PAD, clad in yellow, have vowed to keep Thailand cut off from the world until Mr Somchai, the brother-in-law of the hated ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, steps down.
"Whatever happens, we will fight," senior PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang told reporters at the site earlier.
If we have to die today, I am willing to die," said fellow PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul in a speech broadcast by his ASTV station.
Their statements took on significance because a grenade was fired into a PAD crowd at Government House early on and wounded 46 people, four of them critically. A second explosion near Don Mueang airport injured two innocent bystanders, police said.
The red-shirt group vowed to encamp at the BMA Plaza adjacent to City Hall except on His Majesty the King's birthday on Friday (Dec 5). The UDD mass gathering prompted 11 schools in Phra Nakhon district nearby to close Monday.
The UDD had originally planned to rally at Sanam Luang, but decided to move to a square in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) headquarters because of ongoing preparations at Sanam Luang for the birthday celebrations for His Majesty.
More than the airport seizure, the UDD was angered by an order by the Constitution Court to speed up arguments in three separate cases which could result in the disbanding of the ruling People Power party and two of its main coalition allies.
The court ordered final arguments for next Tuesday, to be followed quickly by a verdict which almost everyone expects will be to dissolve all three parties and ban their executives from politics for five years - including Prime Minister Somchai.
That, said UDD icon and Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) TV personality Veera Musikapong, "represents a silent coup by the Constitution Court judges." Speakers at the UDD rally lit into the court from the opening of the event on Sunday.
"On Tuesday, so many people will go to the Constitution Court that there will be no place to stand, and the judges will not be able to enter to pass their verdict," UDD leader Chatuporn Phomphan told the crowd.
Police continued to stand by at the airport seizures as well, despite heavy criticism from abroad at the airport seizures, which have prevented more than 100,000 foreigners from leaving.
Police said fresh talks had started at both airports. But they later issued a new order to protesters at Don Mueang, warning that they faced two years in jail if they did not disperse.
"Time is running out but we still have time to find a solution. Police will work with compromise, no force, no weapons," said Pongsapat Pongcharoen, assistant to the national police chief.
The Abac Poll of Assumption University reported on Sunday that Thais in general are embarrassed by the political turbulence and by the negative views of foreigners.
More than 75 per cent of respondents were ashamed of the red-yellow actions, and more than 65 per cent agreed they were less proud of the country and 58 per cent said they had not taken sides.
An overwhelming 92.3 per cent said the political standoff should be solved by the judiciary.
Foreign countries meanwhile arranged more flights for their stranded nationals through the Vietnam War-era naval base at U-Tapao, 190 kilometres (118 miles) from Bangkok.
"They have killed tourism in this country, the authorities should go do something," said tourist Danny Mosaffi, 57, from New York City as he waited for a flight. (with Agency reports)
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At Bangkok City Hall, a rally in red vowed to prevent a "silent coup" by the judiciary. At the airports, yellow-clad protesters were "willing to die" to bring down the government. In the streets, two-thirds of citizens say they are embarrassed and ashamed for the country.
"Thailand is tipping out of control," warned Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University and regular contributor to the Bangkok Post Oped page. "The UDD could go on its own rampage, and then who will stop them? Only Thaksin" Shinawatra, the charismatic ex-premier, now a fugitive from the Thai court.
An estimated 4,000 men and women in red rallied at the traditional parade and political grounds on the Chao Phraya River banks in support of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and a government that has been chased out of Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
Wearing red headbands emblazoned with the words "No Coup", United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) raised fears of violence with their first rally since deadly rivals of the People's Alliance for Democracy seized and shut the two Bangkok international airports.
"We gather here today to protect the democratic system, to say we don't want a coup," said Jatuporn Prompan, a leader of the pro-government group known as the "Red Shirts", adding that they would stay there until Thursday.
The PAD, clad in yellow, have vowed to keep Thailand cut off from the world until Mr Somchai, the brother-in-law of the hated ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, steps down.
"Whatever happens, we will fight," senior PAD leader Chamlong Srimuang told reporters at the site earlier.
If we have to die today, I am willing to die," said fellow PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul in a speech broadcast by his ASTV station.
Their statements took on significance because a grenade was fired into a PAD crowd at Government House early on and wounded 46 people, four of them critically. A second explosion near Don Mueang airport injured two innocent bystanders, police said.
The red-shirt group vowed to encamp at the BMA Plaza adjacent to City Hall except on His Majesty the King's birthday on Friday (Dec 5). The UDD mass gathering prompted 11 schools in Phra Nakhon district nearby to close Monday.
The UDD had originally planned to rally at Sanam Luang, but decided to move to a square in front of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) headquarters because of ongoing preparations at Sanam Luang for the birthday celebrations for His Majesty.
More than the airport seizure, the UDD was angered by an order by the Constitution Court to speed up arguments in three separate cases which could result in the disbanding of the ruling People Power party and two of its main coalition allies.
The court ordered final arguments for next Tuesday, to be followed quickly by a verdict which almost everyone expects will be to dissolve all three parties and ban their executives from politics for five years - including Prime Minister Somchai.
That, said UDD icon and Kwam Jing Wan Nee (Truth Today) TV personality Veera Musikapong, "represents a silent coup by the Constitution Court judges." Speakers at the UDD rally lit into the court from the opening of the event on Sunday.
"On Tuesday, so many people will go to the Constitution Court that there will be no place to stand, and the judges will not be able to enter to pass their verdict," UDD leader Chatuporn Phomphan told the crowd.
Police continued to stand by at the airport seizures as well, despite heavy criticism from abroad at the airport seizures, which have prevented more than 100,000 foreigners from leaving.
Police said fresh talks had started at both airports. But they later issued a new order to protesters at Don Mueang, warning that they faced two years in jail if they did not disperse.
"Time is running out but we still have time to find a solution. Police will work with compromise, no force, no weapons," said Pongsapat Pongcharoen, assistant to the national police chief.
The Abac Poll of Assumption University reported on Sunday that Thais in general are embarrassed by the political turbulence and by the negative views of foreigners.
More than 75 per cent of respondents were ashamed of the red-yellow actions, and more than 65 per cent agreed they were less proud of the country and 58 per cent said they had not taken sides.
An overwhelming 92.3 per cent said the political standoff should be solved by the judiciary.
Foreign countries meanwhile arranged more flights for their stranded nationals through the Vietnam War-era naval base at U-Tapao, 190 kilometres (118 miles) from Bangkok.
"They have killed tourism in this country, the authorities should go do something," said tourist Danny Mosaffi, 57, from New York City as he waited for a flight. (with Agency reports)
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