Democrat Party list-MP Korn Chatikavanij has urged the Senate to do everything in its power to block the passage of the controversial blanket amnesty bill.
Mr Korn said the party will pressure senators to thwart the bill at every turn. He and three other deputy party leaders have resigned from their executive positions to lead the Democrat-led street rally against the bill.
Mr Korn said the Democrat Party believes the Pheu Thai-led government will use many elected senators who are its allies to ram the bill through three straight readings in the Upper House in one day.
"The ball is now in the Senate's court. We hope the Senate will maintain its neutrality. We will see if the majority of senators will be under instructions by the government," Mr Korn said.
The rush by the House to pass the amnesty bill in second and third readings early yesterday reflected the government's arrogant attitude, he said.
Such an attitude will lead the public to agree with the Democrats' argument that the government has tried to use its commanding majority in the House to get what it wants, Mr Korn added.
He said he appreciated that several business and private sector organisations, such as the Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, have come out to oppose the bill.
Mr Korn admitted he was unsure if this will be the final battle against "Thaksinism", but the Democrats will resist the amnesty bill regardless of whether it affects their popularity.
Democrat MP for Surat Thani Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday admitted the battle against the bill was not easy given that the government has power and influence as well as a majority in the House.
Mr Suthep has led anti-government protesters encamped at Samsen railway station in Dusit district to pressure the government to withdraw the bill from parliament.
He said he was ready to work with all organisations and groups to rally against the bill and he believed the Democrat Party-led protest will be protracted and that the Senate will listen to the voices of the bill's opponents.
He said the protest leaders will meet daily to discuss their strategy and he will also go on stage at 7pm every day to announce what the next move will be. He affirmed that the protest will remain lawful.
Mr Suthep also said he will not negotiate or bargain with the government and will find an opportunity to travel to the provinces to join regional anti-amnesty movements.
He said rally leaders will have to think carefully before deciding whether to escalate the protest.
Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said yesterday the Samsen rally will stay put for the time being while the bill awaits Senate consideration.
He said the situation will be assessed again if and when the bill is passed by the Senate.
Mr Thaworn said when the time is right, the Democrat Party would not hesitate to act.
Asked if it was true that the party has decided not to escalate its protest because it is not ready for an election, he said elections are irrelevant.