Red-shirts return
The red-shirt movement is showing new signs of life as the fourth anniversary of the 2006 coup which ousted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra approaches.
With most of their key leaders in jail or in hiding, the red-shirt movement has been rather quiet since the end of their mass protest in Bangkok last May.
That is about to change. The fourth anniversary of the coup that ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra falls on Sunday and big red-shirt rallies are expected in a number of areas.
One red-shirt supporter who has been active over the past four months, Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, will be travelling to Chiang Mai with several other leading red-shirt figures.
Mr Somyot, who has been leading peaceful rallies each Sunday, says they will submit their demands to government representatives there.
The red shirts want the government to release 17 detained red-shirt members from Bangkok Special Prison and will demand sweeping economic, judicial and land reforms. A mass rally at the provincial stadium is planned for Sunday.
‘‘Chiang Mai is no longer under the emergency decree. It is a stronghold of red-shirt supporters.
‘‘That’s why we chose it to organise our activities,’’ said Mr Somyos.
Mr Somyos said about 1,000 red shirts will also gather in Bangkok at Ratchaprasong intersection on Sunday to float thousands of balloons to mark the fourth anniversary of the coup.
There will be no political speeches at the Bangkok rally because the emergency decree is still in force in the capital.
Meanwhile, security is being stepped up at prisons where red-shirt leaders are being held. Many red-shirt members are expected to turn up to demand their release.
Chartchai Sutthiklom, director-general of the Corrections Department, said he has ordered security to be tightened at prisons in Bangkok, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani.
Some supporters are expected to converge at Bangkok Special Prison today.
Mr Chartchai said 252 prisoners allegedly involved in the political unrest have been jailed at 17 prisons nationwide.